by M. Sembera
Her hands slid into his hair, tugging on it as she fiercely kissed him back.
Pulling back, just in time to hear his name fall from her lips, Braden kissed her again, until neither one could hold out any longer.
In awe of her peaceful breathing as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, Braden asked, "So, Fairmont's on the Lake?"
She smiled.
"Yes."
Rolling them both over, he wrapped his leg around hers holding her close to his body.
"Another yes?"
Nibbling on the edge of his jaw, she stated, "It will always be yes."
The End
Marked Heart Series-Epilogue
Turning the knob to open the door, Ren sighed as Jacks moved her hand away.
"We're going to be late."
Flashing a wide smile at her, he slid his hands into the back of her hair, coaxing, "Just one more."
Ren leaned her head back and closed her eyes, only to receive a quick peck on her lips.
"That was...weak," she laughed, expecting much more from his kiss.
Another wide smile preceded his saying, "You, my beautiful wife, said we were going to be late."
"Fine." Ren pretended to pout before asking, "Are you going to offer Seth the position today?"
"I think I'll wait 'til Monday, bringing home a baby and being asked to take over JPT Financial may be a little much for him all in one day."
Arching an eyebrow at her husband, she questioned, "If he says yes, and you retire early, what are you going to do with all that free time, Mr. Thomas?"
"We," he clarified, wrapping his arms around her tight, "Will be having lots of sex, Mrs. Thomas. And maybe travel a little."
Shaking her head at him with a laugh, she said, "Alright, Jacks. Let's go before we really are late."
As Ren started to open the door again, Jackson stopped her. Wrapping his arms around her, he leaned her back, kissing her without restraint.
~
Crossing her arms across her chest, Charlotte gave Auggie a dirty look as he drove.
"You do know you're insane, right?"
Glancing over at her with a scowl on his face, Auggie replied, "What? I think it's reasonable."
"Augustus, you cannot suggest they give him Caffrey as a last name."
Appearing offended, he griped, "Why not?"
"Are you serious?"
"What kinda name is Chevalier anyway?"
"Its French and I think it means Knight."
Auggie took the opportunity to glare at her when he stopped at a red light.
"No tellin' what they're naming him with a frilly last name like that."
With a slight huff, she reminded, "That's why we are going over there."
"And that's another thing..." he started before Charlotte cut him off saying, "Oh-kay."
Scowling at her as he continued driving, Auggie fussed, "What if one day I wanna hand the bar over to him, like Jacks just did to us?"
Curling the corner of her mouth into a smile, Charlotte teased, "Then it'll be an 'Ah hell, there's a Frenchman runnin' The Dog House' moment."
"I think that may have cut my soul a little..."
With a sly smile, Charlotte offered, "Awe, if you pull over I'll kiss it and make it better. That is, unless you're scared."
~
Seth loaded Penny's suitcase into the trunk before walking to the side of his car. Leaning in through the open back door, he gently kissed Penny.
"Are you sure you don't need anything?"
Penny gave a cheerful smile as she assured, "We're fine. I'm sure everyone's at the house waiting on us."
Nodding, he carefully placed his hand on his son, saying, "I don't mind sharing the number one spot with this little guy in your top ten."
"It's really our top ten. Every great moment, they've all been with you."
Seth kissed her again, saying, "He's the first. Before you know it we're going to have a house full of number one's."
Penny giggled, checking the car seat one last time, to make sure her son was strapped in tight, as she suggested, "We should get this one home, so he can meet his family."
~
Parked against the curb in front of Penny and Seth's house, while 'Could Have Been Me' by The Struts played over the radio, Braden sat leaned up against the inside of his car door. With one leg kicked up onto the bench seat of his El Camino, Liv sat between his legs, her back against his chest. His arms rested comfortably around her as he held her hands in her lap, rubbing his thumb against her guitar string engagement ring that she kept as her wedding band.
Placing light kisses against her temple, he asked, "You feelin' better?"
Nodding, she brought his left hand to her lips.
Kissing the Liv tattoo Braden had Penny give him, in lieu of a wedding band on his ring finger, she replied, "Now that we're stopped."
Braden slid his hand to her stomach, right below her belly button, saying, "Ya know, in a little over six months we'll be bringing our own lil' Liv or Braden home."
Tilting her chin up, she turned her head toward his and kissed him.
"While we're waiting..." Braden whispered against her mouth as his fingers inched a bit lower.
Just as Braden deepened their kiss, they heard another car pull up.
"Hold that thought." Liv said with a slight laugh.
~
Sarah and Romeo arrived, prompting Braden and Liv to get out of the car. Charlotte and Auggie pulled up right after and then Ren and Jacks.
Everyone greeted one another as they stood on the porch waiting for Penny and Seth to show up and properly introduce the newest addition to their family.
"Are you down for good now?" Jackson asked Romeo.
Wrapping his arm around Sarah's waist, he replied, "I have one more trip back then she's stuck with me for good."
Just as Auggie was about to say something about his mom and Liv's dad moving in together, Penny and Seth showed up.
They crowded around Penny and the baby as Seth unlocked the door. Once everyone was settled in the house, Seth set up his laptop so that Sophia and Ailin were able to join in over video chat.
Seth lifted his son out of his car seat and handed him to Penny. The room was silent as they anxiously awaited hearing the name of the sleeping baby boy with dark blue eyes and a head full of reddish brown hair.
Snuggling her son in her arms, Penny revealed, "We decided on, William Augustus Chevalier."
The room remained quiet until they heard Sophia and Ailin's daughter, Keylee, over the laptop ask, "Mommy, why are you crying?"
Penny's cheery smile started to fade as she noticed most everyone in the room had a solemn expression or tears in their eyes.
"Y'all don't like it?" she questioned before the room erupted in smiles and laughter.
Everyone assured Penny, she and Seth couldn't have picked a better name before taking turns holding and instantly falling in love with William.
~
No matter what losses are suffered in life, for there will always be pain, never lose sight of love. There is strength in the ability to accept and to give love. It takes you past your scars, beyond your fears, and forever lays a permanent mark upon your heart. Love endures everything.
Playlist
Music has a way of inspiring the smallest ideas. It allows me to create an entire scene or chapter from just the right song. For me, music is one of the most important creative tools there is. These are the songs that brought Marked Heart to life.
21 Guns
GreenDay
The Man Who Broke His Own Heart
Everclear
Believe
Mumford & Sons
Back To The Shack
Weezer
Come And Get Your Love
Redbone
Halleluja
Rufus Wainwright
Tear In My Heart
Twenty One Pilots
Hollow Moon(Bad Wolf)
AWOLNATION
Sca
rs
Papa Roach
The Judge
Twenty One Pilots
Bartender Song
Rehab
Helena
My Chemical Romance
Could Have Been Me
The Struts
Marked Heart Series
Enduring Everything
MH#1
Available Now
Time doesn't always heal old wounds. Often time makes them worse. Especially when you push those wounds to the back of your mind and focus on the life you want to lead. Then the day comes when you finally have everything. It is then, you realize that nothing ever goes away.
Charlotte
MH#2
Available Now
The true measure of a person's worth lies not within what they can offer you but what you have to offer them. No matter how desirable, are they worth your time, patience, forgiveness, loyalty, friendship, love, respect, understanding, compassion, trust? If not, they are worth more than you have to offer. They deserve for you to let them go.
One Penny
MH#3
Available Now
Foolish is the heart that leaves itself open to falling in love. Reckless is the person who steps away from tradition to claim a life of their own. Irreplaceable is the moment one takes the risk.
C&A Novella
MH#3.5
Available Now
He was all the things she really wanted and never bothered to look for in a man. He was also the most stubborn jackass she had ever met.
She was an infuriating pain in the ass, and he'd be damned straight to hell if he had to spend even one day without her by his side.
Marked Heart
MH#4
New Release
A marked heart, longing for the one is nothing more than a restless heart, burdened by a lie.
Acknowledgments
It's not easy being Mr. M. but hubs pulls it off. Or takes it like a champ. Either way, he hasn't left me yet, so, that's a win. It's because of him that I know what real love is.
And the kids? Yeah, they're pretty awesome too!
Thank you to my readers! Without y'all my characters would never see the light of day.
All the Indie blogger/reviewer/supporters out there, I appreciate everything that you do to keep us writers writing.
Susanne Lancello, Nicole Griffin, Lucii Grubb, Sonya Ray, Katelynn Luna, Paula Genereau, Carmen Paez y'all rock harder than Liv's sexy socks ♥.
To my Street Team, I appreciate everything you ladies do!
About the Author
M. Sembera was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and now lives in Brazoria, Texas with her husband, three kids, three dogs and two cats. After writing her first short story when she was in high school, M. instantly fell in love with writing. However, life sometimes gets in the way of aspirations and it wasn't until years later, when her life calmed down, M. was able to start writing again.
'For me, each new book I write or character I create feels like the first time and I find myself falling in love with writing all over again'
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Work in Progress
Be on the look out for the re-release of the series that started it all:
The Rennillia Series
Set in a small southern town, death, love, hurt, friendship and anger bond Rennillia Cantinelli, Scott Herterand, Emerson Roberts and Jackson Thomas while shaping the paths they will follow into adulthood.
After a six year separation from her friends, Ren returns to the Roberts' house to start over.
Caught between love, loyalty, friendship and restrained by obligations, these four discover the bond they formed long ago is not the only thing holding them together.
Rennillia 1- November 2015
Rennillia 2- January 2016
Rennillia Prequel- March 2016
Rennillia 3- May 2016
Rennillia facebook fanpage