Chasing Paradise (Chasing Series #3)

Chasing Paradise (Chasing Series #3)

• Title Page
  
• Prologue
  
• Epilogue
  

Chasing Paradise

(Chasing Series Book #3)

Pamela Ann

Chasing Paradise

Chasing Series

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved
.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without a written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Copyright © 2013 by Pamela Ann

Edited by

Alizon & Kristin

Cover Design by

Melissa Gill

Acknowledgements

To beta readers, Melissa Gill, Cami Hesnault, Kimberly Harris, Kirstie Hicks, Beck Sewell, Joni Payne and Tia Marie, you ladies are amazing. Without all your support and feedbacks, but most especially your friendship, it would’ve been hard to finish this novel.

Ashley Suzanne, Josie Melendez, Kimberly Rinaldi, Candy Rodal, Rosabel Herrera, Ana Carvalheiro, Christina Lefferts, Jodie Stipetich, Valerie Sherokee, Megan Broussard and Toni Hanks, thank you for being an avid reader. I love the jokes. The Voxer. You guys are amazing. BAM! xx

Chasing Bassphemous Page, you ladies rock!

To my rockin’ editors, Alizon and Kristin, thank you for your patience. You ladies are the best.

To the love of my life, Niko, I love you.

Playlist

Massive Attack- Protection

Raf- Due

Phil Thompson- Glasgow Theme Song

Andrea Bocelli - Somos Novios

Adele- Lovesong

Labrinth feat. Emeli Sandé- Beneath Your Beautiful

Coldplay- The Scientist

Howie Day- Standing in the sun

Rihanna- Diamonds

Fisher- You

Chris Botti- When I Fall in Love

Alejandro Sanz- Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No

Ciara- Body Party

Count me in- Early Winters

The Fray- You Found Me

John Mayer- Heartbreak Warfare

Pink- Just Give Me A Reason (Feat. Nate Reuss)

For the abused and bullied,

One can never forget.

No matter how difficult, exhausting and rigorous a situation is,

Always keep your head up.

Never. Ever. Let anyone take your light.

For it is yours and yours alone. No one is entitled to it, no matter how much they try to take it away from you.

Love heals.

Even the most brokenhearted souls can be nurtured.

Even the most malnourished heart can be supplied.

Forgetting is never easy.

Forgiving could be inconceivable.

But freeing your heart, your soul, is an extraordinary gift that one can attain.

Have faith in yourself, believe in your heart and you can achieve whatever it desires.

Live.

Breathe.

Life.

“
Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion, it is not the desire to mate every second minute of the day, it is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every cranny of your body. No, don’t blush, I am telling you some truths. That is just being “in love”, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.” 


~ Louis de Bernieres

Prologue

The New Year’s Eve Gala

A month ago

Blake

My eyes captured the raving beauty that was walking towards me, green with a hint of gold eyes danced as she took in how I watched the sway of her hypnotizing hips. “Mr. Knightly,” she greeted, kissing me on both cheeks, making me aware of her perfume that reminded me so much of raw mating.

“
Will there ever be a day that you won’t take my breath away, my love?” I took hold of her hand, kissing the back of it.

Confident and sassy as ever, she took in my dressed state with carnal desire ignited in her eyes before she pierced my soul. “That won’t happen.”

I thought so, too, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. “That’s a bold statement.”

“
It’s true; you know why? Because I won’t let it get to that.” She moved closer, delectable breasts grabbing my gaze. “It’s you and me, Knightly. You cater to my needs and I’ll grant you yours. Love me the way I want to be loved and I’ll make your dreams come to life; inside and outside of the bedroom. You know I love romance and all these toe-curling gestures that you do for me. Don’t ever stop loving me or I’ll hand you back to Camilla myself.”

Like hell she would.
I smirked, drawing the necklace out from where it was nestled in between the valley of her breasts before kissing the yellow diamond engagement ring that was going to be on her finger someday. “Sienna Richards, you’re unofficially engaged to me. Whether you like it or not, poppet, you’re stuck with this dashing and sexy gentleman. Not to mention I’m mighty rich and have the ability to make you orgasm six times in one session. Oh, since I’m already cocky as it is, let’s add the sex-on-a-stick term that you love so much.” The back of my forefinger traced the beautiful arch of her breasts before meeting her gaze again. “I was brought into this world to make you happy and I do, you said as much.”

“
Really, is that so?” The stunning woman of mine gave me the dazzling smile that made my heart palpitate a mere second before she leaned against me, hands caressing the lapels of my tux. “You sure you want to spend the rest of your life next to me? I do drive you crazy, you know. In case you forgot, Knightly.”

It was impossible not to, especially after the gutting ordeal this woman had put me through. “I do know that, nevertheless, you made me fall in love with you. Without a hint of doubt, I am fatally and hopelessly yours, cara mia.” This love had grown over the months. Out of our friendship, it had simply spiraled to the inevitable and I knew that I would be bound to her forever when she became mine. The moment I made love to this woman, there would be no going back. Whether it was for Hell or Heaven, I was never going to let her go.

Sienna gave me a shaky smile, bottom lip-wobbling, eyes glassed with tears. “Blake, I want to say thank you for giving me the best Christmas. Really, the best holiday to date for me. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this kind of happiness after my father died. You truly make me incredibly happy and I love you for that. Thank you for not giving up on me.”

“
I love you. Don’t give me the tears, my love. I want smiles and laughter from you. No more tears for your past. You’ve shed enough.” I gathered her in my arms, holding her tight, knowing that I would do anything to keep her safe. This woman, here in my arms, was the only thing that mattered to me.

She was the sound that made my heart beat.

She was the voice in my soul.

She was the strength that made me a better man.

Without her, I was nothing.

The ghastly stories I had heard about her childhood were beyond rattling. The damaged, tortured soul inside her had needed some time to heal, it still did. I had never wanted to be the man to hurt her, but I had. The strong hate, consuming anger and profound dejection took hold of me then—making me a man who I had barely known. A man who was tattered with so much grief from the loss of her that I wanted to lash out and make her feel how wretched the inside of me was. Never again, would I do that. Sienna was going to come first from here on out.

As complicated as this love we shared was, we knew enough to know one couldn’t survive without the other. We were one. One pair. One heart. One soul. One destiny.

If I had thought life would be so much easier now that I had her by my side, I could think again because that very same night, at the New Year’s Eve gala, someone orchestrated to kill her when I was busy about to give a speech right after my grandfather addressing the guests

There were so many speculations, but no suspects. The intense savage fury I felt for those who’d hurt her made me want to kill them all.