One Thousand and One Dark Nights
Once upon a time, in the future…
I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.
I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and
the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast
library at my father’s home and collected thousands
of volumes of fantastic tales.
I learned all about ancient races and bygone
times. About myths and legends and dreams of all
people through the millennium. And the more I read
the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered
that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually
become part of them.
I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher
and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I
would not be telling you this tale now.
But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off
with bravery.
One afternoon, curious about the myth of the
Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to
see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar
(Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then
sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written
and I had read, that by the time he met Scheherazade,
the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand
women.
Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived
in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged
places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had
never occurred before and that still to this day, I
cannot explain.
Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have
taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can
protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to
protect herself and stay alive.
Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.
And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a
point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.
And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that
he might hear the rest of my dark tale.
As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new
one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before
you now.
Chapter One
“Today was one for the ages,” Brianne Prescott said to her sister-in-law Quinn, her brother Austin’s wife and his personal assistant. They all worked at Dare Nation, the sports agency her brother and uncle owned and where Bri was a publicist.
Quinn shook her head and laughed. “What was it you once told me? Athletes are like babies with big bank accounts?”
“And big dicks.” Bri grinned at her own joke.
Quinn chuckled. “Considering I’m married to your brother, I won’t comment.”
But she’d insinuated it anyway. “Eww. Don’t even make my thoughts go there,” Bri muttered.
“Sorry,” Quinn said, but she sounded more amused than apologetic. “Bad day?”
Bri nodded. “If it could go wrong, it did. I’m sure you heard about most of the fires I had to put out.”
It was her job to keep the babies she’d mentioned in line, and for whatever reason, today had not been the day for good behavior. She’d had a client test positive for PEDs, one married guy accused of fathering a baby with an obvious gold-digger, and another who’d accidentally posted said big dick on Instagram, getting himself banned but not before the news had gone viral.
Quinn tucked a strand of her dark hair behind one ear and shook her head. “It makes you wonder what some of these guys are thinking.”
“Amen.”
Although Quinn knew firsthand what it was like to get involved with an arrogant former pro football player. Austin had come home one night to find a baby on his doorstep, and in a panic, he’d called Quinn. She’d moved in to help and never left, the two falling in love and Quinn taming the former playboy and becoming a mother to one adorable baby girl.
Wheeling her desk chair back, Bri stretched her legs with a groan. “All I want to do is go home, undress, pour myself a glass of wine, and relax.” She glanced around the office she considered her sanctuary and sought peace.
The walls were painted turquoise, the shelves white. Her intention had been to give the room a beachy feel that would relax her during stressful times. Like now. Breathing in and out and enjoying Quinn’s company, she began to chill out.
A knock sounded at her door, and Tara, Bri’s secretary, popped her head in. “I’m leaving for the day. Do you need anything?”
“No, thanks. I’m good. Have a nice evening.”
Tara smiled. “You, too. Oh! And you asked me to remind you to stop by the health clinic on the way home and take Braden the dress you borrowed from Willow.”
Bri groaned at the reminder, and Tara rolled her eyes. “You forgot, didn’t you?”
Both Quinn and Tara laughed, causing Bri to hold up her hands in defeat. “Hey, I knew I would. That’s why I asked for the nudge!”
As Bri’s second hand, Tara was used to Bri’s never-ending lists and reminders.
“Night,” Tara said to both Bri and Quinn before walking out.
“Guess I’m not going straight home after all,” Bri said to Quinn. “Willow needs the dress for an event this weekend, and I had it cleaned after I wore it.”
She glanced at the garment she’d borrowed from another sister-in-law, hanging on the back of her door. Willow was engaged to Bri’s twin brother, Braden, a doctor at a downtown healthcare clinic and the team physician for the Miami Thunder football organization, where Willow worked as an athletic trainer.
“At least it’s not as far as driving to the stadium to give it to Willow yourself,” Quinn said, obviously looking for the bright side of Bri’s never-ending day.
“True.” Glancing out the window behind her, Bri noticed the sun beginning to set, the orange glow lowering on the horizon. “It’s getting late, and I don’t want to walk through that part of town alone after dark, so I’d better get going.”
“Good point. I heard the clinic isn’t in the best neighborhood, but Braden and Hudson are doing really good work.”
“They are,” Bri agreed. “And they seem happy with their jobs.”
Hudson Northfield, Braden’s best friend, also worked with both the football team and the health clinic. Tonight, Braden was at the clinic, but Bri wasn’t sure if Hudson would be there as well. Hudson, with his dark brown hair, chocolate-colored eyes, and well-groomed beard, had become part of the family since he and Braden returned from a two-year stint for Doctors Without Borders, always at their gatherings and weddings.
But Bri didn’t consider Hudson family. Not when she looked at him and her body parts tingled. All she could think about was how his facial hair would feel if he kissed her lips or started lower and that beard rubbed against her thighs. A tremor took hold, and she crossed her arms over her chest.
“What’s that smile for?” Quinn asked, leaning forward in her seat.
Crap. Bri had been daydreaming about Hudson and probably grinning like a crazy person. “Nothing. Just thinking.”