Always Ever After Read online

  CONTENTS

  Copyright

  Books By Claire Kingsley

  Dedication

  1: Braxton

  2: Kylie

  3: Kylie

  4: Braxton

  5: Kylie

  6: Braxton

  7: Kylie

  8: Kylie

  Epilogue: Braxton

  About the Book

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2016 Claire Kingsley

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of the copyright holder, except for brief quotations for the purpose of reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, events or incidents are products of the authors imagination and used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual people, places or events is purely coincidental or fictionalized.

  Edited by Tammi Labrecque of Larks and Katydids

  Cover and title plate by Wicked Good Book Covers

  www.clairekingsleybooks.com

  Books By Claire Kingsley

  Bad Boy Romance

  Always Have (Braxton and Kylie)

  Always Will (Selene and Ronan)

  Always Ever After: A Short Story

  The Jetty Beach Romance Series

  Must Be Love (Nicole and Ryan)

  Must Be Crazy (Melissa and Jackson)

  Must Be Fate (Cody and Clover)

  Must Be Home (Hunter and Emma)

  The Back to Jetty Beach Romance Series

  Could Be Forever (Finn and Juliet) ~ Coming January 2017

  All the Jetty Beach Romances are full-length stand-alone novels, and can be read independently. They have interconnecting characters and are most fun if read in order.

  Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases, as well as exclusive content, cover reveals, and more.

  For all my Alphaholics. This is for you. I hope you like it.

  1: Braxton

  I nod to the bartender as he slides over my glass of whiskey. “Thanks, man.” The first sip goes down nice and smooth, sending a trail of heat to my gut. My phone vibrates and I take it out of my pocket, hoping it’s a text from Kylie. I’m kind of bummed to see it isn’t, but I wasn’t expecting to hear from her until later tonight anyway.

  Instead, it’s Ronan, my twin sister Selene’s fiancé. We still on for tomorrow?

  Ronan and Selene’s wedding is in a week, so we’re going skydiving for his bachelor party. Both Ronan and I like women as much, or maybe more than, the next guy, but he’s not really into the whole strip club thing. He’s more of a put himself in mortal danger kind of dude, so skydiving it is. Works for me. I’d never tried skydiving before I met Ronan, but fuck it’s a rush. I’ve gone up with him quite a few times since he started dating my sister. It’s fucking awesome.

  I text back: You know it.

  I wonder if he’s doing the same thing I am—feeling sorry for himself because his woman is out of town without him—and send another text: I’m at Phinney Tavern if you’re bored.

  Selene and Kylie went away for Selene’s bachelorette party weekend, and won’t be home until Sunday. Ky was really looking forward to this, so I’m glad she gets to go have some fun with my sister. But fuck, I miss her. She’s been gone for maybe twelve hours and I already hate it. We haven’t been apart, except to go to work, since we got married—hell, not since we got back from London, when I proposed to her. When I almost lost her.

  I shudder at that memory. What a fucking nightmare that was. I was such a dumbass for lying to my sister about our relationship.

  I know Selene feels bad about what happened, but I’ve never blamed her. She did make me promise not to hook up with Ky, and like an idiot I broke up with Kylie over it. But Selene had no idea how I really felt about Kylie. When I finally stopped lying, and told Selene how much I loved Kylie, she was ready to do anything to help me get her back. She even flew to London with me when we realized Kylie had gone away for New Year’s Eve.

  I know Selene was only trying to protect Kylie, and protect their friendship. She had every reason to believe I’d hook up with Ky and leave her—it’s what I’d done with all the women who came in and out of my life before.

  But Kylie was always different. She was always the one I wanted.

  And the look on Selene’s face when Kylie and I got back to our hotel in London, and Kylie was wearing my ring? Fucking priceless.

  Thinking of that makes me smile a bit, and I take another sip of my drink.

  Ronan texts back. Nah, I’m wiped from work. Calling it a night.

  Ronan’s a good guy. I wanted to tear his arms off when he broke up with Selene, but in the end, he came around. I’m happy for my sister. I’ve been anxious to see her with the right guy for years, and I’m relieved she found someone who’s so good for her. It’s satisfying to know she’s not living alone in our childhood home anymore.

  “Braxton Taylor,” a voice says behind me. I cringe. The voice is familiar, but I’m not quite sure who it is. The way she said my name makes me think it must be one of my exes, or at least a girl I slept with once or twice. I glance over my shoulder, hoping I remember who she is. I’ll feel like a dick if I have to ask her name.

  It’s Hope, a girl I dated for a couple months not long before I finally got together with Kylie. I’m relieved I know her name but, if I remember correctly, Hope had a temper.

  I decide to play it cool and pretend this isn’t going to be awkward. I turn around and give her an easy smile. “Hope. Good to see you again.”

  “How nice,” she says. “You actually remember me.”

  Did I really date her? What was I thinking? “Yeah, of course. What are you up to tonight?”

  She shrugs and slides up onto the stool next to me. Uh oh, what is she doing? “Nothing much. I just moved to an apartment around the corner from here. I came in with some friends and saw you. Figured I’d come say hi.”

  “Um, hi.” Now I am feeling awkward. Hope is clearly checking me out. Her eyes move up and down, lingering on my crotch longer than necessary. When she looks up, she holds my gaze. I know that look. She wants to hook up with me tonight. I’m guessing she just wants a casual fuck, but there’s no mistaking her expression. She’s giving me the I’m going to fuck you later look.

  There was a time when she’d have been right. I’d have taken her home, and not worried too much about the consequences. But now? Hell, no. Those days are long behind me, and I’m fucking ecstatic about it. I don’t care who I was before Kylie. I’m all Kylie’s—now, and for the rest of my life. There isn’t a woman on this planet who could even tempt me.

  Hope’s got a lot of skin showing, and by all accounts she’s an attractive woman. My dick? Doesn’t give a shit. All I can think about is how to get out of this situation.

  “So, are you here all by yourself?” She licks her lips. “That’s not like you.”

  My mouth turns up in a half smile. “Actually, my wife’s out of town, so I’m just killing time.”

  Hope’s eyes widen and her mouth drops open. I shift on my stool so I can lean my arm on the bar, my left hand in plain sight. Her eyes dart to my hand. Yes, Hope, that’s a wedding ring you’re looking at.

  “You got married?” she asks.

  I keep smiling. This just got fun. “Yes, I did. Over a year ago.”

  “What, did you knock her up or something?” Hope asks.

  My face goes still. “No, I didn’t marry her because I got her fucking pregnant.”

  Although come to think of it, I sure wouldn’t mind getting Kylie pregnant. We’ve talked about it a little bit, but we haven’t made any definite plans. I’ve been thinking about it lately, an
d the more I do, the more I like the idea—and that’s the weirdest thing, because it wasn’t long ago that pregnant was the most terrifying word imaginable. But Kylie pregnant with my baby? I like the sound of that. A lot.

  Hope leans away and crosses her legs. “Hey, sorry. I just figured she must have roped you in somehow.”

  “No, she didn’t have to rope me in.”

  “Well, who’s the lucky girl?” Hope asks. “Anyone I know?”

  And I’m smiling again. “You remember my best friend, Kylie?”

  “Yes…” Hope says, her voice hesitant.

  “Kylie’s my wife.” God, I love saying that. It’s my favorite fucking sentence.

  Hope’s mouth drops again. “You have got to be kidding me.” She rolls her eyes and laughs. “I knew it. The whole time we were dating, I knew she was trying to get her claws into you.”

  “That’s not what was going on.” I turn back to the bar and take a sip of my drink. “But you can think whatever you want.”

  She gets down from the stool. “Well, congratulations to both of you. And good luck to her.” She flips her hair over her shoulder and walks away.

  Good luck to her? That was a bitchy thing to say, but I just shrug and go back to my drink. It doesn’t matter what Hope thinks. All that matters is that I married the best fucking woman in the world, and I get to love the shit out of her forever.

  Except when she’s out of town. Which sucks.

  I finish my whiskey and decide to head home. I wonder what my girls are doing tonight. They drove out to a resort in the mountains, and Kylie said there’s going to be a lot of spa treatments and booze. I’m glad they didn’t go more than a few hours away. Yeah, I’m acting a little crazy about Ky being out of town, but I like that if I had to jump in the car to get to her, I could.

  I love my girl. So sue me.

  My phone buzzes with Kylie’s text right as I walk in the door of our condo. Miss you, baby.

  I toss my coat on a chair and sink down onto the couch. Miss you too. Call me? I want to hear your voice.

  My phone rings right away. “Hi, baby girl.”

  “Hi,” she says. “How was your day?”

  “Not bad,” I say. “You?”

  “It’s been good,” she says. “So relaxing, and the restaurant here is amazing.”

  “Awesome, I’m glad you’re having a good time. What are you up to now?”

  “Nothing much,” she says. “Selene went back to her room for a while, so I’m just lying here.”

  I perk up at that. “Lying where?”

  “On the bed.”

  “Alone?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I wish I was there,” I say.

  “Me, too,” she says. “What would you do if you were here?”

  “What are you wearing?” I lie down and get comfortable. “I need a visual.”

  “Well, jeans,” she says. “And a gray shirt. I guess I should do better than that, though.”

  “No, that’s fine,” I say. “But take off the jeans.”

  “Okay.” There’s some muffled noise before she gets back on the line. “Now I’m in a shirt and panties. They’re light blue with a bit of lace.”

  “Mm, I love the light blue ones,” I say. “They look good against your creamy skin. I want to nibble down your thighs until I get to those panties. Then I’d tease you through them, pressing my tongue against you until you beg me to fuck you with my tongue.”

  “Holy shit, Brax,” she says. “Are we doing this?”

  “Yeah we are, baby,” I say, my voice going rough and low. “Put your fingers in those panties and tell me what you feel.”

  I hear her sharp intake of breath. “Oh god, Braxton, I’m already wet.”

  My eyes roll back and I unzip my pants. “Fuck, Ky, I’m so hard right now. My dick is aching for you. I want to taste your sweet pussy. I want to flick my tongue on your clit and make you call my name.”

  “I love your tongue on my pussy,” she says. “I’d put your cock in my mouth and suck you so fucking hard. I’d take you all in, and my mouth would be so warm and wet. You’d fuck my mouth, in and out, until you’re ready to burst down my throat.”

  I get Kylie’s lotion off the coffee table and put a little in my hand. It smells like her. It’s not the same as having her here, but it’s going to make jacking off to the sound of her dirty mouth a hell of a lot hotter.

  “That’s right, baby.” I slide my hand down the shaft and get my cock nice and slick. “Before I come, I’d pull out and throw you down onto your back. I’d push your legs wide open and bury my dick in you.” I start to stroke, not too fast at first, and groan into the phone. “I can feel you all over me. You’re so tight. Tell me what you’re doing.”

  “I’m putting my fingers in my pussy,” she says. “I’m getting them wet. Now I’m rubbing my clit and … oh fuck, yeah, there it is.”

  “Imagine my cock inside you.” I pick up the pace, stroking faster. “I’m pounding you so hard. So fucking hard, Kylie. You’re going crazy underneath me.”

  “Tell me what you’re doing,” she says.

  This is so hot. I’d rather be fucking her for real, but this is good, too. “I’m rubbing my cock, baby. I’m as hard as if I was inside you right now. I have your lotion on me, so I can smell you.”

  “Rub faster,” she says. “Do it faster.”

  I stroke faster and groan again.

  “You’re inside me, Braxton, and I’m so hot,” she says. “I’m clenching around your thick cock. Fuck, it’s so good.”

  “Harder, baby girl.” I pick up the pace, feeling my balls tighten.

  She whimpers into the phone. “Brax, I want to come.”

  “Do it, baby.” I take a second to put her on speaker so I don’t have to hold the phone. “I’m stroking it fast. Rub yourself faster. Imagine it’s me. It’s my cock in you.”

  “Holy shit,” she says and the urgency in her voice gets me closer. “Yes, fuck. Yes.”

  I really go for it, leaning my head back and closing my eyes as I rub my dick faster, listening to her breathing heavily into the phone.

  “I’m so close,” she says. “Talk to me. I’m so close.”

  “I’m going to fuck you so hard when you get home,” I growl at her between breaths. “I’m going to pound you with my cock until you can’t breathe.”

  She whimpers and moans. “Brax, I’m gonna come.”

  “Come, baby girl. Let me hear it.”

  She moans again and her voice goes higher, sharp spasms of sound in time with her orgasm. Just the sound of it sends me off the cliff. I stroke a few more times and burst, come spurting out of my dick. I don’t hold back, groaning with each pulse, letting her hear me lose my mind with her.

  The climax subsides and I take a few deep breaths, my eyes closed. I can hear her breathing hard.

  “Wow,” she says. “I didn’t think I could do that.”

  I laugh and open my eyes. Shit, I made a mess. I didn’t plan that very well. There are splotches of come all over my shirt. But it was worth it.

  “Fuck, Kylie, you’re not even here and you know how to undo me.”

  We both sit in silence for a moment. I can hear her breathing.

  “Stay on the phone, okay?” she asks. “I’ll be right back. I want to clean up a little.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  I leave the phone sitting on the arm of the couch, and go wash up and change. I come back wearing just a fresh pair of underwear and take the phone to the bedroom. I climb in bed and roll over to Kylie’s side. Her pillow smells like her, and I bury my face in it, breathing her in.

  “You back?” she asks.

  “Yeah,” I say. “I feel better, but I still miss you.”

  “I miss you too, love,” she says.

  I roll onto my back and put an arm across my forehead. “Are you getting up again, or are you guys done for the night?”

  “I’m pretty sure I got a text from Selene a few minutes ago,” s
he says with a laugh. “She probably wants to go get a drink in the bar. I guess I’ll tell her I was in the bathroom.”

  “Okay, well, you girls have fun tonight,” I say.

  “We will,” she says. “I love you, Braxton.”

  A wide smile crosses my face. “God, I love you so much, Kylie. I’m so glad you’re mine.”

  “Always,” she says. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

  “Night, baby girl.”

  “Night, love.”

  2: Kylie

  I touch up my makeup and fix my hair, although my cheeks are still flushed. I’ve never actually had phone sex before, but damn, that was hot. I didn’t call Braxton with that in mind, but my panties were drenched as soon as I heard his voice.

  God, that man. He can melt me with nothing but a word. It’s really quite the talent.

  We’ve been married for more than a year—a year!—and he still takes my breath away. I think he always will. We’re just as crazy in love as we were the first night we were together. He was already my best friend—one of my two favorite people in the world—so being married to him is like all the best parts of our friendship, plus the best sex I’ve ever had.

  Seriously, who gets that lucky? I have no idea what I did to deserve him, but I’m grateful beyond words.

  I send Selene a quick text, telling her I’m ready. So far, our girl’s weekend has been a blast. We have a couple of rooms at a beautiful resort in the mountains, and I planned us a weekend of pampering. Today we had facials, plus a delicious dinner in the restaurant downstairs. Tomorrow we have brunch, followed by mani-pedis, and massages in the afternoon.

  I figure tonight Selene probably wants to hang out in the bar and have a few drinks. It’s mellow for a bachelorette party, but it’s what she wanted. I’m happy I get to spend so much time with her, just the two of us. With her wedding coming up, things have been pretty crazy. I think we both needed to unwind.

  There’s a knock on my door, and I answer it to find Selene. She’s dressed in a mint green top and jeans.

  “Ready?” she asks.

  “Yeah, let me grab my purse.” I make sure I have my wallet and room key, and follow her out into the hallway. We get to the elevator, and I notice she keeps messing with her hair. “You okay?” I ask.