Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
I was shaking. His words felt so powerful, as if I could almost grab them and hold them in my hand.
“I love you too. I never thought… I didn’t think you’d feel as strongly as I do.”
“I don’t think I could feel more strongly about anything than I do about you. Come home with me. Let me feed you and clean you up and tuck you in bed.”
“Don’t you want me to suck you off or ride your cock or—”
“I want to do every possible thing we can do, but more than anything, I want you to know that I love you.”
“You’re mine too. I would protect you. I would do anything for you.”
“You’ve already proven that today. You don’t need to prove it anymore.”
He kissed me then, and it was the softest, sweetest kiss I’d ever had. Dante loved me, and I loved him. No matter what villains tried to defeat us, we were going to win, because our love was too strong to kill.
43
EPILOGUE
Three Months Later
Dante
The next few months passed much too quickly. My dean very reluctantly approved medical leave for me for the rest of the semester. Remington’s influence ensured Alex and Mitch were allowed to drop their classes with no penalties and take the semester off.
Alex and I spent much of the first few weeks in bed, at least when we weren’t buying more cat toys for Adenine and spoiling her rotten. Rafe cared for her while I took Alex to Boston to visit our Marchesi relatives and experience all my favorite restaurants and bakeries in the North End.
We were even able to spend a few weeks on a family friend’s private island, but there was not a day that I forgot the danger we faced from Ivanov. We’d confirmed he’d left the country. Then he’d been spotted in Greece and later in Morocco.
The only other thing we knew was that he was trying to make underworld connections but so far had been unable to establish himself anywhere. He’d lost the backing of his family, so he’d never dare go to Russia, and most US cities would be barred to him as well.
Eventually, he’d spend too much time out in the open or run out of money and be desperate enough to try coming back home, and we’d take him out. Until then, I would remain vigilant, but I managed to relax enough to enjoy every day I had with Alex.
As the end of the semester grew closer, I knew we had to figure out what would happen next. Alex said he would give up returning to school so that I could keep my career, but I wasn’t going to let that happen.
He discussed transferring to another school, but that wasn’t satisfactory either. While I was communicating with Xavier, our island-owning family friend, I asked him if he had any suggestions on how to handle our situation.
“You said Remington threatened to release evidence of misappropriation of funds in order to get them to agree to hire you and give you the research budget you deserve.”
“That’s right. But I don’t want to ask him to push harder.”
A moment passed, and then Xavier said, “What if you use the carrot at this time instead of the stick?”
“In what way?”
“Endow a chair for the department with the stipulation that you remain on the faculty as long as you’d like.”
“Would they go for that?”
He huffed. “They always go for money.”
“But would that amount of money be more important than the scandal they’ll deal with having a professor and a student together, a student whose major is in my department?”
“Would you consider marrying Alex? Marriage would lessen the scandal, especially if you return from a leave of absence as such.”
My pulse was racing. This was it. I was going to make it work. “I’d already consider proposing to him over the holidays.”
“Then I think you have your answer. If that doesn’t work, give me a call, and we’ll see what else we can figure out.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m happy to help.
“How’s Emilio?”
“Amazing as always.”
“Give him my love.”
I reached into the pocket of my jacket and touched the ring I’d already purchased for Alex. I wanted him to know that our relationship was permanent, but I’d hesitated to propose until I knew what the new year would be like for us. Now I knew.
I opened my laptop and began research on a proposal for an endowment.
Alex
Dante told me he needed to go into campus to meet with his dean, but he wouldn’t tell me any specifics. I didn’t even know if he’d called the meeting or if the dean had. Dante was being obnoxiously secretive. He promised that everything was going to work out, and he’d tell me all about the meeting when he got home, but all I could do was pace and fidget.