by Shayla Black
“Incredible? Mind-blowing? Spectacular?”
“Life-altering,” she purred as she closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into my chest.
Suddenly, reality crashed in all around me, sending panic wrapping its icy hands around my throat.
Was it?
Was it life-altering enough for Katiana to stay on this desolate mountain with a dead man?
Like piranhas, doubts, worries, and fears chewed at my psyche.
I’d always known Katiana was the missing pieces of my soul. I’d coveted her in my dreams and fantasies, but I’d never let myself consider what a future with her might look like. I wasn’t brave enough to inflict myself with that level of torture. I’d always assumed sharing a happy ever after with her was as much of a myth as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and fucking unicorns.
But now that she’d crashed into the rocks and ultimately my life as well, what if…
As if reading my mind, Katiana cupped my cheek. I gazed down at her and tried to grant her a confident smile but failed.
“I know,” she whispered, not bothering to hide her angst or sadness. “What are we going to do? Lock ourselves inside our private little snow globe and forget the rest of the world?”
It sounded damn near perfect to me, but based on the quiver in her voice, Katiana wasn’t in favor of that idea.
“We could.” I shrugged. “Until the road is open.”
She audibly swallowed and wiped away the tear gliding down her cheek. “I mean after that.”
“I don’t know, sweetheart.” I sighed. “You need to finish college. You have an apartment, and I suspect a gym to manage?”
She nodded.
“Then you’ll need to go back.” Somehow I forced those crushing words from my lips, but inside I was howling and crumbling apart.
“Will you come with me?”
I stroked her hair and sent her a bittersweet smile. “I can’t, baby. Dead men don’t come back to life.”
“But—”
“Shhh,” I soothed. “Let’s not worry about it now. We’ve got at least a week or two to figure this out. Right now, I just want to hold you…breathe you in and rest up for round two.”
She sniffed and flashed me a brave smile. “Round two, huh? You got it in you, old man?”
I grinned and rocked my hips, thrusting my awakening erection deep inside her. “Since it’s still in you, I suspect you already know that answer.”
“Give me a couple minutes and I’ll be good to go.” She winked.
“Lightweight,” I teased as I cupped her nape and pressed a soul-stealing kiss to her lips.
8
Katiana
Slowly waking up, I stretched, smiling at the tingling ache between my legs. Memories of the lovemaking marathon Ryder and I shared last night streamed through me. Rolling over, I opened my eyes, expecting to see his rugged body sprawled out in the bed beside me. Instead, I saw the sliver of sunlight piercing through the gap in the curtains.
Ryder and I had spent the past three days pretending we were the only ones on the planet. We’d talked about everything—except our precarious future together—laughed, played in the snow, cooked, and made love…lots and lots of love.
The snow had stopped falling yesterday. But I’d secretly been hoping another storm would roll in. But the beaming sunlight quashed those fantasies, replacing them with a bitter omen.
Suddenly, the silent clock in my head started ticking. All the fears I’d been successfully shoving away were now rising to the surface with a dreadful vengeance.
Dead men don’t come back to life. Ryder’s words circled my brain like a merry-go-round, except there wasn’t anything merry about their meaning.
Stomach pitching, I tossed off the covers and dragged on a pair of jeans and a heavy, pink cable-knit sweater. After making a stop at the bathroom to take care of business and brush my teeth, I padded to the great room. The air was teeming with woodsmoke from the roaring fire that mingled with the unmistakable aroma of bacon and coffee wafting from the kitchen. When I rounded the corner, Ryder was standing at the stove, dressed in jeans and thermal socks. I stood in the doorway watching his wide, naked shoulders bunch and flex as he cooked. Dragging my gaze down farther, I drank in his slender waist and his tight, sexy ass.
A greedy moan seeped from my lips.
Turning, he stared at me before glancing out the window at the sunshine dazzling off the snow. He sent me a weak smile that didn’t reach his eyes, while I struggled to tamp down the dread rising inside me.
“Morning, gorgeous.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but my chin began to quiver and tears flooded my eyes. Rushing across the room, I threw myself into his arms and sobbed against his neck.
“Aw, baby. Don’t cry. I hate it when you cry,” he murmured, stroking my back as he held me tight.
“I’m sorry,” I choked. “It’s just…the sun.”
“I know.” He smiled sadly as he brushed my tears away. “But we still have a few days before the road crews make it up here. We’ll figure it out.”
Based on the lack of conviction in his voice, I wanted to ask if we would or if Ryder had already come to his own heartbreaking conclusion.
He brushed a kiss over my lips and tapped my ass with his palm. “Grab a cup of coffee and take a seat. Breakfast is almost ready.”
Forcing my worries down, I filled a mug and sat down at the table. My gaze fell to the scars marring the wood. Memories of Papa and me sharing countless breakfasts at this very spot rushed over me like an ocean wave. Suddenly, his deep voice and endearing accent echoed in my ears.
Life does not give you things for free, Katiana. You must work, and work hard to have good grades, successful career, loving husband, and independent children. When life gets tough…and it will, mishka. It will knock you down, spit in your face. But you must never give up. Oh, you will want to. You will want to run, find a quicker path…safer road, but you cannot give in to easy temptation. You must fight for what brings happiness and fills your heart. Fight dirty if you must, but fight to win. Understand?
“Yes, Papa. I understand,” I softly whispered.
“What did you say, baby?” Ryder asked as he set a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast in front of me.
“Nothing.” I forced a smile and started to pick up my fork and dropped it again. The whole situation between Ryder and me pissed me off, destroying my appetite.
Ryder sent me a sideways glance. A frown deepened his face. “Talk to me, Katiana.”
“I’ve been trying to, but you keep blowing me off, like you did when I was fifteen.” His brows shot up at my harsh, pissy tone. “I’m not a little girl anymore. And I’m tired of pretending everything is all right. It’s not. Not by a long shot. We need to sort this out, and we need to do it now, because I’m not losing you again.”
He leaned forward in his chair and cupped my hand. “Baby, you and I both know there’s nothing to sort out. It is what it is. There’s not a damn thing we can do to change it. You have a life in the city. One I can’t be a part of there.”
“Why not?” I asked, lifting my chin.
“Because I’m supposed to be dead.”
“But you’re not. You’re very much alive.”
“Yes, but only one man has ever been resurrected from the dead. Trust me. There isn’t a soul on the planet who’s going to mistake me for Jesus.”
“Stop!” I snapped, slamming my hand on the table. “Stop making jokes like you did when I was twelve. I’m a woman, dammit!”
Ryder narrowed his eyes. “I’m well aware of that fact, Katiana. What do you want me to say? I won’t lie to you again. I’m stuck up here on this godforsaken mountain. You have responsibilities back in the city.”
“Not anymore. I quit.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said I quit. I quit school. I quit owning the gym. I quit paying rent on my apartment. I. Quit!”
“You can’t do that.”
“Why not? Y
ou did.” God, I hated tossing salt into Ryder’s still raw and open wounds, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Besides, I was doing exactly what Papa would want me to do…fighting for my heart.
“My situation was a whole lot different. It’s more than just me supposedly being dead.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and stared out the window. “There are too many bad memories in the city. Besides, I’ve been living in isolation for so long, I’d never adapt to society now.”
“Bullshit. You think I know nothing about the ghosts back there?” I scoffed. “I dealt with yours every time I stepped into the gym. And now, Papa’s is there, too…on the floor, where he collapsed and died in front of my eyes. Trust me. I know all about the ghosts, Ryder.”
As he looked away, I caught the flicker of fear in his eyes.
My heart sputtered.
I’d never seen the great “Rage” Evans display anything but cocky courage and self-confidence. But catching the scant glimpse of the devil he was still fighting broke my heart in two.
After pushing back from the table, I crawled onto his lap.
Ryder instantly banded his arms around me and buried his face in my chest. “I’m sorry, Katiana, but I’m broken.”
He whispered his confession so softly I barely heard him.
I stroked my fingers through his hair and kissed his cheek. “No, you’re not broken, my love. You’ve just been battling your demons for so long, you haven’t stopped to realize that you’ve already conquered them. I know it’s daunting, thinking about rejoining the living. But if it were easy, you wouldn’t have stayed on this mountain so long, even for me.”
Ryder
As I fought back the claws of inadequacy and embarrassment threatening to shred me, Katiana’s words echoed in my head. I couldn’t fathom how someone so young possessed such sage knowledge and understanding.
Maybe she was an old soul sent to heal and rekindle mine.
I didn’t have any answers, but I knew one thing for certain. If this tiny sprite could square her shoulders, lift her chin, and never stop fighting, then so could I.
No more thinking of myself as broken. Katiana had forgiven me without an ounce of reservation. It was time to forgive myself and find my fucking courage. I would do it…for her. After all, I was a born fighter. Somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten that. But if anything in this world was worth fighting for, it was my Katiana. It was time to put my gloves on again and claim the biggest prize of all—my girl and my fucking soul.
Raising my head, I lifted my chin. “You’re right.” I kissed her eyes, the tip of her nose, and her lips. “It’s time for me to rise from the ashes, spread my wings, and wrap them around the most precious gift I’ve ever been given…you.”
“W-what are you saying?” she asked with hope blazing in her eyes.
“I’ll go back home with you…” Her shrill scream of delight nearly broke my eardrums. “Under one condition,” I bellowed.
“What?” Her curious expression did nothing to darken her joy.
“Marry me.”
She blinked. Her jaw dropped. “Y-you… Did you say…marry you?”
“Yeah.” I rasped out as my heart hammered wildly.
She nodded frantically as tears, happy ones this time, streamed down her cheeks.
“Say it, Katiana.”
“Yes.” She choked on a sob. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Suddenly she leapt off my lap and started racing toward the great room.
“Hey. Where are you going?”
She spun and shot me a blinding grin. “To pack.”
“But…” I shook my head. “Sweetheart, we’re not getting out of here for…who knows how long.”
“I don’t care. I’m going to pack up all your clothes so you won’t change your mind.”
I bit back a laugh and jumped to my feet with a growl. As I started after her, Katiana screamed and took off running again.
“You can’t pack if I tie you to the bed, woman,” I roared, chasing after her.
“You gotta catch me first.” Her heartwarming laughter pealed off the walls. It was the most beautiful sound I’d heard in three long, empty years.
Before she’d even reached the bathroom, I’d snagged an arm around her waist and pulled her flush against my chest. Bending, I claimed her lips before pivoting and pressing her up against the wall.
“I want you naked,” I growled, brushing kisses along her jaw.
“On the bed,” I continued, skimming my lips to the sensitive spot behind her ear.
“Legs spread wide.” Meshing my mouth to hers, I inhaled her excited gasp.
Rolling my hips, I stroked my rigid cock between her heated folds. Katiana clutched my shoulders and lifted, wrapping her legs around my waist.
“Carry me instead and I’ll make all your fantasies come true, mountain man.”
“You already have, my Katiana.”
Ten Days Later
I shoved the last of my things into the back hatch of Katiana’s rented SUV and shut the door. The damn thing was packed to the rafters. I heard the door to the cabin close and looked up, watching my raven-haired beauty lock the door before strolling toward me. The smile on her face rivaled the sun and continued to warm the lingering dark corners in my soul.
“Are we ready to go?” she asked, wrapping her arms around my waist and planting a cock-hardening kiss to my lips.
Dragging a stare over the cabin and land that had served as my sanctuary, I nodded. With Katiana’s help, I’d finally been able to pick the lock on my cage and make this monumental prison break I’d always longed for.
I was beyond ready to say goodbye to my bastion of guilt and shame.
Sinking my fingers into her silky mane, I tipped her head back and drank in the happiness, contentment, and love shimmering in her dark eyes. She pursed her lips and glanced away.
“Are you okay?”
She didn’t answer, simply studied the hills, growing increasingly nervous.
Suddenly, I was, too. “Katiana. Look at me.”
She slowly turned and peered up at me. I could feel the anxiety pinging off her as she swallowed tightly.
Tamping down the fears roaring to life inside me, I stroked her cheek. “What is it?”
“I’m late.” She dropped her head and placed her palm on her stomach.
Shock. Elation. Fear. And a whole host of other emotions morphed into a swirling cyclone of complete and utter ecstasy. I threw back my head and howled like a fucking wolf.
Katiana giggled as my feral cry echoed through the canyon.
“So…you’re okay with the possibility?”
“Okay?” I arched my brows. “Oh, baby. I’m way more than okay. I’m ecstatic.” My hand trembled as I gently placed it over hers, still pressed to her belly. “When is the baby due?”
She started laughing hysterically.
“What? That’s a normal question, right?”
She nodded as she wiped the tears of joy from her eyes. “Yes. It’s just…I don’t know for sure yet. I mean I’m only a couple days late, but if I am…pregnant, our baby should arrive sometime in August or September.”
“Our baby,” I whispered. “I fucking love the sound of that.”
“Me, too.” She beamed. “And I love you.”
“Oh, Katiana…I love you more than life itself.”
Hugging her tightly, I closed my eyes and breathed deep, filling my senses with her intoxicating scent of jasmine and honey.
Then I kissed her with all the passion and love exploding in my heart.
Kissed her with the hope she’d instilled in me, before slowly lifting from her succulent lips.
Katiana flashed me a sassy smile. “There’s a king-sized bed waiting for us at my apartment.”
A hungry growl rolled from deep in my chest. “Show me the way.”
“I already have,” she preened.
“Yes, you did, and I’m never getting lost again.”
About Jenna Jac
ob
USA Today Bestselling author Jenna Jacob paints a canvas of passion, romance, and humor as her alpha men and the feisty women who love them unravel their souls, heal their scars, and find a happy-ever-after kind of love. Heart-tugging, captivating, and steamy, Jenna’s books will surely leave you breathless and craving more.
A mom of four grown children, Jenna and her alpha-hunk husband live in Kansas. She loves reading, getting away from the city on the back of a Harley, music, camping, and cooking.
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Sunday: The Voyeur
London was a city forever caught in its past while clawing desperately toward its future, its shops and homes a curious mixture of centuries that gave one the feeling that past lives were overlapping and pressing in on this moment. Lily stepped into the evening and tugged her coat tightly together as misty fog hit her skin. It was unseasonably cool this evening, which she took as the first sign that winter would come earlier this year than it had last. She cared less about the short autumn than the fact that this would be her second year stuck in the UK during the holidays while her family gathered in America.
She shouldered her handbag and headed toward the office. It was her fifth visit, and possibly her last. When she’d begun her position at Quinn Investments, she hadn’t expected to use the company’s therapist so quickly. But then she’d spent a few months alone in the city and then another few. The visions she’d had about making friends or meeting new men had been replaced by panic attacks and weekends at home alone. Talking to a therapist was a last resort—that didn’t seem to be working.
By the time she reached the office, her hair was damp, hanging limply to her shoulders. Her outside appearance mirrored that of how she felt—dejected and damaged.
Dr. Grant’s door was open. Lily knew she was his last appointment of the day. She peeked in and waved timidly.