by Nadia Aidan
“First, I’m thinking your sentence should be longer. I’m thinking indefinitely.” He ignored her sharp gasp and held her closer when she struggled to pull away. “And I know you enjoy running Every Desire, but that’s going to have stop. On that I refuse to budge. Besides, I’m thinking after the wedding, we should start filling this place with kids, and any child of ours is going to be a handful, so you’ll be too busy to run that brothel. We’ll also have to build a bigger house, and with all this land, we may want to think about turning it into a ranch. And with your head for business…”
Cherie stared up at Shane, her eyes wide and her ears buzzing. She could not have possibly heard… Was he serious?
“Are you serious?”
He pinned her with a level stare. “Completely. I love you, Cherie. Have from the first moment I laid eyes on you, and that’s why I could never turn you in. Even back then I couldn’t.” He leaned his forehead against hers and released a long, ragged sigh. “I wish you would have trusted me eight years ago. I’d worked out a deal with the judge. Had you stayed you would have been released into my custody and put on probation. I’d planned to marry you as soon as your probation was up.”
Cherie’s throat clogged with emotion at his words. He’d done all that for her? Tears burned the backs of her eyes. No wonder he’d hated her and been hell bent on revenge. Not only had she broken his heart, but her betrayal had cost him his freedom for two years. She couldn’t imagine the pain and bitterness she’d feel if the man she loved betrayed her so cruelly.
She touched his cheek, the tears she’d tried to fight back, slipping down her cheeks. “Oh, Shane,” she whispered brokenly. “I am so sorry. For hurting you, for all the pain I caused you—”
He silenced her with a single finger against her lips. “That’s in the past—all of it. Today’s a new day, and I say we make a fresh start.”
She smiled through her tears, completely amazed by Shane’s capacity to love and his ability to forgive. After everything she’d done, he’d found a way to put his love and trust in her again. She didn’t think she deserved it, or him, but she would forever cherish the second chance they’d been given.
“I love you,” she said softly.
His lips furled into a crooked grin
“I know.” He slowly backed her towards the bedroom. “And I expect you to spend the rest of the day and all night showing me just how much.”
She arched a mischievous brow. “Just one day and night? You sure you don’t want me to show you for a lifetime?”
He grinned. “You’re right. A lifetime may be just long enough for me to get my fill of you.” His eyes twinkled. “But then, maybe not.”
He swept her up into his arms, and for the rest of the day and all night, she did far more than just show him how much she loved him, as she gave herself completely over to Shane—heart, body, and soul.
* * * *
The burnished embers of the sun were just peeking through the window when they finally gave into their exhaustion.
“It’s dawn,” Cherie yawned sleepily as she delicately traced a lazy pattern across Shane’s chest.
“Mmm, I’m worn out, woman. I think I may have to skip out on work today,” he quipped as he laid there with his eyes closed.
She chuckled. “Wayne’s going to have your hide if you do.”
“He’ll understand, especially when I announce we’re getting married.”
Cherie smiled. She couldn’t believe he hadn’t turned her in—that he’d risked everything because he loved her. And now he was going to marry her—after she’d long ago given up on finding a man to love her for the woman she was, not the one he wanted to see. She’d never thought her deepest wish would be fulfilled, that she would have a family of her own. As she touched her hand to her belly, she knew that emptiness she’d carried around for so long was now a thing of the past.
“Shane?”
He was nearly asleep. “Mmm?”
“When were you thinking we should wed?”
One eye popped open. “I like the spring. We could have the wedding outside…” Both eyes opened, and he sat up straight. “But we could have it whenever you want,” he said quickly, apparently glimpsing the pensive look in her eyes. “Cherie what’s wrong?”
She smiled at him. “Nothing. It’s just that if we wait ‘til spring, I’m going to have to waddle down the aisle.”
His brow furrowed until she reached out and grasped his wrist, settling his hand against her belly.
“Are you?”
She nodded. Her smile grew wider at the loud whoop he gave. They laughed together as he rolled her beneath him, his body pressed to hers.
“I’m definitely not going to work today.”
She didn’t think that was such a good idea, and she started to say so, but he claimed her mouth before she could get a word out. By the time he lifted his head, her body hummed with desire, even as it fought against complete exhaustion.
“It’s amazing.”
Cherie’s brows lifted. “What’s amazing?’
“You. Us.”
“How so?”
He cupped her cheek, an impish gleam lighting up his eyes. “I thought I’d take a madam and make her my mistress, who knew I’d turn her into my wife.”
She laughed at his insight. It was amazing indeed.
But then he kissed her, and that was her last thought before she succumbed to the passion of his lovemaking, where nothing else mattered but just the two of them—together like this—forever.
About the Author
Nadia Aidan lives, works and writes on the West Coast in the United States. Under her real name, Nadia holds a PhD in Political Science and Public Policy and by day she works as an Assistant Professor. She is the self-proclaimed NEW FACE OF INTERRACIAL AND MULTICULTURAL EROTIC ROMANCE and writes across all genres, from historical, to fantasy/sci-fi to contemporary.
In addition to writing erotic romances Nadia enjoys reading other authors, playing flag football, studying muay thai, working out, listening to music, scuba diving, and target shooting. Her other interests include collecting Top Cow comics, especially Witchblade and Tomb Raider. She loves professional football and soccer. Her favourite teams are the Washington Redskins and Manchester United, respectively.
Nadia loves watching, reading about, and writing about strong, assertive heroines which is why she is an enduring fan of Fight Girls, Xena, Buffy, American Gladiators—New and Old, and La Femme Nikita! Nadia also loves interacting with people so feel free to visit her at http://www.nadiaaidan.com for more information about her, her new releases, and how to contact her!
Email: [email protected]
Nadia loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.
Also by Nadia Aidan
On a Dare
Downing Brothers: Sleeping with the Enemy’s Daughter
Downing Brothers: A Rebound Affair
Heroes and Harlots: Every Desire
Caught in the Middle Anthology: Mating Season
Pleasure Bound Anthology: Sex Therapy
Voracious Vamps: Undercovers
Summer Seductions: A Wild Wicked Three Day Affair
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