1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Five

by Julie Kenner

  She could have died.

  “Mitch, I know you’re mad at me.”

  Mad didn’t cover it. He was overwhelmed. His body was a riot of emotion and he wasn’t sure where to start. He’d been proud because his girl didn’t hesitate. He’d been horrified that she was in danger. He’d been so fucking helpless.

  But one thing had played out in his head and that was the fact that they weren’t done. God, they couldn’t be done.

  She sank to her knees in front of him. “I know I upset you, Master. I know I scared you and I’m willing to take anything you have to give me.”

  She hadn’t left him the day she should have. She hadn’t walked away because he’d fucked up and lost his temper. He’d woken up the next morning and realized that he could get this situation back in hand. He could steer her toward the relationship he was comfortable with. He could go back to being her Master. Hell, if he played his cards right, he could probably train the waywardness out of her. He could likely manipulate her so she was comfortable accepting his dictates. She wouldn’t try to sneak things in or go behind his back because she thought she was helping him.

  She was proving it right now. She was kneeling before him, her head bowed.

  She would be his submissive for the rest of her life, if he wanted.

  God, he just wanted her to be his Laurel.

  He dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around her and said the words he’d sworn he would never, never say. “Please don’t leave me. Don’t ever leave me.”

  He was five again, clinging to a mother who cared more about parties than a child. When she’d turned him away, he’d stopped asking, stopped hoping, stopped wishing. He couldn’t do that anymore. He couldn’t live in that world because if he did, he forced Laurel and their baby to live there, too. He had to find a way out.

  He had to find a way to believe. He knew only one real thing he believed in and that was her. If he held on to her, if he followed her lead in the things he didn’t understand, maybe, just maybe he could be a better man. He could be better for her, better for their children.

  Laurel’s arms came out, holding him tightly to her. They were on the floor, their bodies pressed together as though they were trying to meld into one. “I won’t. I promise. Mitchell, for as long as you want me, I promise I won’t leave you. I’ll be here.”

  He tangled his hands in her hair, desperate to be surrounded by her. She was his everything. How had he ever thought he could leave this woman alone? She’d been made for him. “Don’t you ever do that again. Don’t ever put yourself in danger. I swear to god, Laurel, you nearly gave me a heart attack.”

  “I can’t promise you.” Tears shone in her eyes. “I won’t ever let someone hurt you when I can help it. You’ll simply have to punish me.”

  “No punishment, baby.” He would do the same for her, and he wouldn’t change her in any way. He loved her exactly the way she was. “But you will have to calm me down. I’m going to do something I wanted to do from the moment I hired you.”

  “Are you going to take me rough and hard on my desk?” She was grinning up at him. “Even though the cops are probably storming up the stairs as we speak?”

  Yes, that had always been on his mind, and he was definitely going to do that. Since the moment she’d walked through his doors, he wanted to have the right to come into her office and demand she take him. But there was something else. Something he should have done all along because it had been inevitable.

  “I’m going to tell you I love you.” He framed her perfect face in his hands. She’d become the most precious thing in the world to him. She was the reason he breathed. “I love you, Laurel. Be my wife.”

  “Yes.” She pressed her lips to his. “Yes, Mitchell.”

  He got to his feet and hauled her up and into his arms. He hadn’t changed a thing about her office since the moment she’d walked out. It was neat as a pin and clean, so he felt zero guilt in setting his fiancée on top of the desk and running his hand up her skirt. His mouth found hers and he kissed her. His bride. He was going to kiss her for the rest of his life.

  He heard the Dallas police enter and start asking questions, but it didn’t matter.

  His life started now.

  Epilogue

  Six months later

  Mitch stared down at the baby boy in his arms and wondered how he’d managed to get so lucky.

  “He’s very wrinkly.” Chase stood beside him, looking down at the little boy they’d named John William Bradford.

  After his father and Laurel’s brother. “He’s only a few hours old. The whole birth thing can take a lot out of a baby.”

  His son yawned, and it was the single cutest thing Mitch had ever seen. His tiny mouth opened and his whole body wriggled before he settled back down and blinked his eyes up at Mitch.

  Blue. Like his. Like his father’s.

  “He looks a little like Dad,” Chase said. His brother was living in Dallas. He’d decided to finish school here after their father had died. Flynn had packed them both up and moved to the Dallas office where he was running things remotely. He’d said they needed a new start, but Mitch had a suspicion that after John Adler had peacefully passed, they’d both wanted to be near family. Near him and Laurel and their new nephew.

  “He does.” Mitch had spent time with his dad. It had been easier than he thought it would. Somehow, loving Laurel had opened up possibilities he hadn’t expected. He’d walked into his father’s hospital room and there wasn’t a monster there. He hadn’t seen the man who neglected him. He’d seen a man who wished life had gone differently. He’d seen the man he could have been without Laurel.

  His father had asked for forgiveness and when Mitch had given it, a great weight had left him. He wouldn’t trade the three weeks he’d spent with his father for anything. Laurel had come out and they’d become a family in those weeks before John Adler’s death.

  He simply wished that had been the only funeral he’d had to attend.

  He didn’t know the hows and whys. Big Tag didn’t talk about ops outside of his team, but Mitch knew that whatever had gone wrong had left McKay-Taggart changed forever, and he only hoped they could rally after losing one of their own.

  “Who needs coffee?” Flynn slipped in, carrying a tray. “I’ve heard you will live off of caffeine for a very long time.”

  “Thanks, I’ll take it. I don’t want to sleep. I just want to hold him.” He didn’t want to let his son go.

  “Well, I want to hold him, too.” Laurel sighed and sat up, dragging the covers around her.

  Mitch stood. “Momma gets dibs. She spent hours giving birth to you.”

  She looked tired but radiant as he gently transferred the baby to her arms.

  “If she’s going to breast feed, I’m going back out to the lobby,” Flynn promised.

  “Wimp,” Chase shot back. “It’s a normal, natural thing. Baby boy’s gotta eat.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re not wired to think it’s kind of hot,” Flynn admitted.

  Chase laughed. “Not in any way. But I’m going to be the best uncle ever.”

  The kid had turned it around. He seemed happier now, though Mitch knew he missed his father. Mitch often got Chase to talk about their dad.

  “I think I’m the best uncle,” Flynn argued before putting his arm around his younger brother’s shoulder. “Come on. Let’s give these two some peace. I know they’ll have a flood of visitors soon.”

  Laurel waved good-bye and then scooted over. “Sit with me.”

  He didn’t hesitate. They’d found a perfect place together over the months of living as husband and wife. They’d continued to play until she couldn’t. Mitch had discovered he preferred keeping their D/s life mostly to the club. His Laurel was such a perfect partner he wanted her by his side at all times. And he never, ever held himself back when he was making love to her. He was thinking about doing it now. “You know, after getting caught fucking on a desk by the police, I really think the nurses w
ouldn’t be a big deal at all.”

  “Oh, you’re waiting a while for that, babe.” She leaned against him.

  He kissed the top of her head. “You’re worth waiting for. And the good news is Johnny can go to college. The sale of Dixon Tech went through. Harvey and Frances are making two hundred million each.”

  “And poor Patrick is making friends in prison. You know it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy,” Laurel admitted.

  His wife had been a vigilant watcher of Patrick Dixon’s trial and relieved when the man had been sent to prison. She was taking some time off from saving the world to spend with their baby, but Mitch knew she would be back at it.

  This time, he might help her. After all, he wanted the world to be as perfect for his son as it was for him.

  “I was thinking. You know, as long as we’re redoing the office at home, maybe I should take a look at your office at work.”

  He groaned. “You are always changing things. But fine. When you change things, I like them more. And god knows I love you more than my desk.”

  She smiled up at him. “Oh, no. We’re keeping that desk. It’s a historical desk. John’s lucky he wasn’t named Daddy’s desk because he was conceived on it.”

  “We’re never telling him that story. He only needs to know one thing about his conception.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “That he was conceived in love. I love you, baby. So damn much.”

  “Back at you, Bradford.”

  She rested her head against his chest and they watched their son sleep, the world fading around them.

  Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Lexi Blake, discover Dungeon Games and Adored.

  About Lexi Blake

  Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places. Lexi believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome or foursome may seem. She also writes contemporary Western ménage as Sophie Oak.

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  Click here to purchase.

  Disavowed by those he swore to protect…

  Tennessee Smith is a wanted man. Betrayed by his government and hunted by his former employer, he’s been stripped of everything he holds dear. If the CIA finds him, they’re sure to take his life as well. His only shot at getting it all back is taking down the man who burned him. He knows just how to get to Senator Hank McDonald and that’s through his daughter, Faith. In order to seduce her, he must become something he never thought he’d be—a Dom.

  Overcome by isolation and duty…

  All her life, Dr. Faith “Mac” McDonald has felt alone, even among her family. Dedicating herself to helping others and making a difference in the world has brought her some peace, but a year spent fighting the Ebola virus in West Africa has taken a toll. She’s come home for two months of relaxation before she goes back into the field. After holding so many lives in her hands, nothing restores her like the act of submission. Returning to her favorite club, Mac is drawn to the mysterious new Dom all the subs are talking about, Master No. In the safety of his arms, she finds herself falling head over heels in love.

  Forced to choose between love and revenge…

  On an exclusive Caribbean island, Ten and Mac explore their mutual attraction, but her father’s plots run deeper than Ten could possibly have imagined. With McKay-Taggart by his side, Ten searches for a way to stop the senator, even as his feelings for Mac become too strong to deny. In the end, he must choose between love and revenge—a choice that will change his life forever.

  Hades

  A Demonica Novella

  By Larissa Ione

  Author Acknowledgments

  Every story presents unique challenges for an author, and every story makes the author appreciate those who help to make a book the best it can be. For the most part, Hades played nice, but I need to thank Liz Berry, Kim Guidroz, and Pamela Jamison for all their hard work in whipping Hades into shape. I love you, ladies! I just wish Hades hadn’t liked the whipping so much…

  Glossary

  The Aegis––Society of human warriors dedicated to protecting the world from evil. Recent dissension among its ranks reduced its numbers and sent The Aegis in a new direction.

  Emim––The wingless offspring of two fallen angels. Emim possess a variety of fallen angel powers, although the powers are generally weaker and more limited in scope.

  Fallen Angel––Believed to be evil by most humans, fallen angels can be grouped into two categories: True Fallen and Unfallen. Unfallen angels have been cast from Heaven and are earthbound, living a life in which they are neither truly good nor truly evil. In this state, they can, rarely, earn their way back into Heaven. Or they can choose to enter Sheoul, the demon realm, in order to complete their fall and become True Fallens, taking their places as demons at Satan’s side.

  Harrowgate––Vertical portals, invisible to humans, which demons use to travel between locations on Earth and Sheoul. A very few beings can summon their own personal Harrowgates.

  Inner Sanctum––A realm within Sheoul-gra that consists of 5 Rings, each containing the souls of demons categorized by their level of evil as defined by the Ufelskala. The Inner Sanctum is run by the fallen angel Hades and his staff of wardens, all fallen angels. Access to the Inner Sanctum is strictly limited, as the demons contained inside can take advantage of any outside object or living person in order to escape.

  Memitim––Earthbound angels assigned to protect important humans called Primori. Memitim remain earthbound until they complete their duties, at which time they Ascend, earning their wings and entry into Heaven. See: Primori

  Primori––Humans and demons whose lives are fated
to affect the world in some crucial way.

  Radiant––The most powerful class of Heavenly angel in existence. Unlike other angels, a Radiant can wield unlimited power in all realms and can travel freely through Sheoul with very few exceptions. The designation is awarded only to one angel at a time. Two can never exist simultaneously, and they cannot be destroyed except by God or Satan.

  Sheoul––Demon realm. Located on its own plane deep in the bowels of the Earth, accessible to most only by Harrowgates and hellmouths.

  Sheoul-gra––A holding tank for demon souls. A realm that exists independently of Sheoul, it is overseen by Azagoth, also known as the Grim Reaper. Within Sheoul-gra is the Inner Sanctum, where demon souls go to be kept in torturous limbo until they can be reborn.

  Sheoulic––Universal demon language spoken by all, although many species also speak their own language.

  Shrowd––When angels travel through time, they exist within an impenetrable bubble known as a shrowd. While in the shrowd, angels are invisible and cannot interact with anyone –– human, demon, or angel –– outside the shrowd. Breaking out of the shrowd is a serious transgression that can, and has, resulted in execution.

  Ter’taceo––Demons who can pass as human, either because their species is naturally human in appearance, or because they can shapeshift into human form.

  Vyrm––The winged offspring of an angel and a fallen angel. More powerful than emim, vyrm also possess an ability that makes their very existence a threat to angels and fallen angels alike. With a mere second of eye contact, a vyrm can wipe out a fallen angel or an angel’s entire immediate family. Once hunted ruthlessly, they are now a protected class, by mutual agreement between Sheoul and Heaven, so long as none harm others with their unique power.