Epilogue
Juniper
“Have I told you lately how beautiful you are?” Breaker murmured, his deep voice rumbling through me and making my heart flutter in my chest.
A blush heated my cheeks as I ducked my head, my hair falling forward to partially obscure my face. “Not in the last hour, at least.”
He’d been so sweet, and sometimes even playful, since the incident with my uncle. He also didn’t like letting me out of his sight. I didn’t know exactly how he made his money with the club, but there was no way he’d been able to do much of anything. If the man knew I was awake, he was glued to me, almost as if he were afraid I’d vanish if he weren’t watching over me. I hoped it was something that would pass once he realized I was safe and I wasn’t going anywhere.
He’d been the one to end my uncle. I’d known at the time he didn’t want me to watch, that he didn’t want me to see him as a murderer. Except I didn’t. All he’d done was get rid of a monster who had hurt so many people. I only wished we’d gotten a confession from Uncle Robert first. How many families out there were still looking for their daughters, sisters, granddaughters… and would possibly never find them? All because my uncle had destroyed them, then buried them somewhere.
His chuckle reverberated against me as he reached out to gently tuck my hair behind my ear, his calloused fingers lingering against my skin. The simple touch sent a shiver down my spine, igniting a slow-burning warmth in my core. It also snapped me back to the present.
I leaned into him, savoring the solid strength of his body against mine. In his arms, the rest of the world fell away. The past, with all its pain and heartache, faded into the background, overshadowed by the promise of the future we were building together.
As we sat there, cocooned in the comfort of our little haven, I felt a profound sense of belonging. For so much of my life, I had been adrift, forever searching for a place to call my own. Now I understood that home wasn’t a place at all -- it was a person. And I had finally found mine in Breaker.
I nestled into Breaker’s embrace, my fingers absently played with the hem of my shirt, a nervous habit I couldn’t quite shake. Despite the tranquility of the moment, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of uncertainty, a remnant of the timid girl I used to be. For the life of me, I didn’t understand why he’d chosen me. My uncle had made a good point that day. Breaker could have anyone he wanted. So why me?
Breaker noticed my fidgeting and gently took my hand in his, entwining our fingers. His thumb brushed soothingly over my knuckles, the rough pad of his finger a stark contrast to my soft skin. I glanced up at him, my eyes meeting his warm gaze. A soft, encouraging smile played on his lips, chasing away the shadows of doubt that lingered in my mind.
In that moment, I felt a surge of courage, a determination to give voice to the thoughts that had been swirling in my head. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding against my ribs as I gathered my resolve.
“Teller, have you ever thought about… about having a family?”
The words hung in the air between us, weighted with the significance of the question. I bit my lower lip, my pulse racing as I awaited his response. It was a topic we had never broached before, a dream I had barely allowed myself to entertain. But here, in the safety of his arms, I found the strength to give it life.
Breaker’s eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across his features before melting into a tender expression. His grip on my hand tightened, a silent reassurance that he was there, that he would always be there.
“Juniper,” he breathed, his voice raw with emotion, “I…”
Breaker paused, his expression thoughtful as he considered my question. He shifted on the couch, turning to face me fully, his gaze steady and sincere. “I can’t imagine anything more wonderful than having a family with you,” he confessed, his words wrapped in a gentle honesty that made my heart skip a beat. “But I want you to know that I’ll wait until you’re ready. I would never rush you into something so life-changing.”
His words washed over me like a soothing balm, easing the nerves that had been fluttering in my stomach. I felt my cheeks flush with warmth, a rosy hue that spoke of the hope and happiness blossoming within me. I leaned into him, resting my head against his shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat thrumming beneath my ear. It was a sound that had become my anchor, a reminder that I was safe, loved, and cherished.
“And what if…” I began, my voice barely above a whisper as I gathered the courage to voice the desire that had taken root in my heart, “what if I told you that I’m ready now?”
The question lingered in the air between us, a delicate thread of possibility that seemed to shimmer in the golden light filtering through the living room windows. I felt Breaker’s breath hitch, his body tensing for a fraction of a second before he pulled me closer, his strong arms enveloping me in an embrace that felt like home. I didn’t dare bring up the fact we’d already had sex and hadn’t used protection. So assuming he could have children, and his response seemed to indicate it was possible, there was a chance I might already be pregnant. I doubted it would happen the first time, but it wasn’t entirely impossible. I’d been too sore to do anything the next few days, otherwise the chances would have increased.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel pressured or rushed. This is a big step, and I want it to be something we both want, with all our hearts,” he said.
I tilted my head, my gaze meeting his, and in that moment, I saw the depth of his love, the sincerity of his words etched into every line of his handsome face. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. Somewhere along the way, between the chaos and the quiet moments, I’ve fallen completely in love with you. And I want nothing more than to start a family with you, to build a life together that’s filled with love, laughter, and endless possibilities.”
“I want that too. For a lot of years, I’ve watched the men here settle down and start families. As much as I’d hoped I’d be lucky enough for it to happen to me too, I was starting to think I’d always be alone. Then I found you in that alley and my life changed forever. In a good way.”
I felt a sense of peace wash over me, a certainty that this was the path I was meant to walk, hand in hand with the man who had become my everything. He leaned in, his forehead resting against mine, our breaths mingling in the scant space between us.
“I promise you, from this moment forward, I will spend every day of my life loving you, cherishing you, and building a future together that will be the envy of the world.”
“What if I asked for us to start working on our first baby right now?” I lightly touched his cheek. “I mean, I could be pregnant already, but it’s not likely. Want to make sure I am?”
He flashed me a smile, then picked me up. I wanted to berate him, and remind him he’d been wounded, but it had been a few days since Dread removed his stitches. My bruises were nearly gone, and Breaker’s wounds were healed. But I knew they still had to be tender, especially when he did things like pick me up.
He gently carried me to the bedroom and laid me on the bed, his eyes searching mine for any hint of hesitation or doubt. “Are you certain? I know I didn’t use protection before, but we can starting now if you want more time.”
“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” I reached up to caress his face, tracing the lines of his jaw, the curve of his lips.
As he leaned down and gave me a searing kiss, I surrendered to the love that had grown between us, the love that had survived the trials and tribulations of our tumultuous journey. I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be, in the arms of the man who would love me, cherish me, and build a future with me, one filled with the promise of a family and a love that would last a lifetime.
I’d finally found my home.