Micah's Bride

Micah’s Bride©

All the King’s Men, book 9

Published by Phoenix Press

Copyright 2017 Donya Lynne

Cover by Reese Dante - www.reesedante.com

ISBN: 978-1-938991-37-0

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at donya@donyalynne.com.

References to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or persons or locales, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Did You Enjoy the Book?

Books By Donya Lynne

About Donya Lynne

Connect with Donya

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Liz, Amanda, and Leann for once again providing crucial feedback to help me create the best story possible. I want to thank my editor, Laura LaTulipe, for always catching my back. A writer’s eyes aren’t the same as an editor’s eyes when it comes time to review a manuscript and catch all the silly errors. Thank you for using your eyes to catch mine. To my cover artist, Reese Dante, I trust your vision implicitly. You are the master of your craft, and it’s a joy to work with you on each new cover. To my readers, a big sloppy MWAH! Thank you for reading my books and loving my characters. You’re not just readers, you’re friends.

I hope you all enjoy Micah’s Bride.

Chapter 1

Come on, we’re celebrating.

Sam stopped and stared at Micah as he whisked past her into the living room of their downtown apartment and shut off the light. She’d barely been home a minute and had been about to take off her shoes when Micah turned her around and corralled her back toward the front door.

She frowned over her shoulder at him. I thought you wanted a quiet, romantic night in.

With the kids from Cordray’s orphanage still at their house in the suburbs, quiet and romantic were two things that had been in short supply in recent days.

Change of plans. Micah reached inside the small closet by the door, grabbed the jacket she’d just hung up, and shoved it at her before giving her a love swat on the ass. Let’s go. We’re late.

Late for what?

It’s a surprise. He opened the door, pushed her into the hall, and locked up behind them.

Micah . . . She’d really been looking forward to spending time with him—just the two of them—tonight.

Trust me. He took her hand and hurried her to the elevator, wearing a mysterious grin that bespoke the secrets and intrigues he’d apparently been keeping from her about tonight. This is going to be better than a night in.

Better than a night in bed with her, naked and willing to do anything he wanted? She was tempted to press her palm to his forehead to check for a fever. Micah wasn’t one to turn down a guaranteed night of scorching sex.

Are you feeling okay? She struggled to keep up with his long strides.

Yep.

She side-eyed him. Something was different about him tonight. Something that reminded her of a kid waiting to open presents on Christmas morning.

Are you going to tell me where we’re going?

Nope.

A yep and a nope. Monosyllabic Micah had entered the building, which always meant trouble.

Ugh. I hate when you do this.

The elevator opened, and he nudged her inside. No you don’t. You love it.

She crossed her arms and leaned against the back of the elevator as it started down. "It’s your loss. You have no idea the things I planned to do to you tonight. And all the things I planned to let you do to me."

His gaze rolled to hers as if to say, Puh-lease.

Fighting back a smile, she turned away. She didn’t want him to see either the defeat or the amusement in her eyes. Of course he knew what she’d planned for them tonight. He could read her mind without even trying.

Part of her hated that, but another part of her secretly loved it. He knew what she needed without her having to tell him. And it certainly kept the lines of communication open between them. The disadvantage was that surprising him was damn near impossible, unlike his ability to surprise her. Case in point, tonight.

He took her hand and lifted it to his mouth, kissing the backs of her fingers. Trust me, baby, you surprise me every single day. Pure love shone in his gaze. Love, devotion, and unyielding deference.

How?

His navy blue gaze softened as he searched her face. By putting up with me.

Damn him. He always knew just what to say to make her heart beat a little bit harder. You can be pretty hard to take, Mr. Black, but for some reason I can’t fathom, I fall in love with you a little more every day.

Ditto, Mrs. Black.

It was her turn to roll her eyes. For the thousandth time, I’m not Mrs. Black until you give me a wedding.

He said nothing, only smiled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. Then he drew her to him and brushed his lips over hers with uncharacteristic tenderness.

Micah usually made a snarky retort when she told him he couldn’t call her Mrs. Black, but not this time.

The elevator doors opened, revealing the parking garage below the building, and Micah snapped to attention. Let’s go.

That’s right. They were late. She had no idea for what, but they obviously needed to hurry.

Five minutes later, they were zipping through Chicago’s late-night traffic, heading for the interstate.

How did orientation go tonight? he asked.

She turned away from watching the buildings fly by out the passenger window. Better than I thought.

Changes were occurring in both their lives. Not only had she been accepted into the nursing program at AKM, but Micah had recently found out his father was alive, that he had a half brother, and that he was of royal blood. He’d also taken on a new role for King Bain, that of commander for a newly created covert ops team meant to drive a dagger into the heart of Premier Royce’s deceit and machinations.

Oh, yeah, and Sam was pregnant.

So, lots of developments. Who knew when they would get another night together now that their schedules were about to become crazy town?

Are you excited about getting back to work?

Yes. And she was, despite the ships-passing-in-the-night course they were on. It was amazing how all the training and old feelings came back to me from my days in the Army. The adrenaline rush, the feeling that I would be doing something that would make a difference, that I would be helping people again.

His hand found hers and encircled it with security and warmth.

Micah knew better than anyone how important it was for her to put her skills to use. She wasn’t just trying to cure cabin fever by taking a job. Getting out of the house was part of it, sure, because she had begun to feel useless just sitting at home all the time. But her new job was about so much more than making herself useful.

You’re not useless, baby, Micah said quietly, squeezing her hand.

This was another benefit of his ability to read her mind. Conversations were easier because she didn’t have to put her thoughts into words.

"I was beginning to feel useless."

Only because you’re not the type to sit on the sidelines.

Micah knew her so well. Probably because he could see every thought that passed through her mind.

She glanced across the seat at his strong, angular profile. She’d drawn the winning lottery ticket with Micah. Looks, brains, brawn. And the guy loved her as if she were the very beat of his heart.

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "You are the beat of my heart. And I’m the one who won the lottery the night you found me." His dark eyes sparkled as he quickly gave her a sidelong glance, then turned his attention back to the road.

She leaned against the headrest and gazed at him. We both won.

That made him smile and give her another quick but affectionate glance. I can live with that.

She stared at her man—male, whatever—a few seconds longer and then, still holding his hand, shifted in her seat and looked out the window again. But she wasn’t seeing the city pass her