Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
He grabbed her wrists when she reached for the elastic of his pants, his chest heaving with deep breaths. He looked at her with the focused attention of a hawk watching a mouse, like he was going to devour her on the spot.
His voice was husky when he spoke. “I need a shower.”
“So do I.”
In one, fluent movement, he gripped her ass and lifted her so her legs could wrap around his waist. Holding her in his strong embrace, he carried her outside and up the stairs to their room. She loved his strength, and how gently he held her with all that physical power. She loved everything about him—the hard body that promised safety, the deep voice that whispered words of affection in her ear, and, most of all, the golden heart that had captured hers.
“How long do we have?” he asked, brushing their lips together.
She held him tighter. “The rest of our lives.”
This wasn’t the ending she’d envisioned.
It was the beginning he’d promised.
Epilogue
The garden was decorated with colorful balloons and strings of orange and blue crepe paper. Paper balls in the same colors hung from the trees. Gifts wrapped with rainbow paper and blue ribbons were stacked on a table with a bright orange tablecloth. On a table pushed against the rose bushes stood a cake in the shape of a caterpillar with an orange body and blue string candy for feet.
The winter’s day was sunny and the sky a deep blue. Children’s laughter and excited shrieks filled the courtyard as they played tag on the grass. Underneath the rose awning next to the fountain, Lann popped the cork and served the champagne. Kat handed out the glasses. The adults sat around the long garden table from where they could watch the young ones play. Clelia, Kat, and Bono had outdone themselves with the catering. The meal was a feast with dishes from each person’s home country.
Lann pulled Kat under his arm and gave her a soft, lingering kiss. He tipped his glass to hers. “To the most beautiful gift you could ever give me, krasavitsa.”
Cain raised his glass. “Happy birthday to Thomas.”
A chorus of agreement followed.
Sky knew the celebration had a deeper meaning than commemorating their son’s sixth birthday. The quiet Russian never said as much, but it was his way of showing gratitude that his wife’s life had been spared when she’d given birth to their son. In her own way, she did feel thankfulness toward Godfrey for saving her life. Looking at Niels as he chased around with the other children, her chest tightened at the thought that this moment could’ve been denied her either by Doumar or death.
Bono placed his hand on her thigh and gave a gentle squeeze. “I love you, Mrs. Black.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “Love you too.”
The new surname still sounded strange. It was going to take some time to get used to. The simple ceremony they’d had in the adjoining church was what they’d both wanted. Sky had worn a simple, blue dress—Bono’s favorite color—and they’d had an intimate meal with the team afterwards. Lann’s butler and kitchen staff had taken care of the catering.
She couldn’t have asked for a better father for Niels. Bono was a hands-on daddy who spent a lot of time with his adopted son. If they weren’t fixing some or other engine together, they were flying toy planes around the garden. Bono was Niels’s hero in every way. Her son looked up to Bono like there was no one better or stronger. With which she agreed.
Bono had taken Niels flying a couple of times, and he couldn’t stop talking about it at school. He was adapting well in the international school and had warmed up to her considerably. The sessions they both attended at the trauma therapist were helping them deal with the past. Niels didn’t talk to her about his life with Doumar much, but with every passing day, he opened up more. She knew from the info they’d gotten via Cain’s sources that Niels hadn’t lived with Doumar and his real family. Doumar had paid an old lady to take care of him and had put them up in a rented room, moving them frequently. It wasn’t time to tell Niels the truth yet. One day when he was older, they’d cross that bridge.
For now, they lived with Lann and Katherine until Niels was more settled and they could decide where to put up their own house. She had an image of Morocco in her head. Bono said Cain wouldn’t be opposed to the idea as he had a holiday home there, and with the helijet, the flight was only an hour from New York.
“Don’t forget, this year, Christmas is at our place,” Asia said, giving Sean an affectionate hug.
“Aye, Asia is planning a private party at Madelein’s, so you better all make it.”