More Than Love You
MORE THAN LOVE YOU
More Than Words, Book 3
Written by Shayla Black
This book is an original publication by Shayla Black.
Copyright 2018 Shelley Bradley LLC
Google Play Edition
Google Play Edition
Cover Design by: Rachel Connolly
Photographer: Sara Eirew Photographer
Edited by: Amy Knupp of Blue Otter
Excerpt from More Than Want You © 2017 by Shelley Bradley LLC
Excerpt from More Than Need You © 2017 by Shelley Bradley LLC
ISBN: 978-1-936596-46-1
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by an electronic or mechanical means—except for brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews—without express written permission.
eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away, as it is illegal and an infringement on the copyright of this work.
All rights reserved.
PRAISE FOR MORE THAN WANT YOU
“Highly recommend! Shayla Black delivers once again with this passionate and sexy novel… A beautiful love story with a twist that you’ll never see coming!”
—Meredith Wild, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
“Amazing! Everything I didn’t even know I needed or wanted in a romance novel. Hot. Spicy. Addicting.”
—Rachel Van Dyken, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
“Sexy, passionate and oh-so-clever! An intriguing love story!”
—Lauren Blakely, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
“You’ll hate him and then you’ll love him! A sexy read with a surprising twist.”
—Carly Phillips, New York Times Bestselling Author
“I’ll play house with the hot real estate mogul Maxon Reed any time! Shayla Black’s fans are gonna love this new series!”
—Lorelei James, New York Times Bestselling author of the Need You series
PRAISE FOR MORE THAN NEED YOU
5 Stars! “I adore Shayla Black! She masterfully delivers story after story full of passion, love, heartbreak, and redemption.”
—Chasing Away Reality
5 Stars! “I love this book!!! It has all the elements that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster.”
—Romance Between The Sheets
A True Gem! “More Than Need You took me on an extremely emotional, realistic, passionate journey towards an HEA for two people, who each went through emotionally scaring events yet finally were able to come together in a beautiful HEA, one that will remain one of my all-time favorites!”
—Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
“So real and so raw! Be prepared to fall in love, have your heart broken, and then carefully mended back together by a master.”
—Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads
5 Stars! “Ms. Shayla Black has once again reached inside my chest and shaken my heart with this emotional story…”
—Amuse Me Books
ABOUT MORE THAN LOVE YOU
I’m Noah Weston. For a decade, I’ve quarterbacked America’s most iconic football team and plowed my way through women. Now I’m transitioning from star player to retired jock—with a cloud of allegation hanging over my head. So I’m escaping to the private ocean-front paradise I bought for peace and quiet. What I get instead is stubborn, snarky, wild, lights-my-blood-on-fire Harlow Reed. Since she just left a relationship in a hugely viral way, she should be the last woman I’m seen with.
On second thought, we can help each other…
I need a steady, supportive “girlfriend” for the court of public opinion, not entanglements. Harlow is merely looking for nonstop sweaty sex and screaming orgasms that wring pleasure from her oh-so-luscious body. Three months—that’s how long it should take for us both to scratch this itch and leave our respective scandals behind. But the more I know this woman, the less I can picture my life without her. And when I’m forced to choose, I’ll realize I don’t merely want her in my bed or need her for a ruse. I more than love her enough to do whatever it takes to make her mine for good.
There are infinite ways to tell someone you love them. Some of the most powerful don’t require words at all. This was the truth rolling through my head when I first conceived of this series, writing about a love so complete that mere letters strung together to make sentences weren’t an adequate communicator of those feelings. For this series, music was my go-to choice.
I love music. I’m always immersed in it and spend hours a day with my ear buds plugged in. I write to music. I think to music. I even sleep to music. I was thrilled to incorporate songs into the story I felt were meaningful to the journey. I think of it this way: a movie has a soundtrack. Why shouldn’t a book?
So I created one.
Some of the songs I’ve selected will be familiar. Some are old. Some are newer. Some popular. Some obscure. They all just fit (in my opinion) and came straight from the heart. I listened to many of these songs as I wrote the book.
For maximum understanding (and feels), I seriously recommend becoming familiar with these songs and either playing them or rolling them around in your head as you read. Due to copyright laws, I can’t use exact lyrics, but I tried to give you the gist of those most meaningful to Harlow and Noah’s story. So I’ve made it simple for you to give them a listen by creating a Spotify playlist. Click here for all the enjoyment.
Hugs and happy reading!
I WILL REMEMBER YOU – Sarah McLachlan
GOODBYE TO YOU – Scandal (with Patty Smythe)
HAVEN’T MET YOU YET – Michael Bublé
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS – Foreigner
(YOU’RE) HAVING MY BABY – Paul Anka feat. Odia Coates
I CHOOSE YOU – Sara Bareilles
I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK – Daniela Andrade
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD – The Beatles
UNBREAKABLE – Fireflight
CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE – Elvis Presley
ALL OF ME – John Legend
UNCONDITIONALLY – Katy Perry
HERE COMES THE SUN – The Beatles
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Praise for More Than Want You
Praise for More Than Need You
About the Book
Foreword
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Excerpt from More Than Want You
Excerpt from More Than Need You
About Devoted to Pleasure
About Shayla Black
Other Books by Shayla Black
CHAPTER ONE
Noah
I had no idea when I purchased my dream home that it would come with the woman straight out of my fantasies.
As I stare down at the brunette reclined on a chaise by my pool, a smile spreads across my face. I have no idea who she is, but I stare. And I stare some more. I can’t stop. In fact, I can barely keep my tongue in my mouth. Holy shit.
A floppy hat covers the top half of her face. A fat paperback l
ies by her side. I’m guessing she fell asleep in the sun, but that only gives me an opportunity to appreciate the hell out of her uninterrupted.
Inky hair flows down her shoulders to a truly spectacular pair of breasts and banging curves. Even her navel is somehow sexy. I’m sure I’ve seen her tiny screaming-red bikini in a dirty dream or two. Would she notice if I ran my tongue up her fair, now slightly pink skin? Yeah, I’ve always had a thing for that. My mom’s family is from Hawaii with ancestors from Samoa. And there’s nothing I love more than seeing my darker hand glide across the silk of a pale woman’s skin. I can’t see this stranger’s eyes, but her lips… Rosy. Bee-stung. Wide. They would look great wrapped around my cock.
Now I just have to figure out who she is and why she’s squatting at the very private estate I recently bought. In fact, this is the first time I’m seeing it in person. It’s everything I wanted. My rep, Lian, was spot on. Sick views of the Pacific. Beach, swaying palms, infinity edge pool that goes on forever, all on incredibly secluded grounds. It’s perfect.
But all I want right now is to stare at my unexpected guest.
“Are you just going to stand there and block my sun or will you explain why the hell you’re trespassing on private property?” She lifts the brim of her hat to peer up at me, her expression somewhere between curious and annoyed.
Her green eyes nearly knock me over.
I want to fuck her. With the kind of urgency I haven’t felt since I was twenty-two, new to the NFL, and discovered a sea of pussy eager to get down and dirty with a newly minted pro athlete.
“Funny, I was going to ask you the same question. I’m here because I own this place as of yesterday. But I have no idea who you are or why you’re on my property.”
That made her sit up. “Shit. You’re the buyer? Noah…” She snaps her fingers like she can’t remember my name. “Noah…”
After being the star quarterback of one of the NFL’s highest-profile teams for the last twelve years, having someone not recognize me is a fairly novel experience. And a little humbling. I almost laugh. “Weston.”
“Noah Weston. That’s it.” She plops her book on the small table beside her lounger and stands, sticking out her hand.
She’s tiny. The top of her head barely reaches the middle of my chest. Another turn-on for me.
I put my hand in hers to shake it. The cursory touch feels anything but casual. My blood scalds, turning to lava in my veins, which rushes, hot and thick, to my cock. If my T-shirt wasn’t so long and loose, she would know exactly what I’m thinking.
“And you are…?”
“Sorry. Harlow, your house sitter. No one expected you for another few days.”
I give my Realtors props. They have damn fine taste in house sitters—and women. Have they set her up at my place and used it as a temporary love shack? Gotta say, I wouldn’t blame them. She’s raging hot.
I’ve only ever spoken to Maxon and Griffin Reed over the phone, when we finalized the sale of this twenty-five-million-dollar pad. The price is steep, I know. But I wanted the privacy. And the islands aren’t cheap. Hey, it’s paradise. More importantly, it’s home. My roots. It feels so damn good to be back in Hawaii while I figure out what comes next in life.
“I decided to come early, Harlow the house sitter. Nice to meet you.”
“You, too. I’ll…um, gather my things. I’ve been here for nearly a month, so I’ve made myself at home. It will just take me a couple of hours to get out of your hair.”
“No rush,” I assure. “I thought I’d grab a little pool time myself. If you’re not in a hurry, I wouldn’t mind the company.”
Actually, when I walked in the door ten minutes ago to set down my luggage, I was thinking more like nap and solitude after my long flight from Dallas. Now I’m wide awake and attuned to this woman. Maybe some flirtation in the water will convince her to get horizontal with me. The view of the crystal ocean and tropical scenery is pretty damn romantic, after all.
“Really? You don’t mind?” At my nod, she breathes a sigh of relief. “Thanks. It will take me a while to arrange a ride. I don’t have a car on the island since I’m just visiting.”
So if I want to tap that, I’ll have to work quick. “Where’s home?”
“San Diego.”
I nod. “What’s waiting back there? Job? Boyfriend?”
She wrinkles her nose. “No boyfriend. I finished my master’s program earlier this year. I have a job offer close to my apartment. I’m taking some time off to ponder if that’s what I really want. You’re…um, a football player, right?”
“Just retired.” I peer at her. I’d suspect her non-response to my name and occupation was disingenuous if I wasn’t already convinced she’s for real. “Not into sports, huh?”
“I grew up with brothers. When I was little I tried to keep up. Then I got older and discovered shoes were more fun.”
I laugh. In her defense, I’ll bet she looks good in sexy, strappy platforms. Hell, she probably looks good in dollar-store flip-flops…or nothing at all. How on earth does she not have a boyfriend? Too busy with school to bother? That’s the only explanation that makes sense, because there’s no way men haven’t noticed her.
“I have a sister who feels the same way about anything requiring a ball,” I explain. “At least I have my brother, Trace, to talk pigskin with.”
“Lucky you. I’m the only girl, so I’m outnumbered. My brothers won’t debate with me whether Choo or Louboutin makes a better shoe. I don’t understand why.” With a facetious sigh, she sits again, then sprawls her shapely legs out on the lounger, ankles crossed.
I smile and look for something to keep the conversation rolling. She’s more interesting than the usual jock groupie I meet. I kind of want to know this woman. Of course I want to get her bikini off. But laying the verbal groundwork for that is a little tougher than I expected. I can’t remember the last time I had to do more to attract a woman’s attention than walk into a room and crook my finger.
“How long will you be staying in Maui?” I ask.
“I haven’t decided.”
Harlow doesn’t say more, but her reticence suggests there’s more going on than simple school fatigue or job avoidance. If she’s got a master’s degree, she’s a smart, probably ambitious girl. She didn’t accomplish that by being lazy. I wonder what’s up.
“Want to talk about it?” I offer. “An impartial ear is sometimes best, and I’ve got nothing but time for a few months.”
“Thanks but…” She shakes her head. “No.”
That’s all she says. No niceties. No explanations. No apologies.
She’s hard to read. I’m surprised by how much that intrigues me.
Harlow cocks her head at me. “So what are you going to do with the rest of your life since you’re obviously way too young to sit in your front-porch rocker and watch the grass grow?”
Isn’t that a great question? “Like you, I’m pondering my options.”
It’s another reason I’m hanging out in Maui now. I left the NFL after my last injury. As I played my final game, I knew I would never suit up on a Sunday again. Everything I’d devoted my life to since age six…suddenly gone. To take the field any more would risk my long-term quality of life. Already I have side effects—but I don’t talk about that. The team’s doctors refused to clear me to play next season. My agent absolutely threw a shit fit when I even suggested rehabbing to get back in the game. Truth is, no franchise will gamble the huge salary I command under their cap since they seem to think I have one foot out the door and the other in the old folks’ home. I always promised myself I’d go out on top, so I did—with a really tough press conference and a slammin’ after party.
But now, I have no idea what to do. At thirty-four, I’m old by pro football standards. Endorsement deals are lucrative but not a career. I’m a man used to doing, not sitting back and counting my money. That’s never been why I worked my ass off. I need purpose.
That only makes the offer
recently extended my way so hard to resist…but impossible to accept. Still, I can’t bring myself to turn it down.
“You know, I’ll just go.” She gathers her book and makes to stand. “It sounds like you’ve got heavy stuff on your mind and you bought this place for privacy, so I should let you have it.”
“Stay.” I look her way, hold her gaze. “It’s been a long-ass flight, and I’d rather not be alone. You’re…interesting. I wouldn’t mind getting to know you better.”
She hesitates, and I see her weighing her options. Something that looks like regret crosses her face, and I know I have to act fast. My name doesn’t entice her. I get the sense money doesn’t, either. I have to try something else. I don’t know if my conversation is sparkling, but I know damn well how much time I spend pumping iron. I’ve been snapped a few times for both bodybuilding mags and GQ.
I whip off my shirt. And I see her eyes go wide. Bingo.
Finally, I’ve impressed her.
With her eyes glued to my pecs, she nods. “I-I guess I could do that.”
The smile that curls up my lips feels slow and wide and so, so satisfied. “Good. We got any food and booze in this place?”
“If we didn’t, I wouldn’t be here,” she vows with attitude. “I’ve been slow-cooking a side of cow all day. I’m a red-meat girl. But I’m also not uncivilized. I’ve got a nice selection of wines to serve with that slab of meat. I’ll even give you a fork and a glass.”
“Cow sounds awesome, but I’ll pass on the vino. Got anything stronger?”
She raises a brow at me. “I’m breathing, aren’t I? Booze is essential. But I’m warning you, I can drink most men under the table.”
“Not me,” I promise her. “I will crush you.”
Harlow scoffs. “You wish. Ever had a liver transplant?”
“The operation?”
“The drink.” She laughs at me. “There’s a reason it’s called that. If you’re not careful, I’ll get you plowed.”
I’d rather be the one doing the plowing, but I digress… “You’re on. What’s in this drink?”