“Absolutely,” Tomas says. “They’ve been nothing but compliant.”
“Good,” Stefan says.
Tomas grows serious. “Now to the real purpose of your visit?”
Stefan smirks. “There’s no pulling anything over on your husband. You know that, Caroline?”
I smile. “Oh, I do.”
Stefan nods, bringing his fingertips together. “I came for a reason you likely won’t suspect, Tomas.”
“Oh?”
Stefan nods. “You’re right. I have grown softer in my old age, yet harder in others. More stubborn, as it were.”
Tomas waits.
“I left Nicolai in charge in Atlanta,” he says. “Because I’d like to step in as temporary pakhan for the next two weeks.”
“What?” Tomas looks perplexed, but Stefan carries on.
“You two need a proper honeymoon,” he says. “In the past few decades, as I’ve been in this position of leadership, I’ve witnessed countless unions. Those that go on with business as usual often struggle over time. But those that make their relationship of paramount importance? They thrive.” He pauses, giving the words time to settle, before he continues. “And I want to see you two thrive. No one deserves it more.”
“You came here to tell me to take a vacation?”
“No, Tomas. Not a vacation. A honeymoon. In fact, your brothers have already made the arrangements.”
My heart is lighter than it’s been in weeks. Time alone with my new husband?
Oh, hell yes.
“Do it,” I whisper. “Tomas, we must.”
“Must we?” he says tightly.
“Of course. You don’t want your brothers’ gift to be in vain, do you?”
“Caroline,” he says warningly, but Stefan nods.
“She’s right. They’ve given up their own time and money for you. Step away, Tomas. Let others take control for a little while.”
I place my hand on his shoulder. “Please?”
Leaning over, he kisses my cheek, then shakes his head. “I don’t know if there’s anything you can ask while giving me that look that I could refuse. Alright, little detka. We shall go.”
I’m elated with this turn of events, so excited I can barely contain myself.
I’m going away. With my husband. Alone, just the two of us.
He leans over and whispers in my ear. “You are in so much trouble.”
My pulse races with excitement. I lean over and whisper back. “I can’t wait.”EpilogueOne week laterI sit in the darkness, by a crackling fire, nestling a cup of hot spiced cider in my hand. Tomas pokes the logs then rests his stick on the ground and sits in the fold-out camp chair next to me. I lay my head on his knee and close my eyes. The warmth of the flames and sounds of the flickering fire make me sigh with contentment.
I never knew I could have anything like this. My love for him is endless, my joy complete. What I have here with him, this love between us, is so vast, it’s unfathomable.
Beyond measure.
“You know, poking it doesn’t actually change anything,” I say teasingly. “I know it’s probably some innate part of the male species to continually ram sticks into fires. I bet the Neanderthals did it. It doesn’t mean you need to.”
“Did Neanderthals even know how to use fire?” he asks. “I thought they were alive before fire.”
I smile. He would ask something like that.
“You ought to know. You’re a direct descendent.”
That earns me a hard whack to the ass I feel straight through my fleece-lined leggings. “Hey!”
“Hey yourself,” he says, but his tone is teasing. I’ve never seen him so relaxed. We’re staying at a cabin deep in the woods in northern New Hampshire during peak foliage, surrounded by a canopy of burnt orange, deep red, and golden yellow. It’s as far away from civilization as I’ve ever been, and I love it. The cabin itself is immaculate, with an enormous king-sized bed covered in a handsewn quilt, large stone fireplace, rustic kitchen, and running water—my one request.
In the morning I make pancakes and fry bacon on a cast iron griddle, while he brews coffee on the stove. We eat until we’re sated, hike deep into the woods, roast marshmallows by the fire at night, and make brutal, savage love whenever we feel like it.
In short, it’s heaven. And we’re here another week.
“You know,” I muse, while I watch a log snap and fall in the fire before me. “I like that the money San Diego paid covered our honeymoon. It seems fitting, somehow. Like it’s a dowry or something.”
“Or something,” he mutters. The money they were forced to relinquish more than paid for our honeymoon. I’m glad that it did, though I don’t know if he cares much. He wants as little to do with San Diego as possible.
“You know what else?” I wonder out loud.
“You’re wondering a lot, Caroline. Why don’t you rest that mind of yours a bit?”
I yawn widely. “I don’t want to.”
I could fall asleep just like this. By the fire, with the warmth of the flames surrounding me and my husband’s fierce protection beside me. I can’t even remember what I was going to ask him. It doesn’t matter. I have everything I need, right here. Well...there could be one more thing...