Romances de E L Simon

One year later. The ocean sparkled like glass under the late spring sun, the waves a soft hush in the distance. From the wide terrace of their coastal home, her favorite of the three places they now split their time between, Vivienne rocked gently in a cushioned chair, a mug of tea in one hand and a baby monitor in the other.She may not have wanted to recreate the beach wedding from Weston's fake photos, but she did love being married beside the ocean. The real thing, it turned out, was far better than the fiction ever could have been.Inside, laughter rang out.Knox’s deep voice and a tiny, gurgling squeal.Elodie was a tiny, perfect clone of her father. Same eyes, same expression, same ridiculous pout when she didn’t get her way. Not that she ever didn’t get her way. Not with Knox around.At only four months old, she had him wrapped around her tiny fingers. He read bedtime stories with full dramatic flair, vetoed every outfit that wasn’t soft enough, and insisted on carrying her

The orchard had transformed.Twinkling lights glowed between the blossoms, casting a golden shimmer across the petals floating gently to the grass below. The aisle of soft white carpet wound between the trees, lined with wildflowers and candles in tall glass lanterns. A gentle sea breeze stirred the air, carrying the faintest scent of salt and spring.Vivienne stood at the edge of it all, heart hammering.Earlier that afternoon, she’d walked into what could only be described as dress chaos, hundreds of gowns in every color and shape imaginable. Thankfully, the designers had taken mercy on her and narrowed it down to a short list, which she gratefully accepted.Tina had worked miracles, pulling her hair into soft, romantic waves, dusting her skin with a radiant glow, and somehow making her feel like a bride even before the veil went on.She wore a gown of soft ivory silk, draped delicately off her shoulders, fitted perfectly. Her hair was swept up in loose waves, blossoms pinned throug

Vivienne was still staring, mouth parted in stunned disbelief, when Knox slipped his fingers through hers.“How—” she breathed. “How did you set all this up? How could you have known I wouldn’t say the beach?”Knox gave her a crooked, sheepish smile. “I didn’t.”She blinked.“I actually had four venues prepped on this estate,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “The beach, a garden, a hilltop, and this.” He looked out toward the orchard, warm light filtering through the trees. “Zayne owns the place, so I had a little creative freedom. But… I had a really good feeling about the orchard. I like it here too.”He shifted, the smallest hint of nerves flitting through his usually impenetrable expression.“So what do you think?” he asked, voice softer now. “Would you like to marry me today?”He gave her a smile that made her stomach flip.“It would make me… unbelievably happy,” he said. “But if you’re not ready, I’ll turn the car around right now. I’ll understand. I’ll wait.”Vivienn

Vivienne was curled up in Knox’s hoodie. A new one, not the worn and torn piece of comfort she’d clung to for the past year. That one was still safe in her drawer, of course. No way was she letting him throw it out. But this hoodie was soft, still fluffy on the inside, and it smelled like him. Fresh and familiar. Perfect. And the fact that she now had access to an unlimited supply of these made her a little giddy.She tucked her legs under her on the chaise, phone in hand, and opened the news app.The headline hit her like a thunderclap.WESTON CARTER AND CELESTE LANGLEY ARRESTED IN EMBEZZLEMENT SCANDALHer thumb froze mid-scroll.She clicked the article.Photos. Weston being led into a police vehicle, looking pale and furious. Celeste in sunglasses, her jaw set tight. The charges were laid out in bold: financial fraud, misappropriation of company funds, falsified wire transfers. Multiple witnesses. Paper trails.Vivienne’s heart hammered.How?She’d kept her word. She hadn’t released

“No,” Knox said flatly. “And don’t ask me to use her again.”The words carried across the soundstage with a finality that made several crew members freeze mid-movement.Vivienne stood up.Heads turned. Some crew members looked wary, until they caught sight of Reid and Felix flanking her like silent shadows.She walked straight to Knox, eyes bright with exasperation and something else.“Knox,” she hissed under her breath. “You have to kiss her. She’s your love interest. You can’t just say no and walk off.”He raised a brow. “Actually, I can. I have a clause in my contract. Any intimate scene—including kissing—I can opt to use a double.”Her jaw dropped. “You wrote that into your contract?”He shrugged. “Didn’t used to. But things change.”She stared at him. “But I love your romantic scenes. You have to at least kiss the actress playing your lover. That’s not a big ask.”He looked her up and down, that maddening glint in his eye returning.“Nope,” he said. “Only you, sweetheart.”And th

Knox sat on the edge of the bed, still shirtless, brushing the backs of his fingers down Vivienne’s arm as she blinked awake.“You slept like a rock,” he murmured.Vivienne stretched under the sheets, her hair a warm mess around her face. “How long did I—”“Long enough,” he said, then pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “But I’ve got to go to work.”She frowned. “Right now?”“Unfortunately.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You have two choices: stay here, order food and anything else you want all day...”Her brow arched.“Or,” he added, “you can come with me to set.”Her eyes lit up instantly.Knox chuckled. “I’ll take that as a vote for set.”***By the time they arrived at the soundstage, Vivienne was practically glowing. Knox had set her up in his private trailer, his dressing room really, but it felt like a luxury suite. A plush sofa. Bottled water chilled to her preference. A blanket wrapped around her legs, and pillows propped up behind her like she was royalty on bed re

Despite how Caelia occasionally cringed at the overzealous affection between her mother and Karios, she couldn’t deny the quiet warmth it brought her. There was a time when she’d believed her mother might never smile again, let alone be loved so tenderly. But now, Karios treated both of his wives like they hung the stars, and Gelda and Caelia’s mother had become inseparable. For all the pain that had paved their past, joy now bloomed freely.Lately, however, Karios’s devotion had met some stiff competition.Caelia’s son, Raelan, had stolen the hearts of the entire household.It was hardly a surprise. He was perfection, at least to her. He looked exactly like Rhyzar, down to the bronze tint of his skin and the soft waves of his dark hair. But his eyes, green-gold like sunlit peridot, that was her influence. He was the most beautiful baby in the world, and Caelia dared anyone to disagree.Everyone doted on him, his fathers most of all. He’d spent the first six months of his life sleepin

Another three months passed.Caius had returned on Rhyzar’s orders, though he seemed reluctant to leave the capital—or more specifically, to leave the king. Caelia had suspected for some time that Caius and the young king had grown… close. More than once, she had caught the telltale flush on Caius’s face when the king’s name was mentioned. Now, standing before her, Caius delivered his report in his usual straightforward manner, but there was an unspoken weight in his eyes.“The Mariswyn sons have returned to their father’s estate,” he explained. “After some time… healing.”Caelia’s brows lifted. Healing. A word that felt too foreign for the legacy left behind by her father.“They’re running the estate alongside Lady Mariswyn,” Caius continued, his expression softening. “They seem to be… in a better place.”Caelia hesitated, considering the weight of his words.“They’d like to meet you,” Caius said. “When you’re ready.”The idea of reconnecting with her half-brothers stirred something u

Her husband approached with slow, deliberate steps, his eyes roving over her exposed, helpless form with a ravenous gaze.Caelia’s body flushed a deep crimson as she suppressed a gasp, feeling the white dragon press deeper into her once more. Her frame trembled with ecstasy, clenching around her new mate even as a fresh wave of embarrassment washed over her.Rhyzar’s gaze only heightened her arousal, his eyes never leaving her.Her gaze flicked downwards as he stopped directly in front of her.She could almost feel the heat radiating from him, her awareness of his proximity grew excruciating as the dragon began to move more rhythmically.A strong, warm hand cupped her jaw, lifting her head to face him.Panting from the relentless pleasure, she opened her eyes to meet his golden gaze, his obvious arousal mere inches from her face.A low growl resonated from Rhyzar’s chest, similar to the sounds the dragon behind her was making."Are you enjoying my gift?" he murmured, a dangerous edge

Pleasure rippled through Caelia's body as the white dragon’s long finger traced the curve of her backside. Heat spread from his touch, a wave of ecstasy sinking deep into her muscles and bones in a way no human could ever hope to replicate. His magic infused every caress, lighting up her nerves with sensations that bordered on unbearable.Her back arched instinctively, her body begging for more as a ragged moan slipped past her lips."Good." The dragon’s voice was deep and resonant, vibrating through the bed beneath her. It melted through her core without the use of magic. Pure, ancient dominance wrapped in a deceptively calm tone.“That’s cheating,” Rhyzar’s smirking voice curled into her mind, the sound dark and amused.Caelia’s breath hitched. She could feel Rhyzar’s arousal as clearly as her own, thrumming through the bond between them. It only stoked the fire burning beneath her skin.“Please,” she whispered, her voice breathless and trembling.A low growl rolled through the room

Caelia’s breath hitched, her pulse racing as heat coiled low in her belly.“I-uh-I—” she fumbled, her face burning as desire flooded through her veins. Her body practically vibrated with need.“Do not worry, Little Mate.” The silver-eyed man took a slow, deliberate step forward. His molten gaze pinned her in place as if he could see straight through her. “I’m well aware of my lack of experience with your body.” His lips curved into a lazy smile. “But I assure you, I will put you in a state of constant pleasure.”He said it so mundanely, as if he were discussing the weather.Before Caelia could process the meaning of his words, a wave of pure, exquisite ecstasy ripped through her body.Her knees buckled. Her inner walls fluttered around nothing, clenching helplessly as pleasure surged through her veins. She gasped, clutching at his hands—his firm, warm hands. Heat poured from his skin, the same heat that always radiated from Rhyzar.Her legs trembled dangerously beneath her.“Little Ma

Caelia had grown accustomed to the quiet companionship of her two guards. Despite her insistence that she had no need for their protection, Daxan and Orin had refused to leave her service, claiming it was their honor to protect her. At first, she had found their persistence exasperating. But then, she had noticed the way their eyes lingered on Liora—the subtle glances, the hesitant smiles—and it all made sense.The truth had come out at last. Liora, in her quiet bravery, had confessed her feelings to Caelia, admitting that she shared an affection for both men. The revelation had filled Caelia with an unfamiliar warmth, the kind she had rarely associated with relationships. Love, in all its forms, could be unconventional, unpredictable—but if it made them happy, then who was she to judge?And perhaps it was fate, because their presence also ensured another loose end remained tightly bound.Selene had survived.Rhyzar had kept his word, shielding her just enough to ensure she lived, but

The rink was chaos before practice.Sticks clattered. Someone blasted music from a phone speaker. Half the team argued over tape and missing gloves.Ryder shoved his bag under the bench and looked up just in time to catch Jax glancing his way.It was quick. Barely a second.But Jax's mouth tipped slightly, like he’d been waiting for Ryder to walk in.Ryder looked away first, grabbing his gear before Connor or Drew could notice and start their usual bullshit again.It didn’t help.“Calloway!” Connor’s voice exploded across the room. “You bring the Mustang today?”Jax didn’t even look up. “I always bring the Mustang.”“Let me drive it.”“No.”Drew leaned over the back of the bench behind him. “Five minutes.”“No.”“Two minutes.”“Still no.”Connor pointed accusingly. “You let Hayes sit in it all the time.”Ryder choked on his water bottle. “What's that got to do with it? Zach's been in there too!”Jax finally looked up, mouth twitching. “He didn’t ask. He just got in.”Connor gasped. “S

Going about normal college life without Jackson Calloway as his mortal enemy was… weird.Good weird.But weird.Ryder kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. For a snide comment across the rink. A shoulder check in the hallway. Some reminder that the universe had returned to its natural order.But things had just… shifted.It turned out not being at war with Jax had perks.Like copying his stupidly perfect notes in class while Jax pretended not to notice.Like complaining once about how cold the lecture hall was and walking into his next class to find a spare Direwolves hoodie folded over the back of his chair.No note. No comment.And then there were moments like Wednesday afternoon.The science lab emptied slowly after the last lecture, students drifting out in twos and threes until the room finally went quiet.Ryder lingered. Perched on the edge of one of the lab counters, swinging his foot idly while he replied to Lila’s latest flood of messages.Jax leaned against the opposite b

“Don’t do this.”“Do what?” Ryder shot back.Jax exhaled slowly. “I told you. I’m not your friend, Hayes.”“Right. Right, right, right.” Ryder nodded too fast. “Yeah, sure. But you’ve been real fucking friendly these past few days, that’s all. Don’t worry, I don’t want to braid your hair or some shit.” He leaned back, spreading his hands. “If I’m fucking a guy, I just want the full experience, okay.”One of Jax’s brows arched.“What,” Ryder pressed, defensive now, “you don’t have time for one goddamn drink?”Jax sighed, rubbing his thumb along the rim of his glass. “You’re trying to take me on some shitty date, Hayes?”“Whoa—no.” Ryder barked a laugh. “What the hell, man? I have a girlfriend. And this is not a shitty date.”“Wow, okay,” Jax said dryly. “Lucky Lila.”Ryder squared his shoulders. “Yeah. Lucky Lila. But this isn’t a date, and we’re not besties. It’s just—part of hooking up. Alright?” He gestured between them. “So drink your drink and get your shit together on the ice.”“

“Hayes?” Jax said, brows lifting as the door slammed shut. “What the hell are you doing?”“Go,” Ryder snapped, already reaching for the seatbelt, hands a little too rough. “Just drive.”Jax huffed a laugh, incredulous. His fingers stayed loose on the steering wheel. “You’re a really shitty hitchhiker, Hayes. What is this—some kind of power trip? You want me chauffeuring you around now?”Ryder’s head whipped toward him. “Power trip?” He let out a sharp breath, heat flaring. “Oh, you’re one to fucking talk.”Jax waited, eyes steady, clearly expecting Ryder to finish the thought.Ryder didn’t. He scrubbed a hand over his face instead. “You know what—never mind. Just drive.”Silence stretched, taut as a pulled line.Jax glanced ahead, then back at Ryder. “Where?”Ryder hesitated. The truth crowded his mouth and stalled there. “I don’t know.”Jax’s mouth twitched. “You tryin' to race Connor back or something?”“No,” Ryder said immediately. Too fast. “No. Just—go somewhere. A bar. Downtown.

Larsson didn’t drag it out.That was almost worse.The locker room went still, the usual team noise flattening into something tight and watchful. Ryder sat on the bench, elbows on his knees, jaw set. He could feel Jax across the room without looking.Larsson cleared his throat. “Goalies first.”A groan rippled through the room.“Starting goalie,” Larsson said, eyes flicking to the clipboard, “Dane Riker.”The groan got louder.Dane lifted a hand like a king accepting tribute. Ryder rolled his eyes and caught Connor doing the same a few stalls down.“Backup,” Larsson continued. “Max Sullivan.”That one landed easier. Expected. A few nods. Max gave a tight smile and looked down at his skates.“Defense.” Larsson took a breath. “Connor Reynolds.”Connor exhaled and bumped his shoulder against the locker behind him, satisfied.“Drew McKinley.”Drew lifted his chin, calm as ever, like he’d known all along.More names followed. Backup defensemen. Ryder zoned out again, letting the sound wash

Ryder woke to Lila’s arm thrown over his chest. She stirred as he shifted, murmured something soft, and kissed his shoulder before rolling away.“I’ve got conditioning,” he said quietly.She made a sympathetic noise, pulling the blanket higher. “Text me later,” she sighed, already half-asleep.Connor’s Jeep rattled as it pulled away from the house, coffee cups shaking in the console, Drew already scrolling his phone in the back seat.Ryder leaned his head against the window, watching the familiar streets blur past.They rolled into the rink lot and, without thinking, Ryder’s eyes went to Jax's usual spot.The Mustang wasn’t there.Ryder’s frown formed slowly, a knot twisting low in his chest. Calloway didn’t miss conditioning. He didn’t miss class. He didn’t miss practice. And Ryder didn’t like how quickly his mind jumped back to the way Jax had moved the night before.Conditioning started as it always did.Ryder noticed the empty spot anyway.The drills were the same ones they always

She redressed carefully, folding her blouse closed over damp skin, and returned to her desk in silence.A few minutes passed. Quiet. Weighted.Then Cade broke it with a murmur, casual as anything.“You’re so responsive today, sweetheart,” he said, not looking up from his screen. “I barely have to say anything and you melt for me.”Lili flushed again, pressing her knees together beneath the desk. Across the room, Beckett didn’t speak. But she caught the way his fingers clenched around his pen. How he stared at the screen without really seeing it.Later, when she crossed the room to grab a drink, Cade reached to help guide the glass and his hand brushed her inner thigh.It was feather-light. Could have passed for nothing. But the look he gave Beckett afterward said otherwise.And Beckett’s jaw ticked.She was back at her desk, cheeks burning, when Cade spoke again, louder now, enough for Beckett to hear.“He’s quiet today, isn’t he? Maybe you’ve got him tongue-tied.”Lili’s head shot up

Lili was buzzing.She’d barely slept, waking too early with her pulse dancing just beneath her skin. All weekend she’d obeyed every message, every task, every subtle request. And all of it had made her ache for more.Now it was Monday.She dressed slowly, deliberately. Stockings first. She smoothed them up over her thighs with trembling fingers. Her heels were next. High, sleek. A familiar weight on her feet now. But she chose a pleated today, one that stopped scandalously high on her thighs.Her blouse was tucked in neatly, and when she looked at herself in the mirror, she felt like a woman on the edge of something.By the time she arrived at the office, her body was already tingling. Anticipation coiled through her with every step. When she opened the door and stepped inside, she didn’t miss the way both men looked up instantly.Cade’s brows lifted, his mouth curving into something wicked. Beckett’s gaze went sharp, lowering to her skirt, pausing, then climbing back up to her face l

Beckett closed the door to Lili's apartment behind him with a soft click and leaned back against it for half a breath. His chest rose, then fell in a slow, measured exhale.He felt less agitated now. His pulse was still high, but the pressure in his gut had eased. It had been building all week, every time she knelt beside his desk, every time she obeyed without question, every time she blushed and tried to hide it.But tonight?Her wide eyes. Her parted lips. The way she'd just let him.She looked so fucking beautiful covered in him.Marked like that.His cock twitched again.Beckett hissed under his breath and pushed off the door. Enough. He tried to shake the image from his head, but it clung to him like a fever. Was she still lying there? Silk clinging to her skin, his cum drying on her skin?He swore softly and crossed the small hall to his own apartment. As soon as he shut the door behind him, he shrugged off his jacket and headed straight for the small liquor cabinet tucked bene

She wasn’t dreaming.The realization hit like a crack of thunder through her chest.He was here. Not a dream. Not a phantom lingering at the edge of sleep.Her breath stuttered. Her skin prickled. Her stomach dropped and twisted all at once, desire and disbelief tangling in the pit of her belly.Beckett was in her room. In the middle of the night.The man who'd burst into her apartment like a storm. The man who'd shoved her back against the wall and nearly kissed her like he wanted to consume her whole.He was in her room. In the dark. Close enough to touch.Her pulse thundered in her ears as she stared at him, the shadows of his face sharp and unyielding.She stiffened, panic and heat crashing together inside her chest. And yet somehow, despite it all, she managed to keep her body still, her face composed, or close enough to it. Only her eyes betrayed her, wide and burning as they locked onto his.She swallowed. "Consent for what?"His eyes didn’t leave hers. That same shadowed inten

Lili woke to soft light and the quiet hum of city traffic far below. For the first time in days, there was no alarm, no footsteps, no low voices issuing instructions.Just stillness.She blinked at the ceiling, body sluggish, legs tangled in soft sheets. Her thighs ached faintly, a reminder of everything she’d surrendered the day before. She stretched slowly, savoring the deep pull through her back and hips.It was nearly ten.After a long shower and a few sunlit stretches in the living room, she made herself a light breakfast. Scrambled eggs, whole grain toast, berries. Her appetite had returned with surprising clarity. Everything tasted brighter. Cleaner.She dressed in soft leggings and an oversized sweater, hair pulled up into a loose bun, and sank into the sofa with one of the pregnancy books from Cade’s shelf. The chapters were dense and clinical, so many charts and terms, so many possibilities. She read three pages about first-trimester symptoms before shutting the book and set

“Stay there,” Cade said softly.Lili barely heard him over the sound of her own heartbeat, but she obeyed. Her cheek remained pressed against the rug, breath catching in short, shaky bursts as her body trembled in the aftermath. Her limbs felt molten, her thighs still quivering with each breath.She heard the quiet slide of a drawer opening, the rustle of plastic. Then Cade was kneeling beside her again, and something cool and damp touched the inside of her thigh.A wipe.He was cleaning her.Not rushed. Not impersonal. But slow. Almost reverent.“You did beautifully,” he murmured as he worked. “You made a mess, sweetheart.”His voice was warm, affectionate. She let her eyes close, tension bleeding out of her body with every careful stroke.When he was done, he reached for the soaked thong still tangled around her knees.“You won’t need this anymore,” he said, sliding it down her legs with gentle efficiency. “It’s ruined anyway.”She didn’t respond. She wasn’t sure she could.“Come on