Anything You Want: River Jewel Resort Series Book 1 (7 page)

Matt wiggled his eyebrows and nudged her with his elbow. “I know how it sounds, but I’m serious. You have to experience it for yourself.”

She ruffled Matt’s already unruly brown hair and looped her arm through his. “I’m glad you’re having a great time, Matt. You deserve it.”

“What about you? If anyone needs to find happiness, it’s you. You’ve been alone for too long, Olivia. You have a huge heart, you’re smart, beautiful and kind. Instead of wasting all of that on temporary lovers you should be married to someone fabulous and having lots of smart, beautiful babies. Someone who truly loves you for you.”

Olivia knew he meant well, but she just wasn’t ready. Besides, who would want her now? Star of the latest town scandal, plus being officially unemployed, her reputation didn’t exactly scream, “Pick me! I’ll rock your world!” Besides, if she couldn’t find the nerve to tell the man she truly loved that she loved him, what was the point of looking for anyone else?

“Sometime.”

“You always say that. I love you and I feel it’s my duty to be honest with you. Get over it. Ever since Randy died, you’ve had a wall up and all you’ve done is float from guy to guy, mostly at the library.”

“So? They need my help. Besides, I’m good at what I do.”

“Sweetheart, it’s time to let go of the past and open up your heart. Make your own happy ending. Every guy out there isn’t worthless. Yes, you’ve met a few assholes, and yes, you’ve been hurt. But I think you do it to yourself. Don’t be angry. I understand, I really do. The pain you’ve been feeling, the emptiness, it means you’re alive. I get it. This bravado you show to the world isn’t a flaw. You’ve had a lot to cope with, but it’s time to find that one in a million soul mate instead of hooking up with people you have no intention of ever loving, for random quickies on campus. Whether you admit it or not, you know I’m right. Now, let’s get you home so you can clean your house. Again.” He rolled his eyes and Matt’s lips slid into that mischievous grin that filled her with a longing to kiss him senseless. They laughed, falling into step with each other as Matt wrapped his arm around her shoulders and Olivia sent up a silent prayer that someday he’d want her by his side forever.

Wicked By Nature

Paranormal-RomCom

Selena Barnes comes from a long line of witches. When her parents were killed in a magical accident, she surrendered her powers and kept them a secret from her fiancé’, Shawn Richardson. Up to this point in her life, her biggest problems involved wedding details, appointments and town gossip. However, Selena will learn that things aren’t always as they appear. She finds herself involved in deeply disturbing lies and her true destiny is revealed by her long lost friends, Kelly and Keith Jacobs. With each revelation, she teeters on the precipice of her sanity. Can Selena accept the truth and save her friends or will she embrace the evil that wishes to claim her?

Sneak Peek:

The closer we became, the more I felt pulled to him. We were like magnets. I leaned in to kiss him and as soon as our lips touched, I craved more. His tongue slid into my mouth, searching, teasing and he tasted sweet just like his favorite tea. Keith wrapped his hands in my hair, pulling me up against him. My own hands explored his arms, his chest as my pulse quickened to a steady, rapid staccato. Then without warning, he broke our kiss.

Breathless, he held my face in his hands. “My entire life, I’ve wanted to kiss you, to love you. I never believed I’d have the chance.”

“So why are you stopping? Shut up and kiss me some more.” I smiled and tugged on his shirt, pulling him up against my body.

He held me in his arms and said, “Because Selena, we still have some talking to do. There’s more you need to know, more to learn before we just go jumping into bed together. If I don’t say these things now, it may be too late. Once I start loving you, I won’t want to stop.”

My raging hormones would have to wait. Though I appreciated his gentleman-like attitude, I had needs and if they weren’t fulfilled soon, I knew I’d blow a gasket. “Okay, let’s talk.”

“You might be mad at me for a few things I’m going to say, but you need to understand that I don’t intend to hurt you.”

“Keith, really let’s just talk. Let me decide if I will be mad or not. Okay?” The sooner we finished talking, the sooner I could get laid.

He told me he had seen Shawn with not only Roberta, but many other women from town including Janice. He knew Roberta and Shawn were demons, but their strong financial ties to the town could’ve put the community in unnecessary hardship if Keith had made a move too soon. Though Keith felt I should’ve known all along about Shawn’s deceit, he also believed I would’ve thought Keith was nothing more than a meddling gossiper and jealous, loud-mouth.

After he told his entire side of the story, he added “I’m so sorry, Selena. I never should’ve stayed silent. Hurting you is the last thing I would ever want to do. But I won’t tell you that I’m sorry Richardson and you are through.”

I sat down on one of the
Adirondack chairs and listened to the river as its waves gently lapped at the rocks below us. I was too exhausted to be angry with Keith, besides from what Kelly had said yesterday, I’d already gathered he knew about Shawn and Roberta all along. However, I never would’ve imagined Shawn and Janice. Then again, I was way behind in Shawn’s tally of conquests and frankly, I was sick of hearing about Shawn.

I knew Keith was being honest and he did what he thought was best, not only for me but for his father and the entire town. This was more than I had done for any of them recently. My thoughts mulled around my mind and I chose my words with care, before speaking.

“I know you could listen to my thoughts if you wanted, so I won’t try to say it doesn’t upset me.”

“I wasn’t invading your mind this time, I promise. I’m a bit scared of what you’re thinking, so I’m controlling myself.”

“First, let me say you should have told me. You should have let me decide if I would’ve believed you or not. You didn’t trust me enough to let me make up my own mind.” I turned to face him, my eyes full of compassion. “But you were right. I wouldn’t have believed you. I thought I was in love. I believed in so many things that have turned out to be so very wrong. So, I don’t blame you. How could you have known what I would do or say?”

He held me in his arms and I continued, “For the record, I’ve always wanted you to kiss me. When you left, I was hurt. I couldn’t be there for you when your family was killed and I was alone when mine was. It sucked. I blamed the craft, I blamed the goddesses and I blamed everyone except for the demon I fell for. And that really sucks. I’ve been an idiot for so long. But I’m glad you’re back and I’m glad you kissed me, even if it ended too soon.”

“You kissed me” he teased.

I smiled and said, “Are we okay now? Can we get back to that amazing kissing and maybe move on to other more amazing things?”

The smile on his face disappeared. “Not yet. I mean, we’re okay. But there’s more you need to know.”

“There’s more? Like what?”

“The prophecy about us.”

“Oh. Okay, tell me.”

“It was decided before we were even born.”

“Sterling filled me in on most of it.”

“How does he know anything about it?”

“He overheard Kelly and you talking last night. He told me just a little while ago.”

“Did he also tell you about the mating?”

“Yep.”

“So, you’re okay with me biting you?”

Biting?
“No one said a word about biting!”

“Well, that’s the only way to make you mine, Selena.”

“Marriage and sex don’t work for wolves?”

“No. I mean we can and
we will get married, if you want. But to be one of us, you have to be bitten, marked.”

Holy balls! I felt so very ill.

“It’s not like I’ll bite a chunk out of you. In fact, I’ve heard it’s quite pleasing to the receiver. At least until you go through the change. But that’s another conversation we will have later.”

“
Change?
I have to, um, change?”

“Yeah, change.”

“What will I change into? I’m already a mix of craziness! When will this
change
happen?”

“It can occur anywhere between twelve and seventy-two hours after you’re bitten. Kelly, Dad and I will take care of you. Dad should be back soon and believe me, there’s nothing to worry about, Kitten. You’ll be safe and well taken care of.”

Nothing to worry about? He wanted to chew on me like some meaty-bone and I shouldn’t worry? Oh, and then I get to become a wolf? A bunny murdering, squirrel-eating wolf! Right, not a thing I should be concerned about there.

“I know it sounds scary, but it’s your destiny. How about I just leave for a bit while you think it over and you can call me when you’re ready to talk some more, okay? But know this Selena, I love you and I won’t let anything happen to you. Even if we haven’t mated, you’re already mine.” He stood to leave.

Sterling’s words from earlier mixed with Keith’s and I knew they were both right. But I still had questions and I was so nervous!

“Keith? What if Samell finds out we’ve mated and he tries to kill me? How will I stop his little, demonic party if I’m dead?”

“He won’t know.”

“Shawn showed up here earlier and said he could smell you on me. They’ve been watching me. I know it’s because of this damn ring. It won’t come off!”

“I won’t let them kill you, Kitten. I promise.”

I knew he was telling the truth. I could feel the honesty and integrity rolling off of him in waves. With him, I’d always be safe. Keith was a family man and more intelligent than I’d ever given him credit for. He must know what he was doing. Maybe it was the only way to defeat the parasites that were gunning for me?

Deep in thought, I must’ve looked lost. Keith wrapped his arms around me and kissed me on the top of my head. I knew with complete clarity what I had to do.

“Bite me.”

About The Author

Romance author, Madison Sevier, officially began her writing career in 2011 by going after her lifelong dream and has been having the time of her life ever since.

Her days are spent homeschool
ing her daughter and doing the bookkeeping for her husband's business. At night, she gets to become someone else, creating characters who work their way into the hearts and minds of romance readers everywhere.

Being a coffee-addicted Gemini, Madison is known for doing whatever strikes her fancy at any given moment. Some of her favorite hobbies include; hiking, geocaching, animal rescue, writing, reading, baking, horseback riding and she loves NASCAR.

Living in what everyone calls 'Kentuckiana' with her husband, daughter, two Chihuahuas, one Saint Bernard and two cats, she's found the perfect paradise to allow all of her stories to come to life. Against a backdrop of the Ohio River and surrounding hillsides, she never knows where a new romance will come from. But you can be sure you're going to hear about it.

She loves hearing from her readers and meeting new ones
, so feel free to contact her anytime.

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