Contents

  Copyright

  Praise for Reed Family Reckoning

  Foreword

  About More Than Desire You

  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

  Epilogue

  Reed Family Reckoning

  Wicked as Sin

  Forbidden Confessions: First Time

  Other Books by Shayla Black

  About Shayla Black

  MORE THAN DESIRE YOU

  Reed Family Reckoning: Friends, Book 8

  Written by Shayla Black

  * * *

  This book is an original publication by Shayla Black.

  * * *

  Copyright 2022 Shelley Bradley LLC

  Cover Design by: Rachel Connolly

  Edited by: Amy Knupp of Blue Otter

  Proofread by: Fedora Chen

  ISBN: 978-1-936596-91-1

  * * *

  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

  "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

  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

  PRAISE FOR MORE THAN LOVE YOU

  5 Stars! “The perfect blend of romance, lust, love and standing in your own way. I love the story.” – Alpha Book Club

  * * *

  5 Stars! “One of the best books I’ve read in months! I love this book!” – Magic Beyond The Covers Book Blog

  PRAISE FOR MORE THAN CRAVE YOU

  5 Stars! “With beautifully written characters and a storyline that I could not put down this was a fabulous read. It needs more than 5 stars!!” –The Overflowing Bookcase

  * * *

  5 Stars! “…fun, hot and really hard to put down…loved it!”–Sissy’s Romance Book Review

  PRAISE FOR MORE THAN TEMPT YOU

  5 Stars! “The Reed Family Reckoning series is Shayla Black at her best—and this book is absolutely my favorite of the series so far.” – USA Today bestselling author Angel Payne

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  5 Stars! “I nibbled my nails to nubs one minute and had to turn up the A/C the next. I enjoyed the hell out of every step of their journey and was sad to turn the final page. I wasn't ready for the goodness to end…sigh.”– iScream Books Blog

  PRAISE FOR MORE THAN DARE YOU

  5 Stars! “This was a sublimely perfect read for me. It checked every single box for the magical memorability that has become the hallmark of this wonderful series. Brava!” – USA Today Bestselling author Angel Payne

  * * *

  5 Stars! “HAVE MERCY that was HOT *fans self* with a huge side of heart!! Perfection!” – Goodreads Reviewer

  * * *

  5 Stars! “Ooooooooh...dirty, dirty, dirty, but also filled with lots of heart.” Kay Daniels Romance

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  5 Stars! “More than Dare You...was every bit of a sexy, can’t-put-this-book-down page-turner I wanted it to be.” – Reading in the Red Room

  PRAISE FOR MORE THAN HATE YOU

  5 Stars! “Top-notch characters, a storyline filled with twists and turns, more steam than a sauna, and an ending that tugs on the heartstrings. Perfect in every single way. This is another book in the Reed Family Reckoning series that should not be missed.” – The Overflowing Bookcase

  * * *

  5 Stars! “One of my top 5 of the year. I couldn't put this book down. This crazy, intense, sexy book will keep you on your toes and the pages turning from start to finish.” – Goodreads Reviewer

  * * *

  5 Stars! “A brilliant read. Loved it.” – Goodreads Reviewer

  * * *

  5 Stars! “More than Hate You is an enticing mix of spicy romance and irresistible heartache. Black grabs readers by the heartstrings and seduces her way into their soul.” – Goodreads Reviewer

  Foreword

  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.

  BROWN-EYED GIRL - Van Morrison

  HAWAIIAN PARADISE - Al Caiola and His Orchestra

  CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE - Queen

  BREATHE YOU IN - Samantha James

  HEAD UNDER WATER by Bless You and Lost Boy

  LOOKING FOR YOUR LOVE by DallasK

  GET LUCKY - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rogers

  ROAR - Katy Perry

  I COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE – Edwin McCain

  ABOUT MORE THAN DESIRE YOU

  I seduced her for revenge…but I won’t let up until she’s mine.

  * * *

  I’m Xavian Costa—financial master, maverick, and manwhore. Since my dad ran out before I was born and my best friend slept with the woman I intended to marry, I don’t get close to people. But Parker, who poached my ex, is now a bestselling author with a movie deal, and he’s modeled his villain after me to ruin my reputation. I want revenge.

  * * *

  Then his innocent little sister, all grown up, traipses into my office. To save her burgeoning business, she needs a fake fiancé. Since she’s the sexiest brunette I’ve ever seen, I’m happy to help—for a price.

  * * *

  We begin our whirlwind “engagement,” and I get to know Corinne, not as the gawky teenager I remember, but as a beautiful woman.. She’s sweet, sassy, and smart as hell. I admire her kindness. I relate to her ambition. And I love the way she moans when I take her to bed. Soon, I’m falling and questioning my plans to use her to destroy Parker. But when our sham blows up in my face, I’ll have to prove to Corinne that I feel more than desire for her until she says yes for real.

  Thursday, Late August

  Maui

  * * *

  Xavian

  * * *

  I figured I would be notorious someday…but I didn’t count on it happening like this.

  My phone buzzes for about the hundredth time in the last ten minutes. I glance at the screen. “Son of a bitch.”

  Again, I silence the device. Still nothing but paparazzi, press, and professional gossipmongers wanting me to comment about my former “friend’s” monster bestseller Pushed Too Far. So they can twist my words to fit their BS narrative? Fuck that.

  It’s a goddamn Thursday, and the Dow is ending the session by taking a dump. Since I’m a broker who helps manage a few billion dollars of other people’s money, I expected at least a few panicked calls from investors. This morning has been too silent. It’s a bad sign. I’ve gritted my teeth so much, it’s a wonder my molars aren’t dust.

  Across the breakfast table, the oldest of my half siblings, Maxon Reed, cocks his head. “Damn, X. You weren’t kidding. The shit over this book really has blown up.”

  “Right in my face,” I grouse, stabbing a potato
with my fork. “It was bad enough when that fictionalized ‘tell-all’ piece of trash released and shot to the top of the bestseller lists.” It sat there, packed full of lies, for months. Unfortunately, it’s back again because the movie is dropping.

  Tomorrow.

  “I remember the speculation. Everyone wanted to know the true identity of the nefarious Xayden Coast character.”

  I snort. It wasn’t too hard for internet sleuths to prowl through author Parker Emerson’s past to come up with my name and spread it. After all, Xavian Costa is ridiculously close. Media outlets picked up on it and speculated about me some more. Parker has stopped just shy of confirming my identity in interviews. He knows I’d sue the shit out of him. But it hasn’t mattered. Readers everywhere believe my former pal’s supposed poor-little-rich-boy account of his college years, despite the fact it’s only half the story.

  “Parker didn’t do much to hide my name. Since the studio changed the release date of the movie to take advantage of the summer season and they’ve launched a big PR campaign, the public’s curiosity has intensified again.”

  “You’ve never defended yourself. Why not tell your side of the story?” my second-oldest half brother, Griffin Reed, suggests.

  “No one cares about the truth.” That would make the media’s golden boy look like the backstabbing sack of shit he is. It’s easier to pile onto the self-made suit, especially since I’m the bastard son of the infamous Ponzi-scheme swindler Barclay Reed. I never met the man. But since that inconvenient truth refutes their salacious tale, it will be left out.

  Griff sighs. “Good point. Unfortunately, it will get worse before it gets better.”

  I’ve already figured that out. This morning’s gossip rags sported such ridiculous headlines as Shocking Diary Entry Reveals Parker Emerson Barely Survived Financial Thug and Emerson’s Bullish Tormentor Slammed as Savage.

  “Are you sure you want to partner up with me? It’s obviously a fucking inopportune time…” As much as I want to be in business with the two brothers I discovered a couple of years ago and admire the hell out of, I have to give them an out. For the last few years, their thriving real estate business here on the islands has been expanding all over the Pacific Rim. Sure, we’ll be able to really grow clients’ investment portfolios and property fortunes if we team up, but this bullshit can’t jeopardize my brothers’ reputations.

  Maxon and Griff exchange a quick glance, then nod.

  “Of course we’re sure,” Maxon says. “With the promotional push leading up to the movie’s release getting so much attention, you’re going to be a hot topic for a while. But it will blow over.”

  Before I’m a senior citizen? I’m not convinced. In the time it took Maxon to answer me just now, my phone buzzed twice more. “I appreciate that. But if it makes you more comfortable, we can postpone the launch…or cancel the deal altogether.”

  “No.” Griff shakes his head. “Investors should only care about your talent and integrity as a money manager, and you’ve got a more-than-proven track record.”

  Will that be enough when I’m being portrayed as a devious, lying bully in the court of public opinion?

  “What do Bethany and Clint say?” Maxon asks.

  “Same as you two. So far, they’re ignoring the negative press.” And I’m grateful.

  My half sister and her husband originally hired me into their once-fledgling brokerage and are now letting me buy in as full partner and lead this property-based expansion because the three of us have been beyond successful, beating the market by double digits each year. Our client list has ballooned, as have the assets we invest for them.

  On the personal side, they’ve been rocks—just like all the Reed clan. As families go, they’re everything I wanted growing up the only child of an overworked single mom.

  Early in life, I spent a lot of time alone, so I learned to be self-reliant and independent. I resented it as a kid. As an adult, it’s a big contributor to my success. While losing my mother when I was barely nineteen made me feel even more fucking alone, friends got me through. Most were great. And learning shortly after college graduation that I had an actual family, thanks to a sperm donor who couldn’t keep his pants zipped, was stunning but welcome news.

  “That’s good.” Maxon sips his coffee and sends me another considering stare. “I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re family and we won’t turn our backs on you, professionally or personally.” He winces. “Look, my wife would murder me for asking, because we know you’re not the asshole Emerson portrayed, but it would be helpful to know what really happened.”

  “It would,” Griff agrees. “By the way, I’m not shocked Keeley said that. Britta said the same thing.”

  Maxon laughs. “Despite being different, our wives are almost always on the same page.”

  Griff nods. “So true.”

  Maxon smiles, then turns to me. “X, I don’t want to trample on your privacy—”

  “You’re not. I don’t mind sharing.” In fact, I wonder why they didn’t ask sooner. I have no problem explaining this shit show. “I met Parker as a college freshman. I was popular in the dorm, mostly because I’d made friends with a local drunk who would buy me booze. Parker rubbed people the wrong way. He was a social outsider.”

  “Because he’s an East Coast guy?” Maxon asks.

  “Or because he’s an asshole?” Griff wants to know.

  “Both. But I was failing lit, and he needed help in calculus, so we exchanged tutoring. He didn’t seem like a bad guy once I got to know him. He could be funny, but there was a side to him…opinionated and kind of pompous, you know? No one could argue with him. His debate style was always I’m right. You’re full of crap. End of discussion. It came off as condescending. Since I enjoy verbal sparring, I let him roll off my back a lot. But a lot of my buddies thought he was an insufferable know-it-all and refused to hang with him.”

  “Like Hayes?” Griff asks about my best friend of at least a decade.

  “Yeah.”

  “I liked your pal Elliott the minute I met him.” Maxon grins.

  “Everyone does. Anyway, after my mom died, I struggled a lot. I almost dropped out of school. I had a hard time keeping my shit together. Parker was really there for me. I spent that Christmas at his place because he didn’t want me to be alone. His whole family welcomed me.” I laugh. “I think his little sister even had a crush on me.”

  Maxon frowns. “Did he give you a hard time about it? Is that why he started all this mudslinging? He didn’t mention her in his book…”

  “No. I mean, he’s an overprotective big brother, so he wasn’t thrilled. But he knew I wasn’t interested. Corinne was just a kid, maybe fourteen.” I shrug. “If I’d actually touched her, I could understand that fucking book he wrote. But I didn’t. He blames me for his social snub, his depression, and his suicidal thoughts, despite the fact he fucked me over first—all because of a woman. He conveniently leaves that fact out of his book.”