Chapter 20
LUNA
Colin’s funeral is packed with all of the Knights in attendance. The ones who survived, that is.
Rose and I planned everything, from the service to the food to the flowers. We wanted it to be perfect. Colin died too young. He was so kind to me, unlike a lot of the Knights. He always made me feel safe.
The funeral officiant says a few words over the open grave. Then Colin’s coffin is slowly lowered into the ground.
My father isn’t officiating the funeral. After we found out we were related, it was too strange to ask him to do this for us. I haven’t really spoken to my parents since that day at their house.
Maxim holds me close, providing me with comfort. I don’t feel afraid as I watch Colin’s coffin disappear. After everything Maxim and I have been through, nothing could make me afraid ever again. Jasper and Jack are gone. Anton is dealt with.
And Ed is dead. He can never hurt me again.
“I’d like to say something,” Maxim says, stepping forward. The officiant steps out of the way. “Colin was the best of us. He was kind and decent. Way too good for the Knights. He was only a prospect, but he’ll always be a part of the Knights. This was his family. This was where he belonged. I hope you’re happy wherever you are, buddy.” Maxim clears his throat and blinks rapidly like he’s trying not to cry.
I walk over to him and take his hand, giving Maxim the strength to stay strong for his men. For himself.
“See you again someday,” he finishes.
He walks away from the coffin to give the other men a chance to say something. Sal goes into a long, slightly inappropriate speech about Colin, which makes the men laugh.
As soon as the service begins, it ends.
Rose comes over to me. “How you holding up?”
“I didn’t know Colin for that long, so I’m not as sad as some of the other people here. How are you doing?”
“The funeral turned out good. We did a good job.” She gasps suddenly as tears spill from her eyes. “I’m gonna miss him. He was too good.”
“That bastard Anton killed him,” Sal grumbles. “And now, Maxim just made a deal with him. That’s fucked up.”
Maxim puts his hand on Sal’s chest. “Today is not the day. Be angry with me all you want, but I made a deal with Anton to provide safety. I’m trying to make sure what happened to Colin, Lucas, and the others doesn’t happen to anyone else. Now, we’ll deal with that later. But for right now, show Colin some respect, and don’t make a fool out of yourself at his funeral.”
Sal pulls away and mutters to himself as he leaves. There’s a tension in the air that isn’t resolved. I’m not sure it ever will be.
“Sal will come around,” Maxim says, noticing my questioning look. “He has no other choice but to. Anton will marry Katya, and then we’ll be business partners with him.”
“Does Katya know yet?”
“No. Dimitri hasn’t said anything. I think he’s waiting for the right time.”
“He needs to tell her sooner rather than later.”
Maxim slings his arm around me. “I completely agree. But I don’t want to talk about Anton today. I just want to remember Colin.”
For the rest of the day, we do just that.
Maxim looks exhausted by the time we get home from the funeral.
“You should sleep,” I tell him. “It’s been a long day.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.” He wraps me into his arms and holds me tightly. “God, I love you, Luna.”
Whenever I hear the word “god” I think less and less of Ed. He’s still there, though, and I think he might always be. It’s just something I’ll always have to deal with.
“I love you, too.”
“I thought of something today. How short life is. I don’t want to have any regrets when it comes to you. I know I held back when we first met, but I don’t want to hold back any longer.”
“Then don’t.”
“Which is why I want to ask you something. And it’s ok if you say no. I won’t be mad.”
My heart begins to beat faster. “What is it?”
“Luna, I want to spend my life with you. I know it in my core. And I understand if you need more time. You’ve only been out of the lighthouse for a few months now. But I know I want to be with you.”
“I want to be with you, too.”
“So, I have to ask.” He takes in a shaky breath. “Will you marry me?”
I gasp. What I’ve read about marriage and what I’ve seen in movies makes weddings out to be a magical thing. But what’s even more magical is getting to spend the rest of your life with the person you love.
None of this feels fast to me. It only feels right.
So, I answer in the only way that makes sense.
“Yes.”
Standing outside my parents’ house, I feel my nerves light up.
I take a deep breath and knock on their door.
John answers. “Sar—” He stops and catches himself. “Luna. Welcome back. I didn’t know you’d actually come back.”
“I said I would.”
Ashley appears behind him. “You’re back!” She looks behind me. “Is … Maxim not here?”
“No. I wanted to come myself. I’m engaged.” I show them the ring Maxim got for me. It’s a simple ring, nothing too flashy. I don’t need something outlandish.
“Oh.” They both look disappointed and shocked.
“I’m here because I wanted to tell you both that I’m going to live my life how I want to. I’m going to make my own mistakes. I’m going to make my own choices. It’s my right after everything I’ve been through.”
Ashley slowly nods. “Of course. I understand.”
“But I want you in my life. Both of you. I want to get to know you, and I want you to get to know me. So, I thought I could start by inviting you to my wedding. There will be no judgment of Maxim. If you want to be a part of my life, you will accept him. Because the thing is, I want you to be a part of my life. I want to know my parents. I want to know what my childhood was like. I want to know it all. So, what do you say?”
They share a look, and then John turns to me with a smile and opens the door wider. “Do you want to come in? We can answer any questions you have.”
I smile and step into their home. He shuts the door behind me.
I’m finally going to get all my questions answered, and it feels right.
The wedding day comes fast.
After a few months of planning with Rose and my other friends, the wedding has come together perfectly. During that time, I spent more moments with my parents, learning what I was like as a child. Apparently, I loved wearing a cape and pretending I could fly. I loved saving ladybugs from danger. I loved jumping into puddles. I also told them about my time in the lighthouse. I could see the sadness on their faces, so I didn’t tell them everything. But in time, we can all share more with each other.
Katya still doesn’t know about the deal Dimitri made with Anton. It’s been killing me to keep it quiet, but it’s not my place to say.
She, Evie, and Ava did such a good job helping me with the wedding. I didn’t want to tell her what Dimitri did and ruin anything for her.
Her life will change soon, and I know how scary that can be. My life changed a lot over the past few months. But I wouldn’t change any of it.
I found the man of my dreams, and now, I get to marry him.
The doors open, revealing the wedding aisle before me, our guests on either side, and Maxim at the end, with my father as the wedding officiant. I asked him if he would do it, and he gladly agreed. I think he and Ashley just want to be involved in my life, and I’m more than glad to let them be.
My life has become complete with my parents in it.
No one stands at my side as I walk down the aisle. John offered, but I wanted to do it alone. I’ve been alone for most of my life. I’ve made my own choices. It’s time I walked to my soon-to-be-husband by myself. I want to be brave and strong on my own.
Maxim gets watery-eyed as I approach him. Our wedding is held in a little glass chapel. The light coming in makes everything soft and glowy. It’s perfection.
He takes my hands in his as I stand before him. My father starts the ceremony, offering words of love and affection and care. I only have eyes for Maxim. His soft, warm, gentle eyes that have always made me feel safe. I get to look into those eyes for the rest of my life.
“Do you, Maxim Baranov, take this woman, Luna Walker, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do,” he says without a hint of hesitation.
“And do you, Luna Walker”—John’s voice gets choked up as he speaks— “take this man, Maxim Baranov, to be your lawfully wedded hus?—”
“I do,” I exclaim before he even gets a chance to finish. Our guests laugh.
“Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Maxim takes my face in his hands and kisses me so sweetly that I begin to cry. When we part, I look over at Rose and see the pride on her face. She’s been with me since day one. She really is a best friend.
Maxim lifts our hands high, and our guests cheer as we walk down the aisle toward our future.
Our wedding night is spent in a hotel room. It’s the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen. Soft floral wall paper, warm lighting, super soft bed.
“Why didn’t you take me back to the apartment?”
“Because this is better,” he says, wrapping his arms around me. “Now, I want to have my way with you, Mrs. Baranov. What do you say to that?”
I gasp. “I say yes.” I grip his shoulders and bring him closer to me until our lips meet in a passionate kiss. Maxim walks me backward to the bed and lowers me onto it gently.
He’s so careful and sweet as he takes my wedding dress off. He takes his time with it, kissing my breasts, my stomach, my thighs, and even my feet until the dress is on the floor. Every kiss from him makes my body ache with more desire. I need him, and I need him now.
“Maxim,” I whine. “Please. Don’t tease me.”
“I’m just getting you warmed up.”
“No. I want you. I want to be connected with you. We have years to take things slow. Right now, I want to be with you.”
His eyes darken. “It’s your choice, Luna.” He stands up and quickly takes off his clothes until he stands naked before me. I run my hand down his muscles, making him hiss. “You still have that effect on me.”
I laugh as I lie back down. “You always make me feel like butterflies are moving around my stomach.”
“Good.” He kisses my stomach as he slips my bra off. My panties join the rest of my clothes.
Maxim parts my legs and runs his hand up my slit, making my hips jerk up. His fingers press into my clit, rubbing it. My hips have a mind of their own. I roll them back and forth.
“I need you,” I gasp. “Please.”
“You’re always so wet for me.”
“That’s because I love you. Now, take me.”
“Bossy.” He kisses my lips before pulling back and looking deeply into my eyes. “So demanding.” He lines his hips up to my own.
I’m already anticipating having him inside me. It’s one of the best feelings in the world.
Maxim interlaces his fingers with mine and raises my arms above my head. Then he gently thrusts his hips forward and enters me.
We moan together. Our lips meet again in a heated kiss, one that leaves me breathless.
He shifts his hips around, moving them in a circle, and I match his pace. We’ve had sex plenty of times now, and every time, it gets better and better. I’m not even sure how that is. It just is.
My hands grip his back, drawing him even closer. The closer I can get to Maxim, the happier I am. Being in his presence fills me with so much completeness.
“Luna,” he whispers my name into my ear, making my inner walls clench down around his length. Just hearing him say my name makes me shudder.
“I need you.”
“You got me. I’m here.”
Our lips find each other again as our bodies move in perfect rhythm. It’s sweet and sexy and everything I could want on a wedding night.
Soon, Maxim’s pace becomes more frantic. I arch my back up and meet his hips.
“Oh!” As soon as the pleasure hits me, it washes over me. My orgasm is intense.
Maxim holds me as I come, and soon, he joins me, filling me with his seed. We’ve spoken about the possibility of having children and maybe someday, but we’re not in any hurry. I’ve been on birth control for months now.
One day, we can expand our family to have children, but for right now, I’m content with having Maxim, my friends, and my parents to keep me company.
I never had any of that before. My life has truly become complete.
Maxim rolls off me and pulls me into his arms. “I fucking love you.”
I laugh and snuggle into him. “I love you too.”
Nothing could make me happier than in this moment.
The End