Love Ever After: Eleven All-New Romances!

by Nina Lane

  “Stay with me,” he said against her mouth.

  “Always.”

  When her eyes went blind with her release, he finally pressed his face into her neck and chased after his own.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Margo tightened her legs against Simon’s outer thighs, hoping to hold him inside her just a little bit longer. His lips grazed her shoulder, his heart still rocketing against his rib cage hard enough that she could feel it. But her body was cramping and her leg was pretty much numb.

  Instead of moving, they both tipped to the side with a laugh. Pillows scattered and Simon stretched out on his back. His chest heaved as if he’d run for miles and hers wasn’t much better. She propped herself up on her forearm, tracing the tip of her nail down his chest into the light fur that whorled over each of his pecs.

  He caught her hand when she went for his nipple ring. “Shameless.”

  She grinned down at him. “Happy.”

  He shifted up on the bed and gathered the pillows to stuff behind his head. The air conditioning was blasting and she shivered. He snapped the sheet around them until they were a jumble of skin and cotton. “Just how happy?”

  She rolled onto her stomach and folded her arms across his belly. “Depends on the plan percolating in that brain of yours.”

  His eyebrow rose and the smirk she loved slid across his face. “I have a very active and detailed imagination.”

  She propped her chin on her arms. “This, I know.”

  “You love me, right?”

  “Uh oh.”

  “I’m being serious.” He dragged her up his body. And her heart rate bumped. She really didn’t have a problem with the workouts he’d been doing. At all.

  He groaned when her breasts flattened against his chest. She grinned at him when the sheet rose.

  “I want to ask you something.”

  She dragged the back of her fingers over his best renewable resource. The man definitely had good recovery time. She started to inch down his body again. “Oh?”

  He groaned. “No, ignore that. He can’t help it.”

  She laughed. “He’s not actually a separate personality. You know that, right?” His eyebrow rose in answer and she giggled. “Okay, so maybe it does.”

  “I’m trying to be serious here.”

  She pressed her lips together against an even bigger smile and settled back against his chest. “Yes. I’m sorry.”

  He lifted her left hand, toying with her fingers. “I want to ask you something, but I want you to have an open mind.”

  “We’ve pretty much done everything but put rings in the ceiling or make a separate room…for things.”

  He barked out a laugh and tipped his head. “Really? That’s where you’re going with this?”

  “Sorry. We’re naked and Simon Senior is as happy as you are…” Did she miss something?

  “Look, you in the room pretty much makes Simon Senior happy.”

  “I see no problems here.”

  He struggled to sit up and she slid off of him. His face was serious—far more serious than the moment warranted.

  She followed suit and pulled the sheet up. At his frown, she laid a hand on his thigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get you upset. You can ask me anything.”

  He snorted. “Yeah, I don’t know about that.”

  “Honestly. After what we talked about today, you could really think that?”

  “More so than ever.”

  She moved her hand to his chest and lowered her face until he met her gaze. “What is it, Simon?”

  “Open mind.”

  “Open mind,” she agreed.

  Again, he picked up her left hand and played with her fingers, finally settling on her ring finger. “I want to put a ring here.”

  Her breath stalled. “What?”

  “I get that marriage is something that you’re not all the way okay with.”

  The room narrowed and the fading light from their huge window seemed to fuzz at the edges.

  “And if you want to call it something else, I’m okay with that. But I want everyone to know you’re mine. I want you to know and believe you’re the most important person in my life.” He let out a shaky breath. “Will you?”

  She rolled onto her knees and grabbed his left hand. “You’d do that for me?”

  He laced his fingers with hers. “I’d walk into a church, a justice of the peace, a fucking Buddhist temple—anywhere. I’d marry you right now. Right now—this second.”

  The room shimmered and his beautiful face turned into a watercolor of inky mussed hair and silver blue eyes.

  He brought their joined hands to his chest. “But I get that word is more terrifying and ugly than beautiful for you.”

  She brought her other hand up to her mouth to stuff the sob down. How could this man get her so completely? No one in the world ever had before him.

  “I don’t care what we call it. But I want you to know it’s forever.”

  She swallowed down the lump that was taking over her throat. At least enough to speak. “So, you’d wear a ring too, right?”

  “Well, not a matching one.”

  The lump popped into a laugh and bubbled out. “And why not?”

  “Well, if you saw the ring—” He cut off. He crowded into her. “Wait. Yes? Yes, you’re saying yes?”

  “I…” Her heart pounded between her ears and the world got eerily clear. This man would do anything for her. The fact that she so completely ignored the signs in favor of what he used to be—what the press and the papers created his persona to be. That was on her.

  “You…” he prompted.

  “I want that forever, Simon. I’d wear your ring. The marriage part—we can work up to maybe?”

  “Holy shit.” He pushed her aside and stumbled off the bed. His leg twisted in the sheet and he slipped down the steps of the dais, sprawling across the hardwood.

  “Simon?” She gripped the side of the bed. “Are you okay?”

  He popped up, completely naked. “Good. Fine.” He started for the door, then came back and kissed her. “Holy shit.” He held his arms out, pointing at her. “Stay there.” He turned on his heel and rushed through the door.

  She tugged up the sheet and laughed, tears dripping down her face. “Where are you going?”

  “I’ll be right back,” he shouted over his shoulder.

  A crash and muttered curse words made her tuck the sheet tighter. “Simon?” She crawled to the end of the bed.

  He returned, skidding down the hall—still naked.

  She laughed and fell back onto her butt. “Simon.”

  “I got it. Got it.”

  She slapped her hand over her heart at the jeweler’s box in his hand. “You’ve had that?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. For a while.”

  She met him at the end of the bed. “For me?”

  He went down on his knee on the stairs, elbows pressed into the mattress. “Of course for you.” He flicked open the box. “See? The sapphire just doesn’t go with my look.”

  She blinked away the tears that kept rolling out. Her hand went to her mouth. A huge princess cut sapphire sat tall on a twisting coil of diamond and sapphire-encrusted platinum. It was unusual and staggeringly beautiful. The coils came up the sides of two corners of the larger gemstone, holding it in place.

  He pulled it out of the box with shaking fingers. “So, that’s a yes? To whatever wacky version of a commitment ceremony we do?”

  She nodded.

  “Words, Violin Girl. I need them.”

  Here and now she was the one without them. She whisked away the tears. “Yes. One hundred percent yes. I’m yours.”

  “Thank fuck.” He reached across the bed to drag her closer. He sat on the corner of the mattress and held the ring in one hand, shaking out his other. “Okay. So, I haven’t ever done this before.”

  She laughed. “Me neither.”

  He took her left hand, pressed a kiss into her palm. His eyelashes we
re damp as he smiled into the kiss. Then he kissed over to her fingers and finally slipped the band down her ring finger.

  It was a little tight over the last knuckle but then just sort of settled there. Sparkling fire and the liquid blue of the water at sunset. The time of day they loved so much.

  Perfect. Different and perfect, just like them. Classy with a bit of rock star flair.

  “It’s perfect.” She wound her arms around his neck and held onto him. “I love you so much, Simon.”

  “Good deal. Because I can’t live without you, Violin Girl.”

  She pressed her mouth to his cheek then to his mouth, where she tasted salt and joy. “Now I think you should definitely make love to me, Singer Boy.”

  “If you insist.”

  She laughed. “How handy that you’re already naked.”

  He rolled her onto the bed. “Like I could propose to you any other way?”

  “No.” She laughed and dragged him on top of her. “No, you wouldn’t.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Black Friday

  Simon pressed his hand to the ripped poster. How many nights had he wished for a headliner poster for just this spot on the wall of the Blue Rhino? Phil, the owner of the club, had actually ponied up the funds to get real posters made this time, but their old poster was still there, torn and faded.

  All those years ago when they’d had to beg Phil to make one. They’d done it to prove they were something more than a bunch of kids from the boardwalk.

  That their music meant something.

  The first one was on cheap paper and had the standard font and breakdown of their show. To them that had meant everything.

  It was already yellowing and had been frayed by years of bands standing right here where he was, looking for their poster.

  Now, there was a new one tacked beside it with their professional logo and thick, poster stock paper.

  Special Show

  One Night Only

  The Return of Oblivion

  Yeah. No pressure.

  “It’s just five songs.”

  Simon let his hand fall away. “Piece of cake.” He turned to Nick. “How’s the crowd?”

  “Restless.”

  He couldn’t look. Ramping up before a show had always been how he’d done it—jumping and pumping himself up. But now he had to focus. To remember all the things Jerry had been teaching him.

  Simon shook out his hands.

  “You can do this. You’ve been spot-on every damn night for the last two weeks.”

  “Yeah. I know.” He glanced at the stage. Microphones and amplifiers, guitar stands, and Jazz’s brand new pink and purple kit gleamed in the spinning house lights.

  Just five songs. A teaser.

  A free show to prove to everyone that he’d been working his ass off to come back. Because of his band. Because of Margo.

  He cracked his neck and nodded to Nick. “Don’t you need to go find a girl?”

  “I’m good.”

  Simon scrubbed his damp palms down his jeans. “Sneaky bastard. I didn’t even see you disappear.”

  Nick grinned and swung his axe behind his back. “Ninja.”

  Simon laughed. “Yeah.” He straightened the shoulders of his ripped out Journey shirt. “Hey, thanks for letting Margo be a part of this tonight.”

  Nick shrugged. “She’s all right.”

  “It helps having her here.” Simon found her across the stage, on the other side with Jazz. She was smoking hot in an all black one-piece thing that hugged her curves and emphasized everything boob.

  His woman. He smiled. All his.

  “Just like old times, plus a new chick.” Nick smiled. “No big deal.”

  Simon laughed and hopped in place. How could he not? “Just like old times.”

  Nick slapped him on the arm, then together, they ran out onto the stage. The crowd went insane.

  Simon grinned. This was exactly what he’d been working for.

  Do or die time.

  LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

  HIT OR QUIT: After you finish COMMITTED, please consider leaving an honest review here or on Goodreads.

  COME PLAY WITH US: We have a blast in our Facebook group, Word Wenches. It’s all about the teasers, giveaways, music, hot guys…oh and books. Join us!

  BE SOCIAL: Taryn & Cari are all over social media. Follow TARYN on Facebook & Twitter. Follow CARI on Facebook & Twitter.

  GET INFORMED: Visit the Lost in Oblivion website (www.lostinoblivion.com) to sign up for our Lost in Oblivion NEWSLETTER for contests, advanced notice on new releases & other fun!

  Lost In Oblivion

  the Series

  SEDUCED (prequel)

  ROCKED (book #1)

  ROCK, RATTLE AND ROLL (book #1.5)

  TWISTED

  UNTWISTED

  DESTROYED

  CONSUMED

  ♦ * *

  Coming soon

  SHATTERED

  FUSED

  If you’d like more information about the series & extras, please visit the Lost in Oblivion website!

  www.lostinoblivion.com

  Tales of the Were

  Grizzly Cove #1

  All About the Bear

  By

  Bianca D’Arc

  www.biancadarc.com

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Copyright © 2015 Bianca D’Arc

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Welcome to Grizzly Cove, where the sheriff has more than just the peace to protect.

  The proprietor of the new bakery in town is clueless about the dual nature of her nearest neighbors, but not for long. It’ll be up to Sheriff Brody to clue her in and convince her to stay calm—and in his bed—for the next fifty years or so.

  Dedication

  With heartfelt thanks to Jessica Bimberg, the first editor to see value in my work, way back in 2005. I’m so happy to be working with you again, Jess!

  And, as always, to my family, who continue to make allowances for the crazy writer in their midst. I couldn’t do it without your love and support.

  Author’s Note

  I wrote my first werebear way back in 2006. He was a supporting character in my first werewolf book, Lords of the Were. His name was Rocco Garibaldi and he finally got his own book, called simply, Rocky, in 2013. Since then, it seems a plethora of werebears have popped up all around, and because of that, I hesitated before starting this series.

  I was concerned that there might be too many werebear stories out there. That maybe readers were tired of them. But then I realized, I had to be true to the story in my heart, and even so, my bears needed to tell their stories.

  I hope you will enjoy the bears of Grizzly Cove.

  Prologue

  “You want us to what?”

  The question came from Brody, one of the highest ranked of the John’s lieutenants. If he couldn’t convince Brody of the genius of his idea, he’d never have a shot at convincing the rest.

  “We’re going to pretend we’re an artists’ colony. That’s the most sensible way we can fly under the radar around here.” He’d researched it, and it was the only plan that made sense for this part of the country.

  “But no
ne of us are artists,” Brody insisted.

  “You can use a chainsaw, can’t you?” He pointed at Brody, then went around the circle of his top men who were all gathered to hear the latest mission plan. “We all know Drew whittles in his spare time. And Sven can carve ice. Remember the swan he made when we were undercover as caterers that time?”

  “Tell me it’s the fucking polar bear that came up with this,” Peter the Russian shot a disgusted look at Sven, who flipped him the bird casually as he sat back to listen. Sven could always be counted on to listen first before jumping to conclusions.

  As Alpha of this team of misfits, John had his work cut out for him, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. All bear shifters, they’d bonded together over years of covert missions and top-secret assignments. And now, when the world had gone to hell and it was time to regroup, John had finally put his long-term plan into motion.

  He’d been quietly buying up a huge tract of land near the very tip of Washington State over the past several decades. Every spare dollar he’d ever earned had gone into the project. He considered it an investment, and now that he had finally revealed his master plan to his men, he hoped they would take a more active role in buying up the rest of the land that they needed.

  It was wild country with few inhabitants, yet the city wasn’t too far away as the crow flies. And there were humans nearby. An Indian reservation and other coastal communities. If John and his team set up house here, they’d have to come up with a plausible cover story as to why there was suddenly a new settlement made up mostly of men in this remote area.

  John had a plan to even out the numbers, too, but they’d have to be in residence first before he could put out the call through the shifter community to invite female bears who were looking for a change—and possibly a mate—to join them. There would probably be a few humans passing through on occasion, so they really needed that good cover story for their little community.

  John laid out the long-term plan for them all for the first time, and thankfully, they listened. Bears were tricky. Most liked to roam alone, only settling down with a mate and raising their family much later in life—if at all. And they usually didn’t live in such close proximity to their Alpha, which was more a ceremonial title than an actual authoritative one.

  But John had been commanding officer to every one of the men who gathered around him at one time or another, and the role of leadership fell naturally to him. He might not be the biggest bear in the group, but he was universally believed to be the smartest when it came to strategy. He had hope for his people that they seemed to understand. He wanted to see these men, who had given so much of themselves to help protect the innocent, have fulfilling lives of their own now that they were retiring from the human world and its troubles.