Saving Kenna
Page 26
“Whoa!” I murmured, staring into Kenna’s eyes expecting to see surprise in them. But instead, I found mirth and acceptance as if she expected nothing less from Kieran.
“Sloan, you may kiss your bride.” Kieran removed his hands, and with my free one, I pulled Kenna to me by her waist, our lips meeting in an open mouth, passionate kiss.
Cheers and shouts erupted from our friends and family, and we broke apart with our hands still bound by our handfasting cords. The cords would remain until tonight, when we’d slip them from our wrists with them still tied in knots—a forever reminder of the vows we’d made to each other.
“I love you, my wife, my love.”
Kenna dabbed a tear from her eye. “And I you, my husband.”
Irelyn rushed to us and threw her arms around both of us.
“The ceremony was beautiful. Really beautiful.” She sniffled and dried her eyes with a tissue.
I pulled my cousin in for a one armed hug before Zolt came to claim her.
I shook his hand and that of T-bone and Tamera, and finally Brody; the lone man out. After we shook, I saw the loneliness in him I’d seen previously, even more pronounced by the slumping of his shoulders, and the shoving of his hands in his pockets. Even his dark blue eyes seemed sad.
He wasn’t the only one, because off in the distance Kieran stood by himself with his hands clasped behind his back, staring off into the distance with the ocean breeze lifting his hair. My mind drifted back to the Emerald and why he wanted it bad enough to use my Kenna to get it.
Though I had no reason to believe this, my gut told me this wasn’t about the acquisition of power; this was about a woman.
I’d seen Kieran’s reactions in many different situations and never had I seen him as motivated and wanting as I had with the Emerald.
I also had a feeling this wasn’t the last time I’d be involved with the cursed stone. I shook off my wayward ponderings; those were worries for another day.
Tonight, I vowed to enjoy my wedding and my new wife, because now, nothing else mattered.
We laughed, drank, and spent the evening with the people we most adored. If Kenna felt bad about the absence of her family, she didn’t show it.
The fun continued for several hours. With our hands bound, we worked together in all things, and I had to admit it was the perfect way to start our live together.
When we’d said our good nights, we made our way to our room, beyond ready to be alone.
Kieran had decked out the space with candles, a burning fire, sparkling wine, and fancy chocolates.
I closed the door and locked it, then turned to my beautiful wife.
“Finally alone.” I smiled wickedly at her, my body stirring with the desire I’d kept in check since first seeing her walk down the aisle in my direction.
“Yes,” she purred and licked her luscious lips.
Before slipping the handfasting cords from our hands, I reached in my pocket and pulled out my phone.
“Selfie?” I asked
“Yeah.” Kenna giggled as she snuggled next to me.
I clicked the picture that signaled a new time in our relationship. Tossing my phone on the dresser, I held up our bound hands. Together, we carefully slipped the cords off our hands.
Kenna visibly shivered, and I hoped it was in expectation of what was to come.
I set the handfasting cords on the table then took off my jacket, letting it fall to the floor.
With a possessive grip, I put my hands on Kenna’s shoulders and turned her around so her back faced me. I quickly undid each tiny button of her gown before slipping it off her shoulders.
The gown fell from her body and pooled on the floor, revealing her naked back and bare ass to me. I watched enraptured as she walked toward the bedside table where she retrieved the black velvet box.
Kenna strode back to me and opened the box. She took out my gold, Celtic knot band that matched the ring she wore on her left ring finger.
She lifted my hand and slid the ring on my finger. “Mine.”
“Yours.” I returned, sealing her gift with a passionate kiss.
Kenna broke the kiss long enough to divest me of my wedding clothes, leaving us both gloriously naked and exposed to each other in a way we’d never been before.
In every way, we belonged to each other. Nothing and no one would ever change what we shared.
“I love you, Sloan,” she said as her soft hands glided over my chest, making me shudder.
“I love you, too. Thank you for never giving up on me or on us.”
“Never,” she said, softly pressing a kiss over my heart.
I pulled Kenna against me and really kissed my wife for the first time. I kissed every inch of her, worshiping her body before making slow sweet love to her.
In saving Kenna, I’d saved myself, and against all odds, we’d survived. Second chances didn’t always come around, but somehow, by the grace of God, we had received one.
Until the end of my days, I would forever cherish the gift of my Kenna and the gift of us.
The End
Acknowledgements
AS ANY WRITER will tell you, no book gets written alone, and this holds true for Saving Kenna.
I will tell you this book has been the hardest for me to write. I wanted to tell Kenna’s story without being overly graphic, but in such a way the reader would still understand the horror she went through. I’m proud of how this story turned out, and I hope you enjoy it.
I did something different with this book. I created a Facebook group and added in people who had beta’d for me before as well as some new friends. I will tell you it was the best decision I’ve ever made. The real time comments helped me more than I can say.
So Heather, Melody, Jennifer, Stephanie Flowers Newman, Diane, Debbie, Carla, Stephanie Wallace, Crissy, Sophie, Corry, Jenna, Megan, Kelly, and Paula—all D.L. Raver’s Beta Readers—I love you all. I hope you’ll stick around for Breaking Brody.
To Jennifer Severino, who knew when you beta’d Indulging in Irelyn you’d become my editor and good friend? I’m so happy to have found you, and I looked forward to driving you crazy for many books to come.
To Lea Fiercefabbookdiva, thank you for handling my page, pimping me out, and everything else you do. Love you lots, lady.
To Christine Stanley, my PR chick. I’ve had an amazing year thanks to you and your team. Indulging in Irelyn would never have become an Amazon Bestseller without you and the Hype PR. You always have my back, call me out when needed, and for this and so much more, I can’t thank you enough. Love you more than words can say!
Finally thank you to all my readers! I can’t believe I’m bringing you my fifth book, I hope you all enjoy Saving Kenna as much as I enjoyed bringing Sloan and Kenna’s story to you.
I hope you’ll stick around for the following releases:
Breaking Brody Spring of 2015
Magic Man, Kieran’s story Summer 2015.
Loving Irelyn Fall 2015
About the Author
Smart ass by nature, writer by accident.
D.L. Raver didn't always want to be a writer, but now the voices in her head won't shut the f**k up and the stories keep coming.
She's an Amazon Best Selling Author of new adult erotic romance and new adult romantic fantasy (under Dawna Raver).
The Indulging Series was her first new adult erotic romance series, and is proud that Zolt Hamil from this series was voted in top ten list of Fictional Boyfriends' top Fictional Boyfriends
When she's not spending time in her fantasy world, D.L. loves NFL football, reading, and pretending she's a top chef in the kitchen---even though experiments often lead to ordering out.
Oh, and fawning over her dogs and husband, sometimes in that order.
Contact me:
https://www.facebook.com/DawnaRaver
https://twitter.com/DawnaRaver
http://dlraver.com
Support indie authors by reviewing this book at https://www.g
oodreads.com/book/show/2348386 & Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/D.L.-Raver/e/B00KWEQ9AE
Other books by D.L. Raver
The Indulging Series:
Indulging in Irelyn
Indulging in Irelyn is an Amazon Bestseller.
Warning: Don't read this book if you hate effed up alpha males, strong female leads, hot sex, and a kismet love story six years in the making. Oh yeah and a plot twist that will leave you reeling.
NFL quarterback, Zolt Hamil was America's heartthrob until a career ending injury changed his life. Years later, he's picked up the pieces and carved out a new path for himself. But the mental and physical scars of that day have left him moody and reclusive, and his only relief is indulging in pleasure and pain with his many one night stands. Though many women have tried, Zolt refuses to care about any of them. Only one woman has his heart; a hallucination of a young, sable-eyed, blonde beauty whom he conjured that painful day on the football field.
On the first day at his new job at a law firm in Scottsdale, Arizona, Zolt comes face to face with his hallucination, Irelyn Wilkes. Their fateful connection, and explosive passion for each other pulls them together, and this time, Zolt refuses to let her slip from his life.
But Irelyn has her own demons to fight, and her controlling boyfriend is one of them. He doesn't take kindly to other people playing with his toys, and he'll stop at nothing to keep her by his side.
Can Irelyn and Zolt defy the odds and find a way to be together? Or, will the events set in motion years ago keep them apart forever?
New Adult. Recommended for eighteen and above due to adult content, language, and sexual situations.
Being Zolt
Sequel to the Amazon Bestselling book Indulging in Irelyn.
Irelyn Wilkes was Zolt Hamil's seraph. His angel. His hallucination suddenly real. But her abrupt departure from his life has sent him into a tailspin of nameless women, alcohol, and drugs. When Zolt realizes that Irelyn lied to him, he sobers up and sets into motion a public rescue, making an even greater enemy of Marcus Xavier.
Marcus doesn't take kindly to people taking what is his, and he's not about to let Zolt and Irelyn ride into the sunset without a fight. He's already murdered her brother; taking out Zolt Hamil would make his day.
Can Zolt and Irelyn mend their broken relationship and find a way back to each other? Or will Marcus succeed with his plans to separate this fated pair forever?
Table of Contents
Dedication
Indulging Series
Cast of Characters
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Contact me: