Epilogue
Seven months later
Kara
To say I was nervous would be telling a lie. I was nine months pregnant, the doctors forbidding me to return to New York for my own party, the debut of the HBO series I’d flown back and forth to help guide to fruition.
The butterflies were creating cramps in my system.
“It’s okay,” Havros whispered.
“No, it’s not.”
The debut day was here and I had to watch the event on national television.
At least I wasn’t alone. Every Nomikos family member as well as my father was inside Apollo Nomikos’ home waiting anxiously for the last five minutes before the program was set to begin.
I paced the floor, trying to keep calm. The last few months had gone by in a blur and I’d grown to love every family member as my own. But seeing my father right here with me, sharing in my success and my happiness was even more special. We’d had long talks about my mother and why I’d fallen in love with Havros. In the end, he’d come around, maybe even liking Havros just a little bit.
“You’re going to be just fine,” my daddy told me as he approached.
“What if it bombs? What if no one watches it?” I asked
He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. Just to have him here meant so much.
“I am so proud of you, baby. This is just the beginning.”
Or it was going to be a flop and my reputation would be toast. Well, at least if that was the case, I could consider working at the new kink club being built in Madrid. The thought almost made me giggle.
As if the most controlling man in the world would ever allow that to happen.
“Oh, it’s on! Look!” Willow yelped. I was shocked she hadn’t dropped that baby before now. She was huge and obviously uncomfortable.
So was I.
But I’d never been happier.
I planted my hands in front of my face, peeking out from my outstretched fingers. I’d been asked to introduce the piece. “I look terrible.”
“You could never look terrible.”
“Oh, yes, I could.” Which is exactly the way I felt being this pregnant. I was nothing more than a beached whale.
As the show premiered with the opening credits, the love of my life moved behind me. “Why don’t you sit, kitten.”
“Too nervous.”
He cradled me against his chest, wrapping his big, strong arms around me. “But beautiful. I’m going to ravage you later.”
“Not this girl. Not now. You’re crazy. I’m as big as a house.”
“I’m crazy only for you and that just means there’s more of you to love.”
As he nipped my ear, I lifted my arm, pressing my hand against his face. “My God. You’re hard. That’s inappropriate.”
“Not around you.”
“Look, there’s my handsome husband’s face.” Willow was way too excited, clapping her hands.
I cringed inside, the little white lie I’d told about the first subject weighing heavily on my mind.
“You didn’t tell me the first production was on our family,” Havros growled into my ear.
“Oops. Surprise.”
“You will get a spanking for keeping something from me later.”
“You wouldn’t spank a pregnant lady.”
“Oh, yes, I would.”
“You are,” I whispered, “incorrigible.”
We stood together watching and it felt like I was holding my breath. The labor of love had taken so much from me, but in turn, had given me back my life.
Yet the man holding me had given me the spirit, awakened my soul.
And I couldn’t even think about what he’d done to my body.
Willow gasped and everyone turned in her direction.
“What’s wrong?” her sweet husband immediately demanded, jerking to his feet.
“Oh, no. Not now. My water broke,” Willow moaned.
“Oh, my God.” Dimitrios took her into his arms, scanning the room as if searching for answers.
I’d never seen the man so flustered.
“We need to get to the hospital.”
He was close to being frantic. Everyone was up and all I could do was laugh. This was perfect timing.
Havros kept me in his arms as the chaotic moment ensued. But I pulled away seconds later. A series of tingles were jetting right to my stomach.
Another cramp. Oh, no. This just couldn’t be happening. Not now.
“Uh-oh,” I half whispered.
“What?” he asked.
I turned and faced him, glancing down at the pool of liquid by my feet. “I think we need to go to the hospital too.”
For a brutal, ruthless man I’d thought never capable of love, the look in his eyes was one I hoped to remember for years to come. For the rest of our life.
Sheer happiness and adoration. For his little growing family.
For the first time since I was twelve years old, I finally felt complete.
And hopelessly in love.
The End