And the Heart Grows Fonder

By E.R. Baine

A MUST READ FOR ALL LOVERS OF SHIFTER ROMANCE

Salaciously Seductive

Book 2 in the serialized Paranormal Fantasy Shifter Erotic Romance.

You'll love this new werewolf romance series by E.R. Baine.

The Craving. That is what they call it. The gut wrenching urgent need that latches onto a shifter when they meet their destined, true love. But what if you can’t be with the one you love? What happens when otherworldly forces beyond your control work to keep you and your beloved apart? Would you succumb to destiny, or chart your own fate?

Since the events surrounding Audrianna’s abduction have transpired, Were-Bear/ Were-Fox couple Audrianna and Viktor have settled into business as usual in running their Multi-billion dollar/ Multinational Corporation Maxckcom. However, Audrianna’s memory of the entire scenario is wonky and unreliable. It is up to Viktor and his family to uncover the backstory behind the lapse in security surrounding her kidnapping. Also, they must target the source of the evil that has possessed her body before it manifests itself again. For by then, it may be too late.

Mature Content. This novel has been proof read and edited twice. This is the third update to the book And The Heart Grows Fonder.

Visit my site Chunksie Entertainment to SIGN UP FOR E.R. BAINE'S NEWSLETTER to find out when a new novel or free short in the series is released. And for giveaways.

A Paranormal Fantasy Shifter Romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E.R. Baine
• Release date: Jun 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310932502

E.R. Baine

E. R. Baine has been reading as a writer from the age of 7 years old. Beginning with the daily comics, and advancing to the Book of Bible Stories, until she became an avid reader of Mills and Boon at the age of 13. Penny Jordan was one of her favorite novelists in the early 1990's.Her tastes varied, and she was preoccupied with science fiction books of Star Trek The Next Generation and Christopher Pike novels in her early and late teens, and her interest was drawn to classic westerns as well. Still, Romantic Fiction has remained a staple genre she has been fascinated with all her life.After gaining a University Degree in Computer Science with a minor in English, and completing a Career Diploma in Freelance Writing, she has joined the ranks of published author.

Book preview

A SURREAL BLUE ROGUE AGENT:

BOOK 2: AND THE HEART GROWS FONDER

BY

E.R. BAINE 

Copyright 2014

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 

Published by Chunksie Entertainment

Copyright 2014 by E.R. Baine

Cover Art by [e-mail]

Images provided by RomanceNovelCovers.com, Themeforest.com

And The Heart Grows Fonder Edited by http://www.miadarien.com/

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people, it is however DRM FREE. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at [e-mail]. This book contains Mature Language and Mature Content. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

This publication is part of the Dark Lens Galaxy Collection serialization.

Print ISSN: 2306-1642., 2nd Edition

Written and Copyrighted by E.R. Baine, a.k.a. Chunksie.

All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination. www.chunksie.com

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AT WWW.CHUNKSIE.COM

Author’s Note

No matter the places I have been, South Carolina, Venezuela, Panama City or Manhattan, my heart always makes its way back to Trinidad. This book is number 2 in the series titled Surreal Blue Rogue Agent.

BOOK 1: DO OR DIE

BOOK 2: AND THE HEART GROWS FONDER

BOOK 3: LOVE SO MENACING 

Volume 1 contains all three

I will be writing several series in the coming years and I hope you enjoy reading them. This book is dedicated to my loving family and friends who have supported me in this great adventure of becoming a published author, and to Chunksie Entertainment that has allowed me to reach a much further audience than I could ever imagine. This is not a two people meeting for the first time and falling in love, coming of age story but an episodic paranormal/fantasy and romantic saga.

 GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND MAIN CHARACTERS

Viktor Maxckmillian - Russian Ambassador to Trinidad in the futuristic fantasy Earth world. He is Audrianna's husband and owner of a Multinational Corporation called Maxckcom International, Were-Bear with mystical powers.

Mayakovsky Maxckmillian – Viktor’s cousin in charge of Asian Business.

Markova Maxckmillian – Viktor’s cousin in charge of European Business.

Audrianna Maxckmillian - Wife of Viktor Maxckmillian, were-fox and member of the Werewolf pack of Harlem ruled by Xin Xing. She is also the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Maxckcom International.

Lincoln Huntington - Audrianna's aide and confidant and ex-Marine. He also has a bionic arm and both his legs are bionic.

Rees – Lincoln’s Lover.

Matsenêste King - Viktor's aide, former Navy Seal and close confidant of Lincoln and Audrianna.

Quincy and Rayner – Half Breed Brothers and trainers in the Werewolf Pack Academy.

Xin Xing - Leader of the Harlem Werewolf Pack and extreme fighter. Commanding fire is his special ability.

The Bricklayer – Money Laundering Specialist

Kelly Payne - Master interrogator for Viktor's Maxckcom International black-market dealings. Has the ability to get into people's head. Martial artist weapons expert.

Elyzabel - Audrianna's personal assistant, and Kelly's fiancé.

Hell's Embrace - Viktor's magical club he uses to fight in battle.

Brighton Darksmith - A smith dedicated to creating weaponry infused with magical powers. Occupation referred to as The Darksmith.

Grigori - Man servant to Viktor, comes from a long line of family members who steadfastly serve the Maxckmillian lineage.

Carlos – Operations Manager in Latin America for Maxckcom

Real – Assistant Manager to Carlos

Farther Arie John – Chaplain

ATHGFCover

Copyright

Glossary of Terms and Main Characters

Table of Contents

AND THE HEART GROWS FONDER

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

Follow Me

And The Heart Grows Fonder

PROLOGUE

Atlanta, Georgia

Audrianna Maxckmillian examined the report on her screen, re-evaluating the Critical Assumptions she'd concluded for the companies she had deemed would be successful takeovers in the coming year. She sat at an antique armoire with the laptop in front of her, and couldn’t help but glance at her reflection in the mirror. Her bald head still irked her. She squeezed her head on either side and willed herself not to be perturbed by it.

Mommy! Mommy! Watch me! Watch me! Nathan, her four year old son, appeared beside her.

Audrianna laughed. What is it, baby? She hugged him to her.

I’m not a baby, he declared, pushing her away.

She released him and he stood, posing with his hands on his hips and a very serious look on his face. He puffed out his chest and began bobbing his body up and down, starting to sing the beginning of a popular children’s cartoon in Russian. Audrianna had to hold her breath to keep from expressing her dismay at having to see her son perform the same act for the fourth time this morning.

A! Viktor walked in, trailing behind their daughter. His hand secured a small, bushy brown teddy bear to her shoulders. I thought I told you to stay in your room and not to disturb your mother.

Nathan squealed as he climbed on top the bed, rolling himself inside the comforter.

Mommy! Mommy! Look, it’s Chubby! Nadia, Nathan’s twin sister, showed her the teddy bear Viktor kept from falling.

So, is Daddy following you around with that that whole day?

No! Viktor was adamant.

Yes! Nadia cheered.

Off of that bed and go to your room, Viktor ordered Nathan.

No, Chunky Nasty!

Viktor scowled. What did you just say?!

Nathan giggled and rolled up in the covers like a pig in the blanket. Viktor pulled the sheet toward him. Nathan wriggled.

I want to poo poo, he screamed.

I want to pee too, Nadia said.

Audrianna sighed. No, you don’t.

Yes, Mommy, I want to go to the toilet too, Nadia begged.

Audrianna sucked her teeth in long, old fashioned, Trinidadian stupes.

I’ll handle it, Viktor said, although he knew Nathan only said he wanted to go to the bathroom to avoid getting in trouble for what he had just said, and Nadia only wanted to go because her brother said he wanted to. You continue what you are doing. A small, soiled jockey came flying into Viktor’s chest from the direction of the doorway. He made haste to catch it with his right hand. Nathan! You don’t have to undress to use the toilet.

Ah, fool you! Nathan laughed, escaping the room. Viktor scowled darkly as he ran after his son. Nadia skipped behind them, holding onto the legs of her teddy around her shoulders. Chubby Teddy hung upside down without Daddy managing to hold it in place.

Audrianna sighed, hanging her head in frustration before she looked back at the screen and focused on her report. A loud clash could be heard and she got up once more to search for the root of the sound. What now? she thought.

She entered Nikolai’s room to find him lying on the floor, holding his knee tangled in the sheets. The waiter that held his breakfast was collapsed on the floor.

Oh, baby. Audrianna scooped him up and laid him on the bed. Are you okay?

Viktor loomed in the doorway, assessing the damage. Jumping on the bed again. I thought I told you to stop.

He turned in the doorway. Arianna, he rasped for the maid. I should make you clean up your own mess...

Tears welled up in Nikolai’s eyes and streamed down his cheeks, still clutching his knee. Viktor looked none too impressed.

Are you okay? Audrianna cooed.

Oh, there is obviously nothing wrong with him, Audrianna! Go to your room and finish up your work, Viktor barked.

Audrianna scoffed, hands on her hips. Don’t take that tone with me.

Viktor looked miffed and sighed. Look, you go and finish your job. I’ll handle the kids today. The sooner you complete your report, the sooner we can leave for the Carolinas. Now go!

Audrianna sighed in exasperation. Nathan, fully dressed, and Nadia, teddy in hand, came running, curious as to what was causing all the commotion.

Nikolai, you hurt? Nathan asked.

Aww, Nadia sympathized. Let me kiss it and make it all better. She got up on the bed and kissed the injured knee.

Nathan patted Nikolai’s knee. You need a plaster? I have a octopus plaster.

No, no, no! He doesn’t need a plaster. All of you, back to your rooms now!

No, I want to stay here. Chunky nasty! Nathan hugged Nikolai.

Me too, Nadia whined. I’m staying too. She hugged Nikolai across his stomach.

Nikolai, annoyed with the attention, started to push the twins away. Get off me, he said.

The twins looked at him before they both started to force him down, hugging him mercilessly.

No, I’m not playing! Nikolai screamed.

The twins laughed. Audrianna hugged him close too, kissing him on his cheeks. Nikolai squirmed.

Viktor walked over to the bed. He hooked the deliriously happy Nadia and Nathan around their stomachs and headed out the room. He caught Arianna at the door and filled her in on the mess created by Nikolai to clean up. Viktor then yelled at Audrianna to get back to work.

* * *

Right. Audrianna clapped her hands above her head. It’s over, she said with glee. The glow of the laptop illuminated her face. It was later that night when she watched the document save and shut her laptop. She glanced at the bed in the mirror. Her husband was not there.

She got up and ventured outside. The townhouse they occupied while in the city was both modern and comfortable. Audrianna loved the style of the darkly polished mahogany woodwork and high ceilings. She walked down the spiral staircase with deep, red velvet carpet to the foyer below. She turned toward her husband’s study. She peeked inside. Hey, daddy. What ’cha doin’?

Viktor sat in his chair and seemed engrossed in what was on his computer screen. Grigori stood behind him. He looked up distractedly. I’m almost done here. He looked back at his desktop. I’ll be up in a minute.

She smiled at them. I’m starving. I’m just stepping into the kitchen and then I’ll be up myself. She left.

Viktor nodded, watching the replay of the scene of Audrianna’s attack on the men in the clearing from before. He was none too pleased with Grigori for recording the incident.

Do you always think it best to usurp my familiars to spy on me?

You forget yourself, Viktor. Grigori was engrossed in reading the ancient text in his hands. Golub' is Audrianna’s familiar now. It is only natural that one’s familiar would want to put all else to task in favor of the life of its master.

Viktor gritted his teeth in displeasure at the ‘dig.’

Always have to get one in, right, Grigori?

Grigori snickered. Nonsense, my lord, it is all for you after all. He pointed at the screen. And do take notice of what I had mentioned to you prior. The men there had clearly not been disintegrated, their matter has not been scattered in the wind. They were not destroyed, not in our total sense anyway. Neither were their bodies converted into a more unseemly strain.

The muscle in Viktor’s jaw began to twitch. Get to your point.

Ah, yes, sir. I believe we are seeing the return of the special power documented in your aunt’s text, sir.

Viktor shrugged. Standing, he switched off the monitor. One incident, ever, does not the end of the world make.

Ah, well, yes, I suppose you are right, sir. Lest we become excited over one sure incident, mind, we should wait for things to escalate and become a proper burden before we make plans to protect the world from absolute destruction, much like the humans do.

Viktor looked at him, unmoved by Grigori’s words. Good night, Grigori. Viktor walked out the study.

Good night, dear sir.

Viktor left the study and turned to the stairs. Changing his mind, he headed toward the kitchen. He pushed open the doors. The multiple cupboards, huge stove and long table were made of cool steel. Audrianna sat with her head bowed over the container of ice cream at the far end. Viktor found it odd that she was eating straight from the container and had not transferred it into a bowl. Save some for the rest of us, will you, hon?

Audrianna glanced up at Viktor with a gleam in her eyes and grinned without contrition. Mmmmm, I forgot how this stuff tastes. Her voice was low, resembling a growl. She dipped her whole hand into the container, scooping up the vanilla and shoveling it in her mouth. She swallowed, hard, smearing the ice cream all over her face and dirtying her night gown. Mmmm.

Viktor stood motionless. He squinted. He did not want to believe what might be happening. Come again. He began a slow approach toward his peculiarly behaving wife. Audrianna? he questioned softly.

She’s not here now, she sang, though he was sure now that the voice was not her own.

Viktor cursed. It’s you?

Way to go, sucker. Tsk, tsk, tsk. You struck out, better luck next time. Audrianna rubbed her hands together. She stood and cracked her knuckles, the sound was abrasive.

Viktor was nearly upon her now. So you’ve come back, have you?

Ho, ho, ho, come back? Might you have mistaken me for some other fellow?

He raised his arms to grapple with her. You are like that other one, and nothing new. He reached for her and his arm clutched her diagonally over the shoulder from behind. His left hand glowed, trying to cover her face. You are likewise no match for me.

Audrianna grabbed the wrist of his left arm painfully, pulling it from her face, for she feared the light. She must always fear the light. She grabbed Viktor’s shoulder and flipped him forward, flinging him with such force he slammed against the cupboards and landed with a thud on the floor. He scrambled to his feet.

Audrianna placed a hand on each breast. Why so testy, eh, Jack! What’s mine is yours, not so? she yelled at him. What’s mine is mine, and I don’t care to share.

Viktor raised his hand to the sky and tufts of smoke gathered; the air above crackled and boomed, and darkened as though a storm raged within the confines of the dome ceiling. Viktor quietly summoned a black hole to open up above him and a mighty, wide staff with the head of a black horned Minotaur fell from it to stand on the ground with a boom. The eyes of the minotaur opened with a menacing glare directed at Audrianna. The minotaur, poised, inhaled deeply, and the length of the brown and white, swirl decorated staff looked to swell with the strength of the breath. The minotaur then released the breath on a long, loud growl, and the walls shook from the extremeness of it. The sound was like a blast and it was all Audrianna could do to block her ears from the bloody howl.

Audrianna was flung backwards, landing hard against the fridge door. She was stunned. Knocked out cold. She began to fall forward when Viktor dove to catch her before she hit the floor. He cradled her in his arms.

Well, I say. Grigori allowed the door to swing shut as he evaluated the scene before him. The glass windows had been blown out and the steel cupboards dented. The place looked like the aftermath of a tornado hit. Grigori crooked a brow at Viktor. Viktor’s look was of such anger that Grigori decided against any snide remarks. Shall I help with the cleaning, sir? Grigori thought to ask, but even those words sounded too dangerous to utter at the moment. Grigori sighed, turned around and let himself back out the kitchen door.

CHAPTER 1

Paris, France

Lincoln Huntington stared into the darkness of the night sky from the restaurant at the apex of the Eiffel Tower in France. The black, quiet vastness rolled on forever like a void. It encased the luminous buildings and dwarfed the late night hustle of Parisians milling on the sidewalks.

The serenity of the moment gave Lincoln the odd feeling of being trapped in one of those snow globes where the fake pristine scene of the city and its Eiffel Tower was encased in glass. From inside that globe, Lincoln imagined a moment in time could be captured and held. Forever.

He glanced at his smartphone; the screensaver read 11:35 pm. He grit his teeth at the late hour as he waited for his best friend and work colleague, Matsenêste King, to arrive. Lincoln rested his chin on his steepled hands on the table.

He had originally been seated with his four younger kids along with his beau, Rees, before he had opted to shuffle the kids back to their three bedroom suite at the ritzy hotel so he could meet Mat alone.

Lincoln smiled grimly. Rees had done an about-face as soon as the phone rang. All genuine smiles with the kids until he overheard and understood the gist of Lincoln’s phone conversation with Mat. Lincoln had to hand it to Rees; he had still been all smiles with the kids, albeit insincerely. Distrusting. Lincoln didn’t think the kids had caught on, thank God. He didn’t want to give them the impression he was on shaky grounds with Rees.

Lincoln had already managed to defuse the explosive argument they had after their arrival.

Lincoln had just put the kids to bed for the night when Rees asked that they have a good talk.

Uh, oh. Warning bells had gone off in Lincoln’s head almost immediately. Lincoln took a lucky guess as to what Rees wished to discuss: the third lover in their relationship, Lincoln’s job. Rees had been incensed before, getting on his case about his increased work hours. Lincoln reminded him that he had told Rees that the job and kids came with the package, and there would be no exceptions. Rees insisted the demands from his job had worsened and Lincoln needed to actively try to reduce his workload.

Get an assistant! Rees said.

Lincoln shrugged his thick shoulders. I already have an assistant.

Rees bristled. Get another one!

They had gotten into a back and forth until one of the kids had woken up to use the bathroom. Then when Neecy went back to sleep, Rees further accused him of bringing the kids on their weekend getaway to use as a buffer zone between them. Lincoln denied it, though they had been a certain level of welcome distraction from the dreaded we need to talk discussion mantel.

Lincoln grinned wryly. Having Mat meet him on his trip in the middle of dinner to engage in an impromptu meeting was not helping to maintain the falsehood that everything was hunky dory.

Lincoln raised his head, elbows resting on either side of his flat red wine aperitif and untouched plate of feta wrapped with prosciutto. He stared at his open hands, then clenched them into fists. Both of his legs and his left arm were bionic, but through the magic of nano-technology, he could still feel the tiniest frisson of pressure made on his skin. He uncurled then curled his fingers into fists and squeezed. He thought of the power of possibility he could achieve with his two hands, and sighed.

The power to make the pieces fall where I want them to, he thought, crushing his fist painfully. And yet, I can’t deny Rees the advantage.

Lincoln exhaled as he closed his eyes, thinking that Rees was right. For a while now, he had thought there was something missing in his life; that becoming a triple amputee had made him feel the need to replace the emptiness with work. A quiet but undeniable longing for... Lincoln frowned. For what? He hadn’t meant to become an ardent workaholic. It had just… The job demanded all of you. Lincoln smiled sadly, making his position as Audrianna Maxckmillian’s aide akin to having a jealous lover on the side; just as Rees had reiterated.

Deep in thought, his long fingers