by Ann, Pamela
I cried the hardest when he mentioned children. I was such an idiot. I would give him a dozen babies just to make him happy.
“My heart hasn’t changed. No one has ever been in it except you. I have loved you from the beginning and I will love you until the end. I just love you—through Heaven and Hell—to the moon and back,” he vowed before producing something out of his pocket. It was a ring.
Oh, God. He couldn’t be, could he?
Agog and beyond shocked, I stared at him before he got on his knee. Oh. My. Fuck!!! I was going to have a heart attack. I was hysterical with tears, laughing and shedding more tears.
“When did you get that?”
“My Aunt Tamsin was here when she was first diagnosed with cancer and I told her about my plans. I asked for her help since I had no idea how to shop for engagement rings. It’s the ring that you would wear for the rest of your life, so I wanted it to be perfect. She went into her room, came out and presented me with this. It was what my late uncle gave her for their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. She wanted us to have the same luck and happiness she’d found with him.”
He touched my cheek. “This was the day after that night you cried for loving me so much in the video. My plan was to propose after your graduation. I even had it all planned out…”
He took my hand, hovering the ring upon the right finger. “Lucille Connelly, you’re the very reason why I’m still here—the sole reason for everything I do with my life. I had memorized this proposal two years ago and I still know it by heart. Word for word, it’s forever ingrained in me—in my soul.”
“Love—” I was sobbing, but he stopped me, beaming with love for me.
“I fell for you when we were friends, when you thought I wasn’t looking at you, but I saw you very clearly. I just needed time to be with you, and maybe a little courage because I knew loving you is forever. The night I approached you, I was all in then—there was no going back. My heart chose you, even from a distance; it slowly loved you until you were fully mine.
“I can’t promise you that we’ll have a blissful, fight-free kind of marriage, nor can I vow that I won’t drive you mad, but what I can promise you is that I will always be here, ready to catch you when you falter. I will always take care of you, always put your needs before mine, your happiness, your smiles and laughter will be my purpose. I exist only for you,” he said, adding, “You… there’s only ever you, Luce.”
I simply lost it—crying and kneeling with him—before taking his lips and kissing him as hard as I could. “I love you, forever. If forever is never, then never shall be my forever.” Stealing his quote, I vowed my life intertwining with his.
“So… was that a yes?” he murmured before stealing my sanity.
Happiness, who would have thought I’d find it again with my lost love?
“You have four weeks to lock me in, Mr. Watson,” I teased before I felt him rip the crotch of my leggings and then pushed my thong aside, thrusting everything of him in me, evoking a moan from me.
“Toby… I love it when you go mad, crazed and randy.”
“I think you’re quite perfectly locked in now, Mrs. Watson,” he whispered, smiling wickedly before he filled my ears and body with what he’d been dreaming to do ever since I had taken him in my mouth.
A month later…
For the umpteenth time, I checked my wavy, chignon-styled hair in the antique, gilded pier mirror. It looked pretty, but it didn’t feel too secure. “Another pin, perhaps?” I asked out loud, wondering if one would be enough.
“Stop it. Your hair will go bushwhacked if you check it one more time.” Chad appeared behind me, giving me that loving, evilish smile as he went through my dress, checking for stains and whatever crazy disaster bride-to-be’s were prone to on their wedding day.
My wedding day…
Yes, it was definitely happening. At my parents’ estate in Kent.
My gorgeous gown was made out of ivory lace, a tight-fitted bodice with mermaid-tail style bottom that had just enough length for it to glide behind me. It was classy, sexy, and the touch of lace gave it a delicate, elegant look.
“You look so beautiful, Luce. He’s going to go ballistic when he sees you walking down to him,” Sienna said, giving a dramatic sigh.
“It’s time.” Luke appeared out of nowhere, cradling his little bundle of joy named Belle.
Chad froze, eyes bulging out. “FUCK. Are we ready? Are you ready?” He seemed frantic as he started to tear, carefully cupping my face. “I love you, but if you’re not ready to go marry that man out there who’s been overly, crazily, obnoxiously in love with you, it’s not too late to back out. Things have progressed so quickly, so if you’re having doubts, don’t do it. It’ll hurt him worse if you plan to divorce later on, ya know? I’m your bridesman; I’ll bounce with you.”
Sienna nodded along with him. “If there’s even a tiny spec of doubt…”
“I don’t. I love him,” I declared with my heart. “I’ve been waiting for this day for such a long time, I’m never letting him get away. This is it for me, loves.”
I was marrying Toby and no one was going to stop me.
After a few tears and warm hugs, my mother came to get me, eyes brimming with tears and happiness as she guided me towards where my father was waiting.
Beaming with pride, father kissed both of my cheeks before holding my hands and nodding with approval. “My little pet is finally getting married.” He sniffed, eyes glazed with moisture. “You look beautiful, darling.” He reached for my mother’s hand, holding it tight. “If you’re not one hundred percent sure about this—” he started before I interrupted.
“I’m a million times sure,” I assured them both, not wanting another speech about having second thoughts because I simply had none.
My mother hooked her arm through mine. “Then that’s all we needed to hear, darling.”
“Let’s get you married then, shall we?” my father said, taking my other arm as we walked side by side for a few more steps towards the garden that had a white-carpeted aisle dusted with magnolias, giving the air about the garden a warm, lush ambiance.
The string quartet started playing “The Scientist” by Coldplay. The entourage went about their places when I knowingly glanced ahead, seeing Blake standing next to my soon-to-be husband, who was looking even more dashing since I had seen him last. Even from a distance, his eyes lasered in on me, staring so intensely that I began blushing from head to foot.
Giving him a small, knowing smile, he amorously responded with that sexy grin of his and a quick tap against the side of his chest where his heart rested.
We were going on to the next chapter of our lives, and I couldn’t wait to finally start it with him.
I had waited for this man for so long. After all the pain and suffering, I must say he had been worth the tears and heartaches.
The future had never looked better.
“When love is not madness it is not love.”
- Pedro Calderón de la Barca
~Toby + Lucy~
Read more about them in Chasing Mrs. Knightly written in Blake Knightly’s POV.
Coming 08. 04. 14
Want more of Ava’s story? Falling For Ava (British Billionaires) coming this summer!
Clive Barrington’s story will also be in the British Billionaires Series, Falling For The Siren. Coming 2015
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More books by Pamela Ann
The Torn Series Order:
Scornfully Yours
Scornfully Hers
Frayed
Blasphemous
Undeniably Yours
Scorned
Fixated On You
Christmas With You
Unveiled November 19
Crushed TBA
Damaged TBA
The Chasing
Series:
Chasing Beautiful
Chasing Imperfection
Chasing Paradise
Chasing Forever (Lucy & Toby)
Chasing Mrs. Knightly: Epilogue Coming August 4
Lily’s Mistake
Loving Drake
Loving Lily Coming July 7
British Billionaires Series:
Falling For My Husband (Callum & Stella)
Falling For Ava (Reiss & Ava) TBA 2014
Formula Men Series:
Monza Luca di Medici Coming June 24
Nice Jacques Bertrand TBA
Barcelona Andrès Franco TBA
Pieces: A Duet
Pieces of You & Me
Pieces Of Us Coming October 15
+ Upcoming Novels +
My Summer in Venice Coming May 2014
Havoc (Dark Erotica)
Bartered (Dark Erotica)
Breaking My Vows TBA 2014
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Chasing Mrs. Knightly Synopsis
After all the hurdles, the highs and lows, the love and hate, the ceaseless fights, Sienna and I had finally reached a full circle, coming together as husband and wife.
I had everything I could ever ask for and all the happiness I could ever dream of, but I couldn’t help feeling that something was amiss…
This revelation cemented my purpose.
Chasing Mrs. Knightly
(Chasing Series Epilogue)
Pamela Ann
Chasing Mrs. Knightly
(Chasing Series Epilogue)
Copyright © 2014 by Pamela Ann
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without a written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
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A Vision…
She came as surrender, as my fate…
Renewed, merging with the very depths of my soul.
She touched a part of my heart that no woman had ever touched.
Sienna was all I had ever wanted, what I had dreamt about in such a time when I had thought and believed she would never find out what my true intentions were—the truth that had been hidden in the depths of my heart. She was like I drug—a possession I wanted to hold, to conquer.
When the perfect opportunity had presented itself, I had chased after her like I had never done in my life, giving my all to a woman even though I had no clue if she felt the same way as I did. Her newly broken heart hadn’t deterred me. I hadn’t pondered for a second or hesitated to capture her as mine. I couldn’t stand idly by and be the gentleman she once thought I was. When it came to her, I was all or nothing. The addictive, lust-filled needs I had for her in the very beginning spiraled into something so much more unexpected, something I hadn’t fathomed ever happening to me.
Falling madly, deeply, and ceaselessly with abandon was a new emotion for me. Furthermore, even though it came as a surprise, I embraced this newfound yearning I had developed for another being. I needed her to breathe, to signify my life as a whole.
My love had no depth. It was a bottomless pit of overpowering emotion I couldn’t control…
And even though I loved her to no end, there was something else I craved, maybe just as much as I wanted the very woman herself. It was a troubling fact, and yet it was something I couldn’t ignore. It gnawed at my soul.
Like everything in life, nothing came easy.
Thus, I was chasing Mrs. Knightly.
Pillow Talk
Approximately 6 months ago
“Sienna?” I murmured softly as I kissed her forehead while mindlessly stroking her hair with one hand as I gathered her hand, entwining it with my other.
“Hmm?” she responded, sounding sleepy and exhausted from the rigorous physical exertions that had gone on for about an hour.
I had recently purchased a small island off the West Indies, and it just so happened I needed an exotic, secluded place to take my newly wedded bride. This came as a perfect solution.
Shutting my lids, my mind immediately went back about fifteen hours ago, when my ever loving beautiful Sienna had proposed to me. The shock, the immediate rush of blood into my heart, thinking a heart attack was about to seize me before I made her mine, had actually flagged my mind for a second. But then the shock had worn off and it had been replaced by an overwhelming sense of joy and the profound love I had for her.
I still felt raw and couldn’t believe that she—Sienna, who I had been chasing for months on end—had finally wanted to marry me. Who would have guessed she was going to end up mine after she’d mercilessly broken my heart by turning me down following my epic disaster of a proposal on the side of the road outside her building—my desperate attempt to make her see I was in love with her?
Beaming like the mad, besotted fool I was, I held her tighter in my arms, feeling quite blessed and content. “Thank you… for surprising me. I don’t think I ever told you how much it meant to me. I have never felt such love and affection. It’s flowing abundantly.”
Her golden eyes met mine before she parted herself from my body and lifted her face to match mine. “It was all for you…” She was smiling, though there was a thin film of tears in her eyes. “After what you did—never thinking about your safety and putting yourself in danger to save me—I could never repay you.” Her lip trembled as her eyes sought my depths. “Your love puts mine to shame, Blake.”
Our love hadn’t been easy. Even from the very beginning, it had been tumultuous and, some might even say, hazardous to one’s health. But all the fights and damning struggles we’d fought together were worth everything I had put on the line for my life. From the mind-bending battle with Camilla to Amelia’s wrath, Ivanna’s stupidity and Adriana’s attempts to separate us, it had been a never-ending cycle of destruction. Amidst it all, however, we had prevailed, stronger by the day.
How often had we doubted ourselves? Countless times. Yet, there was depth between us, an unspoken, inexplicable connection that bonded our souls. We were one. A whole. I would give my life every single time my wife was in danger. As for the ones who wished her harm, I’d settle that score myself. I had failed her once, and that fault had cost me greatly. I never would forget that error.
“Your childhood wasn’t easy. You were beaten and traumatized, and as the expected result, you carried these emotions to adulthood.” Her family was a toxic piece of the puzzle that didn’t contribute to her livelihood. Instead, they poisoned her naiveté and took pleasure in her suffering. They were monsters. What kind of adult would harm a defenseless child? Only a monster would. “I cannot fault you for something that was out of your hands, though it took me a while to understand, I shouldn’t have lashed back when you managed to hurt me. I was a fool, not realizing the profound pain you had buried within you. I promise, I’m going to be a better husband than a boyfriend.” My temper was rather horrid. It was like a short circuit, and it detonated when only slightly prompted, but I was a husband now, which brought vast responsibilities. I would try my damned best to cater to our marriage. “I cannot fully avoid not going on business trips, but I assure you, I will lessen my travels as much as
I can. And when we do decide to have children, my trips will be much fewer.”
“Children, hmmm?”
Yes, children. Although, there was no rush, was there? It had been merely fifteen hours since I’d made her my missus.
“It is entirely up to you. Whatever suits your happiness, poppet.”
She remained quiet, almost too quiet for my liking. When she did decide to speak up, what came next was rather unexpected.
“So if I decide to wait for…” she made an ominous pause before continuing, “Let’s say five years, you’re okay with that?”
“Five years?” That was half a decade. I would be thirty-three, pushing thirty-four. Add another nine months before the baby’s born… “Surely you must be joking?”
Was she? I hoped she was, but when I saw her face, that mighty feeling went from small to miniscule.
She arched her brow, giving me a face that brought the axe to any man’s hopes.
Bloody hell. Oh, what of it! Surely she might change her mind, hopefully.
“Well, then…” I sighed with a heavy heart, “five years it is, amore.”
“You sure?” Her eyes zeroed in on me, noting everything. “You don’t look too happy, nor do you sound convincing.”
Bugger. Why was she so insistent?
Conceding with a sigh, I captured her pouty lip and kissed her senselessly. “I’m happy, as long as you stay loyal and true to me.” Which was quite more important after Kyle Matthews had almost gotten her for the second time. I would never dare forget that hollowed feeling of my gut being ripped apart and fed to the sharks. Seeing her stride into her apartment, wearing his dress shirt, still haunted me. The lacerating cut kept on opening every time I thought of that memory. It was the most painful kind of experience, one I never wanted to feel again.