by Nina Levine
My lips curl up at the ends. “Even when it’s not a ten anymore?”
He grins. “Baby, it’ll always be a ten for me.”
Oh. My.
God, you might just be off my shitlist now.
“I want all of that with you, too. Especially the ass bit.”
He kisses me again, chuckling in the way that makes me all gooey on the inside.
Noah comes running into the kitchen, distracting his father until I lift him and say, “Come on, little man, let’s go watch some Bob.”
As I carry Noah out of the kitchen, I glance back at Fury and find him watching us intently, and I think about how everything had to go wrong before it went right for us.
I believe in fate.
I believe we were meant for each other.
Fury is my destiny, and I will fight until my dying breath for our love.
Epilogue
Fury
Three Years Later
* * *
I enter our kitchen after a long day and dump my helmet and the bag of groceries I picked up on the counter, slowly taking in the plants covering the breakfast bar. Christ, at this point, I’m going to have to build Zara a greenhouse. There’s been a new plant every day for the last two weeks; today’s efforts have multiplied.
“Oh good, you’re home,” she says, joining me. “I need a hand moving these plants and then I have a question about the nursery. I think if we—”
My hand goes to her waist, and I pull her close so I can claim the kiss I’ve been thinking about all day. When I’ve had my fill, I say, “I can do all those things, princess, but what I need is a little time with you first.” I curve my hand over her stomach. “And a little time with her.”
She covers my hand and gives me her full attention as her body sways into mine. Fuck, I love it when she does that. “How was your day?”
I spread my fingers out over her stomach, waiting for the kick. Our girl’s usually not active until later in the day, but sometimes she’s moving at this time. “We got a lot of shit done today. It was good. How about you?”
Zara eyes her stomach. “She’s been trying to break my ribs today. We were at Bunnings buying these plants and she kicked so hard I had to sit for a while. It lasted about ten minutes on and off. Seriously, I’m pretty sure your daughter is going to be a kick-boxer. And then when we dropped into Target to pick up some new shirts for you, she did it again. Besides that, my day has been good. I packed my bag for hospital; rearranged the nursery, which is what I need to ask you about; did a heap of laundry; tidied out the Tupperware cupboard; cleaned off the deck; and read some of my new Chelle Bliss book.” She takes a breath and smiles. “It was a good day.”
My wife can’t sit still. She’s two weeks away from delivering our daughter and she’s busier than ever. And fuck if she doesn’t have a lot of words for me when I come home every night. And jobs. All I want is to get my hands on her after a long day, but she’s relentless with her demands. By the time this baby is born, I’ll have almost remodelled the damn house.
After I kiss her again, I say, “How many more plants are we looking at before she’s born?”
She narrows her eyes at me. “I’m detecting a tone in your voice, Ryan Hayes. You know I have a special relationship with my plants. Don’t hate on them.”
“No hate. Just trying to decide whether I need to think about building a greenhouse.”
She threads her fingers with mine over her baby bump. “You love me.”
“You say that like it’s a new discovery.”
Her expression turns serious. “I discover new ways you love me every day.”
“Baby, we’ve been married for nearly three years.” Surely she knows all the ways by now.
Her hand squeezes mine. “And still you amaze me with the love you have for our family and how you’re willing to show it.”
My gut tightens. Family meant very little to me before I met Zara. My only experience was of violence and misery before her. I wasn’t looking for love because I didn’t believe in it. Now I can’t imagine living without it. Without her.
“So are we thinking yes to a greenhouse?”
She brings her hand to my face, her mood still soft and reflective. “Just so you know, I’m all squishy at the moment, so I’m probably gonna get more mushy with you while these hormones are in control. And while I’ve never expected you to get mushy back, I think we could be in for a ride here.”
“What kind of ride?” Fuck, she’s beautiful.
“The kind where you may need to hang on tight for a bit. Like, pretend I’m the one in control of the bike and you’re behind me.” Her hand squeezes mine again. “Don’t let go when these hormones go crazy, okay?”
Fuck. Me.
Zara has no idea just how tightly I’ve been holding on for three years. There’s not a fucking thing she could do that would ever loosen that grip.
I bring both hands to her face. “Your hormones are already crazy and I’m not going anywhere. I’m never going anywhere.”
She exhales a breath like she’s been holding it for a long time. “Thank God.” She pauses, hesitation filling her face. “I mean, even if I get naggy about the house being clean when she’s born? And even if I get needy when I feel like I’m failing at motherhood? I’ve seen Mum go through that. It’s a thing. You need to be ready for it. And what about if I suddenly need you to tell me you love me all the time? God, Fury, what are we doing having this baby? I don’t think I’m ready for her.”
“You are ready for her. And I’m ready for anything and everything that might happen in our future. I’ve been ready since the day you came home to Sydney. The moment I saw you in the clubhouse bar, I knew I’d make you mine and that I’d do whatever it takes for that to be a forever thing. It doesn’t matter if you get naggy, needy, or any-fucking-thing, I’ll love you through all of it.”
Her arms come around me and she kisses me. She does it with such urgency and fierce energy that it’s like our lips collide and smash together, but then that’s how she’s always been. And I’ve always been drawn to her spirit. Sometimes she’s gentle, sometimes funny, sometimes wild and free; I love it all. She’s laid herself open for me and some-fucking-how she’s made me do the same for her.
When she pulls her mouth from mine, breathless, she says, “Oh, I thought of another name we could add to our list!”
I smile. “Tell me.”
“Isla.”
“Isla Hayes,” I say, getting a feel for it.
Her smile fills her face. “I love it! Do you? Like, I think it’s the one!”
I move my hands to her ass. “It’s the one.”
She crushes my face in her hands and lays another kiss on my lips. “I love you! Oh, and also, Lynette is bringing Noah over at nine tomorrow morning.”
“You spoke with her?”
“Yeah, and we organised stuff all on our own. How’s that for some real grown-up shit?”
Jesus, is the world fucking with me today? I’m fucking suspicious when so much good shit happens in one day. Zara has tried like hell to get on with Lynette, but Lynette has been difficult. “I don’t know what the fuck you did, but I’m taking it.”
Her smile turns sexy. “Your woman has skills.”
“She fucking does.” I spread my hands out over her ass and press her to me, grinding my dick against her. “What’s a man gotta do to enjoy those skills?”
She puts her hand to my chest as if she’s trying to slow me down. “I have stuff for you to do first, remember?”
“Fuck those jobs,” I say as I scoop her into my arms. “The only thing I’m doing tonight is you.”
Her laughter as I carry her to our bedroom is the best damn sound in the world. I love all the sounds she makes, but it’s her laughter that hits me deep, and I’ll do anything for the rest of my life to make sure I keep hearing it.
NEXT BOOK IN THIS SERIES!
COMING JANUARY 2020
* * *
I hope you loved Fury & Zara’
s story!! The next book in this series is titled Battle Hearts and will be out in January 2020. This is the continuation of Winter & Birdie’s story, as well as the epic conclusion to the MC battle going down! Yes I left you hanging! Gah!
* * *
Preorder Battle Hearts
* * *
Add Battle Hearts to your Goodreads TBR
* * *
TEXT ALERT US - TEXT ‘NINA’ TO 313131
* * *
SIGN UP FOR AN EMAIL LIVE RELEASE ALERT
Sign up for my newsletter to find out about new books, sales, and receive free bonus content.
* * *
If you’re on Facebook, I have a reader group you can join to chat about my books with me, enter exclusive giveaways and read sneak peeks of upcoming books.
* * *
If you loved this book, please consider leaving a review for it. I appreciate you helping spread the word about my books by reviewing and telling friends about them!
* * *
AND the playlist! Check it out here.
Dear Reader
When I was 18, I went through my first armed robbery at work. When I was 24, I went through my second armed robbery, and a month later, my third. The PTSD I suffered as a result is where this story came from.
I didn’t understand what PTSD was at the time, and to be honest, I didn’t fully acknowledge I suffered from it until I did the research for this book. All I knew was I felt crazy and out of control. I did have some counselling back then, but I was in denial that I needed it because I didn’t like facing the trauma. I also felt like I was being dramatic with my response, so I tried to brush it off. I told myself it was nothing compared to what other people suffered through in their life.
It took me a decade to feel safe again, but even now I still check surroundings and hesitate a lot at night if I’m on my own. Twenty years later, I’ve finally started seeing a psychologist. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. If you’ve suffered any kind of trauma, I encourage you to seek professional help if you haven’t. I believe it will change your life.
I didn’t set out to write a book featuring rape. I set out to write a story featuring a woman suffering from PTSD. My brain had other ideas, though, and when the story demanded it was rape, and then kept whispering to me “someone needs to read this” I allowed the characters to direct the story. The statistics on rape are staggering. The beliefs surrounding it, too. That a woman can be raped and believe she deserved it; that society can judge a woman’s response to a rape as “not right, so she must be lying”; that a woman can be raped but think it was just a little rough sex or got kinda out of hand; that the view “she asked for it” still exists; that men aren’t believed when they’re raped…. My heart hurts.
Thank you for reading this story. I hope it touched you in some way. It was therapy for me and I’m so damn glad I stuck with it and finished it.
* * *
Nina x
Acknowledgments
This book has been a labour of love that I wouldn’t have been able to achieve without three people: my daughter, Eliahn; my best friend/assistant/beta reader, Jodie; and my editor, Becky. (Please note Becky has not edited this part, so these commas and semicolons are probably all wrong, because truly, I suck at them!). I also need to mention my friends and family who I stopped talking to or seeing for three weeks straight while I finally got this book finished. You guys are the best for understanding my ways.
Jodie, seriously dude, that Olivia Pope pep talk pretty much inspired me to make sure I got the book done this time PMSL. JK. But for real, I don’t think we need to pull Olivia out again, ‘k? I love you forever simply because you are you, but the way you care for me is something else and I will treasure that forever. Thank you for being you. A girl couldn’t ask for a better friend.
Becky, thank you for always being in my corner. And for teaching me so much about improving my craft. You now live in my head while I’m writing and shout things such as “repetitive word” and “too wordy”. I seriously can’t imagine writing a book without you working on it. Thank you for being the best editor a girl could ask for.
Eliahn, sistah, you the bomb. I love you forever and ever. Thank you for cooking and cleaning for three weeks while I sat on the couch and didn’t move except to sleep. Remember those days where you got shitty with me for not lifting my feet in the exact way you wanted while you tried to vacuum? Yeah, good times. If brain surgery doesn’t pan out for you, I think you could pick up a job as a cleaner.
To my readers - thank you for your patience. You’ve waited almost a year for this story. I hope you loved it. This one took it out of me, but I think that’s because the themes in it are so personal for me. Having said that, I also loved writing this book (the final time) the most out of writing all my books. I’ve truly found my groove again with my writing and I can’t wait to get to work on the next book in this series.
About the Author
Dreamer.
* * *
Coffee Lover.
* * *
Gypsy at heart.
* * *
USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author who writes about alpha men & the women they love.
* * *
When I’m not creating with words you will find me planning my next getaway, visiting somewhere new in the world, having a long conversation over coffee and cake with a friend, creating with paper or curled up with a good book and chocolate.
* * *
I’ve been writing since I was twelve. Weaving words together has always been a form of therapy for me especially during my harder times. These days I’m proud that my words help others just as much as they help me.
* * *
www.ninalevinebooks.com
* * *
Follow me on BookBub to hear about my sales
* * *
Join my VIP list - get access to bonus scenes, exclusive giveaways, sneak peeks and more!
* * *
Join my readers club on Facebook
Also by Nina Levine
Storm MC Series
Storm (Storm MC #1)
Fierce (Storm MC #2)
Blaze (Storm MC #3)
Revive (Storm MC #4)
Slay (Storm MC #5)
Sassy Christmas (Storm MC #5.5)
Illusive (Storm MC #6)
Command (Storm MC #7)
Havoc (Storm MC #8)
* * *
Sydney Storm MC Series
Relent (#1)
Nitro’s Torment (#2)
Devil’s Vengeance (#3)
Hyde’s Absolution (#4)
King’s Wrath (#5)
King’s Reign (#6)
King: The Epilogue (#7)
* * *
Storm MC Reloaded Series
Hurricane Hearts (#1)
War of Hearts (#2)
* * *
The Hardy Family Series
Steal My Breath (single dad romance)
* * *
Crave Series
Be The One (rockstar romance)
* * *
Billionaire Romance
Ashton Scott
* * *
Keep up to date with my books at my website.
Copyright © 2019 by Nina Levine
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Editing by Becky Johnson at Hot Tree Editing
Cover Design by Letitia at Romantic Book Affair Designs
Cover Image by Wander Pedro Aguiar
-webkit-filter: grayscale(100%); -moz-filter: grayscale(100%); -o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share