Lone Survivor (Crescent City Kings Book 1)
Page 25
She couldn’t help it; tears spilled down her cheeks as she stared at him. A part of her would always love Henry. He’d been the right man for the woman she had been, and in his way, he had loved her. But she no longer felt guilty about falling for Ram.
Yet there was one little thing she needed to hammer out. “Ram, I love you. I didn’t expect to fall for you. But I need to know, what about Grace? I’m committed to being her foster parent and can’t walk away from her. I won’t, not even for you. I know with your kids now living here full time, it makes it—”
“Babe, we’ll adjust. I’ll fill out whatever applications I need to with the State so that we can co-parent her. It won’t be easy, but I know I can help her with the trauma she’s experienced. Besides, my kids adore you. They were asking when you were coming over again, even Angela. I’m sure, given time, they will do the same with Grace.”
“And if I said I will want one of my own one day too? What do you say to that?” Sadie asked, her heart thumping madly in her breast. The barriers and obstacles fell by the wayside, leaving everything she could have dreamed she would want within her grasp.
“Don’t you get it? I’m all in, babe. You want half a dozen, we’ll do it. All you’ve got to do is say yes. Be mine, not just for the night, but for forever.”
“Yes,” she sputtered, grinning through the tears that he caught with his thumbs.
His smile reached his eyes, crinkling the corners. “That’s yes, Sir. Someone is forgetting her training.”
Sliding her hands up his chest, she said, “Oh, well, we can’t have that now, can we? I think you might have to take me to bed and help me remember.”
“Gladly,” Ram said, covering her mouth and kissing her until she was limp and clinging to him. No one loved her the way Ram did. And, as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, Sadie knew that moving to New Orleans had been the best decision she had ever made.
She might have arrived here scarred and alone, but as Ram laid her on the bed and followed her down, she knew in her heart of hearts that she would do it all over again. She would go through the pain, the loss, and the soul-crushing loneliness on the road that led her to another lonely survivor and the love they’d found together.
Epilogue
One year later
Sadie fidgeted with her the skirt on her outfit, worrying that the A-line skirt in bright poppy red that fell to her knees had been the wrong choice for today. It had been a year since the fateful night at the club when Ram had claimed her as his sub and asked her to marry him. They’d held a private wedding ceremony at the mansion on Michael’s land on New Year’s Eve so they could begin the new year as husband and wife.
It had been a rough and tumble year, with Ram’s kids accepting not just Sadie into the fold, but Grace as well. At first, Grace had been crushingly shy about going to live with Ram, Rocky, and Angela. But she had warmed up quickly and had won over the two older kids, who were now both wrapped around Grace’s pinky. In fact, these days, she tended to give her older siblings a run for their money.
There were more new beginnings on the horizon, given the slight curve of her pregnant belly. They would be welcoming the newest addition to their household in November.
But today was another new beginning as they all stood in the courtroom: Sadie, Ram, Angela, Rocky, and Grace. As a wedding present, Ram had presented Sadie with the forms to apply for Grace’s adoption. And today, it was happening.
Judge Matteson scanned their group. “By the power vested in me and the State of Louisiana, I pronounce you a family. Grace is now and forevermore, Grace Sanchez-O’Malley.”
Angela and Rocky clapped. Grace tugged on Sadie’s blouse from her perch in Ram’s arms.
Sadie looked at her, love spilling over, her heart expanding. Grace was their daughter now. Through her tears, she sniffed. “You’re ours, sweetheart.”
“Can I call you Mama now?” Grace asked with sweet earnestness.
Sadie glanced at her husband, and spied moisture in his eyes that he didn’t try to hide. He nodded with a huge smile on his face. He knew more than anyone what this meant to Sadie. Grace had given her back pieces of her soul, and helped her live again.
She cupped Grace’s face in her hands. “Yes, sweetheart, because now I am and always will be.”
Grace reached for Sadie and she took her into her arms without question. Holding Grace tight, she leaned against Ram as he put his arm around her. And then Angela and Rocky decided to get in on the action.
“Group hug!” Rocky said dramatically, making Grace giggle.
Ram kissed Sadie on the forehead, and she sighed. For a woman who had once believed she would end up a lonely old, bitter lady, life had surprised the hell out of her once more and given her more love than she could have ever imagined.
~ THE END ~
Anya Summers
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.
Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Anya Summers and Blushing Books!
The Dungeon Fantasy Club Collection
The complete set of all eight full-length, scintillating, spicy romance novels!
Her Highland Master
To Master and Defend
Two Doms for Kara
His Driven Domme
Her Country Master
Love Me, Master Me
Submit to Me
Her Wired Dom
The Pleasure Island Collection
The complete set of nine full-length novels!
Her Master and Commander, Book 1
Her Music Masters, Book 2
Their Shy Submissive, (Novella) Book 3
Her Lawful Master, Book 4
Her Rockstar Dom, Book 5
Duets and Dominance, Book 6
Her Undercover Doms (Novella) Book 7
Ménage in Paradise, Book 8
Her Rodeo Masters, Book 9
Cuffs and Spurs Series
His Scandalous Love, Book 1
His Unexpected Love, Book 2
His Wicked Love, Book 3
His Untamed Love, Book 4
His Tempting Love, Book 5
His Seductive Love, Book 6
His Secret Love, Book 7
His Cherished Love, Book 8
Crescent City Kings Series
Lone Survivor, Book 1
Alcyran Chronicles Series
Taken By The Beast, Book 1
Claimed By The Beast, Book 2
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Audio Books
Her Highland Master
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