Extras Category: Bonus Scenes

For this one, we’re getting a glimpse inside Kellan’s head in and around a certain set of scenes. Clearly, if you haven’t read Brutal Fighter, there are going to be some spoilers here.

Kellan

Sleep proved elusive, but then I wasn’t particularly interested in pursuing it at the moment. I had Sparrow in my bed. A sated, sprawling Sparrow held me captive. The low light softened her features even more. What captivated me was how relaxed she’d gone.

The wariness she wore like body armor and the careful expressions meant to guard her heart were also absent. On the one hand, it made her seem painfully young and yet…

With care, I stroked a hand down her cheek and she rolled into me, tucking her head against my shoulder as I slid an arm around her. The absolute trust in her seeking me out while she was asleep shackled me in place.

I’d sooner cut off my arm than disturb her. The hush of her breathing against my skin was almost a balm for the bloodied scrapes inside my soul.

The last few months had been… brutal.

I meant it when I’d told her she never needed to trade her body for comfort. Wanting her in my bed was a no brainer, but I wanted her fully-informed and aware of the power she wielded.

Then, and only then, I would accept it if she chose to give herself to me. I didn’t blame Vaughn or Jasper for their choices. Not when her fiery stubbornness merely disguised the vulnerable young woman beneath.

A vulnerable abused woman at that. No, I didn’t blame them for rushing into relationships with her. She pushed and they pushed back, but she also used sex to hide. That meant we needed to be more careful.

Or at least I needed to be more careful. I wanted to know everything about her, every morsel she would share. The darkness didn’t frighten me in the least. We’d all been forged in blood and fire, some of us more literally than others.

It made me grateful that she’d had Lainey, because friends like her—like my brothers in the Vandals—they were rare and doubly precious. So many fights Sparrow had fought alone.

Not anymore.

“Hmm…you’re awake,” she said with a groan and I stroked her hair back from her face.

“Shh,” I soothed. “Sleep.”

With light fingers, she walked up my chest and traced my lips. I caught the hand and kissed her fingers, then her palm before tucking the hand to my chest.

“Sleep,” I repeated, continuing to pet her hair until her breathing slowed and evened out. Her trust was so precious to me.

Fuck, she was precious to me. Precious to all of us.

When she was ready to give me every detail, we would take the time to get her the vengeance and justice she richly deserved.

We would burn the world of her abusers and they would bleed for her.

They would know the fear and suffering.

Anger coiled in me like a viper ready to strike. We would take what she was owed.

Possessiveness swept through me as I pressed my lips to the crown of her head. Our girl. Our Sparrow.

Ours.

Congratulations on hitting 500 reviews for Brazen and Breathless. Some of my favorite scenes in the series took place in this book. Who am I kidding? I have favorite scenes in every book. That said, I had to put some thought into what bonus scene I wanted to do for this one. So I thought I’d give us all a little something different. So enjoy your Rachel bonus PoV from a scene within the book. Does contain “some” spoilers if you haven’t read Untouchable through book 6.

Rachel

“Speaking of pig farms, I have a new series for you to read. You are going to love it. But you’ll probably call me a liar and a fake, because you’ll hate it first.” Laughter escaped me because of all the series I could recommend, this one was definitely just—wow. Frankie would figure it out. I had money on Jake being jealous of at least one of the characters.

Maybe more than one. I flicked a look to where Coop and the guys had gone. He’d been…yeah. I liked him most of the time. A fact I didn’t share often, but he was a pretty decent guy and rolled with everything.

What a shit thing to discover about one of your parents. Then again…what was family for but making your life miserable?

“Sign me up,” Frankie said. “I could use a new series with someone else’s drama.”

“Girl, let me tell you, they have drama.” Behind her head, I locked gazes with Archie. His dark brown eyes held a lot of anger, and more than a little malice. That expression also said he was planning something. I just raised my eyebrows.

Count me in, I more or less said with just a lift of a chin. He narrowed his eyes for a split second, then nodded with a half-smile. He would and he appreciated the offer.

Look at us being all diplomatic and shit.

Instead of wandering off, I continued into the cafeteria with Archie and Frankie. Sometimes, their dynamic was a little claustrophobic for me. They were all so focused on her and that’s where my focus was too. But the push and pull they often showed when I was around seemed absent.

And for once, I didn’t want to just nut punch the whole lot of them. I paused to consider that, maybe we were learning to get along better.

When Archie pulled out a chair for me, I almost smirked. But you know, if we were gonna continue this armistice, I would keep any and all scathing comments to myself for now. The coffee and the welcome should be appreciated.

We’d barely taken our seats before Jake focused on me. “So, who’s the new girl?”

Shots fired, Benton? “Excuse you?”

“Unless you’re dipping your toe in the XY gene pool, there’s a new girl.” He motioned with his coffee cup toward my neck.

“Jake.” Warning lingered in Frankie’s tone.

Unrepentant, he winked at her and pressed on. “Hey, she’d be the first one asking us if we showed up with fresh hickeys like that.”

“I don’t give you hickeys like that.” That warning climbed a notch. Oh, Benton. Take a good look at the land beneath your feet before you decide to tease me.

“You’re making his point for him, babe,” Archie said with a slow smile, and even Coop laughed.

“Not really,” I informed the smug little shits as I thumbed the screen of my phone to unlock it. “What she’s saying is that if you showed up like that, I’d be gutting you because she doesn’t leave hickeys like that.”

They marked her up. Not the other way around. Sharon and the bitch squad, however, loved to mark their territory. I’d be removing testicles with spoons if I caught sight of hickeys.

There was a particularly sweet and juicy moment where all four of them paused. Finally, Coop lifted his coffee cup and said, “Touché, Your Majesty. Touché.”

I just grinned and returned my attention to catching up on who was doing who on social media. The boys kept their gazes and their conversation off my hickeys. I also resisted the urge to check them. I thought I’d used cover up on all of them.

Oh well, I’d swing by the bathroom before class. A message popped up inviting me out again later tonight. I considered it a moment before flicking a look to where Frankie murmured to Coop and he seemed to relax against her.

Sure, I answered the invitation. I could go for another night of experimentation. I caught Archie’s speculative look and this time I did smirk. He just shook his head but he could hide the soft laugh.

Suck it up Standish, neither of us are going anywhere. He just raised his coffee cup and I took a sip of mine before Frankie pulled my attention back to her. Man, hanging out with them in the morning could get addictive. 

Congratulations for hitting 200 reviews on Farewells and Forever. It seems like this was just finished, and yet it’s been a hot minute. At the same time, it feels like I just started that series and it was over 3 years ago. Still, goals are goals and you unlocked an achievement with the reviews, so now you get the prize. Here’s a fun little bonus scene just for you. If you haven’t read F&F, this will definitely contain spoilers.

Frankie

I rocked Charlie gently. His sniffles had gotten worse, but it was just teething. Sweet baby boy was just precocious trying to cut them all at the same time. Izzy had been like that. Thankfully, Joshua had spared us, cutting his teeth with barely a whimper or a roar. He just got it done.

Not that I minded, Charlie just needed extra cuddles when his temperature was up and I felt the same way. It was nice to be cuddled when you weren’t feeling well. Cuddling them was one of my favorite things to do, especially when they were soft and warm from their bath, smelling sweet. I rubbed my cheek against his hair as we just rocked together.

Jake had looked after him while I showered, then I took Charlie in the shower to wash him up too. The falling water always made him laugh. Now that we were dressed again, Jake left me to settle him while he grabbed a shower. The guys would be home soon.

“Hey,” Archie said softly, and I blinked slowly to find him kneeling in front of the rocking chair. “Little guy is sacked out. Let’s put him in bed, then we’re putting Mama to bed too.”

A yawn escaped me even as Archie eased Charlie from me with the kind of expertise he and the guys had developed over the last few years.

“Shh,” Archie hushed him as Charlie stretched and let out a little complaint. I rose slowly to follow them, even as I did my own stretch. Charlie’s cheeks weren’t flushed anymore and his lashes barely trembled as Archie made the smooth transition from holding him to settling him into the bed.

It wouldn’t be long before Charlie, like Josh and Izzy before him outgrew the toddler bed. It made me a little sad. But only a little. I loved every new stage, even when they wore me out.

Sliding an arm around me, Archie nuzzled a kiss to the top of my head. “Mrs. Standish,” he murmured. “You need me to settle you in bed too?”

There was more than a little heat kissing the end of that offer and I smiled.

“Yes,” I told him and his eyes darkened. “But after lunch, please. I’m starving.”

My stomach let out a gurgle right on cue.

“And I really do want some us time, just the five of us—and after, I promise you can put me to bed and do whatever you want with me.”

Head tilted, he appeared to consider my offer. “Can we keep the us time to thirty minutes or less?” He waggled his eyebrows. “You’re looking especially luscious and I missed you.”

“Maybe not that fast, but we’ll see what we can do.” I smothered another yawn before it could escape. Tangling my fingers with his, I drew him out of Charlie’s room and we checked that the monitor was on.

The smell of lunch reached me before I even hit the top of the stairs. Someone had gone to Sleepy Pete’s. They’d brought home meatball sandwiches.

I was about to die and go to heaven. The mouthwatering red sauce, rich meat, and layers of parmesan on toasted bread. “Oh, I’m in love,” I said as we hit the last step on the stairs.

Archie chuckled. “Never let it be said I don’t spoil you with everything.”

“I wouldn’t dare let anyone say that,” I promised him as I half-danced toward the deck where Jake and Ian were waiting. Coop was just coming in the door and I grinned as I beckoned to him with a curve of my hand.

Yes, I wanted all of us in one spot. I wanted to savor their company. I just wanted to be—but meatball sandwiches had been procured and I was starving.

“I see you followed your nose, Angel,” Ian teased as I reached him. I steadied myself with a hand against his chest as I rose up on my tiptoes to kiss him. “Jake called and said you needed the protein.”

I didn’t kick Jake, because he wasn’t wrong. “Honestly, this just smells delicious, but it’s even better because you guys are here.”

Coop freed his tie as I reached him and I welcomed him home with a kiss. Then we were settling around the table as the sandwiches were divided out along with drinks. Jeremy arrived with drinks for everyone. Mostly water, but there was also iced tea.

“I’m going to take care of some errands and I’ll pick up the children after school. Do you need anything else?” He gave me an appraising look. Since Jeremy had already learned my news, I just gave him a smile.

“Everything is perfect, thank you Jeremy.”

He nodded and I swore he could look serene and smug at the same time. It was nice. The guys played catch up, Jake and Archie discussed a little business while Ian filled me in on the proposed tour and Coop drifted back and forth between the conversations as we ate.

But when we were done, Archie said, “Okay, it’s been an hour, Mrs. Standish. I think I’ve earned my time to put you to bed.”

“Well, that’s one way to be blunt about it.” Coop chuckled, but Archie just shrugged.

“Subtlety went out the window when we had to start running interference with the kids to make sure we got time with our girl.”

“True,” Jake said. “That’s just gotten tougher with each addition.”

“But worth it,” Ian mused aloud. “I like our family.”

“It’s just about perfect,” Archie said. “In fact, if we stop now, Charlie will be going to school in three years or less, then we get all day with Mama again.” He gave me a playful leer and I let out a deep sigh.

“Well, I hope you aren’t too attached to that idea. I know it’s good to have ambition, but I’ve waited all week for you to get home—”

I didn’t even have to say it, Archie straightened in his seat and his gaze zeroed in on mine. “Yeah?”

“Might need a raincheck on those all day play dates for roughly five years and seven months…”

His expression shifted. They all did. Coop and Jake high-fived. Ian leaned back in his chair and looked so damn pleased, but it was Archie I focused on. Archie who’d never once worried about the fact that despite our lack of protection, it was the other guys who got their shots at fatherhood before him.

We’d only been trying for a few months again…and we’d been so busy. A glimmer of tears reflected in his eyes as Archie began to smile. “When do we get to find out boy or girl?”

“Probably another eight to ten weeks, Arch,” Coop said. “Why? We taking bets?”

“Hell yes,” Archie said, his grin growing. He paused a beat and studied me. “Do we get to find out ahead of time or do you want to wait?”

“We can do whatever you want, Papa,” I promised. “Though it looks like I’ll be touring pregnant again.”

“A short one,” Ian said firmly. “With healthy breaks in it. I don’t want you exhausted.”

“Agreed,” Archie said, tapping his chin. “We need to modify schedules. Josh took a lot out of Frankie while she was carrying Charlie and Izzy is just going to want to take over everything.”

“We got this,” Jake said. “We know all the tips and the tricks… also, we should hit the gym to keep up our stamina for when her sex drive goes overtime.”

“Oh hush,” I said shaking my head, then focusing on Archie. “That’s the best part.”

Archie laughed. “No, babe. The best part is you. Everything else is just…” He blew out a breath. “You’re pregnant?”

“Yep.”

“And everything is good? All healthy? No concerns?”

“Nope. Though I think my stretch marks are gonna have stretch marks.” I’d given up worrying about a flat tummy ever again.

“Tiger stripes for the win.” Archie blinked. “Wait a minute—excuse me gentlemen. Our wife said I could put her to bed and do whatever I wanted with her. I want to celebrate. So y’all are on the Toddler Patrol.”

He didn’t wait for permission before tugging me to my feet. All the way up the stairs, I swore I could hear his brain going a mile a minute and when we made it to our suite, he pressed me up against the closed door and studied me.

“Is it okay if I’m a little terrified this time?” he asked, his voice solemn as hell.

“You’ve been terrified every time,” I reminded him, but I cupped his face. “Your secret is safe with me.”

All of their secrets would be safe with me. Always.

“This is true. So, just to confirm—health checks are good and sex is still on the table?”

“Oh, Mr. Standish,” I informed him. “I may not be able to have coffee, but I would still like to get a little cream.”

I couldn’t resist. His eyes lit up at the comment. “Oh, Mrs. Standish, please put in your order. I will make sure to fill you up…but first, get naked please. I haven’t seen those breasts or that gorgeous pussy in far too long and it’s time to get reacquainted.”

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I lifted my face toward his and he rewarded me with a deep, lingering kiss.

“We’re gonna have a baby,” he whispered. “Fuck, I love you so much.”

We were gonna have a baby.

“Oh shit.” He paused as I lifted off my shirt.

“What?”

“We need A names,” he told me.

“Archie?”

“Yes, Babe?”

“I’m going to get naked. So are you. We can work on names later.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Archie said. “Getting naked now.”