Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters Collection (Eight Fun, Romantic Novels by Eight Bestselling Authors)

by Violet Duke

  That was easy. Haley loved her family. So he’d gone to see her mom and asked if she had any pictures of Haley and her sisters that were small enough to fit in the tiny silver locket. Luckily, she did.

  “It’s perfect. Thank you so much,” Haley said as she pulled her hair to the side of her neck and then clasped the silver chain around her neck. Looking down as it hung right below her collarbone, she held it in her fingers and said sincerely, “Thank you so much. It’s perfect.”

  As he pulled up to a stop light, he took a moment to turn and admire it on her delicate neck.

  “I love it so much,” Haley told him as her hand moved over the locket.

  “I’m glad.” He turned his attention back to the road just as the light turned green. While he was driving through the intersection, Haley lifted the hand he had resting on the console to her mouth and pressed her full lips against the back of his hand in a sweet kiss.

  “Thank you, Eddie. For everything.” She lowered his hand so it rested on her thigh. The moment he felt her soft skin beneath his touch, his body surged with need.

  Haley’s hand rested on top of his as they drove on the frontage road along the river. His thumb drew lazy circles on the top of her thigh as his fingers dipped down, grazing her inner thigh. He stared straight ahead as he felt her legs open, her hand tightening over his and guiding it slowly up her thigh.

  The sounds of Haley’s breaths, growing shallower with every inch his hand traveled farther up her inner thigh, filled the cab. Eddie’s body surged with desire when he felt the fabric of her dress bunch against the side of his wrist as Haley slid his hand between her thighs.

  Eddie’s jaw tensed as his pinky brushed against the damp fabric of her silken panties. As his little finger rubbed across her silk-covered mound, Haley slowly spread her legs farther apart giving him ample access to the neediest part of her. A primal groan sounded from deep in his chest as he moved his hand over her wet femininity.

  Her hand remained over his as he moved his fingers, rubbing against the pulsating apex of her legs. As he erotically caressed her body, Haley’s hand moved with his.

  “I love it when you touch me,” Haley whispered, her head dropping back against the headrest.

  “I love touching you,” Eddie gritted out as he took his eyes off the road for just a moment. Looking over, he saw that Haley’s eyes were closed as seemingly all of her concentration centered on what she was feeling.

  His large hand cupped between her open legs, with hers resting on top of his as she sat with her dress bunched up at her waist beside him, was the most erotic sight he’d ever laid eyes on.

  It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to once again turn his eyes back to the road. They were almost home. Turning onto their street, Eddie’s eyes were focused on the road but his attention was focused on Haley’s damp core. Eddie massaged her center, feeling every fold of her fabric-covered swollen flesh beneath his touch. As his fingers rubbed against her, moisture seeped through the silky fabric, coating his fingers.

  As her arousal grew, she tightened her hand over his. Eddie let her set the pace as she used his hand to pleasure herself. His heart beat erratically at the sensual torment of being an active participant as Haley brought herself to climax. Breathless, urgent gasps escaped her as her body shuddered in release.

  They were just pulling into the driveway as the last tremor radiated through her body. After several beats, Haley removed her hand from his, releasing it. His hand was wet with her juices as he clicked his key in the ignition.

  When the engine shut off, the only sounds in the small space were their labored puffs of breath. When he turned his head towards Haley, she looked over at him with a sated expression.

  “Fuck. That was hot,” he rasped as he tried to still his racing heartbeat.

  A seductive smile lifted on her lips as she blinked her heavy-lidded eyes. “Happy birthday to me.” Then she grabbed her purse, reached for the door, and opened it. Looking over her shoulder as she moved to get out, she said, “Your turn.”

  Eddie could not get out of his truck fast enough. He was moving so fast as he stepped out that he dropped his keys. By the time he picked them up and shut the driver’s side door, Haley was already inside the house. He’d given her a key a couple of years ago since she watched Em so much.

  She stood, perfectly framed in the doorway, waiting for him. With every step he took closer to her, his body’s hunger built for her. Haley took two steps back as he moved inside, remaining just out of his reach. As the door shut behind him, she moved forward, backing him up against it.

  As she looked up at him, her hands lifted, splaying on his chest. He reached out to pull her closer to him but she swatted his hands down and shook her head, making a tsking sound. He liked that she was feeling so feisty and taking the lead, but damn, he wanted to touch her.

  Grasping his wrists, she placed them at his sides, silently communicating that she wanted him to keep them there. With a focused look in her eye, she untucked his shirt and began unbuttoning it. When she got to the last button, she placed her hands flat on his chest and moved them up and over his shoulders, removing his shirt.

  Before it had even hit the ground, her hands were on his belt. He watched as she unbuckled and pulled his belt out of the loops. Then she let it slip from her fingers.

  Her eyes locked with his as she sank down, kneeling before him. Reaching up, she began unbuttoning his slacks.

  His hands moved over hers. “Haley, you don’t have to—”

  Again, she swatted his hands away. Her blue eyes darkened with desire as she moved her hand over his length, which was straining against his pants. A sinful smile spread across her beautiful face as she said, “This is what I want for my birthday.”

  Fisting his hands at his sides and his eyes closed, he let his head fall back against the door, his legs locking beneath him. She was going to kill him. His heart felt like it was going to explode, as did another part of his anatomy.

  *

  EXCITEMENT RACED THROUGH Haley as she kneeled before Eddie. She made quick work of unbuttoning and unzipping his pants. Then, carefully, she tucked her thumbs, hooking both his briefs and his slacks, and slid them down his legs. He kicked off his shoes. He lifted each foot, stepping out of them, and she pushed them aside.

  She ran her fingernails up his thighs and they tensed beneath her touch. Her heart sped as she stared hungrily at his massive erection. She bit her bottom lip as her hands wrapped around it.

  His skin felt so smooth beneath her hands. Her palms tingled as her fingers tightened around his length, and she saw a bead of moisture appear on his tip. A small smile lifted on her lips as she leaned forward and licked it off. He grew even larger in her hands, and Haley began moving them up and down his manhood as she licked and kissed the head of his shaft. Opening her mouth, she sucked him as her tongue moved along the base of his erection. She could feel his length throbbing as she enveloped him in the tight, wet, heat of her mouth.

  He groaned as his hands moved to her head. Looking up, she saw him watching her, and it sent a jolt of pleasure shooting down her to her core. He spread his legs farther apart as his fingers ran through her hair, his gaze fixed on her mouth as it moved up and down his engorged flesh.

  A deep moan vibrated from his chest as Haley’s hands gripped Eddie’s hips, and she sucked harder, deeper, taking all of him. She felt his length pulsing as her speed increased.

  Then she felt hands grab her shoulders, pulling her up to a standing position. She was a little dizzy, probably with lust, as she watched Eddie retrieve a condom from the pocket of his pants lying on the floor. She was mesmerized as he tore it open with his mouth and sheathed himself.

  When he looked back up at her, she saw the same predatory gaze she’d seen in the dressing room. Her body instantly responded to it, trembling with desire.

/>   “That was fun,” she said as he stalked towards her. Just like before, she felt her feet moving backwards, retreating until she was flat against the wall beside the doorway to the kitchen.

  “Almost too fun,” he said with a smile as he lifted her dress over her head and pulled her panties down her legs in one swift move.

  His hands roamed up and down her naked body. She shivered beneath his touch. Staring up at him, she watched as his eyes greedily devoured her, following the path of his caresses. A carnal ache grew in her core as waves of desire rolled through her.

  His hands spread across her hips and tightened as he lifted her off the floor. “Wrap your legs around me,” his husky voice commanded.

  As she did, he entered her fully in one deep thrust. Haley gasped as Eddie filled her body completely. Her hands gripped his shoulders as her body adjusted to his size. He remained still, his body pressed against her.

  “You make me crazy,” he whispered roughly against her ear, sending tingling warmth down her spine. “I’ve never wanted anything like I want you.”

  His words caused her sex to pulse around him. She tried to move her hips against him but she was pinned between his muscular body and the wall he had her up against. Whimpering with need, she gripped him tighter, her nails digging into his skin.

  “You’re so fucking tight,” he growled softly, “and wet.”

  “Eddie, please,” she begged as her heels pressed into his back.

  His lips brushed against her ear as he said, “Are you sure you’re ready?”

  “Yes,” she moaned as his large palms cupped her backside, his long fingers kneading her flesh.

  He began moving his hips as he masterfully guided her body up and down his rock-hard shaft in smooth, measured strokes. “Is this what you wanted?”

  “Yes,” she gasped in desperation as her hands knotted in his hair.

  She moved her mouth to his neck, pressing open-mouth kisses on his hot flesh. Haley loved the salty taste of his skin as she slid her tongue across it in fevered kisses. As she sucked and licked his neck, Eddie thrust inside of her harder. Deeper. But it wasn’t enough. She could sense him holding back. She wanted all of him.

  “Harder,” she gasped as his hips slammed into hers, sending white-hot bursts of pleasure to her core.

  Fisting his hair tighter, she bucked her hips against his as he thrust into her, taking every inch of him. She reveled in the feeling of being taken by him. She could see sweat beading on his back as his body pounded into hers.

  “Yes!” she cried out as he drove into her faster and faster.

  Her body shook as pleasure, unlike any she’d ever felt, built at a frenzied pace inside of her. She felt herself going up and over the crest of ecstasy as he plunged into her once more, gripping her hips and moaning in male satisfaction.

  As she slowly floated back down to reality, all she could think was, Best. Birthday. Ever.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  EDDIE MADE HIS WAY down the stairs, and relief washed over him as he heard the sweet, soft sounds of singing drifting through the air. When he’d woken up to find the space beside him in bed empty, he’d been more than a little disappointed.

  He couldn’t count how many times he’d wished that he were waking up with Haley in his arms. Last night, as he’d drifted to sleep while holding her naked body tight against him, he’d thought, that come this morning, that particular fantasy was going to become reality.

  No dice. The fantasy was going to remain just that for the time being.

  As he rounded the corner and saw her at the stove in one of his white tshirts, her sexy bare legs sticking out beneath the hem that fell almost to her knees, singing along as she cooked something that smelled absolutely delicious, he figured that this sight was not a bad consolation prize.

  “Good morning,” he rasped as he wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled against her neck.

  “Morning,” she said as she bent her head to the side, giving him even better access to the graceful slope of her neck.

  Tightening his hold around her, she giggled as he nipped at her soft skin. Then, flattening his tongue, he ran it over the area he’d just bitten and her body molded against his as she let out a soft gasp. His hands splayed across her belly and he tilted her hips back so that his erection was firmly pressed against her backside.

  “Mmm,” she groaned as she continued moving the scrambled eggs she was cooking around the frying pan. “This is a nice way to start the day.”

  “It’s about to get even better,” he stated as he flipped off the heat to the burner, spun her around, and lifted her up on the counter, stepping between her legs.

  She bit her lip, and her arms wrapped around his neck, as excitement and arousal danced in her eyes. His hands traveled up her bare thighs, and gripping her hips tightly, he scooted her to the edge of the countertop and thrust his hips against her.

  He could feel the heat of her core through his sweatpants and his body tensed with need. Resting his forehead against hers, he breathed deeply as he admitted, “I didn’t like waking up with you not in my arms.”

  Eddie didn’t know what had possessed him to make that admission. He felt raw. Exposed.

  “I’m sorry,” Haley said as her fingers ran through the hair at the nape of his neck. “I wanted to make you breakfast in bed.”

  “If you would have stayed in bed, you would have been my breakfast.” At his words, a humming groan vibrated through Haley’s body.

  He covered her mouth with his, claiming her with a ravenous kiss as his hand moved up her waist beneath her shirt. Just as his hands cupped the heavy weight of her breasts, the doorbell rang loudly.

  Eddie ignored it; he knew it wasn’t Emily. Before he’d come downstairs in search of Haley, he’d called and talked to his sister, who’d told him that Riley and Em were in the backyard on the Slip ’n Slide and when they finished they were all going out to breakfast and then to the park. She’d asked if she could drop Em off this evening.

  So with that knowledge in the back of Eddie’s mind, he continued his sensual mission. His tongue explored her mouth as roaring urgency raged inside of him. Her fingers gripped his neck as her hips rocked against his steel rod.

  All he could hear in his ears was the loud swooshing sound of all of his blood rushing down to his groin. He had zero awareness of the loud knocking until Haley pulled away and, through ragged breaths, said, “You better get that.”

  Then and only then did the obnoxious pounding penetrate through his lust-fogged conscious. Dropping his head and cursing under his breath, he stalked to the front door.

  Opening it up, he was locked and loaded, ready to give whoever was on the other side of it a piece of his mind. But when the door swung open, Eddie froze. He went completely numb. He couldn’t feel his legs beneath him, his arms at his sides, or even his head on his shoulders.

  Eddie blinked several times. His head spun with dizziness. He was pretty sure his lightheadedness had to do with the fact that, as quickly as all the blood in his body had traveled to his groin moments ago, it had just as quickly drained from his body now.

  “Hi, Eddie. Long time no see.” The woman standing on his porch removed her oversized sunglasses.

  “Lacey?” Eddie’s voice sounded foreign even to his own ears. He felt disconnected from himself, like he was outside of his body looking in.

  “I came for Emily’s birthday,” Lacey said cheerily as she lifted a stack of presents he hadn’t noticed sitting beside her on the porch.

  At the sound of his daughter’s name, all of his senses and faculties returned to him at once. He was no longer in shock or disbelief. Hearing Emily’s name on Lacey’s lips was like being dunked in a tank of ice water.

  “Her birthday was ye
sterday,” Eddie corrected her, his tone flat and cold.

  “Are you sure?” Lacey narrowed her almond-shaped eyes in a questioning glare.

  “Yes. I’m sure,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “What do you want, Lacey?”

  Standing up a little straighter, she rolled her shoulders back. A flicker of challenge sparked in her brown eyes. “I want to see my baby.”

  “She’s not a baby anymore,” Eddie pointed out.

  “I know. She’s seven now—”

  “Eight,” he interrupted.

  Lacey shook her head the way she always did when she was irritated, her light brown hair flicking over her shoulders. Her hands flew up in exasperation. “Okay, she’s eight now. That’s my point. I’ve missed so much and I want to be a part of her life.”

  “It’s not that easy.”

  An overconfident smile lifted on her face. “I know. That’s why I thought it would be good to come on her birthday. I thought it would make it a fun event. You know, like meeting me could be her present.”

  Eddie let out a forced laugh. He had to give Lacey credit for being consistent. She always had thought the world revolved around her, and it looked like the years had not changed that one bit.

  “Can I come in?” she asked. “These are heavy.”

  “No,” he barked.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes.”

  Setting the boxes down, she stood and placed her hands on her hips. The moment she did that, Eddie recognized it as the same pose he’d seen Emily make a thousand times.

  “This is ridiculous, Eddie. It’s me.”

  So many emotions were flooding through Eddie. Anger. Sadness. Fear. He didn’t know which one was stronger. They were all rising up so fast he felt as though they were choking him.

  “I’m her mother. Nothing you can do can change that.” The determined tone in Lacey’s voice caused Eddie’s blood to run cold.