Pure Wicked: A Wicked Lovers Novella (1001 Dark Nights) (16 page)

“So will he call me or something?”

“Something,” she replied vaguely, then held out her hand. “It was really nice to meet you.”

Bristol shook it, then Jesse’s publicist exited the parlor and whisked her way out the front door. She stood, gaping after the woman. That was it?

Suddenly, Jayla appeared at her side. “Who was that?”

With a frown, Bristol started to explain. Granted, in slow, halting sentences because she was still trying to grasp it all herself. But the hope was shimmering brighter, like a shiny bangle dancing a jig in her brain.

Then the doorbell rang again, and she let out a sigh of relief. Maybe Candia had returned.

But when she wrenched the door open, Bristol found Jesse McCall standing there, looking far more like his rock star self than he had during his days with her. He wore combat boots and black leather pants—and he wore them well. A tight charcoal tee stretched across his muscled chest and hugged his bulging biceps. A fresh scruff now darkened his jawline, lending him a gorgeously disreputable look. A guitar strap crossed his torso diagonally, and the instrument rested on his back. The neck stood out, angled above one shoulder. He didn’t look merely gorgeous, but as if the professional and personal side were finally happy together in his skin.

Bristol swallowed her tongue.

“Hi, honey. Sorry I’m late.” He echoed the words he’d first spoken to her and sent her a searching smile, complete with those dimples that made her heart melt.

A thousand things she could say to him crossed her brain at once. A simple “hi” didn’t begin to convey everything in her heart. But she didn’t want to get into all the gory details of their relationship in the foyer of her mother’s house while anyone could simply walk in. As it was, Bristol figured that only a miracle—or a major ongoing drama in the kitchen—was keeping everyone from running to the front door to see who’d arrived.

Jayla elbowed her, reminding Bristol that she hadn’t said anything at all.

But her mouth didn’t seem to be working. Instead, she launched herself at him, linking her hands behind his neck and plastering her body against his. “I’m sorry.”

He banded a beefy hand around her waist and bowed his head until their foreheads touched. He stroked her crown with a soft palm. “It’s all right. I understand. Hayden’s crap, Jayla’s questions, Candia’s text…”

“They messed with my head,” she agreed breathlessly.

“I sent Candia to explain since she had all the evidence on her phone. You better now?”

She nodded, then looked around to see that her best friend had melted into the background, probably in the kitchen doing crowd control. Bless her.

“Much.” Bristol smiled brightly. “You’re here.”

“You ready to talk?”

“Yeah.” But she wanted to make one thing clear first. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. That song I was writing for you at your place? I finished it this morning. Can I play it for you? You’ll be the very first person to hear it.”

Her heart flipped and fluttered. “Please.”

With the warmest smile she’d ever seen him give, he twisted the guitar strap around his body and anchored the instrument against his chest. He strummed and looked at her. He was all man, but she saw the uncertain boy under that who hoped she’d like his gift.

After he cleared his throat, he began singing in the beautiful tenor that had made him millions.

“You turned me on

Like a light bulb

With just a smile

And all your charm

You made me hot

My heart was frozen

All but closed down

Then you sparked me with a touch

And now you’re gone

I’m so lost

Looking for a way to carry on

I can’t go back

To who I was

To who I’d been

Don’t want to hear ‘God, remember him when…’

Before you

I didn’t know what I wanted

Or know about love

I didn’t understand

You’re all I’ve dreamed of

But now you’re gone

And I live with regret

I’m just not ready to handle it yet.

Before you

I didn’t know you would change me

Or show me the way

I didn’t understand

Why my pride wouldn’t wait

But now I see

I understand

You’ve made me into a better man.”

As he repeated the chorus, Bristol teared up. The drops rolled down her cheeks. He’d written those words about her? “It’s beautiful. Oh, my gosh… I’m so honored. Touched.” She choked. “In love with you. I wish I had something to give you in return.”

“Right now, I only want one thing.” He got down on one knee and drew out a pretty blue box from his pants.

She gasped. When she untied the white bow and pulled off the lid, a sleek black velvet box lay inside.

“Open it,” he insisted softly.

She did so—and absolutely lost her breath. Inside was an exquisite Tiffany engagement ring. It wasn’t beautiful because of its size or overwhelming dazzle, but because of its sparkling simplicity. It looked like something she would have picked out for herself.

She looked at him, fresh tears sparkling. “I love it.”

“Marry me, Bristol Alexa Reese. We’ll wait as long as you want to announce our engagement and tie the knot. We’ll get married however you want and live wherever you want. I’m dissolving the band to go behind the scenes and focus on my songwriting. I swear no getting wasted or getting laid. I just want everything to be you and me and our lives forever.”

Tears ran down her face quickly now. She sobbed at the feeling swelling in her chest, but she managed to choke out one word to him. “Yes.”

A grin broke out across his handsome face. “No doubts?”

“None.”

“What are you going to tell your family about me? About us.”

“That I’m in love.” She gave him a watery smile. “And to butt out.”

He took the box from her shaking hands and settled the ring on her finger. “It’s a perfect fit.”

She raised up on her tiptoes and pressed a tender kiss to his lips, melting into him now and always. “Just like you are for me.”

<<<<>>>> 

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1001 Dark Nights fabulous novellas...

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WICKED WOLF
by Carrie Ann Ryan

A Redwood Pack Novella

WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING
by Heather Graham

A Krewe of Hunters Novella

EASY WITH YOU
by Kristen Proby

A With Me In Seattle Novella

MASTER OF FREEDOM
by Cherise Sinclair

A Mountain Masters Novella

CARESS OF PLEASURE
by Julie Kenner

A Dark Pleasures Novella

ADORED
by Lexi Blake

A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

HADES
by Larissa Ione

A Demonica Novella

RAVAGED
by Elisabeth Naughton

An Eternal Guardians Novella

DREAM OF YOU
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A Wait For You Novella

STRIPPED DOWN
by Lorelei James

A Blacktop Cowboys ® Novella

RAGE/KILLIAN
by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

Bayou Heat Novellas

DRAGON KING
by Donna Grant

A Dark Kings Novella

PURE WICKED
by Shayla Black

A Wicked Lovers Novella

HARD AS STEEL
by Laura Kaye

A Hard Ink/Raven Riders Crossover

STROKE OF MIDNIGHT
by Lara Adrian

A Midnight Breed Novella

ALL HALLOWS EVE
by Heather Graham

A Krewe of Hunters Novella

KISS THE FLAME
by Christopher Rice

A Desire Exchange Novella

DARING HER LOVE
by Melissa Foster

A Bradens Novella

TEASED
by Rebecca Zanetti

A Dark Protectors Novella

THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER
by Liliana Hart

A MacKenzie Family Novella

FOREVER WICKED
by Shayla Black

A Wicked Lovers Novella

CRIMSON TWILIGHT
by Heather Graham

A Krewe of Hunters Novella

CAPTURED IN SURRENDER
by Liliana Hart

A MacKenzie Family Novella

SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING
by Tina Folsom

A Scanguards Vampire Novella

DUNGEON GAMES
by Lexi Blake

A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

AZAGOTH
by Larissa Ione

A Demonica Novella

NEED YOU NOW
by Lisa Renee Jones

A Shattered Promises Series Prelude

SHOW ME, BABY
by Cherise Sinclair

A Masters of the Shadowlands Novella

ROPED IN
by Lorelei James

A Blacktop Cowboys ® Novella

TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT
by Lara Adrian

A Midnight Breed Novella

THE FLAME
by Christopher Rice

A Desire Exchange Novella

CARESS OF DARKNESS
by Julie Kenner

A Dark Pleasures Novella

Also from Evil Eye Concepts:

TAME ME
by J. Kenner

A Stark International Novella

THE SURRENDER GATE
By Christopher Rice

A Desire Exchange Novel

SERVICING THE TARGET
By Cherise Sinclair

A Masters of the Shadowlands Novel

Bundles:

BUNDLE ONE

Includes Forever Wicked by Shayla Black

Crimson Twilight by Heather Graham

Captured in Surrender by Liliana Hart

Silent Bite by Tina Folsom

BUNDLE TWO

Includes Dungeon Games by Lexi Blake

Azagoth by Larissa Ione

Need You Now by Lisa Renee Jones

Show My, Baby by Cherise Sinclair

BUNDLE THREE

Includes Roped In by Lorelei James

Tempted By Midnight by Lara Adrian

The Flame by Christopher Rice

Caress of Darkness by Julie Kenner

Wicked for You

Wicked Lovers Book 10

By Shayla Black

Coming October 6, 2015

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Ever since he rescued her from a dangerous kidnapper, Mystery Mullins has wanted Axel Dillon. When he returned her to her Hollywood father and tabloid life, she was grateful…and a little in love. Mystery wasn’t ready to let Axel go, even after the soldier gently turned her away because, at nineteen, she was too young.

Now, six years later, Mystery is grown, with a flourishing career and a full life—but she’s still stuck on Axel. Disguised, she propositions him in a bar, and the night they spend together is beyond her wildest dreams. Mystery steels herself to walk away—except the sheets are barely cold when her past comes back to haunt her.

Once he realizes Mystery isn’t the stranger he thought, Axel is incensed and intrigued. But when it’s clear she’s in danger, he doesn’t hesitate to become her protector—and her lover—again. And as the two uncover a secret someone is willing to kill for, Axel is determined to claim Mystery’s heart before a murderer silences her for good.

* * * *

Axel Dillon . . . Even the thought of him turned her inside out.

Mystery glanced around the bar again, easing farther inside. Some biker types in the far corner playing pool eyed her. The bartender still stared down his pierced nose at her. Three cops huddled together all focused on her. Did they think she was casing the place for a robbery? She had to stop standing in the middle of the room like an idiot.
Take a seat and order a drink.

Finally, her head forced her body to obey, and she eased into a little booth near the back. Once she’d seated herself, everyone around her started talking again. And from her new vantage point, she could see the back half of the bar, previously obscured by the wall of televisions.

There he sat, absently staring at ESPN and sipping a beer, his profile strong. As usual, his rugged face was unreadable. He still kept his dark-blond hair military short. And he still looked like the side of a mountain. Somewhere around six foot five, he’d always been built big, but in the last few years, she’d swear he’d put on another slab of muscle. His tight black T-shirt hugged every hard swell and lean dip, tapering past a flat belly to narrow hips. She had to hold in a sigh. Even a single glance of him made her heart knock against her ribs and everything below her waist tingle. Mystery swallowed.