“Not gonna stop, old man,” I said, standing up so Harleigh Rose and I could meet him at the top of the porch.
He dropped his babies to wrap his arms around his adult girl. She ducked her face into his chest and held on tight.
She never took her loved ones for granted, not for one minute since she put her own life on the line all those years ago.
Sometimes I’d wake up and catch her staring at me, hand to the tattoo I’d gotten for her, fingertips on the scar she’d given me, her face full of sorrow. I’d kiss it from her face, seduce a smile or tickle away the frown, but there was always a fraction of her soul that would remain haunted by the day and the decision she’d had to make.
I’d only recently learned to live with it.
It was Cressida who had told me, “She has you to hold that feeling at bay, you don’t need to worry about the times it moves her, Danner. It’ll pass. And it’s a good reminder that the happy she had now, she earned.”
This was true, but I needed a wise woman I’d once condemned for fucking her teenage student make it clear for me.
Zeus released my wife and slapped a big palm on my shoulder, shaking it slightly. “Happy fuckin’ birthday, Lion.”
I grinned at him. “You make me a cake?”
“Fuck off.”
We moved out of the way to greet the others coming up the stairs, Lou with her son Walker who everyone had started to call “Monster,” King and Cress with their kids, Bat with his family, Nova with his wife, Buck and Maja, Old Sam, Smoke and Riley, Curtains, Boner and Axe-Man, Cy with his Tay. They filtered up the steps in their leather and their black, their smiles wide with pure joy at hangin’ out, at celebrating my birthday.
An ex-cop who’d spent years trying to put them away.
I tagged my wife’s arm and pulled her into my side so I could lay a wet kiss to her mouth. “Love you, rebel Rose. Love the family you’ve given me.”
She melted into my side, her aquamarine eyes I loved so much full of love, my rose in full bloom. “Love that you loved me enough to save them so I could give them to you.”
“God’s Gonna Cut You Down”—Johnny Cash
“Every Rose Has Its Thorns”—Poison
“Short Change Hero”—The Heavy
“Born to be Wild”—Steppenwolf
“Give My Love to Rose”—Johnny Cash
“I Hate Myself for Loving You”—Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
“Snake Song”—Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
“Not Afraid Anymore”—Halsey
“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”—AC/DC
“Like Real People Do”—Hozier
“Gun in My Hand”—Dorothy
“No Good”—Kaleo
“Real Wild Child”—Iggy Pop
“Once Upon A Dream”—Lana del Ray
“Game of Survival”—Ruelle
“It Will Come Back”—Hozier
“If I Were a Boy”—Beyonce
“Hazey”—Glass Animals
“Make Up Sex”—SoMo
“Die for You”—The Weeknd
“Can’t Help Falling in Love”—Elvis Presley
“Hot Blooded”—Foreigner
“Die A Happy Man”—Thomas Rhett
Good Gone Bad was one of the hardest books I’ve ever written because Danner and Harleigh Rose had minds of their own. They wanted to be together more than their next breath, but they didn’t feel they deserved each other, or even a happily ever after. Sometimes too much of a good thing, like loyalty in their case, can lead to bad. I think they may have the best souls of all the characters I have ever written (with the exception of Mute) and I love that their love story was just as much of a struggle for me to write as it was for them to endure.
A note on their sexuality. There are very many forms of Domination and submission, and very many forms of Doms and submissives just as there are very many varieties of people under multiple labels and subheadings. Danner is a good man, a moral man, and a gentleman. His sexuality and kink may seem like a complete deviation from his character, just as the stubborn, sassy, independent Harleigh Rose may seem like a bizarre submissive. The truth is, most of the time, it is very difficult to peg someone correctly as one or the other. A powerful career woman sometimes needs to forget the stress of control and responsibilities by ceding that to her partner, who may in turn be an affable, beta-type male in social situations, but a man who craves the weight of a whip in his palm in the bedroom to assert his dominance and strength in another way. It’s important for me to note this because a lot of BDSM books portray Dom’s as big, bad, control freaks who act the same way inside and outside the bedroom. That happens, and that can be super-hot. But if you’re curious about BDSM, do your research. You’ll find an amazing array of lifestyles, from 24/7 Dom/sub or Master/slave situations to people who Dominant in a way that is completely non-sexual. Harleigh Rose and Danner are only one example of a community that is deep, varying and incredibly tantalizing, probably why there are so many books written about it!
Also, music is a huge part of this book, so I encourage you to listen while you read <3
I have so many people to thank for loving and supporting my own rose with thorns and this book.
Serena McDonald is my lifeline, one of the ultimate loves of my life, and a book Queen I feel very blessed every day to have in my corner. I can’t believe I only met her this year when it feels like we’ve known each other our entire lives. I know I drive you crazy sometimes with my creative process, so thank you for being endlessly patient with me. I can’t wait for many more books and many more adventures together, my S. #McDarling
To my second mum, my best girlfriend and my confidante, Michelle Clay. I don’t know how you do it, but you know my soul and how to soothe it better than almost anyone. Thank you for your secrets, your praise and your endless love.
Becca, you are one of my best friends and I haven’t even met you yet. Here’s to a lifetime of love, future travels and possible projects.
K Webster was one of my ultimate favorite authors and she still is to this day. She’s also, straight up, one of my favourite humans and not just because we share a love of hot daddies, surprise pregnancies and all things taboo.
The day Sarah from Musings of a Modern Book Belle reached out to me before the release of Welcome to the Dark Side is a day my life changed for the better. So grateful to have your insight and artistry in my life, Sarah.
Ellie McLove from My Brother’s Editor, you saved my ass with your edits and you’ve seriously rocked my world with your new friendship. I’m so thrilled to finally have found my dream editor and I can’t wait to give you all the projects.
Najla Qamber is my cover designer and all-around graphics guru. She brings my world to life in beautifully render ways that make me teary-eyed. Love you Najla, thank you for being on my team since the beginning.
To Stacey from Champagne Formatting, thank you for making this book gorgeous, and all the books in The Fallen Men series as beautiful as the men between the pages.