LOGINHarley~ A deafening roar shattered the room, followed instantly by the sharp sting of sulfur and burnt gunpowder. Titus lunged forward to disarm Delilah, his shadow in my peripheral vision. But the bullet was already moving through the air. Nick's fingers dug into my shoulders as he pushed me to the floor. Silk and tulle bunched around my knees as I shielded my belly from the impact. Nick stumbled and gasped, a wet, choked sound. He reached for me with fear in his eyes. My hands slid on the floor runner as I scrambled to my feet, but it was too late. "No." The word tore from my throat, raw and breathless; his hands were pressed flat against his midsection. Dark, thick crimson seeped through his turquoise vest, staining his fingers. "Nick!" Volatile heat ignited beneath my skin, starting deep in my heels and surging upward. It clawed at my throat as the surge of pure energy rushed through my veins.Though terrifying, the fire's allure claimed me, and I surrendered. Wisps of thick
Harley~ Today is my wedding day, and this time, I am fully awake to it. At first, the pageantry didn't seem to matter, but watching the morning unfold piece by piece held a quiet luxury. It starts at eight o'clock, with a tray of warm, buttered toast and fresh fruit brought right to my covers. By nine, I'm sinking into the stylist's chair. The sharp scent of hairspray and the cool, damp touch of foundation fill the room. Beside me, Becky and Kylie are already laughing, their voices vying with the hum of blow-dryers. Ruby and Polly are blurs of motion around us, leading a team of five stylists who move with practiced, quiet efficiency. They wield their curling irons and makeup brushes like magic wands. When the team finally polished the three of us, our skin glowed, and every stray hair lay pinned into submission. Becky and I yield the chairs to the older generation. Ruby is in her mid-fifties, but she possesses a timeless grace. Her skin is remarkably smooth, with only fai
Harley~The sun is casting long, amber shadows through the window by the time our runway show is over. Nick was pacing the floor of our room when I opened the door.We collapsed into each other's space, stealing a few bittersweet moments to ourselves. Reins family tradition dictates that we spend the night apart from midnight until I walk down the aisle in the morning."I'm going to miss you tonight," I mumble, pressing my cheek against the rough fabric of his shirt. His heartbeat is a steady thud but does little to soothe me this time.So I tightened my grip. "If Etta gets too hot in here, I'm breaking protocol and sneaking into your room." I tried to force a laugh, but it caught in my throat, tangled like a tight coil."Eight hours," Nick whispered as he pressed his lips to my forehead. "Ten at the most." His breath was warm against my skin as his hands slid down to cup my waist. "Just think how good tomorrow, and the next day, and the next one will feel.""Easy for you to say. Try
Harley~ "You've gotten so big!" Becky called out, her voice cutting through the heavy thud of the car door shutting. She stepped toward me, her rounded belly leading the way. Before I could answer, she pulled me into a tight embrace. A sudden bump of our two round, distinct curves meeting between us drew a breathless laugh from both of us. Her familiar scent of warm vanilla mixed with the crisp morning air instantly anchored me to her. Goddess knows, I had missed them. "Look at you, too." I laughed into her shoulder and squeezed her back. A small, energetic blur wedged into the space between our hips. Kylie peered up, her wide, bright eyes capturing the morning sun. "Did you see Mama's baby, Aunt Harley?" "I did," I said, leaning down to tap her nose. "Are you excited to be a big sister and a big cousin?" Golden curls whipped around her face as she nodded hard enough to tip backward. "Uncle Nick," Nick hits his knees behind me, and Kylie launches herself into him. Kyle rounds
Harley~ Sean's raw plea scraped against my nerves, a hot prickle stinging the backs of my eyes. The vinyl hospital chairs groaned beneath us. Nick's fingers dug into my waist with an urgent pressure. "I'm here, brother," he murmured, jaw set, as he forced a steady nod. "We've got you." The fallen Alpha's head dragged against the pillow, the coarse linen scraping beneath the weight. His chest heaved, pulling in shallow, ragged drafts. "You must believe me, Delilah..." His fingers clawed at the stiff white sheet. "...is trying to kill me." Raw panic bled into Nick's expression and made my throat close up. Leaning forward, I slid my palm over Sean's cold, trembling hand. "We do believe you. We're going to make sure she doesn't succeed." His gaze was unfocused before his pupils finally locked onto my face. The skin between his eyes puckered into a deep, confused V. "Who are you?" he rasped. "It's Harley," I whispered, keeping my voice low and steady. "I'm your sister-in-law."
Nick~ With deliberate ease, I picked up the heavy serrated knife and slowly brought it to the bread. The blade scraped the wooden board as I sliced into the loaf's crust. "Want some?" I asked, flashing a quick grin as I swiped a thick layer of butter over the heel and took a slow bite. She straightened her shoulders, a spark of defiance cutting through the haze in her eyes. "No. I want to dance." "As you wish, Amante." I set the bread aside, cleared the lingering sweetness from my mouth with the cloth napkin, and slid off the bench. When I offered my hand, she took it, and I pressed a slow kiss to her knuckles before I pulled her to her feet. We moved toward the makeshift dance floor with unhurried strides. Harley stopped here and there to admire the foliage surrounding us. Her eyes widened as she touched the velvety bud of a nearby hibiscus. Unable to help myself, I snapped the stem of a blooming one and tucked the vivid petal behind her ear. She giggled as I tucked it s
Nick~ My hands shake, and my leg muscles tense as I step up onto the rotting wood. The boards creak beneath my weight, causing me to focus on the murky water below. Steve must have had another way in; there's no way he was coming and going here. Slow and steady wins the race when it's every man
Harley~ My heart leaped, causing me to sit up straighter in bed. Nick, entering the room, put an ear-to-ear grin on my face. 'I missed you, Wolfman.' 'I missed you, too, Amante.' He crossed his arms over his chest and gave me his best stern eye. "What did you find at Steve's?" "We found t
Nick~ "Sorry, I forgot about calling you back, Kyle." I paused, but this would not get any easier. I took a heavy breath. "The police have confirmed that the stalker has Harley, only they don't know who he is yet." Kyle cursed profusely. "Does the name Steve mean anything?" "Yes, Steven Bala
Harley~ 'His name is Nick, and don't accept that I believe he will come back for us.' 'I wouldn't have him if he came back!' 'Sure, you're right, Ms. Patty Pillowcase.' My phone rings as I put the car in reverse; it's Belinda, and she tells me that my presence is required as soon as possible.







