Had To Make You Mine

  HAD TO MAKE

  YOU MINE

  A SEXY OFFICE ROMANCE

  Southern Charms Book One

  Kat Long

  Copyright © 2021 Kat Long

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events is entirely coincidental.

  Except the original material written by the author, all songs, and song titles contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders. The author concedes to the trademarked status and trademark owners of the products and franchises mentioned in this fiction novel and recognizes that they have been used without permission. The use and publication of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Please respect the author’s hard work! No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  The following story contains mature themes, strong language, and sexual situations. It is intended for mature readers. All characters are 18+ years of age, and all sexual acts are consensual.

  Cover Design: Kris Guiao

  Editing: Rebecca Colvin of Just Ask Her Production, LLC

  Proofreading: Brett Mahaffey

  Formatting: Kris Guiao

  “Tell me every terrible thing you did

  and let me love you anyway.”

  ~ Edgar Allan Poe

  “In the end, the love you take is equal

  to the love you make.”

  ~ Paul McCartney

  Contents

  PROLOGUE: SIX YEARS AGO 1

  MY KNEES FELT WEAK 3

  WORDS DRIFT ESTRANGED 13

  YOU SOON LINGERED 20

  A SUDDEN SPARK 27

  LET ME PERISH 36

  STARS IN THE SKY 47

  YOUR AESTHETICS 51

  THE MELODY 62

  IGNITE MY FIRE 69

  YOUR ENTICING CARESS 79

  ENCHANTED 85

  DOUBTS DISSIPATED 100

  RIDGES OF YOUR CHEST 109

  YOU ARE THE ONE 119

  DOUBT QUESTIONS 127

  WHISK ME AWAY 133

  VOICES ECHO 141

  SENSUAL DESIRE 149

  SHADOWS FLICKER 164

  BY MY SIDE 178

  DEVOUR ME 188

  COME BACK AND STAY 201

  OUT OF SYNC 210

  PIECE ME TOGETHER 223

  GLIMMER OF FADING LIGHT 231

  INSECURITY’S CHAINS 243

  LEAVING BLISS BURIED 250

  LEAVING ALL WE BUILT BEHIND 263

  MY EMPTINESS 272

  NO SONG RESONATING 284

  COMPLETE ME WHOLE 292

  STAY FOREVER 299

  EPILOGUE: NOW AND FOREVER 315

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 321

  DID YOU LOVE THIS BOOK? 323

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR 324

  SNEAK PEEK 325

  PROLOGUE: SIX YEARS AGO

  Annaleigh

  The blue lights of the bar washed over my body like warm waves at the beach in summer. Nothing in the world was better than the electric feeling moments before a show: breathing in the scents of beer, sweat, and polished wood. Something was different tonight as the four of us prepared to take the small stage at B’s Bar. The air crackled with the intensity of the crowd, and my pulse hammered in time with the steady beat.

  I stretched my muscles and ran my fingers over the fretboard on my JIVA10 guitar, palms itching, ready to play. Alex anxiously tapped her drumsticks while Bird finished a drink. All of us were immersed in our own rituals to prepare. The noise faded to the background as our eyes met, and we smiled. We knew this was going to be memorable.

  “And here they are...Alice’s Monsters!”

  My uncle’s voice cut through the noise as the applause got louder, and we put our hands together and yelled:

  “Do it right!”

  “Or not at all!”

  “Own the stage!”

  “And chicks dig scars!”

  Breaking away, Alex ran out first, took a seat, and flipped her drumsticks in the air. Bird and I followed next with our guitars. Taylor strolled up to the mic last, waving to the crowd. His shirt reflected the colors that bounced off the mirror ball above the stage. He turned and nodded, and I started the opening riff to Alice Cooper’s Spark in the Dark.

  We played song after song, getting lost in the music and the crowd’s magnetic energy. The bartender kept our drinks flowing, and we were sticky and sweaty under the sparkling lights.

  I took center stage for my bass solo during a Pearl Jam song and met Bird’s eyes. They were bloodshot, and Bird was sweating heavier than anyone else. Taylor’s attention also turned when Bird’s foot started tapping offbeat to the music.

  I glanced at Alex, wondering if we should cut the set short, when her drumsticks fell with a clatter that echoed across the stage. Turning back, we watched in horror as Bird collapsed and hit the floor hard, the guitar splintering in every direction. A roar filled my ears, drowning out everything but Taylor’s scream and Bird’s vacant expression.

  - 1 -

  MY KNEES FELT WEAK

  Annaleigh

  I snapped my eyes open with a start, not realizing I had dozed while on the beach. Rush softly played in the background as I dug my toes into the gritty sand and hummed along. The weather was a balmy eighty degrees, and the reason I fell asleep in the first place. The sun had reminded me of the stage lights from six; no, seven years ago.

  Lyrics drifted around my mind, something about blue skies, bright lights, and memories. But before I had time to jot them down, they flew away, like the seagulls screeching by. That was my new norm. The lyrics that came like second nature were now almost nonexistent. Maybe time didn’t heal everything.

  Baxter, my boxer, hogged more space underneath the umbrella than me and was doing his best to stay far away from Jenna, who had been my friend since middle school. We had braces at the same time, sang in the same choir, and lived in the same neighborhood.

  We spent at least one Saturday a month with our other two friends, and the beach was the perfect choice for today. I smiled at the cover of my romance book before grabbing a beer from the cooler behind me and looking at the four of us. We affectionately called ourselves the Southern Charms. I voted for Bourbon Babes, but the girls vetoed it, and Southern Charms stuck. The beach, my girls, a book, and a beer, nothing could be better.

  “Your crazy dog still hasn’t forgiven me, Annaleigh,” Jenna said, while tentatively sticking out her hand for him to sniff. Baxter looked up with his big brown eyes and scooted closer to me before laying his head back on his blue beach towel.

  “You know, Jenna, you wouldn’t be my favorite person either if the last time I saw you, I got two shots, and something stuck up my butt,” I said with a smirk.

  Jenna smiled and stood up to stretch before she motioned for us to do the same. “Let’s go cool off before we all turn into lobsters. The sun is killer today.”

  I gave a half shrug and stood, stretching my legs and bookmarking my page. The sand wasn’t scorching like it would have been in the middle of summer, but we still took our time heading to the shoreline and splashing in.

  The water felt amazing as I swam up to my waist before laying back a
nd looking at the clouds drifting across the sky. Jenna and Olivia floated beside me while Addison dragged her chair behind us and sat in one inch of water, keeping an eye out for an elusive shark she was sure was lurking just beneath the surface. I mean, we were more likely to get struck by lightning than attacked by a shark, but to each her own. I believed in signs from the Universe, and Addison believed Jaws would attack her in four feet of water.

  “I have a new recipe I want y’all to try,” Olivia said, dunking her head under the water and coming up with a grin. “It’s a lavender scone with tart, lemon glaze.”

  “Um. That sounds…” I said, trying to find a friendly way to say that sounded gross.

  “Weird? I know, but I think it works.”

  “Hum. Lemons are toxic to animals,” Jenna said. “But I wonder if it would help remove the stick from Dr. Duvall’s ass. I’ll bring a dozen to my clinic to see. If not, it’s his loss, and the pet parents will love them. And I’m sure Addison will take a dozen since she has three open houses this week.”

  “And I’ll bring a dozen to the bank. The new Senior Vice President starts Monday, so all the board members will be there.”

  “Oh! That’s right, Annaleigh. You’re getting a new boss,” Olivia said, floating closer.

  “Yeah. He nailed the interviews and impressed Jake. He should be a good fit. I’m working to get him up and running by the time we have the conference in Tennessee and the Whiskey Gala next weekend.”

  We let the tide carry us a little longer, then settled back underneath the large umbrellas. I closed my eyes for a second before I dove back into my book and allowed my mind to drift, trying not to think about the fifty things I still needed to get done this weekend.

  Opening my eyes with a sigh, I popped an orange slice in my mouth. It should help to keep my exhaustion away. Thank goodness no one had mentioned relationships. Even though Olivia was the only one married, Addison was in a relationship, and Jenna was at least dating. The girls always harped on my lack of a dating life. It’s not that I wasn’t interested in dating, but I hadn’t felt a connection with anyone, and the dating scene was a joke. With the new social media meetups and the men who didn’t match their perfect profiles, I was ready for a break.

  “Hey, Annaleigh, how was your date the other week?” Addison said, opening another beer.

  Oh, Universe, you saucy bitch.

  “Nothing worth talking about. The guy was a pervert.”

  “What happened?” Addison said, peering over her sunglasses and looking concerned. “Did you give him a chance?”

  “Uh, yes. We met at the restaurant, and before the drinks even came, he showed me one of his body-mods and asked if I was ready to leave for a private demonstration.”

  I tried to give him a chance, I did. After going on dates with corporate types, I thought the fun guy with all the tattoos I met at the grocery store would be a nice change. Nope. Maybe I had a sign on my back that said, “Desperate.”

  “His what now?” Olivia closed her book and leaned forward, listening.

  “Body-Modification. The guy had a forked tongue and told me he had a Prince Albert before asking if I wanted a private showing.”

  “Oh my god, I remember him now—Body-Mod Todd!” Olivia said, wagging her tongue at us.

  “Damn, props to him for being bold. I wonder how that tongue would have felt between your legs. And I’ll bet his cock piercing would have hit all kinds of special spots,” Addison said, wiggling her eyebrows and making Olivia almost spit out her drink.

  “I just can’t believe I didn’t notice the tongue sooner,” I said, shaking my head.

  “But seriously, babe,” Addison said. “I know you’ve had some doozies, but the right guy is out there. I just know it. One day, he is going to walk into your life, take one look at your big green eyes and banging body, and fall head-over-heels in love with you. He’ll wonder how his life was ever complete without you in it, and he’ll spend his nights giving you orgasms and his days making you smile. And when you find him, you’ll know, you’ll let him in, let him love you.”

  Addison held her drink up, and we all clinked the cans together. “To Happily Ever After, and guys with big dicks.”

  We all took a sip and laughed at Addison’s crass comment.

  “I’m taking a break from dating. I’m going to focus on work, the bar, and self-care.”

  “Whatever you say, lady. We should all take a trip downtown to the self-care store.”

  “You finally going to buy that sex-swing?” I poked at Addison, tossing her the sunscreen with a wink.

  “Doubt it. Poor Tommy is so strait-laced, I’d send the poor man running for the hills!” Addison shook her head with a smile, rubbing more sunscreen on.

  Opening my book back up, I knew I’d made the right decision. I needed to take a break and put dating on the backburner. It would be enough. It had to be enough.

  After I reapplied sunscreen and opened a second beer, I’d started a sexy-time chapter in my romance book when Olivia whispered, “Holy wow, ladies, look what’s headed our way.”

  I peeked over my sunglasses and watched a gorgeous male specimen jog towards us on the shoreline. With the way he was running, he could star on Baywatch, just without the trademark red shorts. I must be delirious with heat-stroke because I swear the shoreline shimmered around him like he was nothing but a mirage, and there to remind me that my life was severely lacking in the love department.

  This guy was easily two hundred and some odd pounds of drool-worthy muscles, and I swiped my hand over my mouth for said drool, just in case. He was one of the sexiest men I’d ever seen, and I shamelessly watched as he stopped in front of us and took deep breaths. Each time his chest expanded, it showcased his broad shoulders. His dark hair and sharp jawline did all kinds of things to my under-used nether regions. As if he knew I had borderline pornographic thoughts about his chest, he looked at the four of us and waved one hand in greeting.

  “Need a bottle of water?” Olivia called as she reached into the cooler behind us.

  He nodded, and Olivia tossed the bottle to me with a wink before she sat back down. A normal person would have caught the bottle and handed it to him with a sexy hello, but I caught the bottle with both hands and a squeak and held it to my chest like a football. I hope he didn’t mind water with a side of boob sweat and sunscreen.

  Smooth move, Annaleigh.

  He stalked closer like a man with a purpose and pushed his sunglasses up to reveal his eyes. They were the color of a smooth glass of bourbon. I stood up with more confidence than I felt, and those eyes stayed on me. When he reached out for the water bottle, not fazed by the possible exposure to boob sweat, his large hand engulfed mine, and he didn’t let go.

  Neither did I.

  Lightning sizzled past my fingertips and lit up my body like a Christmas tree. Never have I had that kind of reaction to a touch. The way his hand fit over mine had to be a sign from the Universe saying it was time to go on a date or renew my membership to the toy of the month club.

  As if it was no big deal, I wanted to climb him like a spider monkey, he let go of my hand, cracked the seal on the bottle, and drank. He finished the entire bottle and let the last few swallows spill out of his mouth and down his chest. I nervously shifted from foot to foot, mesmerized by the beads of water.

  Seriously, now was the time to use words, any words. I opened my mouth to say something that would make him see me as the saucy vixen I was, but Baxter hip-checked me, and I stumbled forward and face-planted into his rock-hard chest covered with a light dusting of dark hair.

  Gah, I freaking loved chest hair!

  He dropped the water bottle and steadied me, putting those large hands on my shoulders. I felt it again, the spark when he touched me, and those bourbon eyes flashed as if he felt it too.

  “Easy there, Blue,” he said with a deep voice
and a hint of an accent before stepping back to take in my blue bikini and sunglasses.

  “Come on, Baxter,” Addison said as she stood up and grabbed his leash. “Let’s take a walk and let these two get to know each other.”

  She winked and walked away. Baxter was already partially dragging her toward several sandpipers hopping through the seafoam.

  I bent down and grabbed the empty water bottle, tossing it on my beach chair with a smile. He smiled back, revealing straight white teeth, honest to god dimples, and small laugh lines.

  “I’m Annaleigh.”

  There was no way to redeem myself for having a two-word vocabulary, so I went with it, pretending that running into beautiful strangers on the beach was my norm. We still stood close, close enough for me to see the flecks of gold in his eyes. He dialed the smile back to a smirk and reached out to shake my hand.

  “Nice to meet you, Annaleigh. I’m new to the area.”

  The way my name rolled off his tongue, with his midwestern accent, made me think of the other seductive, tantalizing things he could do with that appendage. It also reminded me that I was going home to an empty townhouse with a judgmental boxer.

  “What brought you to Charleston? New job? Parents? Girlfriend?

  So much for my two-word vocabulary.

  Why did I say, girlfriend? I could have said, what brought you to the beach or offered to lick the sweat off his six-pack, or even offered him a freaking orange slice. It was like desperation oozed off me. Usually, I was calmer and much more collected, but orbiting around that level of manliness had me tongue-tied.

  “You ask a lot of questions, Blue.”

  Blue? He said that before, and it sounded even sexier than my name.

  “And you avoid answers like it’s your job.” I bit my lip and reached down for my beer, taking a long pull, hoping it would break the tension.