Night Shift 2 Read online

  I'm not sure why, but this tugs on my heartstrings a bit and I open my mouth to ask if she's okay but the glass door to the convenience store flies open and two teenagers walk in, one of them laughing loudly at something the other said.

  The crinkle of plastic gets my attention and I turn back to find the woman behind the counter holding my bag of purchases across to me.

  "Have a good night," she says with a tired smile and when I take the bag from her, she immediately dismisses me and her eyes go over my shoulder to watch the teenagers as they peruse the sodas in the glass coolers at the back of the store.

  "Yeah," I say slowly. "You too."

  She never even gives me a second glance, and I'm not being egotistical when I say that I usually get a lot more attention from the female persuasion than what I'm receiving right now. Mostly because I'm famous because I’m a goalie for the Cold Fury -but also because I've been told on more than one occasion that I'm hot.

  Whatever.

  The point being, this woman doesn't give me a second glance and I find that I...

  Well, fuck... I like it a lot.

  I think I might be a bit of an oddity. While a lot of the single guys on the team revel in bachelorhood and the never ending supply of puck bunnies who gladly give it up so they have a chance to be with a hockey star, that's not my way. Never has been. I get nothing out of a shallow woman throwing herself at me, with no real care as to who I am as a person. They see a hot goalie who makes millions and well, that's all they see.

  But this woman... she doesn't see anything but an ordinary guy who is easily dismissed, and yeah... I totally dig that.

  I turn from the counter and walk out the door, making a mental note to myself to stop back in the near future and see if I can talk to her some more. Unpeel a few layers. Maybe ask her on a date.

  I chuckle.

  Max Fournier—professional hockey player and one of the team's most eligible bachelor's—wanting to flirt with a convenience store cashier who couldn't give a rat's ass about me.

  Totally like it.

  ♦

  Thank you for reading the first chapter of Max, A Cold Fury Hockey novel, which will release in its entirety on December 13, 2016. It is available for pre-order at all major retailers which can be found at http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/534637/max-by-sawyer-bennett/.

  About the Author

  You can follow me on social media to learn more about upcoming releases:

  Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] or visit my web page at www.sawyerbennett.com.

  Connect with Sawyer

  @bennettbooks

  bennettbooks

  sawyerbennett.com/

  Lauren Blakely

  Nights With Him Bonus Epilogue by Lauren Blakey - Life for Michelle and Jack in Paris is about to get busier...

  Forbidden Nights Bonus Epilogue by Lauren Blakely - The night before Casey and Nate's wedding...

  1

  Forbidden Nights Bonus Epilogue

  By Lauren Blakely

  EIGHT MONTHS LATER…

  After the moo shoo pancakes and sesame chicken arrived, Casey settled in next to her almost-husband on her couch, diving into her favorite Chinese meal, with her favorite person, after their favorite activity.

  If the Chinese delivery man had caught on to the fact that their long, hot, sweaty, romps in the hay made them both hungry for takeout, he never let on. And maybe their cravings for Chinese food after mind-blowing sex meant they had a routine, but if multiple Os and tasty takeout with the person you were crazy for felt routine, then Casey was more than happy to be a creature of habit.

  Only she and Nate never felt like they going through the motions in the sheets. Every time with him felt new, and that was probably because she was wild for him and also because they found ways to spice it up. New toys, new lessons, new positions.

  Tonight was a warm spring night in Manhattan, and a breeze blew through the window of her apartment that he’d moved into. It was now theirs, and she loved sharing this space with him. She draped her feet over his on the couch as they ate.

  “So…tomorrow. Are we really doing the whole hideout from each other the night before?” she asked.

  Nate nodded. “Of course. We gotta follow tradition.”

  She swirled her chopsticks in the carton, and leaned against his shoulder as she brought a forkful to her mouth. After she chewed, she looked at him with a pretend frown. “But what if I miss you so much I go crazy?”

  He nudged her shoulder. “Then sext me.”

  She swatted him. “Maybe I’ll just want to cuddle.”

  “Nah. You’ll want to sext me,” he said confidently, and that was another spice of theirs. Sometimes, okay, often, they’d send dirty notes during the day and act out them out at night.

  “Then you shouldn’t deprive me on the eve of our wedding. It feels like cruel and unusual punishment to withhold now that you’ve turned me into an every-night-addict.”

  Smiling, he took a bite of his sesame chicken. “I did, did I? I thought it was the Lola Ring?”

  Their partnership had turned the toy into a soaring success, expanding profits wildly at Joy Delivered, and bringing countless pleasure to countless people. “Speaking of. How am I going to top that? I need a new product to wow the customers.”

  He set down his carton on the coffee table, and placed hers there too. He turned to her, “Then we need to conduct more field work.”

  She tapped a finger against her lip. “Hmmm. Good idea. Tomorrow night I’ll do that since I’ll have some time on my hands.”

  When the next night rolled around, Nate knocked on her hotel room door. His gorgeous almost-wife opened it a sliver.

  “But I thought there was a tradition to honor,” she teased.

  “I was wrong. There’s no way I’m leaving you alone with toys the night before our wedding.”

  “But you’re not supposed to see me,” she said playfully.

  In the crack of the door, he dangled a silky scrap of fabric. “Problem solved. I can blindfold you.”

  “You are so ingenious and determined,” she said, opening the door, and tugging him inside.

  Quickly, he covered her eyes with the black silk. Then he led her to the bed, and broke tradition by making love to his bride-to-be the night before their wedding. The morning of too. And truth be told, he stole her away during the reception as well, and savored his first time with his wife, then many more later that night.

  Really, what could anyone expect of him? He married his best friend, and his lover. He simply couldn’t be expected to keep his hands to himself then or ever. Nor did he want to.

  And that was how he planned to spend his happily ever after.

  2

  Nights with Him Bonus Epilogue

  By Lauren Blakely

  A FEW YEARS LATER…

  The ornate golden clock neared the appointed hour.

  She’d be waiting for him.

  He’d left her a letter that morning on her pillow. Clear instructions were given. Down to the critical details. The length of the coat. The color of the lingerie. And the seam up the back of the stockings.

  After he purchased a ticket for admission, the museum employee warned that closing time was in in twenty minutes.

  “That’s all I need,” he said. He straightened his cuffs, smoothed a hand along his tie and entered the Musee d’Orsay.

  As Jack headed down the steps into the main hall, his shoes echoed across the marble. He’d just finished a meeting with a client; his business had continued to grow robustly in France. Indeed, Paris had been very good to Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan.

  A small part of him longed to admire the art — Manet’s Olympia and the Toulouse-Lautrecs were favorites, but he’d come back again another night. For now, he narrowed his focus to finding Michelle at a Van Gogh. He turned the corner into the gallery, and stopped in his tracks, his heart pounding as he drank in the delicious sight of her.

  She’
d done it. She wore a short trench coat, black heels, and stockings with that irresistible seam up the back. Instant arousal. Her hair was swept high on her head and she studied the great painter’s Starry Night. It was truly a gorgeous work of art, the kind that could transport you to another world, another time.

  But yet, this woman had that effect on him too. The woman who’d uprooted his life, and given him so much more in return. The greatest love. The deepest passion. The most adoring heart. That was why he loved to do things for her, and sometimes those things included leaving her notes with instructions on where to meet, what to wear, and how they’d play.

  Tonight wasn’t an anniversary. It wasn’t a birthday. It wasn’t a special occasion. It was just a random Wednesday, and that’s what made this so goddamn intoxicating. Because they did this as often as they could.

  He wandered up to her, stepping close, dipping his head to her neck. “Such a shame about the Van Gogh.”

  She leaned into him, her hair tickling his cheek. “Something wrong with the work of art?”

  “It’s about to get much less attention.”

  “Oh no,” she said, bringing her hand to her heart. “Are you going to distract me from staring at its beauty?”

  “Depends. Do you find this distracting?” He ran a hand up the back of her thigh.

  She trembled. “Perhaps a little bit.”

  He traveled higher, reaching the hem of her jacket. “I’m distracted too. The only thing I can think about is what’s under this coat.”

  She inched closer, her back pressing against his chest as his fingertips reached the top of her stocking. So damn close to where he wanted to be, even with all these museum goers surrounding them, admiring the art. He brought his mouth to her neck, brushing his lips against her skin, savoring the small gasp she tried to swallow. “Did you wear this because you knew it would drive me crazy?”

  She nodded. “Is it working?”

  “I’m staring at you instead of a priceless work of art. I’m surrounded by beauty and all I want to know is if you’re hot and wet between your legs.”

  She slinked around, and ran a red fingernail along his tie. “Find out.”

  Less than a minute later, he let the door to the stairwell fall shut with a loud thunk. He backed her up to the wall, unbuckled her coat, and learned that she’d done precisely as requested in his letter.

  My god, his wife was stunning in a wine-red bra, lace see-through panties, and those black thigh-highs. He had to have her now. Here in the stairwell of this museum. So he did what he told her he’d do in his note. Fucked her like he had the first night they met. Up against the wall, hot, wild, and dirty.

  The best part though was when he took her out to dinner that evening at a cafe with a view of river. As he lifted a glass of wine, he asked the question that had been on his mind lately. “What would you think about no longer taking the pill?”

  She laughed, and set down her water glass. “Funny thing, Jack. The pill doesn’t always work.”

  He nearly spilled his glass. He blinked, processing what she’d just said. “Are you saying…?”

  She nodded. “I’m saying I ordered water tonight for a reason.” Then she cupped his cheek, and stroked his jaw with her thumb. She looked the slightest bit nervous. “I just found out this morning. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  He was thinking that life was pretty much perfect. “I’m thinking that I wasn’t sure this night could get any better, but now it has.”

  Then he kissed her, something he’d be doing for a long, long time.

  About the Author

  Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that's full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With ten New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than fifty times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone romantic comedies like BIG ROCK and MISTER O, which were both instant New York Times Bestsellers. In the fall she'll release WELL HUNG, another romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter

  Stay tuned for WELL HUNG! The hot & hilarious standalone rom-com is coming on Sept. 12 - http://laurenblakely.com/wellhung

  Connect with Lauren

  @LaurenBlakely3

  LaurenBlakelyBooks

  laurenblakely.com

  Chelle Bliss

  Enshrine Prequel by Chelle Bliss - When the clock strikes Midnight on New Year’s Eve, two strangers share more than a toast.

  Wicked Impulse Excerpt by Chelle Bliss - Bear, the bad boy silver fox, never thought he’d fall in love again. But when Fran DeLuca, a woman who’s known more for her track-suits, transforms into a vixen clad in skin-tight pants and a killer push up bra, he’s tempted to cross a line he swore he never would. There’s only one thing worse than dating his friend’s sister – sleeping with his mother.

  Wicked Impulse

  SNEAK PEEK

  Wicked Impulse, Book 3 in the ALFA PI series, can be read as a standalone or as best enjoyed, after reading Sinful Intent and Unlawful Desire. Wicked Impulse is about Bear, a character first introduced in Throttle Me (Men of Inked series).

  Sinful Intent - Book 1

  Unlawful Desire - Book 2

  NOW AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER

  Wicked Impulse - Book 3

  or visit chellebliss.com/wickedimpulse

  1

  Bear

  I was fucked up.

  It was a fact I could never deny.

  My life had been a never-ending string of bad decisions and complications. Molly was just the latest—but not the greatest by any means.

  The only thing I did right was marry the love of my life, Jackie. She was the most beautiful thing in the world and sweeter than any honey a bee could make.

  When we found out we were going to have our second baby, we were over the moon excited. That was where my fucked-up journey began. Jackie didn’t make it through childbirth; she hemorrhaged, and the doctors couldn’t stop the bleeding.

  Losing her altered me forever.

  Not only was she taken from me too soon, I had a newborn baby boy to raise along with a one-year-old daughter. I knew a little about kids, having two younger sisters, but I wasn’t ready to do it alone.

  Most of their life I was absent, in and out of jail for petty charges—things like stealing cars and being in possession of stolen property. My crimes never hurt anyone except for my kids. They paid the price by not having me around and being left in the hands of my sisters.

  It took me years to clean up my act.

  Hell, decades, if I was being honest. Eventually, I pulled my head out of my ass and surrounded myself with true friends. City, Tank, and Frisco became my family, pulling me off the path of self-destruction.

  If Jackie had made it…everything would’ve been different. We would’ve been a family, I would’ve stayed clean, and I wouldn’t have been here with freakin’ Molly.

  I swatted her hand away when she reached for me. “Molly, doll, I appreciate the pussy, but you know this is nothing more than a simple fuck. Yeah?” I was bent over, pulling on my boots. If I put my ass on the bed, she would try to touch me again—and that shit was not happening. “So let’s not make this a habit.”

  Pulling the sheet over her tits, she glared at me. “Bear,” she whispered in a gravelly, smoked-too-long tone.

  I cut her off, nipping that shit before she started with her bullshit tears to guilt me into giving her my cock once more. “Nope. I never had planned for anything more than what this was—a dirty, sweaty fuckfest.”

  “You’re a bigger asshole than I thought, Bear
.” She crouched against the headboard with her arms crossed.

  “Babe.” I laughed at the stupidity of the situation. “When I said ‘Wanna fuck?’ I wasn’t asking you to be my ol’ lady. A fuck is a fuck—cock, cunt, and hopefully an orgasm or two. It doesn’t make you mine.”

  She scooted forward and let the sheet drop from her chest. “I didn’t even get one, you bastard,” she seethed.

  I didn’t even bother glancing down at her tits, even though she wanted me to look. “Your greedy cunt latched on to me three times, sweetheart. Don’t give me shit that you didn’t come. You moaned my name like a bitch in heat every time too.”

  “Get the fuck out!” she yelled as I yanked the shirt over my head.

  Using the palm of my hand, I smoothed down my shirt and smiled. “Thought you’d never ask.” I waved on my way out, leaving the door open before I headed down the hallway.

  She cursed me something awful, and it sounded like something out a horror movie, but I kept on walking and paid her no mind.

  When I walked outside and the wind blew, I caught a whiff of her cheap perfume mingled with cigarettes and sex. Usually, the stench of my sexual exploits didn’t bother me, but for some reason, this time was different.

  I’d been thinking a lot about Jackie lately. All the things I’d lost the day she left me. I hadn’t opened my heart to anyone since then. People in love surrounded me, and it gutted me—knowing I missed that in my life.