The large formal dining hall was decorated in red, black, and gold. A band was playing soft music in the background, and at the other end of the room, a beautiful fireplace made the whole space warm and welcoming.The room was crowded with guests already, men in suits and women in evening dresses. T
I looked towards Ethan. Seeing no negative reaction from him, I continued, "I love to read, and my books give me ideas of places yet to explore. One day, I hope to be able to see those things for real. There is still so much I know nothing of…"A cold feeling made me turn my head and look right into
"She isn't," Ethan stated, a slight irritation in his tone."I don't mean to quarrel, but I would like to hear what the lady has to say, Ethan. Plus, you have kept her away from us up in that room the entire time we have been here. I am intrigued to know more of her – and why you are so taken with h
I clenched my fists and took a deep breath."Miss Madalynn, it would be my honor to sing for you."She sneered, seemily pleased with me being so cooperative.Then I walked over to the band to whisper to their leader what I wanted. He seemed a bit surprised, but then gave me a smile.I used to perfor
I was lost in the way he was kissing me.I felt frozen in time, and the only thing that I was aware of was how he was touching me– how he was holding me.He was impacting me more than I could understand, but I wanted it all.Time had stopped in that moment, and, for once, I never wanted it to start
"Oh– goddess," I cried out as he pulled me up onto his lap, still inside me as he kneeled on the bed. His hands upon my rear end, he brought me down on his shaft over and over again, and the louder I got, the more his lips assaulted my own.This was different from how he had slept with me before– mo
Waking the next morning, I laid upon the soft sheets of my bed. His scent still lingered, even after his long absence.Memories flooded my mind of the way he touched me – the way he kissed me.I was enraptured with the feeling of him upon my body, and I knew that the sinful thoughts shouldn't be the
When he retreated, I released a breath I hadn't known I had been holding. I turned to find Madalynn glaring at me."Watch it, or my father may take you for himself. He wouldn't mind adding you to his collection."A sadistic smirk crossed her face, and she turned quickly to leave.Romero's Beta, howe
The entire family had gathered in the dining room and was chatting amiably over a very impressive spread that had been laid out by the kitchen–two prime rib roasts, a honeyed ham, and three roast ducks were the centerpieces of the table, all of which were being enjoyed liberally by everyone.George
RowanMom ran her fingers across Selene's head, admiring her fine white hair. She looked every ounce the doting grandmother instead of a ball of uncertainty, like Maeve. Maeve was pacing back and forth near the fall wall of my bedroom, her arms folded across her chest and her head bent as she tried
Kacidra joined in the conversation. "Maeve is right, Rowan. We need to know what's happening with you and Hanna, or else we'll never be able to help."Rosalie's voice was calm and supportive as she asked, "Is it Hanna that's troubling you, son? Is she doing all right?My first instinct was to tell t
Gemma and Ernest had flown down with my parents and their son George, who was just two months older than Maeve's sons.A moment later, the library door opened and more of our family members poured in, as if they were fully aware of the thoughts I'd just had and I'd summoned them. I pushed aside my n
RowanThe castle was abuzz with its usual day-to-day activities. Servants and maids passed me in the hallway carrying baskets of laundry and trays of tea. I could hear the clattering of cookware as I left my office and walked toward the grand staircase off the foyer, seeing the door to the servants'
"Who? What happens?""There's so much more out there," Mara said dreamily. "So, so much more.""Maeve!" Troy called from down the beach.I turned to look at him, and when I turned back to Mara, she had taken off. "Wait!" I called after her, but she had already made it out of earshot, her footsteps l
Best of all, Troy was happy. He was at peace and at home. But there was still much work to be done.We were spending several weeks jumping from island to island, taking stock of the wellbeing of the inhabitants, and making a list of what was needed. Most of the islands were in need of medicine, inf
Maeve–Four Months LaterSuntra was not what I was expecting. I had become accustomed to the seemingly endless white-sand beaches of Avondale, where the sand grit was so fine it felt like powdered sugar as you walked barefoot in the surf. Suntra's sand was coarse and golden and dappled with tidepool
I straightened up a bit, shifting Oliver's weight in my arms as I narrowed my eyes back at him, sizing him up. A man roughly my father's age came bounding out of their house, waving at me apologetically as he leaned to whisper harshly in the ear of the man I assumed was his father.Whatever his son