is not what I wrapped. And yet there it is, the bear from my dream. And peeking out from the pocket, tucked in front of the kerchief, is the gold pocket watch.
“Nikki,” he says, as he looks at the bear, touching it reverentially and smiling with what I can only assume are happy memories. “This is incredible.”
He pulls out the watch and opens the case, then reaches for my hand when he sees the engraving:
N & D 4ever,
inside a delicately drawn heart.
“It’s perfect. All of it. The watch, the bear…” He trails off, looking away as his lips curve down into a soft frown, and I don’t say a word, because I’m certain that I know what he’s thinking.
I see it in his eyes when he turns back to me, and I know what he’s going to say before the words leave his lips. “Baby, did we—”
“I think so,” I answer, my voice a whisper. A chill tingles down my spine. “I don’t know how, but—”
“The party. The movies? The walk down Hollywood Boulevard? But that was a dream.” He meets my eyes. “Wasn’t it?”
I press my fingers to his lips. I don’t have an answer. And I say the only thing I can think of, giving him the only explanation I have. “Merry Christmas, husband.”
He glances at the lunchbox. “I just don’t understand—” He shakes it off and starts again. “It’s not the most extravagant present ever.”
“It’s perfect,” I say. “You know it’s perfect. Besides. I already have everything I need.”
I hook my arms around him, and let him pull me closer, so that I am warm and comfortable in his lap.
“So do I,” he murmurs. “I have you.”
As he kisses me, I think how true that is, and how we have each other, wholly and completely.
And soon we’ll have a house full of friends and family, laughter and fun.
Yeah, I think, as I snuggle close. We really do have everything.
And it is most definitely the merriest of Christmases.
B Y J . K ENNER
The Stark Trilogy
Release Me
Claim Me
Complete Me
Stark Ever After Novellas
Take Me
Have Me
Play My Game
Seduce Me
Unwrap Me
Stark International Novels
Say My Name
On My Knees
Under My Skin
Most Wanted Series
Wanted
Heated
Ignited
PHOTO: KATHY WHITTAKER PHOTOGRAPHY
J . K ENNER (aka Julie Kenner) is the
New York Times,
USA Today,
Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal,
and #1 internationally bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas, and short stories in a variety of genres.
Though known primarily for her award-winning and internationally bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the
New York Times
bestseller list, Kenner has been writing full-time for over a decade in a variety of genres, including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal mommy lit.
Kenner has been praised by
Publishers Weekly
as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by
RT Book Reviews
for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for him.” A four-time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, Kenner took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel
Claim Me
(book 2 of her Stark Trilogy).
Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over twenty countries.
jkenner.com
Facebook.com/jkennerbooks
@juliekenner
New York Times
bestselling author J. Kenner kicks off a sizzling hot new erotic romance trilogy set in the Stark world, featuring gorgeous bad boy Dallas Sykes and the one woman who has become his
Dirtiest Secret
Continue reading for a sneak peek!
Available from Bantam
If I could change it, I would. The wanting him. The craving him.
I close my eyes at night and touch myself, imagining it is him. His hands stroking me. His fingers penetrating me.
I do this, and I hate myself. Because my desire isn’t warm and soft, but
“Nikki,” he says, as he looks at the bear, touching it reverentially and smiling with what I can only assume are happy memories. “This is incredible.”
He pulls out the watch and opens the case, then reaches for my hand when he sees the engraving:
N & D 4ever,
inside a delicately drawn heart.
“It’s perfect. All of it. The watch, the bear…” He trails off, looking away as his lips curve down into a soft frown, and I don’t say a word, because I’m certain that I know what he’s thinking.
I see it in his eyes when he turns back to me, and I know what he’s going to say before the words leave his lips. “Baby, did we—”
“I think so,” I answer, my voice a whisper. A chill tingles down my spine. “I don’t know how, but—”
“The party. The movies? The walk down Hollywood Boulevard? But that was a dream.” He meets my eyes. “Wasn’t it?”
I press my fingers to his lips. I don’t have an answer. And I say the only thing I can think of, giving him the only explanation I have. “Merry Christmas, husband.”
He glances at the lunchbox. “I just don’t understand—” He shakes it off and starts again. “It’s not the most extravagant present ever.”
“It’s perfect,” I say. “You know it’s perfect. Besides. I already have everything I need.”
I hook my arms around him, and let him pull me closer, so that I am warm and comfortable in his lap.
“So do I,” he murmurs. “I have you.”
As he kisses me, I think how true that is, and how we have each other, wholly and completely.
And soon we’ll have a house full of friends and family, laughter and fun.
Yeah, I think, as I snuggle close. We really do have everything.
And it is most definitely the merriest of Christmases.
B Y J . K ENNER
The Stark Trilogy
Release Me
Claim Me
Complete Me
Stark Ever After Novellas
Take Me
Have Me
Play My Game
Seduce Me
Unwrap Me
Stark International Novels
Say My Name
On My Knees
Under My Skin
Most Wanted Series
Wanted
Heated
Ignited
PHOTO: KATHY WHITTAKER PHOTOGRAPHY
J . K ENNER (aka Julie Kenner) is the
New York Times,
USA Today,
Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal,
and #1 internationally bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas, and short stories in a variety of genres.
Though known primarily for her award-winning and internationally bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the
New York Times
bestseller list, Kenner has been writing full-time for over a decade in a variety of genres, including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal mommy lit.
Kenner has been praised by
Publishers Weekly
as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by
RT Book Reviews
for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for him.” A four-time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, Kenner took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel
Claim Me
(book 2 of her Stark Trilogy).
Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over twenty countries.
jkenner.com
Facebook.com/jkennerbooks
@juliekenner
New York Times
bestselling author J. Kenner kicks off a sizzling hot new erotic romance trilogy set in the Stark world, featuring gorgeous bad boy Dallas Sykes and the one woman who has become his
Dirtiest Secret
Continue reading for a sneak peek!
Available from Bantam
If I could change it, I would. The wanting him. The craving him.
I close my eyes at night and touch myself, imagining it is him. His hands stroking me. His fingers penetrating me.
I do this, and I hate myself. Because my desire isn’t warm and soft, but
Similar Books
