It took years for relationships to work themselves out. And dammit, I was more than willing to do what it took to be with her.
“Why are you standing up here?” She’d snuck up on me, snaking her arms around my waist. “Come walk on the beach with me.”
Turning in her slender arms, I wrapped my own around her. She snuggled up under my chin, her lips pressing against my throat. “I was enjoying watching you in your natural habitat,” I teased.
She snorted. “Oh yes, I’m so wild.” Leaning back so her gaze met mine, she widened her grin.
“Why don’t we go back inside?” Without waiting for an answer, I picked her up bridal style to carry her back through the open sliding glass door. Giggles echoed down the hallway as I did the more gentlemanly version of “caveman drag woman back to cave.”
Tossing her lightly onto our bed, I crawled over her, effectively caging her beneath me. Her hands cupped my face, running along the scruff on my jaw. She took her bottom lip between her teeth, a clear sign of where her mind was going.
“Can I ask you a question?” I hated to break the moment between us, but I needed to get this off my chest. If I didn’t, it’d burst open and unfiltered emotion would fall out.
Her blue gaze morphed from playful to inquisitive. “Of course you can.”
“Are you happy here?”
One of her manicured eyebrows shot up. “What kind of question is that?”
“What I mean is …” I sighed, realizing this wasn’t going the way I hoped. “Are you happy with me?”
Now both brows raised. “Of course I am, Hawk. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.” She gently placed her hand on my chest, giving herself room to sit up. “After all we’ve been through to get here, there’s no other place I’d rather be.” Her fingers carded through my hair. “I love you.”
My forehead met hers, closing my eyes as I smiled at how foolish I sounded. “I love you too, Lottie.”
Her lips kissed the tip of my nose, moving lower until our mouths fused together. She tasted like opportunities, hope, and so much damn desire it made my soul scream. This wonderfully flawed human being chose me—another flawed human being—to be hers. I’d wait a thousand lifetimes if it meant I’d know this feeling. This comfort in knowing she’d love me no matter how much money I have, what job I keep, or what time I get up in the morning. The bond of friendship that kept me young at heart no matter how time tried to force the gap between us. Her unconditional belief in us that started well before I even knew it existed.
Heaven on earth could be found in her arms. And that was where I longed to stay. After a long day, passing out on her lap while she worked on her music therapy course work meant so much more than she’d ever know. I’d watch her read while one of her hands played absently through my hair.
Slowly, our bodies sought the other out. Pieces of clothing forgotten to the floor as we melted together. Her soft moans urged me to seek out my own pleasure as we raced to the cliff.
I couldn’t curse my past anymore because it brought me to this perfect present moment with her. We’d fight. We’d struggle. We’d have our ups and downs. But we’d do it together.
Chapter Forty-One
Charlotte
Hawk’s heartbeat thudded steadily under my ear as I laid my head against his chest. His fingertips ran up and down my arm softly. Satisfaction seeped from every bone and muscle in my body. Sex with Hawk was an experience, but when he went slow, worshipping every inch of skin he could reach, it made my head want to explode.
Memories of the days when I thought we’d never be able to be together like this flooded my mind. The age gap too wide, the distance too far, and our pasts too great to overcome. Now, the sound of waves gently crashing against the shore lulled us into a state of peace. Our bodies flesh to flesh. Our hearts beating in tandem.
“I want to stay like this forever,” Hawk whispered gently, stroking his hand over my tousled hair.
Smiling, I lifted my head to meet his soft gaze. “Then let’s do that.”
The hand propped behind his head moved, reaching to cup my face. So much reflected in his eyes that I was afraid to move or say anything. My heart began to race again at the anticipation of what he would say next.
“Marry me.”
He didn’t pose it as a question because he already knew my answer. My chest grew tight as emotions clogged my throat and blurred my vision. He waited for my response in steadfast silence. Never changing, always the same.
“Yes,” I whispered, unable to trust my voice.
The smile that spread across his lips brightened his entire face. I saw the young man still beating deep within the old soul I’d fallen in love with. Time would never be an issue for me. We were one and the same. Two souls desperate to trust, willing to fall, and hopelessly entwined by a string of fate.
Fairy tales didn’t exist, yet I still won my happily ever after. And maybe wishing on feathers seemed like a silly thing to do, but I’d do it all again. Hawk might have given me back my wings, but we taught each other how to soar.
I barely remember how or why I’d been sold. However, I would always remember how I fell in love, and why.
The End …
Playlist
Broken Frame – Alex & Sierra
River of Tears – Alessia Cara
Rise Up – Andra Day
Use Somebody – Boyce Avenue (Cover)
Praying – Kesha
Only One – Illenium (Featuring Nina Sung)
Unconditionally – Katy Perry
Ribcage – Crywolf & Ianborg
Written in Reverse – Tiesto & Hardwell
The Man Who Can’t Be Moved – The Script
Never Stop (wedding version) – Safety Suit
Still Falling for You – Ellie Goulding
Eyes Closed – Halsey
Slow Burn – Cry Wolf
About the Author
Kylie Stewart has been writing short stories and books all her life. She was influenced by her Scottish heritage to become an independent British history buff and has a small library dedicated to Tudor history and Arthurian legend. From contemporary, to fantasy, to the historical, she loves to write dangerous, passionate, raw romance that will make you dread to see the pages dwindle.
A member of RWA and APA, she works as an audio book narrator and voice actor when she isn’t writing. Kylie lives in Dallas, TX with her husband and fellow voice actor Eric Rolon, and their two cats Asuka and Haru.
To keep up with Kylie on social media, go to the links below:
www.kyliestewartauthor.com
Facebook Page
Kylie’s Kittens Reader Group
Twitter
Goodreads
BookBub
Newsletter Sign Up
Other Books by Kylie Stewart
LEGEND SERIES
Set in Stone #1
The Duke’s Curse #2
Resurrection #3
Return to Avalon #4
Coming Soon …
Rise of the Dragon #5
Into the Inferno #6
Chasing Camelot #7
Nothing Fancy, Just Love
Reckless – An Anthology
SINGLE TITLE NOVELS
Feathers – A Novel
Wings – A Novella
Wings – A novella
Because everyone deserves a happy ending.
Coming Soon!
Start the Series on Amazon!
Her past is hidden. His secret is timeless. Their love could change history …
Alexandria York never thought her budding art career would put her face-to-face with a legend, or change her fate forever, but that’s exactly what happened.
Mysterious enough to captivate and arrogant enough to be sexy, The Duke of Avalon makes Alexandria an offer—build him a statue that could launch her career. The catch—she must live within his castle walls until its completion.
Alexandria soon learns that nothing about Avalon is set in stone. He’s a complicated soul, wise beyond his years. His eyes have seen hundreds of lifetimes. She is the object of his affection, the beating of his heart, the love of his life.
Their lives are intertwined, their souls cry out for one another. The problem? She doesn’t remember who he is, who she was, and who she’s yet to become.
Set in Stone is book one of the Legend Series based off The Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Table of Contents
Chapter One: Charlotte
Chapter Two: Charlotte
Chapter Three: Hawk
Chapter Four: Charlotte
Chapter Five: Charlotte
Chapter Six: Charlotte
Chapter Seven: Hawk
Chapter Eight: Charlotte
Chapter Nine: Charlotte
Chapter Ten: Hawk
Chapter Eleven: Charlotte
Chapter Twelve: Hawk
Chapter Thirteen: Charlotte
Chapter Fourteen: Hawk
Chapter Fifteen: Charlotte
Chapter Sixteen: Hawk
Chapter Seventeen: Charlotte
Chapter Eighteen: Hawk
Chapter Nineteen: Charlotte
Chapter Twenty: Hawk
Chapter Twenty-One: Hawk
Chapter Twenty-Two: Charlotte
Chapter Twenty-Three: Hawk
Chapter Twenty-Four: Charlotte
Chapter Twenty-Five: Hawk
Chapter Twenty-Six: Charlotte
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Hawk
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Charlotte
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Hawk
Chapter Thirty: Charlotte
Chapter Thirty-One: Hawk
Chapter Thirty-Two: Charlotte
Chapter Thirty-Three: Hawk
Chapter Thirty-Four: Charlotte
Chapter Thirty-Five: Hawk
Chapter Thirty-Six: Charlotte
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Hawk
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Charlotte
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Charlotte
Chapter Forty: Hawk
Chapter Forty-One: Charlotte
Playlist
About the Author
Other books by Kylie Stewart
Wings – A Novella