by Nashoda Rose
I peeled myself from his arms, lined up my mallet and hit the ball. It went straight through one of the hoop things. “Woot,” I said, smiling.
Haven and Mars high-fived me.
I was losing pretty bad, but I was having fun doing it. And so was everyone else. I’d realized that despite the money and fame of the band, they knew where they came from and it never stopped them from doing the simple things like brunch at Mom’s and playing a game of croquet. I’d heard they also spent time at Ream’s cottage where they raced go-carts and played mini-golf.
Family. This was what I’d always dreamed a family was about. The love, the teasing, even the arguing. I loved it all and Killian had given it to me.
He also gave me a dance studio for Christmas. He’d bought another warehouse close to ours and had it renovated. The walls were brick, the ceilings were exposed to the ducts, and he’d had beautiful hardwood floors and huge mirrors along with a music system installed like he’d done at our place.
There was no way I could refuse his outlandish gift and besides, it was the most thoughtful gift he could have given me.
“Melody, don’t play in the dirt, honey,” Haven called. Melody had forgotten about the ball, Tear, and Drum. She was now digging a hole in the garden and piling the dirt in the skirt of her dress.
Crisis glanced over at his little girl and laughed. Then he dropped his mallet and jogged over to her, crouched and ran his hand over her blonde curls. Then he helped her pile more dirt into her dress.
Haven rolled her eyes, but her face shone with love for both of them. “These moments… I swear I couldn’t love that man any more than I already do.”
I peered over at Killian, who lined up for his shot, his expression focused, but his body relaxed. I couldn’t love Killian any more than I do—he fit me.
Drum ran up to him just as he swung to hit the ball and distracted him. He missed.
Crisis, Ream, and Logan laughed their asses off, but unlike his band mates, Killian wasn’t competitive and it didn’t bother him.
He crouched to pat Drum, who panted, tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth because he was missing one fang tooth. We didn’t know his age as Killian had adopted him from a Pomeranian rescue, but they told him he was six or seven years old.
Killian stood and his gaze drifted to Melody, Crisis, and Haven, who sat on the ground with them. We never talked about kids. I knew he didn’t want them and I’d accepted that. I had a family, and Killian and I’d never regret giving up having them.
“Oh, my God, Tear. No,” Emily shouted as her dog took off with her ball and Drum chased him, panting. Everyone laughed.
Except Killian. He was stalking toward me, his expression calm, but serious.
When he reached me, he put his finger under my chin and his thumb grazed my lower lip. “Love you, Savvy.”
I placed my hands on his chest, smiling. “I love you, too.”
He leaned in and kissed me, soft, gentle, and brief. “I’m going to have to fuck you more often.”
I laughed. “Are you not satisfied with our sex life, Killian?”
“Mmm,” he murmured against my mouth as he kissed me again. “I’m more than fuckin’ satisfied, but if I want you carrying our child, I need to fuck you more often.”
My mouth dropped open and eyes widened. “Our child?”
He kissed me again, this time deeper, and my knees weakened. But it wasn’t only from the kiss. It was from the excitement sparking through me. Killian wanted a baby.
He drew back and wiped the tear spilling down my cheek. “Can’t promise you I won’t be overprotective. We’re going to have to check school districts for the best ones. And I don’t want to live in the warehouse with the kids. They need to be close to a park or somewhere they can play sports and we should—”
I cupped his cheek. “Killian. You’re going to be an amazing dad. And maybe we can talk about that once I get pregnant.”
I looped my arms around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss.
“Stop kissing your girl. It’s her shot,” Crisis shouted. “You already held up brunch because you were fu—”
“Crisis!” Sophia reprimanded. “Don’t you dare.”
“His ass needs kicking,” Killian said.
I laughed. “It does.”
He grinned. “Be right back, baby.”
THE END
Coming Soon
Trevor's story.
Books by Nashoda Rose
Tear Asunder Series
With You (free)
Torn from You
Overwhelmed by You
Shattered by You
Kept from You
Unyielding Series (A Tear Asunder spin off)
Perfect Chaos
Perfect Ruin
Perfect Rage
Scars of the Wraith Series
Stygian (free)
Tyrant
Credo
Take
www.nashodarose.com
This book has been an incredibly long process. Probably because I wrote the book twice. After the first book, I decided it wasn’t right for Killian, Savvy or myself. I didn’t LOVE it. So, I tossed it and started again. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in writing, but I’d have it no other way.
When I wrote ‘The End’ on this book, it was cathartic. I cried. I laughed. I was relieved. This was Killian and Savvy’s story and this was how it was meant to be told and I loved it. This was the book readers deserved from me.
There is one person who has been vital on the journey this book has taken. My content editor, Kristin. Her insight. Her support. Her incredible patience. When I lost my way, she led me back on the right path. When I was stuck in the mud, she threw me a rope, yanked me out, set me on my feet, and gave me a push. When I lost faith in myself, she believed in me.
Kristin has been with me since my first published book and I’m honored and grateful to have her as a content editor and call her a friend.
Thank you to the readers for being so patient and understanding when I decided to re-write Kept from You and delay its release a few months.
To all the girls in my group ‘Nash’s Naughty Fillies’. Many of you have been with me since the beginning and I’ve even had the incredible pleasure of meeting some of you in person. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support.
Thank you to my editor, Becky at Hot Tree Editing, and Donna, for your understanding and patience when I switched books on you, then constantly e-mailed because I had a deadline and was panicking.
Thank you to my agent, Mark Gottlieb and Trident Media Group, and to everyone at Audible as well as the narrators who have been fantastic with the audio versions of this series.
Stacey, every book you format has been perfect, but it’s not only that you make my books look beautiful, it’s all those little things you do for me between books. The minor changes you do at the drop of a hat. Responding to e-mails within minutes, if not seconds and how flexible and willing to help any way you can. You are amazing! Thank you, Stacey.
Elaine, when I thought I booked Kept from You in for proofing and realized I didn’t, my heart dropped. But you fit me in anyway. Thank you so much. I owe you. How does me visiting with London, Fable sound?
Thank you to the amazing Debra, The Book Enthusiast Promotions, and all the bloggers who are vigilant about spreading the word. My books wouldn’t be seen without you!
Kari, thank you for another wonderful addition to my Tear Asunder series. You rock.
I was fortunate enough to obtain the cover photo from the incredibly talented Wander Aguiar Photography.
Wander, your photographs are exquisite and I’m honored to have one on my cover and I hope to have many more. Thank you to Nick Bennett, the brilliant cover model, for being my Killian.
And finally to my one of a kind beta readers, Lana, Midian, Susan, and Jill. I put a rush on this and you rose to the challenge, setting everything else aside in order to read Kept from You.
Your insight and feedback helped tremendously and I value each of you so damn much! Thank you.
Hugs,
Nashoda Rose is a New York Times and USA Today International bestselling author of twelve novels, including the Tear Asunder series, the spin-off Unyielding series, and her paranormal Scars of the Wraiths.
She lives outside of Toronto where she enjoys hiking with her Newfoundland dog London and riding her horses.
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