He clutched her tighter, and long moments passed in a shared state of ecstatic wonder.
Zeph finally pulled back, but didn’t let go. Shaking his head, he sighed. “I’m really sorry.”
She frowned. In this moment of all moments, what could there possibly be to apologize for? “Why?”
“I’m just so sorry he didn’t like you.”
Ella froze. “What do you…that’s not…”
Zeph’s face broke out in an enormous, humored grin. He shook with restrained laughter.
She smacked his flat stomach with the back of her hand. “Shut up.” His laughter burst free, echoing against the domed ceiling. “I can’t help that I was worried.”
Zeph’s eyes watered as she glared at him. The harder he laughed, the more he tempted her smile. She put her hands on her hips. “Are you having fun?”
“Oh, love.” He kissed her, long and sweet. “More fun than I’ve had in my entire existence.”
Finally, she gave in to the urge to smile. “Me, too.” And it was so true. With Zeph, she’d found her laughter again, and so much more.
How amazing that life could change so fast, in ways that seemed impossible and were totally unforeseeable. Moments before, it seemed, she was alone in the world, without direction or purpose. Now, she had a great love, a new family, and a purpose so important she nearly vibrated with excitement to get to work. But, in truth, what had most changed was inside her. She had come back to life—not just when she awoke as a goddess—but now she was a being filled with faith and belief and hope for the future.
She pulled Zephyros down for another kiss, holding in her arms the man, the god, responsible for it all. No matter what happened, what came at them, what problems they encountered, they’d always be together. In that—in Zeph—she trusted. With all her heart and soul.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
What fun it is to have gods frolicking in your brain! I have Heather Howland, my editor extraordinaire, to thank for encouraging me to give each of the Anemoi their stories. Without her, Zephyros Martius, the beautiful, broken man so in need of love, might never have had his chance. And now that I’ve written him, I’m struck by what a shame that would’ve been! Thanks also to my best friend and YA paranormal author Lea Nolan, who critiqued the whole manuscript in lightning speed. In the dictionary next to “awesomesauce,” you’ll find her picture. Thanks also to my many friends and fellow authors in the Maryland Romance Writers, the best group of writing friends a gal could have. Given how deep into the writing cave I descended for this story, I have to thank my husband and kids for their patience and willingness to go it on their own for a few weeks as I wrapped things up. And, as always, I have complete love for the readers, who welcome characters into their hearts and minds and let them tell their stories over and over again.
~LK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A multi-published author of paranormal, contemporary, and erotic romance, Laura Kaye’s hot, heartfelt stories are all about the universal desire for a place to belong. Laura grew up amidst family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her lifelong fascination with the supernatural. Though an avid fiction writer as a teenager, a career as a historian took her in other directions until recently.
Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of a half-dozen books. Hearts in Darkness is a finalist for the EPIC eBook Award for Best Novella, Forever Freed won the NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011, and North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, was named GraveTells’ Best Book of 2011, won their 5-STAR Gold Heart Award, and won Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
Readers can find her on the web at:
http://www.LauraKayeAuthor.com
Laura Kaye, West of Want (Hearts of the Anemoi)
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