Everything's Better With Kimberly

by Lucy Eden

  “Ow!” she gasped, pulling our lips apart.

  “Still sore?”

  “Yes!” She slapped my bicep.

  “I’m sorry,” I aimed a kiss for her nose and landed slightly to the left. “I forgot. Come here.” I tucked her back into my chest and nuzzled her neck for a moment before climbing out of bed and going to the bathroom. “Take off your shirt and keep your mask on, gorgeous.”

  I returned a few minutes later, scooped her into my arms, carried her into the bathroom and lowered her into the tub.

  “How does that feel?” I kissed her forehead.

  “It feels amazing, but are sure it’s not…”

  “It’s ninety-nine degrees. I checked with a digital thermometer.” I chuckled as I slid in behind her and pressed her back into my chest. I felt her relax against me and heard her sigh contentedly.

  “This was a good idea,” she said and I leaned forward and kissed the spot where her neck and shoulder met.

  “That’s why they pay me the big bucks.” I placed a hand over her belly. “How are you feeling?”

  “I am always tired and I can smell everything.”

  “Your breasts are bigger.”

  She burst out laughing. “I still can’t believe I’m growing two little people inside my body.”

  I placed my other hand next to the one that was resting on her belly.

  “Usually, people do this one at a time.”

  “I told you we were efficient, Princess.”

  “I just hope they don’t have your giant head.”

  “It houses my big brain.” I kissed her shoulder. “Speaking of big brains, what’s the deal with RJ and Claudia? They were pretty cozy at the rehearsal dinner.”

  “I know, right? He says they’re just friends, but they’re so cute, aren’t they? Did you hear her ask the server to separate his food?”

  “And send it back when they did it wrong? Yup. She’ll definitely fit in with the women in your family. Ow!” She pinched me.

  “You love it.”

  “I do.”

  She slowly spun around in the tub, placed her hands on both sides of my face and kissed me. I slid my hands up her back and pressed her into me as she crushed her soft full lips onto mine.

  “Princess, we’re gonna have to get out of this tub or find another loophole.”

  She sucked my bottom lip in between her teeth before pulling away.

  “I’m on it,” she whispered. I heard the click of the drain stopper followed by the slurping of the water leaving the tub. I felt her trailing kisses down my chest and every inch of flesh on my body buzzed with anticipation.

  “I’m so glad I’m marrying you,” I sighed and the last thing I heard was her soft chuckle before she took me between her lips and straight to heaven.

  “I’m not going back to my suite, am I?” Kimberly was tucked into the crook of my arm, resting her head on my chest and wearing one of my t-shirts. I covered us with a duvet.

  “I hope not.” I kissed her forehead and she yawned.

  “Adam?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Why aren’t we staying in one of the luxury suites, again?”

  “A very wise person once told me that the economy suites were the best part of the resort.”

  “They are very nice. The person who designed them must be very talented.” She arched up and kissed me.

  “Not as talented as the person who talked the CEO of Wolfe into letting me build them.” I kissed her again.

  I wanted to fly to Vegas with Kimberly the moment she said yes, but she suggested that we get married at the resort when it was finished. It was the perfect plan, except that it involved waiting three long ass years. Restraint still wasn’t one of my strengths but I’m still learning and I’m pretty fucking lucky to be in love with a woman who has enough patience and strength for both of us.

  We had come full circle. In a lot of ways the resort mirrored the progression of our relationship. It started as an impossible idea, but with three years of love, passion, hard work, compromise and a few setbacks it became a larger than life reality that will stand the test of time. The model is sitting in Kimberly’s brownstone waiting to be moved to our house in Woodstock as soon as construction is finished in a few months.

  “Tell me a secret?” she asked before yawning again.

  “A secret?”

  “Yup. Tell me something I don’t know about you?”

  “I don’t have any secrets from you, Princess.”

  “That can’t be true. No one knows everything about someone.”

  “Babe, I think the SS Adam’s Mysteries sailed the day you found my porn stash.”

  “That was a fun weekend.” She burst out laughing and I joined her.

  “Fuck yeah. I still wish you’d found it sooner.”

  One day, Kimberly was looking for my Social Security number and opened a file on my laptop marked “bills.”

  There were no bills in that file.

  We got into an argument about it, right before I had to go to work and, of course, she was wearing those pajama pants. When I came home eight hours later, Kimberly had recreated an outfit from one of the videos, complete with props and let’s just say, the next few hours were very enlightening.

  “So, nothing that I don’t know?”

  I thought about her question for a second before I felt a grin spreading across my face.

  “Actually,” I kissed her forehead. “I never told you that I asked the flight attendant to seat you next to me in First Class.” I felt her pick her head up.

  “Seriously?”

  “Yup. I knew you were going to have a panic attack and I knew I could help you.” She rested her head on my chest again. “And you were wearing that yellow dress.” I kissed the top of her head and she chuckled. “What about you? Anything else I should know before we leap over the broom tomorrow?”

  “It’s jump the broom, babe.”

  “I’ve heard it both ways.”

  “No, you haven’t,” she giggled and sighed. “I guess I should tell you that I knew that crossword answer: NHL game.”

  I always figured as much, but I never asked her. That was a Tuesday puzzle and I’ve seen Kimberly complete Sunday New York Times crossword puzzles in pen.

  “And the night of our fight—the one about The Red Cross— I wasn’t trying to be quiet when I got up to make tea.”

  “Is that so?”

  “I heard you come back to the apartment and I wanted to talk to you—”

  “Because you missed me.” I aimed a kiss for her nose and missed again. She laughed.

  “Yes, and I felt bad for overreacting, but you went straight to your room and didn’t come out. I was afraid to knock because I thought you were mad at me…”

  “So you deciding rattling tea cups at three in morning was a solid plan?”

  “It worked, didn’t it?”

  “Like a fucking charm.”

  I turned my body to face hers, slid a hand up her back under my t-shirt and hooked a leg around her waist drawing our hips together.

  “Adam…” she warned, but I could feel her resolve cracking.

  “Kimberly.” I planted a kiss on her full pouty lips. “We’ve been living in sin for three years and tomorrow you’re going to walk down that aisle nine weeks pregnant with our twins. The jig is officially up and I want to make love to my best friend, the mother of my children, my favorite roommate and the worst burglar ever.” She giggled and tangled her fingers in my hair.

  “This was your plan all along wasn’t it, Mr. Price?” I was imagining her narrowing her eyes and smirking.

  “What? I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I aimed another kiss for her nose in the darkness and finally hit my mark. “Is it working?”

  “Maybe.” I felt her smile as she brushed our lips together.

  “Maybe isn’t yes, Princess.” I pulled my t-shirt over her head.

  “Yes,” she whispered. She folded a leg around my hip giving me
full access to her warmth. I buried my nose in her neck and inhaled the sweet delicious fragrance I’ve associated with everything good in my life for the past three years.

  I entered her slowly trying to savor every inch of pleasure. I haven’t touched her like this in weeks and the homecoming was better than I’d been fantasizing about. She sighed and elicited soft moans as her body welcomed me. My fingers dug into the soft flesh of her hips as I rocked back and forth, each stroke bringing her closer to an explosion. The darkness heightened the sensation in my other senses, coupled with four weeks of deprivation. I wasn’t going to last much longer. As I focused my attention on trying to ride this high as long as possible, I heard Kimberly’s whisper.

  “Kiss me.”

  It was her signal that she was close and I sealed our lips together absorbing the verbal confirmation of her climax. My release was close behind. I held her tight as my body tensed and relaxed as her name spilled from my lips in murmurs. I knew I should get up soon but I wanted to hold her for a little longer. She rolled over, tucking her back in to my chest as I nuzzled the shell of her ear with my nose, planting kisses on the delicate skin on the hollow.

  “I love you, Princess Kimberly.”

  “I know, Mr. Price.” She covered her belly with one of my hands. “I love you, too.”

  The Soundtrack

  Everything’s Better With Kimberly

  The Everything’s Better With Kimberly playlist can be found here on Spotify

  The Sweetest Taboo - Sade

  Moonage Daydream - David Bowie

  Go All The Way - The Raspberries

  Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop

  Bring it on Home to Me - Sam Cooke

  Do You Realize?? - The Flaming Lips

  You Got Me - The Roots

  Grazing in the Grass - The Friends of Distinction

  Open Your Eyes - Bobby Caldwell

  A Long Walk - Jill Scott

  Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

  The Light - Common

  Feenin’ - JoDeCi

  I’m Not in Love - 10cc

  Camera/ Good ones Go - Drake

  The Lady in My Life - Michael Jackson

  Say You Won’t Let Go - James Arthur

  bit.ly/EBWKsongs

  Author’s Note

  Everything’s Better With Kimberly was inspired by two songs; “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” by Elvin Bishop and “Go All the Way” by The Raspberries.

  EBWK was originally intended to be a ten chapter novella to follow up Everything’s Better With You. I have no idea what happened but Kimberly and Adam wouldn’t let me go. I could’ve written ten books about these two.

  I have big plans for next year, starting with Cole’s book and I still haven’t ruled out Matthew & Vittoria’s book.

  The locations are based loosely on real places in NYC & Barbados except NORMA’S, which you may recognize from EBWY, which is a real live restaurant located in The Parker Meriden Hotel in NYC. It’s the home of the famous $1000 lobster frittata (Nate’s favorite, he can afford it), but they also have delicious Nutella pancakes, that Adam loves, that are a little more budget friendly.

  Thank you:

  My amazing critique partners: Marina Garcia & Miri Stone. Your encouragement and very honest opinions kept me going week to week while writing this beast.

  My amazing beta readers who wouldn’t let me quit halfway through, giving me inspiration, encouragement and making me fall in love with Adam & Kimberly as much as they did.

  Tasha Harrison for editing, molding and shaping this story, twice. Thank you for answering my way too many emails and your brilliant insight and unending patience.

  Romance Rehab, especially Jennifer, for your brilliant author services, particularly, the blurb critiques. I also hope I sell a bazillion copies!

  Give Me Books Promotions for helping me spread the word, also answering my way too many emails & guiding me through the book marketing process.

  Steamy Designs for the beautiful cover design. Thank you for taking my ideas and making them come to life.

  My brilliant friends: actor T.B. for reading my book out loud and helping me hit the right emotional beats & project manager S.G. for not accepting my bullshit excuses for not having my chapters done. Sci Fi writer R.B. for your amazing perspective and helping me view my story from so many different angles.

  My genius and brutally honest mother. Thank you for being my anxiety disorder technical advisor, Red Cross volunteer and the inspiration for Kimberly’s mom and aunt, along with your two best friends, whom I also consider mothers.

  My ARC team for giving their time and energy to read my work and help spread the word.

  Thank you so much, dear reader, for reading Everything’s Better With Kimberly!

  I hope you liked it. Please consider leaving a review wherever you share your good news!

  December 2018

  Notes from Paradise

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  Also by Lucy Eden

  Visit lucyeden.com for purchase details

  Melted

  Capturing the Goddess

  Conquering the Goddess

  Everything’s Better With You

  Everything’s Better With Kimberly

  Melted

  A Short, Sweet and Steamy Novelette

  In a crowded social club in the heart of New York City full of the most successful and wealthy men in the country, Tessa Findlay grabs the attention of the wealthiest & also the sexiest.

  So what does she do?

  She panics and runs away, of course!

  Charles Kerwin had everything in the world: money, success, fast cars, big homes and a giant bathtub. The one thing he didn’t have: someone to share it with. That all changed the moment he laid eyes on the woman of his dreams, but she disappeared before he could talk to her.

  So what does he do?

  He buys the company she works for and moves to her hometown, of course!

  This stand-alone novelette is twenty-four hours of bat-shit crazy and has an obsessed alpha, love at first sight, no cheating with a guaranteed happily ever after.

  Please enjoy with two pints of rum raisin on standby.

  Conquering the Goddess

  A short, sweet and steamy short story

  Athena Anderson is young ambitious journalist fresh out of grad school & excited about her first assignment for Capital Exchange Magazine.

  Grant Winters rules his corporate domain with an iron fist and has no time for distractions, like reporters from dried up media outlets.

  Their first meeting doesn’t go quite according to plan.

  When they meet again sparks fly and maybe, a punch or two and Grant & Athena realize they have a lot more in common than they originally thought.

  This standalone novella has an obsessed alpha, love at first sight, safe, no cheating with a guaranteed happily ever after.

  Capturing the Goddess

  A Short, sweet and steamy short story

  At twenty-eight, Trevor Edwards had thought he’d conquered the world. He had massive success in the art & corporate worlds, a happy marriage, and two gorgeous children. Then illness took his wife, and in her, he lost the mother of his children, his business partner, and his best friend. He’s spent the next five years drifting through life, unknowingly searching for someone to fill the hole in his heart.

  Gaia Wesley was struggling art student. She’s always held hope in her heart for a love that she wasn’t sure exists, but a job interview with a reclusive widower can change everything.

  This
stand-alone short story has an obsessed alpha, love at first sight, no cheating with a guaranteed happily ever after.

  Please enjoy in a cozy corner of your favorite art museum.

  Everything’s Better With You

  A short, sweet and steamy novelette

  Abigail Moore is an aspiring jewelry designer by day and bartender at a popular upscale gentleman's club by night. She has her job, her jewelry, her best friend, Janie and not much else until she's swept off her feet by a sexy stranger with a secret.

  Nathan Price is the heir apparent of NYC's powerful Price family empire. Determined to set himself apart from his powerful father, he becomes his own man but his father's influence cast a long shadow that he may not be able to escape until a sassy beautiful stranger shows him the light.

  This stand-alone novella has an alpha, virgin, love at first sight, safe, no cheating with a guaranteed happily ever after & lots of steam.

  Enjoy this with a steaming cup of coffee and a toasted everything bagel.

  About the Author

  Lucy Eden is the nom de plume of a romance obsessed author who writes the kind of romance she loves to read. She’s a sucker for alphas with a soft gooey center, over the top romantic gestures, strong & smart MCs, humor, love at first sight (or pretty damn close), happily ever afters & of course, steamy love scenes.