by Eve Langlais
“He’s an arrogant ass.”
“Who loves her. Just like I love you.”
“What?”
Apparently all it took was a few words to calm his raging mate. As for teaching Jade the joy of honey—it only took one lick at a time from her lovely cocoa flesh. And it was totally worth the beating by his grandmother and the lecture by his mother about ruining perfectly fine sheets with his debauchery.
To ensure no more defiling would occur, the wedding happened late the next day, with Jade wearing a wedding dress she chose off a rack—to his mother’s and aunts’ horror—but it was probably a good thing given the dress didn’t survive the wedding night.
Grawr!
EPILOGUE
Liana Zelda Boudrion was born a few weeks later without a thingie and a shocking amount of platinum-blond hair.
Ark frowned down at her as they watched the angel sleep in the hospital bassinet while Ruby took a well-earned shower, Xavier keeping a close eye on her.
Funny how things worked out. All this time, Ruby ran from Xavier out of fear he couldn’t accept another man’s child, and yet it turned out he was the daddy all along.
As for Xavier’s ex-fiancée, even though he dumped her after that fateful Halloween party, the deluded girl remained convinced they were together. Ruby and Xavier’s big wedding did nothing to sway her either, and when the priest asked, she stood up and objected—loudly and with much f-bombing—which the videographer edited out of the final film. After that incident, the crazy ex-fiancée was taken by her parents on an extended trip to Europe.
As for Jade, she cried. She cried at her wedding. She cried at her sister’s wedding. She also cried at the birth. What she didn’t do was lament the fact Liana was born without a certain body part.
“I can’t believe it’s a girl. I was going to teach my nephew so many things.” Ark pouted.
“So you’ll teach them to her instead. I mean, think of it, she’s your niece, and one day she’ll grow up and boys will notice her.”
His expression brightened. “She’ll have to know how to defend herself.”
“Indeed she will, and you’ll need the practice so you’re an expert when it comes to teaching our child.” She placed his hand on her stomach.
It took a second. First his eyes widened. Then his lips parted. His fingers pressed into her, and he gasped. “You’re pregnant. For real?”
About five or six weeks, but already the life growing within her made its presence known. “I saw the doctor to be sure.” She leaned close and whispered, “And the doctor heard two heartbeats.”
He fainted, six feet five inches of flesh hitting the floor like a sack of potatoes.
“Unbelievable.” Jade shook her head and was still shaking it when his mother entered the room and held out her hand, palm raised.
“I thought for sure he could handle it,” Jade grumbled as she handed over the twenty she pulled from her bra.
“He will handle it. Once he gets over the shock.”
“Are you sure?” She looked down at Ark somewhat dubiously.
He stirred and opened an eye and growled, “Sure about what? Who hit me?”
“I’m pregnant with twins.”
His eyes rolled back, and he slumped again. But it lasted less than a second before he leaped to his feet. Grabbing her around the waist, he lifted her and swung. He set her down just as quickly. “I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t do that. Or should I?” He spun a panicked look at his mother. “Shouldn’t she be in bed? With her feet up?”
It was his mother who slapped him. “Did you ever see me with my feet up?”
He gave her a wicked smile and winked. “All the time. Laziest mother ever.”
“Ungrateful cub,” his mother grumbled.
“Love you, Mama.” Heartfelt and sincere. That was what Jade loved about this family. There was so much freaking affection. And she got to bask in that affection as Ark turned to Jade and drew her into his arms. He gazed down at her, affection so clear in his eyes. “I love you.”
Which is why she threw her arms around his neck, hugged him tight, and bit him, really hard. “Awk.” He might have coughed up a hairball. He certainly made a sound.
“You bit me. You finally bit me.” He couldn’t contain his exuberance. “You see it, right?” Ark pointed at his neck, and his mother rolled her eyes.
“Yes, I see it. You do know you’ve been married several weeks now.”
“But she bit me.” He pointed again.
“If you think that’s cool, then guess what else.” She pulled forth the legal confirmation that she’d changed her last name. “Look. I now bear his name. Get it?” She snickered. “Bearing his name.”
Her attempt at humor might have been met with groans, but she knew this act of trust meant the world to Ark. Heck, it meant the world to Jade since she’d finally decided to stop hiding from life and take a bite out of love.
* * *
The coppery undertone of blood hit him as soon as he exited the bar. The heavy metal door clanged behind him, and Stavros pulled his gun. Off duty didn’t mean he went around unarmed.
His nose twitched, but his bear didn’t rumble and growl, which he took to mean no danger. Using the blood scent as his guide, he used his nose to lead him, his shifter side stronger than most even in his human shape. It was what made him such a good detective—until he’d gotten suspended.
Who knew they’d care about the baggie of weed he’d taken to make brownies. The stuff was legal in just about every other state. He didn’t regret it. The brownies were that good. And the suspension wouldn’t last forever. He hoped. Or else the boredom might just kill him.
Out in the alley, the bass beat of the music still exuded a muted thump. The witching hour had passed and the street out front had only minimal passing traffic. The alley itself was a dead end with a roll-down garage door that was bolted more often than not. A pair of trash bins, tall suckers on wheels, were lined like sentinels along the brick wall. They might have been emptied that morning, but the smell clung, a miasma that did finally make his inner beast grunt in annoyance.
Smells.
Yes it did and, above it all, the sharper scent of blood.
Stavros found her wedged between two trash bins, her head turned away from the alley as if by not seeing she could prevent being seen.
He crouched down and noted she stopped breathing, her body going still.
An anticipatory hush fell, and he studied her, studied her hunched frame, the tattered clothes, the scratches on her arms, the fading and fresh bruises.
Trouble.
So much trouble. Despite finding her battered and broken, a part of him knew he should walk away, knew if he didn’t run that his life would change.
He didn’t budge. How could he leave when she turned bright green eyes his way and said, in the softest whisper, “Help me.”
Also by Eve Langlais
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
EVE LANGLAIS is a New York Times bestselling Canadian author who loves to write hot romance. She enjoys strong alpha male heroes, shifters, and a happily-ever-after. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Bearing His Name by Eve Langlais
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Ch
apter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.
Bearing His Name. Copyright © 2018 by St. Martin’s Press.
Bearing His Name. Copyright © 2018 by Eve Langlais.
All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design © Danielle Mazzella di Bosco
Cover photographs: couple © Kiuikson/Shutterstock.com; bear © Clickalps/Getty Images
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-12587-1 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978-1-250-12587-3 (ebook)
eISBN 978125012587
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
First Edition: October 2018