Scarlet Roses: Book Two of the NOLA Shifters Series

by Angel Nyx

  “About damn time,” Caine growled and pulled her into his arms. He didn’t give her a peck on the lips. No, he kissed her so thoroughly she was panting when he ended it.

  “Wow,” she breathed against his lips.

  Roars, howls, and cheers erupted and echoed in the club. One by one their guests came to them to congratulate them before moving on to find something to eat or get a drink.

  Emelise

  “Eme, I have never seen you so happy.” Lily hugged her and kissed her cheek. “You’re positively glowing and I don’t think it’s just the pregnancy. You’re truly happy.”

  “I am. I’m happier than I ever thought I could be.” She touched her wedding band. “I never believed I’d get married. I always thought, well, you know what I thought. I’m so glad I came here. Yeah, I wish my Mama was here with me but you know how they say there’s a reason for everything even if we can’t see it? I think this is the reason why Mama was taken from me. So I could find the other half of my soul. It still hurts but it helps, just a little, to think that maybe this is why the fates decided it was time to cut her thread.”

  “I understand what you mean. It makes the loss a little easier to bear when you think of it in those terms.”

  “Exactly. I knew you’d get what I meant.”

  Malcolm moved to the stage and tapped on the microphone that was set up. “Hello all you lovely people. Today we come together to celebrate Caine and Emelise. Eme asked me if I would sing something for their wedding and then Caine asked me the same thing. Are those two perfect for each other or what?” He waited for the cheers to die down before he continued. “When Emelise told me the song she wanted to dedicate to Caine, I knew it was perfect.” The music began and after a moment Malcolm began singing Bon Jovi’s Thank you for Loving Me. When he got to the words You pick me up when I fall down, You ring the bell before they count me out, If I was drowning you would part the sea, And risk your own life to rescue me Emelise leaned into Caine and whispered the words in his ear.

  Caine’s arms tightened around her. “Always, Angel. I will always pick you up when you fall down,” he growled.

  After the final notes faded Malcolm spoke again. “Now, the song Caine chose to dedicate to his mate, at first I wanted to roll my eyes because it seemed like such an obvious and cheesy one to go with. Then I realized that maybe it’s not so cheesy after all. It’s sweet, and romantic, and I can’t think of a better song to dedicate to one’s other half.” Again, the music began and after a moment Malcolm began to sing Aerosmith's I don't want to miss a thing. “I could stay awake, just to hear you breathing. Watch you smile while you’re sleeping, while you’re far sway dreaming...”

  Eme tipped her head up to look at her mate. “You’re perfect, you know that?”

  Caine dipped his head and kissed her. “Mm, I could get used to hearin’ dat from you.” He pulled her closer and trailed kisses along her jaw. When Emelise moaned quietly he nipped at her skin. A wicked gleam lit up his eyes as he took her hand in his and headed toward her office.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Your office.” Before she could argue with him he had her in the office with the door closed behind them. He flipped the lock then pulled her in for a passionate kiss.

  “Caine.” Her voice was a mere whisper against his lips. “We have guests.”

  “Dey can make do wit’out us for a bit.”

  Emelise knew she should have argued with him. It was their wedding reception. The club was filled with their family and friends, all wanting to celebrate their special day with them, but in that moment the only thing that mattered was the man in front of her. She slid her hands beneath his shirt, leaned up for a kiss, and whispered against his lips. “Okay.” He drove her crazy and she was looking forward to feeling that way for the rest of her life.

  Caine

  Caine deepened the kiss even as his fingers moved to the zipper all but hidden within the lace that graced the back of her wedding dress, just above her waist. The back of the dress dipped low, exposing the smooth skin of her back and his fingers had itched to caress her ever since he'd laid eyes on her in it. The bodice fit smoothly over her ass otherwise he might have just pushed the skirt of it up to get to her. As soon as he had it unzipped, he slid his hands up to her shoulders and eased the straps down. When her breasts were revealed to him he dipped his head to take a nipple in his mouth.

  “Caine.”

  Her needy whisper made him growl against her skin. You are so beautiful, cher,” he murmured before he helped her to step out of her dress. She stood there in just a lacy red thong and he felt himself harden even more. “I need you, Angel, I need to taste you.” He dropped to his knees, grabbed one of her legs to hook it over his shoulder, and buried his mouth against her.

  “Oh fuck.” Emelise's fingers slid into his hair as her hips bucked into his mouth.

  That's it, Angel.” Caine slid a finger into her and closely followed it with a second. He curled them to stroke her G-spot while he teased her clit with hi tongue. Within minutes, Emelise was muffling her cries with one hand while her inner walls clenched in orgasm.

  Caine stood and quickly rid himself of his clothes. Then he picked Emelise up so she could wrap her legs around his waist. He set her down on the edge of her desk, positioned himself at her entrance, and buried himself in one hard thrust. He dipped his head to kiss her while he moved. “I love you Angel,” he growled against her lips. He was glad Mia had offered to keep an eye on Hailey so they could have this moment together.

  “I love you, too. More than I ever thought possible,” Emelise replied. Her hands slid down his back as they moved together.

  Caine felt her nails graze his skin and his pace increased. He could feel the tension building in her and he slipped a hand down between them to caress her sensitive clit. It was exactly what was needed to send her crashing over the edge again. A few thrusts later and Caine followed her in release.

  They stayed like that for several minutes while their breathing slowly returned to normal. Then Caine helped Emelise get her dress back on, got dressed himself, and offered his arm to her. “Let's go join da party, Angel,” he said with a wink.

  Emelise laughed. “You do realize just about everyone out there is going to know what we did in here, right?”

  “I am, yes, but dey won't say a word. Dey know better.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I am never going to live this down but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” He opened the door and escorted her out to the front of the club where their friends and family were waiting to help them celebrate the beginning of their lives together. Glancing at his mate, Caine made a silent vow that their future was going to be filled with nothing but laughter and love.

  Acknowledgments

  I'd like to take this time to thank the people who have helped to make this book possible. First, my cover artist, Najla Qamber of Najla Qamber Designs. Her work is amazing and I absolutely love the cover. Also, a big thank you to my editor, Kathy Bosman the Indie Editing Chick. Her advice helped to clean up some problem areas I had when I started out on this endeavor.

  To the beta readers I had on this book, Kathy Wright and Jacinta Russell, thank you, for taking the time to read the relatively raw document and provide such valuable feedback. There are a few scenes within these pages that wouldn't have been so well written without your input! You ladies rock!

  To my ARC Team, thank you for offering your time to read this book before it went live and giving me your honest feedback on it! I appreciate it so very much!

  To my readers, thank you so much for giving my books a chance! There are so many new authors out there and I am honored to have your support. Without each and every one of you, we authors would not be able to do the jobs we love; bringing our characters to life so others can enjoy them as much as we do. You are our reason for sitting down every day and putting pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard. Again, thank you, so ve
ry much.

  I hope you enjoyed meeting Caine and Emelise and the rest of the cast and crew of the NOLA Shifters Series. There are more books in the works for this series so keep an eye out for them!

  About the Author

  Angel Nyx is an author of paranormal, contemporary, and historical romances (eventually!). She is also a mom, a reader, an avid gamer chick, and a cook in a nursing home. When she's not working, writing, reading, or gaming, she is usually relaxing to music or spending time with family. She has a long time love affair with the city of New Orleans and has future plans to move there, hopefully in the next couple of years.

  If you'd like to be kept informed of upcoming releases you can join my newsletter, and read my blog, at https://angelnyx.com .You can also follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AngelNyxAuthor/ , twitter https://twitter.com/AngelNyx , and Goodreads at: http://bit.ly/AngelNyxGR. I also have a reader/fan group on Facebook, Nyx's Goddesses, and can be found at: http://bit.ly/NyxsGoddesses

  Other books in the NOLA Shifters Series

  Trailing Moon Flowers: A NOLA Shifters Prequel

  Wild Lilies: Book One of the NOLA Shifters Series