Free Any Way You Want Me by Yuwanda Black

Kylie?"
     
               
"Some things you just know for sure … and what I know is that you are the
only woman in the world for me. You literally brought me out of the darkness
into the light. You breathed life into a being that existed as a shell of a
person."
     
               
"I see how you light up like a Christmas tree when you talk about your
parents. I want that for us. I know we can have it. So will you? Will you marry
me?"
     
               
Kylie's eyes widened. She hadn't expected a proposal — not in a million years;
not this soon. "You don't have to marry me Gatlin. You can have me any way
you want me … as long as I know your heart is open to loving me and sharing
with me."
     
               
"The way I want you is as my wife Kylie. It's the only way I could
possibly have you. I need to know that you'll be mine — and only mine —
forever."
     
               
Unable to speak, Kylie simply shook her head and leaned into Gatlin.
     
               
She'd never expected when she woke up that morning that she'd be engaged to the
man she loved more than life itself by nightfall.
     
               
Each sought the other to solidify their future with a kiss. Gatlin's tongue
caressed her bottom lip, slipping inside her cozy mouth in the forever dance of
promised love.
     
               
Kylie returned his ardor, completely oblivious to where she was. Feeling the
kiss getting out of hand, Gatlin eased back, still holding her in his arms.
"Ready?" he said.
     
               
"I've never been more ready for anything in my life," she responded,
her face in a rapturous smile.
     
               
The double meaning of her words weren't lost on him.
     
               
"Me neither, my love. Me neither," he said, looking forward to the
promise of this night … and the rest of their lives together.

NEW
RELEASE COMING THIS MONTH: Lust in Rome
     
    PROLOGUE
     
               
"So, I'll be losing the condo to foreclosure unless I can come up with six
month's mortgage payments, plus all the interest and fees they charge … and
their lawyer's fees. Can you believe it. They're taking my home but they want
me to pay their attorney's fee if I want to keep it."
     
               
"It's not fair. The big banks get the bailouts, while the struggling
homeowners get thrown out," Charmaine said as she dug into her peach pie. Mrs.
Smith makes the best 'homemade' peach pie on the market , she thought as she
spooned the last piece into her mouth.
     
               
"Girl don't I know it. You're not the only one I know who's had to face
this Char. Even though the so-called experts say that the foreclosure crisis
officially ended last year, people are still struggling through it. … So how
much exactly do you have to come up with? I have a couple of thousand I could
loan you. I know it's not much, but …" Lisa said, her voice trailing off.
     
               
"Thanks Lisa, but I couldn't take your money. Money and friendship don't
mix. Mama told me that a long time ago and I learned the hard way to keep the
two separate. But I really appreciate your offer. I'm thinking of just throwing
in the towel. Sometimes you need a fresh start, you know."
     
               
"But you love your condo," her friend sympathized.
     
               
"Yeah, I do. I can't imagine living any place else. I've been there almost
a decade, but unless I can come up with $29,643.28 within the next 30 days,
it's going up for auction on the courthouse steps month after next,"
Charmaine said. "Drink up girl, and let's start brainstorming cheap
apartments. I'm gonna need a new place to live."
     
               
"You know Charmaine, I know this may seem like completely the wrong time
for you to do this, but I want you to think about it before you say no. … I
have a flight to Rome next week. Why don't you use my