Epilogue
Lucian
Four years later…
It’s been four years since Elena waltzed into my life, and three years of marital bliss, and I still can’t get enough of her. I watch her from across the garden in my back yard as she laughs with Rose and Bella, Damien and Roman’s wives. Those men are the closest thing I have to friends, and since it’s our third wedding anniversary, I decided to invite them to share in our celebration.
I only have eyes for my wife as I think back on our shared journey. After my father was sentenced to life in prison, and our life had found a semblance of normalcy, I finally convinced Elena to let me help her open her dream café, Heartstrings Coffeehouse .
Now, I look forward to tasting all her new recipes before she introduces them to her customers—one of the many perks of having a wife who loves to bake. Our gazes meet and I grin at her, raising my glass of brandy.
“You have all the time in the world to spend with your wife—you should really focus on the people you’ve dragged here to celebrate with you,” Roman grumbles beside me.
I share another smile with my wife before turning to face him. “I didn’t drag you here, I invited you.” I eye him over my glass as I take a sip of my drink.
“Semantics.”
Damien walks up in that moment and chimes in, “This is a beautiful celebration, Lucian. Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” I say, giving him a nod of acknowledgement.
“Not to change the mood, but why don’t we talk business a little bit,” Roman asks. “When is your next auction? I have a client in need of a missing nineteenth-century piece.”
“I’m holding another auction before the month ends. I’m trying to nab a timeless piece of jewelry for a client—one of the Romanovs’—and it’s proving a little difficult,” I explain. “But it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Alright. I’ll be looking forward to the end of the month,” Roman replies.
“While you two are preparing for the auction, I’ve taken the case of a client looking for a missing daughter. Apparently, she snuck out of the house to go to a party and never returned home,” Damien says morosely.
“That’s a shame, but I’m sure you’ll find her. The chapel doesn’t deal in women anymore, though I might still have some information for you,” I declare. “I have a feeling that the men who kidnapped girls for my father might still be in the works, for private hire.”
“I’ve thought about that too,” Damien replies with a raised brow. “But searching for them will take time, which is more time for the girl to be in danger. If you have their details, it will make my work considerably easier.”
“I’ll have Marcus send any information we have to you,” I reply as my gaze snags my Elena’s once again. I turn to Damien. “Good luck on finding the missing girl. If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I want to dance with my wife.” I set down my glass, unable to hide my smile.
Having Elena in my life has thawed my heart, and I’m amazed at how readily I smile these days. Still, I make sure to let word go around that I’m not one to mess with. Dealing art in the criminal world requires dominance and callousness, and one can never be too relaxed.
“Your wife has you so tightly wrapped around her finger that I wonder if the Lucian I know still exists,” Roman teases.
“True,” Damien adds, chuckling softly. “Roman, we should just let everyone know that the stone-hearted Devereaux has fallen.”
“Like the both of you are any better,” I snap back with mock irritation. Their laughter trails behind me as I walk toward my wife.
***
Hours later, the guests are gone and I walk out of the shower in my underwear to find my wife perched at the edge of the bed. She’s dressed in the sexy blue lingerie that makes her eyes seem even bluer, her long black hair contrasting beautifully with her tanned skin.
I inhale sharply, dumping the damp towel on the floor as I walk toward her.
“Magnificent,” I whisper, leaning down to kiss her lips.
Elena moans softly, teasing me with her mouth, and gently dislodges her lips. “Not yet,” she whispers, then smiles softly, tugging me down. “Happy anniversary, Lucian.”
I sit beside her, grazing my fingers tenderly across her soft pink lips. “Happy anniversary, my love. Did you have fun today?” I ask.
She nods and gives me a blinding smile. “I have a gift for you,” she states, then blushes softly as my fingers glide down her chest, grazing her pebbling nipples.
“What is it, angel?” My voice is hoarse with need as I slide my gaze down her delicious curves and my cock swells at the sight before me.
Elena softly inhales and breathily says, “I’m pregnant.”
I pause the wandering of my hands and stare at her for a minute, surprised. A wide grin breaks across my face. “You’re pregnant.” I slide off the bed and kneel before her, my hands going to her still-flat stomach. “Elena. We’re having a baby,” I whisper, in awe.
“Yes, Lucian,” she whispers back, covering my hands with hers.
“Oh, fuck.” Excitement is surging through me. I look up at her. “Thank you, my love. This is the best gift. You and our unborn child are the best gifts.”
I take her lips in mine. I can’t stop the urgency in my veins as I suck gently on her lower lip, nipping softly on it and swallowing her moan of pleasure. Sizzling current sings through my veins, making my blood heat as her hands slide over my shoulders and back. My shaft grows harder under her soft, urgent touches, and I groan softly, sliding my tongue into the heat of her mouth. Her thrilling taste touches my lips, branding itself into my veins as I take as much pleasure as she gives.
Pulling back slightly, I take in her drunken gaze and swollen lips as I tug her up and slowly peel the lingerie off her body. My gaze travels down her body, trying to see any changes I might have missed. Her perky breasts are slightly swollen, and her nipples appear even darker, causing my cock to strain in my shorts.
“You’re so fucking sexy,” I growl.
“Let me…” she says, and she bends to tug my shorts down my legs, pulling them off completely.
My cock juts out, releasing precum at the intensity of need inside me. She doesn’t straighten, instead kneeling and then closing her small hand tightly around my thick girth, pumping hard. Pleasure streaks through my blood and another drop of cum leaves my slit and rolls down my length. She catches it with her tongue and slowly licks her way up until my shaft is disappearing between her lips.
“Fuck…” I groan aloud, softly jerking into her mouth at the sensation.
She sucks my cock deep, hollowing her cheeks, and I jerk hard, the sharp ache going straight to my core. Sweat dots my temples and goose bumps dot my flesh as I slide my hands into her silky hair. The need to sink into her flesh plays in my mind but I hold on to my restraint, giving her time to explore. She lets go of my cock and takes a ball into her mouth, sucking hard while slowly caressing the other.
I close my eyes and grunt softly. “Oh, fuck.”
My grip tightens in her hair and I clench my teeth hard to stop myself from throwing her into bed and fucking her repeatedly. She moves her attention to the other ball and my control stretches taut.
“I don’t think I can hold on much longer,” I growl. “I need to touch you.”
She releases my balls and I pull her up, gently herding her back until her thighs hit the edge of the bed and she falls into it, bouncing softly. I urge her deeper into the bed and slowly climb in after her, covering her body with my frame. Her chest heaves and her hungry gaze draws me in like no other.
I lean down and gently kiss the tiny mole beneath her eye before taking her lips again. Her soft, feminine scent clings to my nostrils as I taste the blend of my salty precum and her essence on my lips. Her hands dig into my shoulders as we deepen the kiss, swapping tongues and pleasure-filled moans.
I trail my lips down to her chest, nipping and licking softly on her honeyed skin. Her soft moans and restless movements spur me on, and I graze my knuckle slowly over her hard nipples. Goose bumps rise on her flesh and her nipples pebble harder, the tips tightening before my eyes as I breathe softly on them.
Her responsiveness excites me. It makes me want to lavish attention on her breasts. So I trace my finger around her nipples, watching her breath pick up and her hands clutch the sheets tightly in ecstasy.
“Lucian…” she begs me.
I know what she wants, but I still want to play. I roll her nipple around my thumb and finger, pinching gently. Then I do the same to the other, and close my lips over one hard nub and suck deep and hard. Elena moans aloud and pushes her chest into my sucking lips.
“Oh…” Her soft moans of pleasure wash over me, sinking into my skin and adding to the need simmering in my veins. I release her nipple with a plop and suck on the other one, nipping softly.
When she starts to quiver and grind her wet sex against me, I let go and kiss a path to the soft flesh between her thighs, anticipation growing in my veins. I spread her thighs and part her pussy lips, exposing her pink, hardened nub and slippery sex to my gaze. Then I slam my lips on her clit, sucking hard and swallowing her glorious taste. She keens low in her throat, the sound gliding over my skin like invisible hands.
My cock jerks and my balls tighten as she pulls hard on my hair. The biting pain turns to stabs of pleasure that heighten my desire to drive inside her. I swipe my tongue down to her center and back to her clit, swirling gently. She arches her hips into my mouth, mewling in a high-pitched tone, and I stab my tongue repeatedly into her entrance. Her thighs tighten convulsively around my shoulders and I slip two fingers into her tight sheath, stroking deep and fast.
“Lucian!” she shouts as she climaxes.
Her walls tighten around my fingers and her juices flood my lips. I hold her hips down and continue to suck on her clit, sliding my fingers in and out of her sheath even as aftershocks wrack her body.
“N-no. I c-can’t,” she sobs out.
“You can, angel. Give me one more,” I rasp. Then I suck her clit hard into my mouth as I curve my fingers upward, stroking sensitive nerves.
Elena stiffens and a loud babble leaves her lips as another orgasm rips through her body. I slowly withdraw my finger, dislodging her slack hands and covering her body with mine. Arranging my hard cock at the entrance to her soaking pussy, I slam inside her, driving in to the hilt.
A wordless cry leaves her lips and her back bows as her body convulses with another orgasm. Her walls grip me tightly and I strain hard to stop myself from letting go too soon. I intertwine our hands and hold them over our heads as I start to move.
At first it’s slow, and I drag my shaft along her sensitive walls, eliciting loud moans as I move inside her. My need heightens until it’s unbearable, sending stabs of desire to my core. My breathing turns harsh and sweat rolls down my temples as I thrust deeper. Her walls clamp hard around me with every movement, pushing hard at my control until my restraint finally snaps.
My movements become erratic, and my strokes become faster and deeper. Elena’s mewls turn to loud moans that fill the room. Our joined hands clutch tighter and I turn at an angle, slamming my shaft deep inside her heat. Hot liquid floods her sheath, and it clamps harder on my aching shaft. I slam deep one last time and she detonates. “ Lucian !”
I let go of her hands and slide my arms around her trembling body, gathering her against me as I thrust once more, then twice. Suddenly, I combust, my orgasm exploding out of me in a loud shout of pleasure. “Elena!”
I come long and hard, showering my release deep inside her. Our loud breathing fills the room and I fall to the side with Elena in my arms, careful not to crush her with my weight.
After a few minutes, I gently kiss her closed lids and flushed cheeks. She opens her eyes and smiles softly. “Hey,” she whispers.
Four years and still she shakes me to my core. “Hey, love,” I reply with a quick smile as I caress her back. “How do you feel?” I ask.
She exhales softly and snuggles deeper into my arms. “Happy and sated. Like I’ve had multiple orgasms wrung out of me,” she whispers, then blushes softly at my arched brows.
“Really? That means I’m doing a great and thorough job as a husband, don’t you think?” I tease.
“Yes, you are. And I know you’re going to be a great dad too,” she says.
It’s as if she knows my thoughts. Although, I shouldn’t be surprised. She’s the one person who knows me inside out. I didn’t even know I was scared of being a bad father, just like mine, until she pointed it out.
“You think?” I ask.
“I know it, Lucian. You’ll be the absolute best,” she declares, leaning forward to kiss the corner of my lips.
A wide grin spreads across my face at her words. With Elena by my side, I’m more ready to become a father than I ever thought I would be. I realize I can’t wait for our baby to arrive.
My future is bright—full of life and love and so many memories we’ll make together, as a family.
~The End