Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Damen is wearing the beautiful woolen coat he had on when I first fell into his lap, I’m in my alternative finery, but with a black turtleneck under the studded suit jacket for warmth. I’m too vain to sacrifice my looks for a puffy coat. As we face one another on the glowing platform, with Samantha and a very-bruised Titus as our witnesses, I know we’re perfect for each other.
I still can’t believe none of this is a beautiful dream, but I am loved, I have a new family, and my groom brought me to our wedding on horseback. In this Christmas fairytale, I will start my new life as a married man.
The guests watch from benches arranged in front of the carousel. Corvus is playing the violin to provide an appropriate background for our vows, and even Aspen seems happy for us, filming the ceremony with his phone despite a professional photographer also being present.
The officiant, who’s likely gotten paid a ridiculous sum of money to leave her family and marry us today, smiles and steps forward, into the purplish glow of the afternoon sun. She’s reciting one of the usual formulas they say at weddings, but I can barely hear her, so completely focused on my husband, who watches me with a predatory glint in his eyes. Will we make it to our room before we consummate this union? I suppose I’ll have to find out.
“I do,” Damen says, and only then do I realize the time has come, and that he’s just agreed to take me as his. Forever and ever. In sickness and in health. For richer and for poorer. For better and for worse.
I believed him when he said it would happen, but my eyes still sting as I stare at him, knowing I’ve found my home at last.
When the officiant asks me the same. I know exactly what my response will be.
“I do.”
Epilogue
Killian
One Year Later...
I can’t believe I’ve misplaced my Christmas gift for Damen. I had it made within the first three months of our marriage, then hid it so it wouldn’t get lost, or found by my man, which is so typical.
I know I wouldn’t have put the little gift box under our bed, but I still sink to my knees and peek down there, annoyed with my own stupidity. I should have looked for it a week ago, not on the day of our departure! I guess that’s what happens when your apartment isn’t a shoebox but a two-storey mansion inside a skyscraper. It also has three bathrooms and several rooms for different purposes. Shit gets lost.
A weight settles on my back, and I groan. “Really, Whiskers? You want to play now?” I ask and raise my torso, forcing the cat to leap off me.
He growls, giving me the stink eye, but he doesn’t have the right to complain as long as he doesn’t have to pay rent, so I glare back with the same intensity.
“How’s the packing going?” Damen asks, peeking into our huge modern bedroom. He looks like a dream come true in the blazer I chose for him.
I fake a smile. “All good! Just can’t find my perfume, but I’m almost ready.”
Damen frowns. “I’m pretty sure I saw it in the bathroom. The guys will be here any minute…”
“That’s err… the spare perfume. I need the other one.”
“Aren’t they the same—”
I throw my arms up. “Don’t question me!”
Damen raises his hands. “Okay, okay, whatever you need.”
He can probably smell something’s fishy, but at least now I have time to go and rummage through the kitchen. I’ve learned how to cook quite a few things now that I have time, money, and this grand space with black marble countertops. The private chef Damen hired to come over sometimes was very happy to teach me how to make fluffy pancakes, flip an omelette and not burn chicken.
It’s not entirely implausible that I put the gift in one of the pots at the back of a cupboard, since Damen doesn’t cook much.
I don’t have time to admire the view from the tall windows, which let in so much light while giving us a perfect view on New York from high above. Soon, Aspen, his brother, and their cousin, Alecia, will arrive, as they are taking the private jet with us to Aspen where Damen will fly the helicopter. Damen told me it was Corvus who let him know about the danger last year, so I forgave him for perving on us and invited him to take the flight with us, but the loner said he’d make his own way. I think he’s still kinda embarrassed.
The doorbell rings as I dash out of the kitchen after checking a few of the smaller drawers. “Will you let them in?” I call out, on my way to the walk-in closet.