Digging out my cell, I tried to call Harry’s number, but it went to voicemail. Just as I hung up, I noticed the time. “Of course!” I whispered to myself before returning to the street to hail another cab. When none stopped, I took a deep breath. “It’s only a couple of blocks. How hard can it be to run there?”
I started running, quickly realizing I was severely unfit. But I didn’t stop. I didn’t stop until I was outside a familiar townhouse. I leaned over, gasping for breath. My throat and chest were raw with the deep inhales and exhales I had to endure to return my pounding heart to a normal speed. I could feel my thick and naturally wavy hair beginning to frizz in the humidity and imagined I looked quite the picture. But I didn’t care. I needed to see him. I just desperately needed to see him.
Realizing I had to go through the underground lot, I stared at the long street before me, knowing I had another mountain to climb. Putting my Converses to good use, I started running again. I ran to the entrance of the parking lot and down the long underground road that led to the basement of the townhouse. By the time I had reached the private elevator, I was close to passing out. But I reached into my purse and found my NOX card, which I had forgotten to take out of my wallet.
Thank. Fucking. God.
I swiped the card in the elevator, the doors opened, and I stepped inside, groaning with pleasure at the air conditioning kissing my flushed skin. I viewed my reflection in the mirror, almost scaring myself. I combed my frizzy hair with my fingers and made sure my face was free from streaks of mascara.
When the doors opened, I pushed through to Maître’s room. As I stepped inside, everything was quiet. I was used to music and Andrea Bocelli serenading me with “Ave Maria.”
Then I saw a sliver of light under the door to the room Maître had always come out of. Heart filling with hope and love and all the mushy stuff that dreams are made of, I burst through the door.
Harry looked up in shock, his cell to his ear. He was dressed in a suit, his jacket off, his collar unbuttoned, and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
“Faith,” he said, whispering my name like a prayer. “I was just trying to call you. My cell was dead, and I just read—”
I ran at him. I didn’t give him time to finish that sentence before my arms were around his waist and my cheek was to his chest. He was strong and muscled and smelled of mint and sandalwood and musk…and he was mine. He was actually mine.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice breaking. I closed my eyes. “I don’t know how to repay you for what you’ve done…done for my parents.”
Harry tensed, and I lifted my head. His jaw clenched, his eyes wary. I placed my hand on his cheek, and he covered it with his palm. “I know it was you. I know it was you.” I swallowed the emotion climbing up my throat. “Thank you. I…just thank you.”
My eyes watered, and Harry pushed a falling tear away with his thumb. “Faith, I…” He exhaled and, fighting his own emotion, said, “I did it for you. Everything I have ever done, it has all been for you.”
Pulling his head down, I kissed him. Through trembling lips and salty tears, I kissed him and kissed him and kissed him until I could barely breathe. When I broke away, Harry cradled my face. “I have just finished reading your feature.” His voice was hoarse with emotion. “Did you mean it? You love me? A forever kind of love?”
“Yes,” I said and gave him biggest fucking smile. “I meant every word.”
Harry closed his eyes and quoted, “I went to NOX a willing slave, ready for my eyes to be opened to the world of sin and pleasure. What I didn’t know was that it would lead me to the great love of my life. My soulmate. My master. My Maître of Manhattan.”
Harry dropped his forehead to mine. “What I didn’t know is that I would leave my inhibitions at the door, but not my heart.” Harry smiled and radiated happiness, and I thought I might die seeing the joy on his face. “Because although the world may have heard of the infamous Maître as the king of the sexual underground, to me, he reigns as the king of my heart, the commander of my soul, and the keeper of my eternal love...”
“And I am his queen,” I finished for him.
“Are you?” Harry asked nervously.
“Yes, yes, and even more yes.”
“You mean it?” Harry said, expression guarded. “Have you had enough time to truly think about how your life will change, how…”