“No, darling.” He kisses the back of my hand. “No. We’re alive.”
“What happened?”
Lucius glances at Teddy.
Teddy looks at me for a few moments. “Tell her, but if she starts getting upset, you should stop.”
“It’s going to be a lot.”
I realize Lucius looks worn out just as badly as Teddy. His face is almost gaunt.
Worry tries to fire up inside me. “Are you okay?”
He smiles, and it’s a beauty. So sincere it makes me warm all the way down to my toes.
He kisses me so softly, so tenderly. “Darling, as long as you’re here, I’m golden.”
Epilogue 1
Lucius
The redesign plans rustle as I creep past them and into our bedroom. Evie is snoring lightly, the covers thrown off, her body like an invitation in the moonlight.
I want to stop and appreciate it more, but I need to wash up. Once I’m in the shower, blood sluices down the drain, and I stand under the spray for several minutes until it runs clear.
The shower door opens. “I didn’t know you were going hunting tonight.” Her soft hands slide down my arms, though she pauses on my right to run her finger pad over my scar.
“Sin got a lead on one of the names from the iPad. We were just going to do recon, but shit went down.” I turn to her.
She looks up at me, and I know I’m home. Not when I drive onto my property or walk through the front door—only when I’m with her.
“Did you get them?”
“We only had to cull one, but he gave us a lot of trouble until it was done.” I turn my head to the side and show her where he landed a pretty good blow. “I think he must’ve been a boxer in his youth.”
She gets on her tiptoes and kisses it. “How many more to go?”
“Ten or so. We’ve weeded out most of them.”
“Any word on Beau’s wife?” I hate the concern in her voice when she asks about Gloria.
“Still nothing. Gloria’s disappeared. Maybe she started a new life somewhere.”
“Maybe.” She doesn’t sound convinced. “She was just so damn … creepy. So convinced.”
“I know.” I kiss her forehead and wrap her in my arms.
“I missed you.” She sighs and leans against me.
“I missed you, too. How was training with Stella?”
“She kicked my ass, as usual. But she said I’m getting better at moving my feet.”
“That’s a big improvement.”
“Thanks.” She laughs. “I think that was a compliment?”
“It was.” I run my hands up and down her back.
“The architect came today, too. She said she thinks she can incorporate our changes, and it’ll take about six months of construction.”
“As long as they don’t dig near the back pasture, we’re good.”
She shakes her head against me. “How did I end up with the most depraved, violent, angry Vinemont on record?”
“Look, darling. I really don’t know how many times I’m going to have to tell you this, but I am extremely lovable.”
She laughs and leans back, inviting a kiss that I’m happy to give. “You’re also the sexiest man I’ve ever met. The sweetest.”
“Sweet, hmm?” I back her against the wall, the tiles still cool despite the warm water. “No one ever calls me that except you.”
“Because no one ever experiences your sweet side except me.” She runs her hands along my chest.
“It’s going to stay that way.” I lift her.
She spreads her legs for me, and I nudge my way to her entrance.
When I slide inside her, she bites my shoulder.
Fuck, yes. I give it to her slowly, moving inside her, feeling every bit of her as I make love to her. The water runs down my back as I thrust and touch and suck. Her body was made for me, mine for her.
I go deep, kissing her mouth as I grind against her clit, our slick bodies sliding. “Do you have any idea how much I fucking love you?” I kiss her throat, running my tongue along it and swallowing the water.
“Make me come, and then I’ll know for sure.”
I grin and lean down to claim one of her nipples in my mouth. I suck and nip at it, then reach down between us and finger her clit.
She digs her nails into my shoulder as I work her, my balls drawing up and demanding I release inside her. But I wait. I give it to her just how she needs it, take her higher and higher.
When I bite down on her other nipple, she comes on an erotic moan, her pussy squeezing me tight as I thrust deep.
“That’s my good girl.” I claim her mouth and groan as I come inside her. Her cunt is still contracting, milking me as I work my hips. “Such a good fucking girl.”
Her toes curl, her body so tight, and then she lets out a breath. “Oh my god,” she breathes.