Temptations: A Limited Edition Contemporary Romance Collection

by Blue Saffire

  She was close to falling over the edge. Striker growled and flipped her, stretching out on top of her. He lifted her leg and plunged in. The grimace on his face was almost feral as he pounded in, the intensity growing. Everything before Striker washed away. Nothing mattered but this man, his beauty, and their connection.

  Her orgasm took her breath, her sanity. She was lost to the power, riding out the experience and the beauty of it all. As she floated back to earth, she stared up at him, thinking that he was one of the most stunning men she’d ever met.

  As she drew in air, filling her lungs after such an amazing experience, the doubt crept in. Her emotions were tied up over Striker. A part of her didn’t want to be lost to him, but she feared that every moment spent with him would tie her heart to his in a knot that would never be loosened. If he left again without her, those bonds would shatter, taking her heart with it. She wouldn’t survive.

  When he came, he dropped down so his mouth was by her ear, his breath harsh on her neck. Heat swirled between them, and their bodies slid easily against each other as sweat dampened both of their skin.

  He pulled out and dropped to the mattress beside her. They lay together for a long time, her mind spinning with fears and excitement. How had she fallen so fast for this man who didn’t even live in Charleston, heck, he didn’t even live in South Carolina.

  What would having him with her for more than a week be like? He looked happy about the baby, but she knew of men who ran off as soon as reality hit.

  He was nothing like her dad, and she didn’t think she’d ever have to worry about him hitting her. The Army would take his time, but they could get through that.

  He started kissing her again, his touches reverent, almost like he worshiped her.

  The sun had moved so it wasn’t shining on the window, and the room cooled. He pulled the covers over both of them, and at some point, they drifted off. She woke to him going down on her. Already sensitive from their lovemaking, she came fast. Then he was in her again, taking and giving.

  Letting go of this man would be impossible. He had worked his way into her heart, revealing a world full of color and happiness. When he’d gone back to base, leaving her in Charleston, it had been hard to breathe. No question, they were supposed to be together.

  “What are you thinking?” Striker asked.

  She lifted her chin and stared into his eyes. “I want to go with you.”

  “I want you with me. We’ll live together off base somewhere. It’ll take a few weeks for me to get everything settled, but we’ll figure it out.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder, happy this would work out. But what about long-term? Would he stick around? Her stomach tightened and twisted. Luck hadn’t always been with her or other women in her life. Her mom had died four years ago. Shannon still wasn’t sure her mom committed suicide. The cops hadn’t been interested in her suspicions at the time, and she gave up the fight. Now more than ever, she suspected her dad.

  Once she moved, she wouldn’t have to worry about her dad or where he was. She would be away from him and his influence. He would never find her, and she’d be happy with Striker. She turned her head and met his gaze. The love there convinced her she was right. Together, they’d take on the world.

  Striker sat up and pulled her up too, his eyes taking in her naked torso, then her breasts before he met her gaze. “You’re beautiful. I’ve never met anyone I’ve ever wanted to be with like I want to be with you. I’ve fallen for you.”

  She heated at his words. “I’ve fallen for you.”

  “We’ll leave in the morning, and you’ll have to stay in a hotel like this, but we’ll find you an apartment soon.”

  Was her luck really changing? She hoped so. She’d be happy with Striker. Her life was already better with him in it.

  Gratitude overflowed and burst forth from her as tears fell. “Thank you.”

  “No, love, thank you,” Striker said. “You’ve changed my life, made it better. I’m so happy I met you.”

  He leaned in and brushed the sweetest kiss over her lips. She shivered, knowing she’d found her forever man. Striker would rock her world, take her higher, and leave her satisfied in all ways possible. She loved him like none other. With Striker, she finally had hope for a future. This man would be her everything.

  17

  Striker pulled into the hotel parking lot. He glanced over at Shannon, smiling at her sleeping form. They’d gotten a late start, and because of a storm, it had taken them seven hours to drive back to Columbus, Georgia. He was tired but happy to have her with him. She had no clue how much he loved her. Being with her calmed the beast inside. He could imagine a good future with her in his life.

  She blinked open her eyes and sat up. Outside the vehicle the world passed them by. He thought this place didn’t look too much different than outside Charleston.

  “Sorry, I was just so tired.”

  “I guess that’s going to be something you’ll have to get used to.”

  She laughed and stretched before looking around. “Where are we?”

  He winced and tried to sound positive. “It’s nothing fancy, but it’s close to base.”

  She reached out and touched his arm. “Hey, it will be perfect.”

  “I’d like to look for an apartment close by. That way it won’t take me long to get home after I get off work.”

  She smiled and his heart sang. This woman had that kind of effect on him. He’d spent so long thinking life was pointless, and now he had someone special. His heart squeezed as hope grew.

  “I can’t believe we’re living together,” Shannon said. “It’s amazing. I mean really, we’re in the same city. It’s surreal.”

  He cupped the side of her face, and his thumb grazed over her cheek. “I feel like my future is set.”

  Her brows pinched together. “Is that a good thing?”

  “Yes, my love. It’s a wonderful, perfect thing, and I can’t wait to spend forever with you.”

  She moved closer and brushed her lips over his. His heart squeezed, and emotions filled him. With her here, he could relax. He hated that her father had been such a bastard. If he could get away with it, he’d go beat the shit out of the guy, but he didn’t need to end up in jail. Shannon needed him too much.

  The next morning, he took her to a cellular store and got her onto his plan. She was thrilled to have a phone again. They searched for an apartment close to his work. She stopped into a couple of salons and filled out an application at one of them. He liked the place since it was decorated like it was upscale with rich browns and cream colors instead of looking cheap like another place they’d gone into. It was more like the type of place where Shannon would fit. This place was the best, like Shannon.

  When he couldn’t put it off any longer, he pulled himself away from her. Leaving her was difficult. His heart ached and all he could think of was going back home to her. She was so close now, which made his life easier. He’d have to stay at the base for a few nights until he received permission to live elsewhere, but soon, he’d be living with her in their own apartment.

  Shannon said she would work on finding a place for them to live. While he was at work, she texted him pictures and little notes. At the end of his workday he enjoyed reading about her day, seeing the photos she sent. He loved that she was close and wanted him in her life. Then she found a place she liked closer to his work. That made him smile. It was good for him, but that meant her commute would be longer if she got the job in the nicer salon.

  A few days after he returned to work, he found out he was being allowed to move off base with her once they rented an apartment. Happiness seemed to be a part of daily life. They’d be able to live together.

  Then the big day was there, and he moved in to the apartment with Shannon. His life couldn’t get any better. Everything fell into place. Living with Shannon was how his life was supposed to be.

  Neither one of them had much, but they didn’t need a lot. They developed
a pattern that fit them well. She cooked dinner and he cleaned up. At the three-week mark, he came home to a delicious scent coming from their apartment. He opened the door and was surprised the cheap table they’d picked up at Goodwill was already set, Shannon beaming from ear to ear.

  “Hey, this looks nice,” he said as he unbuttoned his shirt.

  “Well, dinner will be done in a few minutes. Go shower, and then we can celebrate.”

  He stepped back, excitement filling him. “Celebrate?”

  The look in her eyes made him want to dance for joy. “Oh yeah, baby, celebrate.”

  “You got the job, didn’t you?”

  “Yes. I still have to take my exam in a week for the state board, but based on my grades, they know I’ll pass. I start next week learning the salon, then after I pass my boards and get my reciprocal license for Georgia, I’ll have a chair. One of the women who works there is moving to California. She’s leaving in six weeks, so this fits perfectly.”

  He picked her up and swung her around. She laughed and shrieked, demanding to be put down. “I’m too big,” she squealed.

  “Oh no, baby, you’re just right.”

  She grunted. “I’ve gained ten pounds since getting pregnant.”

  “You look great.” And she did. He liked her with the added weight. He liked her without it too, but her carrying his baby was such a huge thrill he didn’t care what her weight was as long as she was healthy.

  He planted a kiss on her lips and moaned as his desire ramped up. The kitchen timer rang, and she pulled out of his arms. He groaned. “But I want to hold you.”

  She chuckled as she pushed at his hands. “Go shower. Dinner is almost done.”

  He watched, thinking he was the luckiest man in the world. “Sure, baby,” he said as she skipped into the kitchen.

  He had everything he needed. The love of his life was happy, and so was he. Nothing would ever come between them. Before having Shannon in his life, he’d never understood how some guys thought their life was perfect with their woman, but now he did. Shannon made everything perfect.

  A little voice in the back of his mind told him not to fall for the idyllic postcard moments, but he pushed it away, ignoring the twist of fear running through his veins. His unit was set to deploy in twelve weeks. He had time to tell her later. Right now, he would focus on her and their baby. Later, they could discuss deployment. Today was about her success. He was proud of her. No question, she was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and now, he would prove he was the best thing that had happened to her.

  ***

  If you loved this story, read more about Whitney and Jackson in books 1 and 2 of the Dark Eagle series in Survive The Fall and Live Past The Edge. Look for the next book in the series, Endure The Darkness to read more about Striker and Shannon. For a paranormal twist, read Julia’s books under the JS Bright name.

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  If you plan to continue with this series, there’s an epilogue…but I suggest you stop here if you don’t like cliffhangers and don’t plan to continue.

  Thank you for reading Hold On Through The Pain by Julia Bright!

  Epilogue

  Striker stood at the doorway leading to their home, or what had been their home. Shannon was gone. He didn’t blame her. He wasn’t the man he used to be.

  The woman living here now lifted her eyebrows. “I don’t know where she moved. After her husband died, she took off.”

  Striker sucked in a breath. Jesus, the Army couldn’t get anything right. He hadn’t died, but they sure as heck had screwed up by losing track of Shannon. Hell, he was still alive, but he’d been held prisoner for years. The nerve damage to his right leg was permanent. He’d done physical therapy, but he’d never be the same. Hell, no one after coming back from that hell would ever be the same.

  He noticed the woman’s lips thin and her hands shake. No doubt, he looked like shit. She would probably call the cops soon, and he didn’t need that. The marijuana that kept him from going off the deep end sat in his pocket just waiting for him to smoke.

  “Thank you,” Striker said and took a step back.

  The door slammed, and he heard the deadbolt slide closed, locking him out. He’d returned a hero with nothing. Sure, he got the party, the little gift from the president, a place to stay while he got back on his feet, but he had nothing.

  His house had been sold, his wife and their kid gone, disappeared into thin air, and he didn’t even have the old couch they found on the side of the road.

  The war had not only taken his mind and his time, it had taken his whole life.

  Now, he wanted it back, but he couldn’t find Shannon. He’d looked, good lord he’d spent hours searching, but it was like she didn’t even exist. He couldn’t find anything about her. Nothing! She had drifted off after he’d been listed as dead and he feared he would never see her again.

  His phone rang, and he checked the caller ID. It was a buddy of his from the service. He let it roll to voicemail. They’d want to drink, but he didn’t need alcohol. All he needed was Shannon and their child, if that child was even alive. Hell, his life was screwed, and he had no way to fix it.

  ***

  If you loved this story, you can find more from the series in books 1 and 2 of the Dark Eagle series, Survive The Fall and Live Past The Edge. Read the next book in the series, Endure The Darkness…coming soon. For a paranormal twist, read Julia’s books under the JS Bright name.

  About the Author

  Julia Bright loves romance and loves writing romance novels. She’s been reading since she could open a book. Romance was her ‘drug’ of choice growing up. She would spend hours sitting at her desk reading one book after another. Writing is a dream come true for her. Julia throws in a bit of action and adventure, along with a dash of love to make her characters shine. If you love a good story, you’ll enjoy a Julia Bright book.

  Kiss the Bride

  Monica Corwin

  Kiss the Bride © 2019 by Monica Corwin

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  All rights reserved.

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  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Kiss the Bride

  Helena Banks and Alex Parker are meant to be...if they can get past the secrets, lies, corporate espionage.

  * * *

  Helena Banks has the perfect life. Well, she thought she did until her perfect fiancé left her in the limo outside her perfect wedding. Like any strong woman she rallied with the help of one super sexy limo driver. But is he really who he says he is?

  * * *

  Alex Parker never wanted a complicated life. He lives for his work and that had always been enough. When fate drops a damsel in distress on his radar he realizes he's not content after all.

  * * *

  But Alex has a secret...one that will turn Helena's perfect life even more upside down. Can she handle it, or him?

  1

  Helena

  Relief washed over me. A relief so bone deep, I literally sagged into the leather of the seat upon being abandoned at the altar. Technically, I wasn't left at the altar, merely in the limo outside the church.

  His words echoed in my mind. You don't value yourself. Look at you, trying to fit into that dress, trying to be someone you're not. The bastard. Jace never looked at me the same way again once I’d put on some weight the year before.

  "Well, good riddance," I announced to the empty limo before grabbing a bottle of chilled champagne from the rack so artfully arranged in front of me.

  The partition between the backseat and the driver slowly descended with a shaky vibration.

  "Did you say something, ma'am?" the driver asked.

  "Yes. I said, 'good riddance.'"

  "Ma'am?"

  I turned to the driver of my
limo. Well, Jace's limo, but now it was in my possession, and fortunately still charging to his credit card. I had to blink a few times as I looked at the driver's face. He stunned me with those sea green eyes, long lashes, and slick James Dean hair.

  "Can you just drive, please? Anywhere. Everywhere. I'm going to sit here and get ridiculously drunk. Sound all right?"

  His lip curled in a hint of a smile. "Yes, ma'am."

  He didn't roll up the partition again and I didn't even care. I took a long draw from the champagne bottle, the chill infusing my fingers, numbing them.

  I didn't think about moving out of Jace's condo, or the fact everyone in that church probably couldn't care less if we were married today or not. I had no one in my life. I'd asked my assistant to be my maid-of-honor for goodness’ sake. Jace made up my whole life, and at the time, I thought it okay. Seeing the situation from the outside formed a completely different experience. He’d never wanted me. He’d only wanted to remake me into the perfect wife before making partner.

  The limo stopped moving. I looked up at the driver and watched him climb out the door.

  What's going on?

  He surprised me when he opened the door and lumbered into the backseat, pushing the tulle and lace of my wedding gown toward me as he moved in.

  "Can I help you?" I asked, sarcasm heavy in my tone.

  He grinned again. The one specifically formulated to drive a woman to her knees. He knew how to use it, too.