More Than Pleasure You: A More Than Words Novella Read online

  More Than Pleasure You

  A More Than Words Novella

  By Shayla Black

  1001 Dark Nights

  More Than Pleasure You: A More Than Words Novella

  Copyright 2019 Shelley Bradley LLC

  ISBN: 978-1-970077-31-5

  Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose

  Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  BOOK DESCRIPTION

  More Than Pleasure You

  A More Than Words Novella

  By Shayla Black

  From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shayla Black comes a new story in her More Than Words series…

  Can I convince her our hot but temporary engagement should last forever?

  I’m Stephen Lund, confirmed bachelor…and son of a successful billionaire whose sins I can’t forget—or forgive. Though he insisted I get over his transgressions, I can’t. So I put space between us with a temporary getaway to Maui. My rental’s sexy caretaker, Skye Ingram, is a beautiful distraction. Yeah, it’s a terrible time to start a fling, but I can’t help wanting to give her every bit of pleasure she’s willing to take.

  When Skye needs a date to her ex-boyfriend’s wedding, I’m game to play her pretend fiancé. The jerk should see what he passed up…and that I’m holding her now. But our pretend engagement begins to feel real. Our passion certainly is. So are the consequences. When I’m confronted with the reality that our lives are now irrevocably entwined, I have to choose between leaving Skye to return to the life—and wealth—I’ve always known or abandoning everything familiar to start over with the woman who awakened my heart.

  **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

  ABOUT SHAYLA BLACK

  Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly eighty novels. For over twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold several million copies and been published in a dozen languages.

  Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eleven years.

  Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

  Connect with me online:

  Website: http://shaylablack.com

  Newsletter: http://shayla.link/nwsltr

  Facebook: http://shayla.link/FBPage

  FB Chat Group: http://shayla.link/FBChat

  Instagram: http://shayla.link/IG

  Book+Main Bites: http://shayla.link/books+main

  Goodreads: http://shayla.link/Goodreads

  Twitter: http://shayla.link/Twitter

  Pinterest: http://shayla.link/Pinterest

  YouTube: http://shayla.link/YouTube

  BookBub: http://shayla.link/BookBub

  Amazon: http://shayla.link/AmazonFollow

  Text: Text “Shayla” to 24587

  If you enjoyed this book, I would appreciate your help so others can enjoy it, too.

  Recommend it. Please help other readers find this book by recommending it to friends, readers’ groups and discussion boards.

  Review it. Please tell other readers why you liked this book by reviewing it at the book retailer of your choice. Thank you!

  ALSO FROM SHAYLA BLACK

  Click to purchase

  CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

  MORE THAN WORDS

  More Than Want You

  More Than Need You

  More Than Love You

  More Than Crave You

  More Than Tempt You

  More Than Pleasure You (novella)

  Coming Soon:

  More Than Dare You

  THE WICKED LOVERS (COMPLETE SERIES)

  Wicked Ties

  Decadent

  Delicious

  Surrender To Me

  Belong To Me

  “Wicked to Love” (novella)

  Mine To Hold

  “Wicked All The Way” (novella)

  Ours To Love

  Wicked All Night – Wicked and Dangerous Anthology

  “Forever Wicked” (novella)

  Theirs To Cherish

  His to Take

  Pure Wicked (novella)

  Wicked for You

  Falling in Deeper

  “Dirty Wicked” (novella)

  A Very Wicked Christmas (short story)

  Holding on Tighter

  THE DEVOTED LOVERS

  Devoted to Pleasure

  Devoted to Wicked (novella)

  Devoted to Love

  Coming Soon:

  Devoted to Sin

  THE PERFECT GENTLEMEN (by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake) (COMPLETE SERIES)

  Scandal Never Sleeps

  Seduction in Session

  Big Easy Temptation

  Smoke and Sin

  At the Pleasure of the President

  MASTERS OF MÉNAGE (by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake)

  Their Virgin Captive

  Their Virgin’s Secret

  Their Virgin Concubine

  Their Virgin Princess

  Their Virgin Hostage

  Their Virgin Secretary

  Their Virgin Mistress

  Coming Soon:

  Their Virgin Bride

  DOMS OF HER LIFE (by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, and Isabella LaPearl)

  Raine Falling Collection (Complete Saga)

  One Dom To Love

  The Young And The Submissive

  The Bold and The Dominant

  The Edge of Dominance

  Heavenly Rising Collection

  The Choice

  The Chase

  Coming Soon:

  The Commitment

  THE HOPE SISTERS TRILOGY (MISADVENTURES)

  Misadventures of a Backup Bride

  Misadventures with My Ex

  Coming Soon:

  My Best Friend’s UnWedding

  STANDALONE TITLES

  Naughty Little Secret

  Watch Me

  Dangerous Boys And Their Toy

  “Her Fantasy Men” – Four Play Anthology

  A Perfect Match

  Coming Soon:

  Seduce the Bride (Sexy Short)

  SEXY CAPERS

  Bound And Determined

  Strip Search

  “Arresting Desire” – Hot In Handcuffs Anthology

  HISTORICAL ROMANCE (as Shelley Bradley)

  The Lady And The Dragon

  One Wicked Night

  Strictly Seduction


  Strictly Forbidden

  BROTHERS IN ARMS MEDIEVAL TRILOGY

  His Lady Bride (Book 1)

  His Stolen Bride (Book 2)

  His Rebel Bride (Book 3)

  PARANORMAL ROMANCE

  THE DOOMSDAY BRETHREN

  Tempt Me With Darkness

  “Fated” (e-novella)

  Seduce Me In Shadow

  Possess Me At Midnight

  “Mated” – Haunted By Your Touch Anthology

  Entice Me At Twilight

  Embrace Me At Dawn

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FROM THE AUTHOR

  Thanks so much to Liz Berry, MJ Rose, and Jillian Stein for welcoming me back into the 1,001 Dark Nights family after a few self-imposed years away. It means the world to me that you have such open arms and hearts, especially for this new series that means so much to me. You ladies are the best!

  DISCOVER 1001 DARK NIGHTS

  Click here to explore

  COLLECTION ONE

  FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black

  CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham

  CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom

  DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake

  AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione

  NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones

  SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair

  ROPED IN by Lorelei James

  TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

  THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner

  COLLECTION TWO

  WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan

  WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham

  EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby

  MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair

  CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner

  ADORED by Lexi Blake

  HADES by Larissa Ione

  RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton

  DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James

  RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  DRAGON KING by Donna Grant

  PURE WICKED by Shayla Black

  HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye

  STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

  ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham

  KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster

  TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti

  THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION THREE

  HIDDEN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham

  SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst

  DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice

  ROUGH RHYTHM by Tessa Bailey

  DEVOTED by Lexi Blake

  Z by Larissa Ione

  FALLING UNDER YOU by Laurelin Paige

  EASY FOR KEEPS by Kristen Proby

  UNCHAINED by Elisabeth Naughton

  HARD TO SERVE by Laura Kaye

  DRAGON FEVER by Donna Grant

  KAYDEN/SIMON by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  STRUNG UP by Lorelei James

  MIDNIGHT UNTAMED by Lara Adrian

  TRICKED by Rebecca Zanetti

  DIRTY WICKED by Shayla Black

  THE ONLY ONE by Lauren Blakely

  SWEET SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION FOUR

  ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING by Kristen Ashley

  ADORING INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  SWEET RIVALRY by K. Bromberg

  SHADE'S LADY by Joanna Wylde

  RAZR by Larissa Ione

  ARRANGED by Lexi Blake

  TANGLED by Rebecca Zanetti

  HOLD ME by J. Kenner

  SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst

  TOO CLOSE TO CALL by Tessa Bailey

  HUNTED by Elisabeth Naughton

  EYES ON YOU by Laura Kaye

  BLADE by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  DRAGON BURN by Donna Grant

  TRIPPED OUT by Lorelei James

  STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely

  MIDNIGHT UNLEASHED by Lara Adrian

  HALLOW BE THE HAUNT by Heather Graham

  DIRTY FILTHY FIX by Laurelin Paige

  THE BED MATE by Kendall Ryan

  NIGHT GAMES by CD Reiss

  NO RESERVATIONS by Kristen Proby

  DAWN OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION FIVE

  BLAZE ERUPTING by Rebecca Zanetti

  ROUGH RIDE by Kristen Ashley

  HAWKYN by Larissa Ione

  RIDE DIRTY by Laura Kaye

  ROME’S CHANCE by Joanna Wylde

  THE MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT by Jennifer Probst

  SURRENDER by Elisabeth Naughton

  INKED NIGHTS by Carrie Ann Ryan

  ENVY by Rachel Van Dyken

  PROTECTED by Lexi Blake

  THE PRINCE by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  PLEASE ME by J. Kenner

  WOUND TIGHT by Lorelei James

  STRONG by Kylie Scott

  DRAGON NIGHT by Donna Grant

  TEMPTING BROOKE by Kristen Proby

  HAUNTED BE THE HOLIDAYS by Heather Graham

  CONTROL by K. Bromberg

  HUNKY HEARTBREAKER by Kendall Ryan

  THE DARKEST CAPTIVE by Gena Showalter

  Also from 1001 Dark Nights:

  TAME ME by J. Kenner

  THE SURRENDER GATE By Christopher Rice

  SERVICING THE TARGET By Cherise Sinclair

  TEMPT ME by J. Kenner

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  As a bonus, all subscribers can download FIVE FREE exclusive books!

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Book Description

  About Shayla Black

  Also from Shayla Black

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights

  Foreword

  Author’s Note

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Six

  Discover More Shayla Black

  An excerpt from More Than Want You by Shayla Black

  Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights

  Special Thanks

  ONE THOUSAND AND ONE DARK NIGHTS

  Once upon a time, in the future…

  I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.

  I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and

  the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast

  library at my father’s home and collected thousands

  of volumes of fantastic tales.

  I learned all about ancient races and bygone

  times. About myths and legends and dreams of all

  people through the millennium. And the more I read

  the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered

  that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually

  become part of them.

  I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher

  and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I

  would not be telling you this tale now.

  But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off

  with bravery.

  One afternoon, curious about the myth of the

  Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to

  see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar

  (Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then

  sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written

  and I had read, that by the time he met Scheherazade,

  the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand

  women.

  Something
went wrong with my efforts. I arrived

  in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged

  places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had

  never occurred before and that still to this day, I

  cannot explain.

  Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have

  taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can

  protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to

  protect herself and stay alive.

  Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.

  And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a

  point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.

  And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that

  he might hear the rest of my dark tale.

  As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new

  one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before

  you now.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  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. Music became my go-to choice.

  I love music. I’m always immersed in it and spend hours a day with my earbuds 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.