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

  More Than Protect You

  A More Than Words Novella

  By Shayla Black

  More Than Protect You: A More Than Words Novella

  Copyright 2020 Shelley Bradley LLC

  ISBN: 978-1-970077-70-4

  Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose

  Cover photo credit © Annie Ray/ Passion Pages

  Published by 1001 Dark Nights Press, an imprint of 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 Protect 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 keep the gorgeous, gun-shy single mother safe—and prove I’m the man for her?

  I’m Tanner Kirk—Certified firearms instructor and mixed martial arts enthusiast. When I filed for divorce at the end of an empty marriage, all I wanted was a vacation in paradise, not another woman in my life. But how can I possibly say no to Amanda Lund, a young single mom desperate to learn self-defense? Or refuse the banked desire on the guarded beauty’s face?

  I can’t.

  So I seduce Mandy until we’re burning up the sheets…and soon find my heart entangled with her bruised and battered one. But when a nemesis from her past tries to destroy our future by unearthing my secret, will she understand and forgive me—or give up on us forever?

  **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 roughly eighty novels. For twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of 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, she abandoned all that to be with her characters full-time.

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

  Connect with me via the links below!

  Text Alerts

  To receive sale and new release alerts to your phone, text SHAYLA to 24587.

  Website http://shaylablack.com

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  Facebook Book Beauties Chat Group http://shayla.link/FBChat

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  Keep track of your reads and mark my next book TBR so you don’t forget!

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  Book trailers, videos, and more coming…

  If you enjoy this book, please review/recommend it. That means the world to me!

  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)

  More Than Dare You

  More Than Protect You (novella)

  Coming Soon:

  More Than Hate You (Summer 2021)

  WICKED & DEVOTED

  Wicked as Sin

  Wicked Ever After

  Coming Soon:

  Wicked as Lies (February 9, 2021)

  Wicked and True (March 16, 2021)

  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

  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

  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 (2021)

  FORBIDDEN CONFESSIONS (SEXY SHORTS)

  Seducing the Innocent

  Seducing the Bride

  Seducing the Stranger

  Seducing the Enemy

  Coming Soon:

  Seduced by the Bodyguard (October 22, 2020)

  SEXY STANDALONES

  Naughty Little Secret

  Watch Me

  Dirty and Dangerous

  “Her Fantasy Men” – Four Play Anthology

  A Perfect Match

  THE HOPE SISTERS

  Misadventures of a Backup Bride


  Misadventures with My Ex

  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 (Complete medieval trilogy)

  His Lady Bride (Book 1)

  His Stolen Bride (Book 2)

  His Rebel Bride (Book 3)

  Foreword from the Author

  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 is one of my go-to choices.

  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.

  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 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 the story. I’ve also made it simple for you to give them a listen by creating a Spotify playlist. Click here for all the enjoyment.

  YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME - Bon Jovi

  HEART-SHAPED BOX - Nirvana

  WOMAN, AMEN - Dierks Bentley

  DON’T SPEAK - No Doubt

  SPEECHLESS - Dan + Shay

  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

  COLLECTION SIX

  DRAGON CLAIMED by Donna Grant

  ASHES TO INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  ENSNARED by Elisabeth Naughton

  EVERMORE by Corinne Michaels

  VENGEANCE by Rebecca Zanetti

  ELI’S TRIUMPH by Joanna Wylde

  CIPHER by Larissa Ione

  RESCUING MACIE by Susan Stoker

  ENCHANTED by Lexi Blake

  TAKE THE BRIDE by Carly Phillips

  INDULGE ME by J. Kenner

  THE KING by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  QUIET MAN by Kristen Ashley

  ABANDON by Rachel Van Dyken

  THE OPEN DOOR by Laurelin Paige

  CLOSER by Kylie Scott

  SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS by Jennifer Probst

  BLOOD NIGHT by Heather Graham

  TWIST OF FATE by Jill Shalvis

  MORE THAN PLEASURE YOU by Shayla Black

  WONDER WITH ME by Kristen Proby

  THE DARKEST ASSASSIN by Gena Showalter

  Discover Blue Box Press

  TAME ME by J. Kenner

  TEMPT ME by J. Kenner

  DAMIEN by J. Kenner

  TEASE ME by J. Kenner

  REAPER by Larissa Ione

  THE SURRENDER GATE by Christopher Rice

  SERVICING THE TARGET by Cherise Sinclair

  THE LAKE OF LEARNING by Steve Berry and MJ Rose

  THE MUSEUM OF MYSTERIES by Steve Berry and MJ Rose

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  Table of Contents

  Book Description

  About Shayla Black

  Also from Shayla Black

  Foreword from the Author

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights

  Foreword

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Seven

  Discover More Shayla Black

  An excerpt from More Than Dare 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