by Harlow Layne
Holden let out a long sigh. “I don’t have a great story. Prue and I were high school sweethearts and planned to move away after graduating high school, but my parents had other plans. Plans I wouldn’t go along with. They threatened Prue’s scholarship. I was eighteen and stupid and joined the Marines. All without talking to Prue. When I couldn’t find her, I hired a detective and he found her here. On my first leave after knowing where she was, I found out her father had just passed away. He was her world and I knew I had to be there for her. Prue didn’t feel the same way. She was pissed at me for leaving and never talking to her, and I didn’t blame her. I saw all the medical bills she was left with and propositioned her to marry me. I’d get my trust fund and she’d get a new house with all her bills paid and a nice divorce once my time was up in the military. The only reason she agreed was because she was in shock. It’s not a romantic story.”
“Don’t let him fool you. There’s romance in there. It just came after they were married.” Luke smiled. Every time he smiled, I was caught off guard. He was a normal guy, but when his lips tipped up it was obvious why everyone saw him as one of Hollywood’s heart throbs.
“I never would have known. Your relationship seems perfect to me. When she looks at you it’s with pure love in her eyes.” All their women did as did the men. They were all deeply in love and didn’t care who saw how they felt for each other. It was the total opposite of how I’d been raised, but I liked it.
“Don’t get me wrong, I know Prue loves me, but at the time I had no idea she still loved me the same way I loved her.”
I wasn’t going to tell him that was romance. Holden was finally starting to come around with me and I wasn’t going to ruin it.
Holden stood along with the rest of the guys.
“We should get out of here before the girls get back so Lily doesn’t get suspicious. Good luck.” Luke patted me on the back. “We’ll see you guys soon for dinner.”
Turning to look at our handiwork, I thought we did an amazing job. It didn’t exactly look like Venice, but it was beautiful. We’d put an archway in several places and then put fabric over them covering the entire pool. There were a hundred floating candles lit in the water along with thousands of lights strewn through the trees and all around the pool. Lily was supposed to be back around sunset, making for the perfect backdrop.
Running inside, I grabbed a bucket full of ice and placed the champagne in it, a tray of chocolate covered strawberries, and two champagne flutes. As I took in the backyard and all our hard work for the day, everything was perfect. Now I only had to wait for Lily to show up.
Going back outside, I placed everything down on the table and sat down on one of the loungers to wait. I must have closed my eyes and fallen asleep; I was startled awake by a car door slamming. Jumping up, I ran up to the driveway to catch Lily before she went inside.
With wide eyes and her hand clutched to her chest, she looked up at me. “Oh my god, Dante. Where did you come from? You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
Shit. I didn’t think about that.
“I’m sorry. I’m excited that you’re finally home.” The smile on my face was stretched so wide, it felt as if my cheeks might crack. Grabbing her hand, I intertwined our fingers. “Come, I have something to show you.” I pulled her along toward the pool. I had my phone in my other hand, ready to turn the lights on with one touch of a button. “Did you have a good time at the spa?”
“Thank you for convincing me to go. It was heavenly.” She pulled on my hand making me stop. “I was only gone for a few hours, but if you were worried about me you could have called.”
“I’m glad you had fun. Now, let me show you what I’ve been up to.” Hitting the button, all the lights turned on with a pink and orange sky as the background.
Lily gasped from beside me. Her mouth hung open as she looked from me to the pool and back again. “It’s beautiful,” she said breathlessly.
“You’re beautiful.” Stashing my phone in my pocket, I pulled out the ring and got down on one knee.
“What are you doing?” Her eyes started to glisten in the setting sun.
“I’m trying to tell you how much you mean to me.” I laughed, pulling her down to sit on my knee as her body started shaking. She wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a watery smile. “I waited too long to tell you I love you, and I’m never going to let time get away from me again. From the moment I saw you dancing on that bar swaying your hips, I knew you were the one for me. Thank you for giving me a chance and letting me into your life. You’ve made me a better person. I love you more than anything and want to spend the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you’ve made me. Lily Valenti, will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes! A million times yes, I would love nothing more than to be your wife,” she cried against my lips. “I love you so much.”
Sliding the ring on her left ring finger, I kissed each fingertip. “I love you too.” Helping her up, I stood with her. “Now, let’s celebrate.”
“I have to say with the way you’ve been acting for the last few days I thought you were going to break up with me or something. The girls all told me I was imagining it.” She squeezed my hand.
Stopping in front of the pool, I took her face in my hands. “I wanted everything to go off without a hitch, and the more you looked at me with an unsure look on your beautiful face, the more worried I got. I’m sorry you thought I doubted what we have for even a moment.”
Lily took in the pool and the champagne and strawberries and smiled. “You were busy while I was gone. I can’t believe you did all this.”
“Luke, Jax, and Holden helped me. I couldn’t have done this without them.” Pouring us each some champagne, I clinked our glasses together. “To the future Mrs. Ricci.”
We each took a sip. “I like the sound of that.”
“Me too. It can’t happen soon enough.” Laying down on the lounger, I pulled Lily down on top of me, my hands going to her hips as I rocked into her. “Come down here and kiss me.”
A mischievous look spread across her face. Sitting up taller, Lily pulled her t-shirt over her head, and unfastened her bra, letting her straps fall down her arms. My eyes zeroed in on her gorgeous breasts as my fingers skimmed up her sides. Cupping her, I sat up and pulled her nipple into my mouth and sucked. I scraped my teeth and swirled my tongue along her hardened peak. “I love the way you taste,” I murmured before I moved onto the other side.
“I love your mouth on me,” she groaned. “I want to feel you inside of me.”
“It’s a good thing you wore that cute little skirt.” Unbuttoning and pulling down the zipper of my jeans, I pulled out my aching erection. “Rub that sweet pussy on me and show me how much you want me.” Her slick folds spread her juices up and down my shaft coating me until I slipped deep inside, filling her. “Fuck, you feel amazing. Ride me, my beautiful siren.”
“Yes,” she moaned, rocking back and forth on top of me.
Skimming my hand up along her ribcage, I cupped her breast in my hand as my thumb on my other hand found her clit and started to circle in languid strokes. Lily bucked against my touch and started to move faster.
Sitting up, I nipped down her neck and licked across her collarbone eliciting a moan from her that brought me closer to the edge. Throwing her head back, she swirled her hips. My thrusts met hers as I ground against her.
“I need you to come.” I pulled her puckered nipple into my mouth and sucked hard. Her sex clenched around my length. Needing to push her over the edge, I pinched her bud as I swirled my tongue around her areola. Lily’s back arched giving me better access as her core spasmed. Her hands clawed at my back and shoulders as if I was the one grounding her to the earth. “Milk me, baby.”
Surging up, I buried myself deep inside of her as my own release took over. I wrapped my arms around her as she collapsed against me and held her tight. She ran her hands through my hair as I came down and placed kisses al
l over my face.
Resting her forehead against mine she gave me a sated smile. “That was…wow. Engagement sex is the best.”
Chuckling, I agreed.
If you would have asked me a few months ago if I’d meet a girl, fall in love with her, and ask her to marry me only knowing her for two months, I would have said you were crazy. Now I couldn’t imagine my life without Lily in it.
Tilting her head up, she kissed my chin. “I love you, and I can’t believe we’re engaged!” She squealed on the word engaged.
“Believe it. I love you more than I ever thought possible and can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“It’s so pretty out here. Maybe we should always keep it up,” she said in awe.
“Does it remind you of something?”
She propped her chin on my chest and looked around. After a long pause, she asked. “Will you hate me if I say no?”
“It’s a hint for where we’re going on our honeymoon.” I was a little disappointed that she didn’t see it, but as I looked around all we had done was cover the pool and put up some lights.
She sat up, straddling me once again with wide, excited eyes. “Our honeymoon?” Gripping my hand, she took another look around the backyard. “Can I have another hint?”
I loved seeing the excitement in her eyes. “It’s someplace out of the country you’ve said you want to visit.”
Tilting her head, Lily’s eyes focused on the water. “No,” she drew out the word. “It can’t be. Are you serious?” Her eyes lit up with excitement and I knew I’d made the right choice.
“It depends on where you think it is we’re going.” I chuckled.
Slapping her hands on my chest, her mouth opened in a big ‘O.’ “Are we going to Italy?”
“Unless you want to go somewhere else?”
“Somewhere else? No, I want to go. You know I do.” She scanned the area again. Her face was full of joy. “We should get married out here with all the lights.”
“Do you want a long engagement?” I prayed she’d say no.
“I’d be happy if we got married tomorrow, but I think it will take a little longer to plan a wedding even if we do it here. Is a month too long?” She squealed as I crushed her to me.
“I think I can live with that,” I murmured against her lips.
“Good, now let’s go practice consummating our marriage.”
Sneak Peek at Jaded by Love
WRITTEN IN THE STARS #8
Prologue
Audrey
My phone chimes with an incoming text from Love’s ballet instructor.
Selina: He’s on his way
Oh no, I was hoping I could avoid having this conversation, even if it was only for a few days. I place my phone down on the counter; I search for some way to busy myself. Anything to avoid having this conversation.
As I turn toward the studio to get some cleaning done early, the bell over the door chimes. I mumble a quiet greeting over my shoulder, not bothering to look. I can feel his eyes boring into my back, pleading with me to turn around and acknowledge his presence, but I can’t. Not now, I’m not strong enough.
“Are you going to ignore me? I thought after last night I at least deserved a reason for you bolting this morning.” His deep voice sends a shiver down my spine as memories of the time we spent together, our souls becoming one.
“I told the girls I had to open the studio for Bristol this morning. She texted and said she wasn’t feeling well. I didn’t want to wake you.” As the words leave my mouth, I know I’m full of shit. I ran away because once again the stars are against me.
I hear his work boots as he crosses the floor, pulling the broom out of my hand. “Why did you leave, Audrey?” His eyes blaze with passion.
“I told you, I had to work. Thanks for taking care of Love for me. I still worry when she is home alone.” I respond, looking everywhere but into his eyes.
“You’re rambling,” he says as he grips my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Why did you leave, Audrey?”
“I told you…” the crash of the broom against the floor stops my word in my throat. Any answer I give him he won’t take no for an answer, not after everything we shared last night. When I was filled with nothing but hope for the future, that there could be something more between us.
Excuses filter through my mind. I know what I have to say, breaking both our hearts.
“I refuse to be your replacement for Lydia.”
He inhales sharply as he releases my chin and takes a step back as if I burned him. I watch as the walls around his heart rebuild themselves, “If that’s how you feel, I won’t waste anymore of your time.” He says through clenched teeth before spinning on his heels and heading out the door.
I collapse to the ground, the tears I desperately have been holding at bay for most of the day fall as uncontrollable sobs rack my body.
The Devil is always right
Pre-order Jaded by Love for only $0.99.
Written in the Stars Series
12 Authors. 12 Months. 12 Signs of the Zodiac.
Aquarius –
Rebecca Gallo Reluctant in Love
Pieces-
Q.B. Tyler Bittersweet Love
Aires –
Karen Ferry- Daring to Love
Taurus –
Erica Marselas Price of Love
Gemini –
Sienna Snow Intrigued by Love
Cancer –
Kelsie Rae Drowning in Love
Leo –
Harlow Layne Fearless to love
Virgo –
AJ Alexander Jaded by Love
Libra –
Jennifer Woodhull Balanced in Love
Scorpio –
C.M. Albert Consumed by Love
Sagittarius –
Andi Jaxon Wandering into Love
Capricorn –
Hollis Wynn Crashing into Love
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About Harlow
Indie Author. Romance Writer. Reader. Mom. Wife. Dog Lover. Addicted to all things Happily Ever After and Amazon.
Harlow Layne is known for her contemporary romance style of beautiful slow-burn, sweet, sexy and swoon-worthy alphas, and fast pace, super-steamy romance in her Love is Blind series.
Harlow wrote fanfiction for years before she decided to try her hand at a story that had been swimming in her head for years.
When Harlow's not writing you'll find her online shopping on Amazon, Facebook, or Instagram, reading, or hanging out with her family and two dogs.
Also by Harlow Layne
Fairlane Series
With Love, Alex
Hollywood Redemption - Luke and Alex #1
Hollywood Fairytale - Luke and Alex #2
Unsteady in Love - Holden and Prue
Kiss Me - Jax and Gabi
Love is Blind
Intern
The Model
Secret Admirer
Cocky Suit
Anthologies
Spiced Holiday Kisses
Risking Everything Anthology
Heard It In A Love Song - November 2020
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