Epilogue
EPILOGUE
NATASHA
N o one in the world looks more handsome than Killian in his wedding day tux. But as he stands at the altar, waiting for the ceremony to begin, I find butterflies bursting to life in my stomach just at the sight of how good-looking he is.
It’s a small wedding—nothing fancy or that took too long to plan because I didn’t want it to be a big production. The day feels bittersweet as it is, since Papa’s not here with us to walk me down the aisle.
But Tatiana stands beside me, her blue eyes warm with affection as she gives my palm a squeeze. “You look beautiful,” she says with pride, taking in the sweeping lace train and the embroidery along the seams of my long-sleeved wedding dress.
“Thank you,” I say, beaming. And for once, I can feel confident that I won’t be overshadowed by my beautiful older sister. Because Killian has eyes only for me. And I love the way he looks at me every time I walk into a room.
The music starts to play, alerting me to the fact that it’s time.
At the altar, Killian adjusts the collar of his shirt, his eyes turning expectantly in my direction. But I’m still hidden in the shadows of the doorway, so I can steal quick glances at him.
“Ready?” Tatiana asks, offering me her elbow—because she’s the only family alive who I would want to take Papa’s place of walking me down the aisle.
“Yes,” I say, shifting my bouquet to my left hand so I can slip my right around her arm.
Tatiana gives my arm an affectionate squeeze. Then she leads the way as she guides me down the aisle.
Soft music spills from the baby grand piano, warming my heart at the familiar song of “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” the same song my mom walked down the aisle to.
And as soon as Killian’s eyes find me, I feel the burning anticipation deep in my belly. This is a day I could look forward to—even if we chose to keep the engagement quite short.
It just feels so perfectly right.
And Killian’s finally completely healed. He’s out of his bandages and as healthy as ever, making me exceptionally excited about our wedding night.
The music comes to an end as Tatiana brings me to a stop before Killian. Then she passes my hands to him, taking my bouquet so I can hold his strong hands for the remainder of the ceremony.
It’s a short and sweet ceremony, involving only a reading about the patience and kindness that is true love before Killian and I say our vows.
And as Killian reads his, promising to hold my secrets close, now and forever, but to also share everything with me because I’m the person he trusts in this world even more than himself…tears of deep love and affection sting my eyes.
How I found a man so incredible, I can’t quite say. But I fall in love with him a little more every day. And it astonishes me that a man so kind and loving could also be the man who challenges me constantly—and only in the best ways.
As the priest announces us as man and wife, and Killian kisses the air from my lungs right there at the altar, we only have our siblings present—and Lance of course, though he basically counts as Killian’s brother. It’s a nice, intimate ceremony. Followed by a quiet but incredible meal.
During which, Tatiana stands to give a beautiful toast to a couple that managed to find their perfect one—against all odds and even despite an age-old rivalry.
At the end of the night, Killian takes me back to his Seagate estate.
He scoops me off my feet as soon as I’m out of the car, and after stealing a quick kiss, Killian carries me across the threshold.
“There, now it’s officially as much your home as mine,” Killian rumbles, keeping me close as he refuses to set me back onto the ground.
“I think this place became my home long before I was willing to even think of it like that,” I confess, looking around the beautifully open space and smiling. I always loved my parents’ penthouse. But with them gone, neither Tatiana nor I feel like it’s quite home.
Killian’s house, on the other hand, is somewhere I could see living happily for the rest of my life. Him and me—and of course Quinn because she’s family. And considering how she saved Killian’s life, I would call her an invaluable asset to our new home.
He carries me easily toward the stairs, and my stomach does a funny flip.
“You can put me down, you know,” I tease lightly as we climb.
“Perhaps,” he growls playfully. “But I would much rather keep you close.”
Humming contentedly, I let my cheek fall against his shoulder, and I soak up the feel of his muscular arms around me.
“I have to admit, Mrs. Killian King has a nice ring to it,” he says as he carries me across another threshold into our bedroom.
He’s already made room for my clothes in his closet, and I’ve steadily moved in over the last few months. But today, with my white floor-length lace dress and Killian’s perfectly fitted black tux, it suddenly feels official in the best way.
“Now’s what I’ve been looking forward to all day,” Killian growls, his eyes alight with playful fire as he stretches me out across the bed.
“Do you intend to have sex with your new wife in her wedding dress?” I tease, and my stomach quivers as he releases an approving growl.
“How did you know,” he purrs softly. And he runs his hands down my curves before encouraging my dress up my legs so he can feel beneath it.
Heat radiates through my core as his fingers brush along the inside of my knee and higher. Then Killian’s fingers pause as he brushes across the peak of my thighs.
“You’re not wearing any underwear?” he growls, his eyes blazing with renewed hunger.
“I vaguely recall someone mentioning they would prefer me to go without,” I murmur playfully, nipping the lobe of his ear.
Killian snarls, turning to seal my lips in a searing kiss. And my squeal of anticipation turns into a lusty moan as his fingers stroke between my folds, and two slide purposefully inside my entrance without hesitation.
“I think it sounds like you might be coming around to my way of thinking as well,” he growls.
“Mm-hmm,” I moan, back arching as his thumb compresses my clit. And it feels dangerously intoxicating to have him fingering me beneath my dress—too impatient to even take it off me before he starts pleasuring me.
“Tell me, love, what do you dream about doing on your wedding night?” he murmurs against my lips, continuing to slide his fingers in and out of my depths as he drives my excitement to a whole new level.
“I want to spend every moment awake, making love in your arms. Just like we used to for our deal,” I murmur, a shiver of anticipation racing through me.
This time, it’s Killian’s turn to hum approval. And his lips shift to the tender spot at the base of my throat. “Making love to you until the sun rises. Now that, I can do,” he growls.
Giddy excitement pools in my belly, and the intensity of my arousal spikes as his fingers swirl around my clit and stroke between my folds, gathering my quickly increasing wetness and spreading it across my sensitive flesh.
“That feels so good,” I breathe, my back arching and my thighs quivering as he fingers me to the brink of my first climax as his wife.
“Good. Because I want to feel you come on my fingers, Mrs. King,” he rasps.
And the sound of my new name on his lips sends a jolt of euphoria through my body. “Say it again,” I beg, hips rolling in rhythm with his two-fingered thrusts. I don’t even need to tell him what it is exactly that turns me on so much. Because Killian knows me better than I know myself.
His lips brush the shell of my ear, and he murmurs, “Mrs. King,” like a soft caress.
I cry out, an orgasm ripping through me and leaving me tingling at the sensual sound of just how completely I belong to Killian now. I love it. Knowing he and I are tied together from now until eternity. And as my pussy throbs around his fingers, I know nothing is going to make me happier than calling him my husband.
Because life with Killian makes me ready to face anything head-on.
Deftly working his belt open, followed by his pants, I’m eager to consummate this marriage. And while Killian and I have had sex in just about every way imaginable at this point, knowing that I am his and he is mine, now and forever, makes it all the more sweet.
“My fiery little tigress,” Killian murmurs as I reach inside his slacks and guide his thick erection out. “Can’t even wait for me to get undressed?” he teases.
“That will come next,” I whisper, nipping at his full lower lip. “Right now, I want to fuck the devastatingly handsome man I saw standing up at the altar today. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone wear a tux quite as well as you, Killian King.”
Killian purrs, and as he hikes my dress up higher around my hips, fresh anticipation tingles through my core. Our frantic desire somehow doesn’t feel rushed at all. Because when we have eternity together, it doesn’t matter how many times it takes. We can passionately speed through our first round of love making without even getting undressed.
And for round two, I can take my time removing every last shred of clothing so I can kiss the winding trails of his intricately entwined tattoos.
White fabric in a pool around me, I wrap my legs around Killian’s hips. And though we can’t see a thing with all the layers of fine fabric, we line up perfectly. His thick, silken tip finds my entrance, and Killian presses inside of me to the hilt.
He pauses there as a euphoric moan escapes my lips. And it feels so intoxicatingly good to become one. Two bodies, one soul. So thoroughly tangled together that it doesn’t even matter where he ends and I begin.
Once upon a time, I never dreamed that I could find a man who could convince me to give up my independence, my freedom, my willful desire to forge my own path.
But with Killian, I haven’t had to give up any of that. He loves me for exactly who I am. He inspires my independence and encourages my freedom, allowing me all the room I crave. And yet, our partnership feels strong enough to be forged from iron.
Me and my brazen Irish King. I never knew that anyone could make me feel so happy.