Elephants and Ever-Afters [Dark Desires 5] (Siren Publishing Sensations) Read online

  Dark Desires 5

  Elephants and Ever-Afters

  It’s like a clash of wills when Tobias Duncan, 57, meets Laura Keell, 55, but neither can forget the impact each had on the other. To Laura, Tobias is just like a charging bull elephant, but he still presses every button. For Tobias, Laura is everything he’s ever dreamed of.

  Tobias tries everything he can to find out where Laura lives—he just can’t forget this beautiful plus-sized woman. Both try to forget, but when a chance meeting with a friend of Tobias means he can see Laura again, he jumps at the chance. But there is a problem that neither share.

  Tobias wants a woman who dictates the terms during sex. And Laura? Laura loves to be in charge. They drop hints over a few weeks until a rather interesting event leads to Laura confessing. Their romance goes from casual to sizzling almost overnight. Nothing can come between them as their love grows—that is, until a tragedy strikes.

  Will death separate these soulmates?

  Genre: BDSM, Contemporary

  Length: 98,782 words

  ELEPHANTS AND EVER-

  AFTERS

  Dark Desires 5

  Suzy Shearer

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  ELEPHANTS AND EVER-AFTERS

  Copyright © 2017 by Suzy Shearer

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-331-3

  First Publication: May 2017

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2017 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  A big thank you to Paul Crook, the director of executive jets from Air Charter Service, Sydney, for ensuring my information on charter flights was accurate. It was a delight to speak with him and nothing seemed too silly to ask.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Bestselling and award-winning author Suzy Shearer writes contemporary and paranormal erotic romance filled with mature and interesting characters. Her books consistently reach her publisher’s top 10 bestseller list, with several reaching number one.

  Single, Suzy lives in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia, with one very spoiled dog and two equally spoiled cats keeping her company. She is a Buddhist, an author, an artist, a computer nerd, and a voracious reader.

  Her books always feature older heroes and heroines ranging from their mid-40s to their 60s. The heroines are usually confident, plus-sized women who are proud of their curves. Suzy feels it’s important for older readers to connect. When she discovered many romance books seemed to cater to younger readers with their heroines and heroes in their 20s, she decided to write about characters who were older…but maybe not always wiser. As she is in her 60s, Suzy feels she can relate to her characters’ desires, fears, and hopes. She hopes her readers can, as well.

  Suzy also wants her readers to understand that just because people are older doesn’t mean they aren’t intriguing, desirable, open to challenges, and willing to experiment. Sexy isn’t just for the under 30s.

  When Suzy is not writing, she is usually painting. An accomplished watercolour artist, her subjects range from portraits and animals to nudes and landscapes. You can see her artwork at sooziiiart.blogspot.com.au.

  For all titles by Suzy Shearer, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/suzy-shearer

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Acknowledgement

  About the Author

  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

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Epilogue

  Landmarks

  Cover

  ELEPHANTS AND EVER-

  AFTERS

  Dark Desires 5

  SUZY SHEARER

  Copyright © 2017

  Chapter One

  Laura reread the letter for what had to be the fiftieth time, and she still had trouble understanding it. She’d always believed her father had died just before her birth, yet this letter from a solicitor in Sydney told her different. It said she was the sole beneficiary to her late father’s estate, and that he had died just three weeks ago. It just made no sense.

  Whenever she’d asked about her father while growing up, her mother would only say he had died before she was born. She never gave Laura any other information. When she was older and pressed her mother for more details, she would clam up and angrily tell Laura there was nothing more to tell. She’d always seemed distant to Laura, she thought she loved her, but she was cold and rarely laughed, certainly not a loving affectionate mother.

  Then her mother, Judy, had died less than twelve months ago, when Laura was fifty-four. Judy was eighty-six and died from a heart attack. It was then Laura discovered her mother’s birth certificate. She’d always assumed her parents had married, but obviously they hadn’t, because it showed she had been born, and died, a Keell.

  Among the other papers she found her own birth certificate. Its discovery rocked her to the core. The birth certificate had the name Stuart McClain in the section for father’s name, but more upsetting was the name for her mother—Elizabeth Regis. All she could feel was betrayal. Digging deeper into the box of papers, she discovered her adoption certificate.

  Who were Elizabeth and Stuart? Why had her adopted mother never told her? Was her life just some web of lies? Was that the reason for her mother’s coldness?

  Laura stared out the window of the train and shook her head. Some days she felt as if life had treated her callously.

  She’d never married. Years ago, she’d been engaged, and she’d believed she loved Colin with a passion. Then, much to her adopted mother’s displeasure, at twenty-six, she’d sold her tiny
flat and moved in with him. Judy had never liked Colin and showed it. But she and Colin had lived happily together for three years, making plans for their future. They talked about having children, and because Laura was twenty-nine, decided not to wait any longer before starting a family. Planning for their wedding and trying to get pregnant almost consumed Laura, but Colin was always there for her. But sadly, no matter how they tried, Laura just didn’t get pregnant. Twelve months later, just five weeks before her wedding, they got devastating news—Laura couldn’t have children.

  A specialist talked them both through the medical side of things and reassured them both that nothing would prevent them from adopting. He’d told them both that IVF wasn’t really an option because of Laura’s medical history. She’d had a botched surgery for severe Endometriosis when in her late teens. At the time, neither her doctor nor her mother had mentioned freezing her eggs for later use. Now it was too late. Then thirty-two, Laura felt her world cave in. But the worst was yet to come.

  Colin couldn’t accept they would have no natural children together and called off the wedding. Two weeks later, he’d moved out, telling Laura she could stay in the flat for three months and then he would sell it.

  Laura had very little money left from when she’d sold her own flat. She’d had to pay off her mortgage, and what was left was nowhere near enough for a deposit to buy another. Anyway, those savings had been eaten away at over the past few years. Her share from the sale of the joint flat was a pittance. Instead, she moved back with her mother into the flat Judy rented until Laura could save enough to buy another place. It took five years of working before she finally had enough money to move out again.

  This time she bought a small unit, two bedrooms and a kitchen-dining room with a tiny bathroom, within walking distance of her job. Since then, her life consisted of working and trying to make ends meet. She worked as a bookkeeper for a large firm, and had worked her way up to become the senior bookkeeper. There were several accountants in the company and she became their chief assistant. The next few years had been easier as her pay increased. Unfortunately, about five years ago, things at work became stressful. The company employed a new man as her direct boss and head accountant. He was a tyrant who disliked her passionately. Actually, he didn’t like any working women and, on top of that, he always made mistakes that he blamed on her or the other bookkeepers. She’d taken to double checking the work and fixing his errors rather than face his wrath.

  Then when her adopted mother died, she inherited her meagre savings, which allowed Laura to pay off the mortgage.

  Now out of the blue she discovered the man who she’d always believed dead had left her his estate. Travelling into the city, Laura wondered how he knew about her and what the inheritance would mean.

  Would it change her life, her future?

  Probably not, callously she just hoped it would be a few dollars, enough to ensure her retirement wouldn’t be too much of a struggle.

  The train finally pulled into Central railway station. Laura pulled her warm black jacket over her cream top, slung her tote over her shoulder, and stepped from the train. After getting a taxi from the station to drop her outside a large building in the centre of Sydney’s business district, Laura checked the tenants’ board, confirming the solicitors she needed were on the third floor. Rather than use the lifts trying to get some exercise, Laura opened the exit door and began climbing the stairs to the third floor, her heart pounding in wonder what the meeting would mean for her.

  As she reached the third floor and went to open the door with her left hand, it was suddenly slammed open, knocking her backward. Somehow, she managed to grab the doorknob as she fell, saving her from a dangerous tumble down the long steep flight of stairs.

  “What the fuck?” a loud bull-voice screeched down at her.

  Laura went to stand, putting her hands on the ground, only to have her left wrist send a bolt of agony up her arm. Twisting, she managed to get to her feet using the nearby railing. Standing, she glared across at the attractive man before her.

  Before she had a chance to open her mouth, he continued yelling, “What the hell did you think you were doing?”

  Never one to back down, Laura looked daggers at the man and shouted, “Me? What the fuck were you doing opening the door like a frigging bull elephant charging a car?”

  Indignantly, he replied, “I did not!”

  “No? Well, in that case, how was I knocked off my feet?”

  She wanted to add Mr. Smarty Pants, but thought maybe it would be a bit too much.

  “You shouldn’t have been there,” he said irrationally.

  Laura couldn’t believe his attitude.

  “What? I shouldn’t use the stairs, but you can? Come off it Tembo.” She fought the urge to slap his handsome face as she suggested, “Just admit you charged through that door without thinking of other people.”

  Full of indignation he bellowed at her, “I did not!”

  “You did! You’re just a fucking angry bull elephant Tembo, charging without looking or caring.”

  “Not true! And my name’s not Tembo,” he barked.

  “It is, Tembo’s Swahili for elephant, and that’s what you are—a crazy bull elephant!” she returned his shout with her own.

  The pair of them glared at each other, sizing each other up, ready for the next round of shouting when Laura noticed another attractive silver-haired man just behind the elephant trying very hard to stifle a laugh. He’d put his hand on the elephant’s arm.

  “She’s right, Toby, you did slam that door open.”

  The laughter in his voice was unmistakable. He side-stepped past the elephant whose eyes continued to bore into Laura’s in anger, and something else which she couldn’t put a name to. She did notice the elephant had lovely light brown eyes to go with his sexy face, but she tried to ignore them as the other man picked up Laura’s bag, and then held it out to her.

  “Are you okay, miss?”

  The adrenaline rush Laura had gotten when the door flung open now disappeared. She began to shake when she looked down the stairs and realised she would have been seriously injured, if not killed, had she not grabbed onto the door handle. The second man followed her look and grimaced. He looked at her kindly and put his hand under her right arm.

  “Let’s get you somewhere where you can sit down.”

  Thankful, Laura allowed him to usher her through the door after she pushed the elephant rudely aside. Unfortunately, he followed the two of them as Laura was led to a large couch in a long airy foyer.

  “Thank you,” she managed to stammer, then stared fiercely with what she hoped was an extremely angry look at the elephant.

  The other man said something to him she didn’t catch, and finally he had the grace to look slightly embarrassed as he nodded. He then turned and walked through the large doors into the reception area of the opposite offices. A moment later he came back with a cup of water. Laura’s hand shook too badly as she attempted to take it from him. Instead, he put it on the seat alongside her. Murmuring her thanks, she tried to lift her left arm.

  She couldn’t hold back the gasp of pain as she moved it, then she looked down at her swollen wrist. Already twice normal size, it was beginning to darken. The second gentleman looked at her wrist then up at the elephant.

  “We’ll need an ambulance.”

  “Fuck,” said the elephant with undue emphasis.

  “No! No, I’m okay. I’m sure it’s just a slight sprain,” said Laura, trying desperately to get rid of them both. She was on the verge of tears from the pain, and certainly didn’t want to cry in front of Tembo.

  “Yeah, she’s okay, Julian,” Mr. Bull Elephant said rather sarcastically.

  Naturally he had to put his two cents worth in, so Laura sent him another glare, whispering, “Get lost, Tembo.”

  “I don’t think it’s just sprained, miss. Best you see someone,” the kindly man, Julian, replied.

  She pointed to the reception. “I’l
l go later, I have an appointment in there—Bailey, Gunn, and Partners. I can’t break it.”

  By now a few of the people in the office had come out. It appeared they knew both the gentleman and the elephant. A kindly-looking older man in his late sixties with startling white hair, nodded to the elephant and Julian as Laura spoke of her appointment. Julian filled him in on what occurred, and Laura couldn’t help but notice the tightening of the elephant’s lips as Julian told the gentleman she had been extremely lucky not to have been flung down the stairs. The man looked at Laura with a sweet smile.

  “You wouldn’t be Miss Keell?”

  “Yes. Yes I am.”

  “Let’s get you into my office. I’m Peter Bailey, your appointment is actually with me.” He waited while Laura stood. “Tobias, I suggest you call an ambulance while I take this lovely lady into my office.”

  Amazingly, the elephant looked cowed as he said respectfully, “Yes, sir.”

  After picking up her bag and taking her right arm, Peter led her inside and into a large office. He sat her on a soft leather settee, then called his secretary in.

  “Miss Keell has been injured, Meredith. An ambulance will be here shortly. Could you please bring in some ice for her wrist? Oh, and can you show the ambulance people in when they arrive?”

  “Certainly, Mr. Bailey.”

  Meredith left but was back fairly quickly with an icepack wrapped in a hand towel. She gave it to Laura, who laid it over her wrist with a grimace. By now her whole arm was throbbing and the sleeves of her jacket and top were feeling rather tight. Laura wondered how she’d get them off later.

  “Now, my dear. You just relax. We’ll sort this all out. Would you like a cup of tea?”