Epilogue
ROAN
Elira arrives first. I knew she would. She’s been dying to meet Katie—the woman who somehow managed to steal my heavily guarded heart.
But I kept her away, kept everyone away, so Katie could heal properly without the intrusion and without worrying about looking good for visitors.
That changed yesterday when my sister learned about my proposal and decided that was reason enough for a dinner celebration tonight.
I might have been able to hold her off on my own, but she’s devious. She recruited her friends to her cause.
Emily, Gia, and Leni have also been blowing up my phone, calling nonstop and talking over one another about how eager they are to meet Katie. Apparently, she’s become something of a myth or a legend in their social circles.
I couldn’t refuse when Katie herself admitted she was looking forward to meeting them all.
“You ready?” I ask my fiancée as I straighten my collar, my chest expanding with satisfaction.
She’s mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.
She lifts her gaze to meet mine through the vanity mirror, and my breath catches in my throat. I rub a hand over my chest unconsciously, trying to ease the tightness there as I watch her. I should probably be worried about just how intensely I feel for her.
Then her lips—painted a tempting red—curve into a small, weary smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.”
I cross the room, my eyes never leaving her reflection, until I’m standing right behind her chair. My hands settle on her shoulders, thumbs working gently into the tension there. Her head lolls back, resting against my stomach.
“You’ll be fine,” I murmur, more promise than reassurance. “They’re going to love you.”
She tilts her head even further so she meets my gaze directly, and for a split second, I’m completely derailed by the creamy skin of her throat and the delicate pulse fluttering visibly at the side of her neck. I lick my lips as I drag my eyes back to hers.
“Are you seriously getting hard right now?” Her eyes twinkle playfully as she asks. And I can’t even deny it because she has to be feeling the shift of my cock against her back.
“Roan!” she chuckles, starting to move away from me, but my hands flex on her shoulders, holding her in place.
“You can’t blame me for reacting to you when you look this breathtaking,” I murmur, sliding my thumb up to caress her throat, and she gasps softly at the touch.
“Your sister and her family are waiting for us downstairs,” she protests weakly. “Your friends are going to arrive any minute…”
“Fuck them,” I say without hesitation, meaning it as I lower myself until I’m kneeling behind her. Then I bury my face into the curve of her throat, my mouth watering as her intoxicating scent goes straight to my head like the most potent drug.
“Roan.” My name comes out half laugh, half moan as she pushes my head away. “As much as I want to, I also want to make a good first impression on your sister.” Then to my consternation, she gets to her feet. “Now put on your jacket and let’s go.”
“You’re cruel, Katina. Cruel,” I groan dramatically as I dip my hand into my pants to adjust my achingly hard cock so I’m not tenting the material.
Fuck. Think of something—anything else. There’s no universe where I’m walking downstairs to see my sister and nephew with a raging hard-on. The thought of little Luca helps soften me a little.
Babies. Innocent babies who have no idea their uncle is a depraved bastard.
I go to the ensuite to wash my hands with cold water, and when I walk back into the bedroom, Katie is slipping on her heels. “How do I look?” she asks, doing a little spin that has my heart lodging into my throat.
But she’s perfectly steady on her feet, fully healed.
“Gorgeous,” I answer truthfully as I take in that stunning forest-green velvet hugging her curves. She’s curled her hair, and it falls in tight ringlets down her neck, stopping just at the top of her creamy cleavage. Tempting me.
Luca, Luca, Luca.
I drag my gaze away from her beautiful tits, walking towards the bed to grab my jacket. How the hell am I supposed to last all night without sneaking her into some closet to fuck her senseless?
“Perfect. And you look very handsome, fiancé.” The laughter in her voice has me glancing back at her. She grins and winks knowingly, fully aware of what calling me her fiancé does to me, then slips out of the room.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath as I follow behind her.
I try not to watch the hypnotic swaying of her ass as she walks ahead of me, but I’m only a man after all. As we descend the stairs, the sound of my sister’s voice is the only thing powerful enough to draw my gaze away.
Mine, I think with satisfaction.
I lengthen my stride until I’m walking next to Katie, pressing my palm to the exposed skin of her lower back. She inhales sharply, the movement making her tits jiggle. Joshese. Temptress.
“There you two are, finally.” Dhimiter’s relief is palpable as we enter the living room, and I instantly see why.
Somehow, between the time he called to let me know Elira had arrived and now, the other Nightshades have all shown up.
My living room, which isn’t small by any means, seems to have shrunk in size with the sheer number of people gathered.
Emily and Rafael, Gianna and Michael with their two toddler girls, Romero and Leni, and Maximo and Elira with Luca.
Kayla, Dhimiter, and Lorik are here too.
Katie stiffens beside me for just a second before forcing herself to relax. I rub my fingers soothingly over her skin, a silent message: I’m here. You’re not alone.
Kayla makes the first move, pushing away from the wall she’s been leaning against to walk up to us.
“Did you have to take so long?” she mutters, widening her eyes meaningfully at Katie.
My fiancée chuckles, and that beautiful sound seems to dispel the tension in the room. The women immediately converge on Katie, all murmuring enthusiastically about how glad they are that she made it, that she’s recovered, that she’s here and real and not just a story anymore.
“Like Emily once said to me,” Leni announces with a grin, “getting shot is basically a rite of passage in this family.”
Everyone chuckles at that, but my eyes narrow at the reminder.
That will be the first and last time Katie gets shot. I’ll make damn sure of it.
Michael walks over with a girl in each arm, and I inhale sharply as I take them in. They’re beautiful—Michael’s coloring, his hair, his eyes. Miniature versions of him.
“Here.” He thrusts one of them at me. “Hold Emma. You’ll need the practice for when you become a father yourself.”
My limbs freeze even as I wrap my hands protectively around the small girl. I might need the practice a lot sooner than he thinks. I steal a quick glance at Katie, who’s been pulled away by Emily.
My brows furrow as I watch them step outside together, Katie’s shoulders tense, her mouth set in that way that means she’s bracing herself.
I know this was the conversation she dreaded the most. She hasn’t said it outright, but I could feel it radiating off her.
She thinks Emily hates her for the whole Stacey situation, for staying quiet, for the mess she never asked to be part of.
A sharp, unexpected pain on my scalp snaps my attention back. Emma, the toddler, is clutching a lock of my hair. I look down in disbelief, but she’s focused entirely on the hair, not me.
“You might want to think about cutting your hair. Or at least securing it with a better tie,” Michael comments mildly as he walks away with his other daughter.
“That wasn’t very nice, was it, Emma?” I ask the toddler. How old is she again? I do a quick mental calculation—she must be two, or maybe almost two.
Emma blinks up at me with those big, innocent eyes—and promptly pulls at my hair again.
I wince, carefully trying to free the lock from her surprisingly strong grip.
Thankfully, her mother swoops in to rescue me before I lose a chunk of scalp.
Gianna takes Emma out of my arms, giving me an apologetic look.
“Her new fascination is hair. She can’t resist pulling it,” she explains, her tone carrying the weary patience of a mother who’s repeated this explanation countless times.
I chuckle despite myself, glancing down at the toddler who still has her determined gaze fixed longingly on my hair. “It’s fine. She’s got a good grip.”
My attention drifts back to the door Katie and Emily disappeared through, anxiety creeping in. What’s taking so long? Should I check on them?
I scan the room for Kayla, wanting to see how she’s holding up, and I’m surprised to find her lingering near Elira at the couch a few feet away.
She’s staring at my sister with that cautious curiosity she always has when she wants to ask something but isn’t sure if she’s allowed.
Without really thinking about it, I take a few steps closer—even though I know Elira wouldn’t do anything to crush that look on the young girl’s face.
“Since you’re going to be my sister-in-law, Lira,” Kayla starts softly, “does that mean he’s my nephew?” She nods towards Luca, who’s busy babbling incoherently and blowing spit bubbles as he glances around the room.
My heart tightens at the hopeful expression that crosses Kayla’s face. The girl has been without any real family for so long, and now she isn’t sure how to interact with the new one that suddenly got dropped into her lap.
I didn’t expect to care this much about a girl I didn’t even know existed a few weeks ago. But now she’s part of this thing—this chaotic, dangerous, beautiful family. And no matter what comes next, she’ll be protected. I’ll make sure of it.
Elira blinks down at her, her brows furrowing for a moment. And then she grins. “Of course he’s your nephew! Do you want to hold him?”
Kayla hesitates. “I’m not sure… I’ve never held a baby before…”
“Don’t worry, he’s a lot sturdier than he looks,” Elira assures her warmly as she transfers the baby into Kayla’s uncertain arms.
She looks like she might actually pass out as she cradles the baby with exaggerated care, her face a mixture of terror and wonder.
“See? You’re doing it perfectly,” Elira grins encouragingly and helps her sit down with Luca still in her arms.
Assured that Kayla is fine, I glance back at the door, starting to make my way there when it suddenly swings open.
Katie and Emily walk back in, and I stop mid-stride, immediately analyzing Katie’s face. But I don’t need to. Emily has her arm draped around her shoulders, and though Katie’s eyes are slightly red-rimmed, her smile is genuine.
The tight knot in my chest finally loosens. I try to catch Katie’s gaze across the room, but as soon as the other women see they’ve returned, they swarm her again, and I resign myself to letting her go.
For now.
“Let me see the rock again,” Gia demands, grabbing Katie's hand. “Jesus, Roan didn’t hold back at all.”
This coming from a woman whose own rock could probably be seen from space. But my chest puffs up with pride anyway, my back straightening as Dhimiter places a hand on my shoulder.
“You’re damn right he didn’t,” Lorik grins at me. “Possessive bastard.”
Even from the distance, I can see Katie's face flush red as Emily examines her finger next. “It’s gorgeous. And by the way, let it be known now that I’m your maid of honor. That’s non-negotiable.”
“Um, you’re married, Em. Doesn’t that make you a matron of honor?” Leni smirks, nudging Emily’s shoulder playfully.
“Shush, girl.” Emily presses a finger to Leni’s lips, and all the women burst into laughter.
I share a bemused stare with Dhimiter, silently questioning what’s so funny, and he just shrugs. He’s slowly warming to Katie, though he’s still pretending to be stoic about the whole thing.
After they finish going crazy over the ring, Katie shepherds the women to the dining table, claiming it’s well past time for dinner. I smirk as I trail behind them, the other guys following.
I have to admit I do some strategic maneuvering to make sure the seat next to mine remains empty, then pat it invitingly for Katie, who sinks into it with a little sigh.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, slipping my hand to her thigh under the table where no one can see.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing is wrong,” she answers, biting her lip playfully as she eyes me, her blue eyes twinkling. “Do you still have that erection?”
“Jesus, woman,” I groan, signaling Dhimiter to have the meal brought in. “You're getting your guts rearranged for that teasing.”
She only chuckles wickedly in response.
Her lips part, her mouth forming what will undoubtedly be a sassy response, but before she can say anything, Leni leans across the table, her wine glass tipping slightly in her hand.
“Brace yourself, Katie,” she whispers with a conspiratorial grin. “These women go insane at the mention of a wedding.”
Katie doesn't seem fazed by that warning. She just smiles and nods like she's fully aware of this fact and is actually looking forward to the chaos.
As my staff begins setting out the food in front of us, my woman leans back in her seat, her hand drifting to her belly—just for a second. A light, almost unconscious touch. Soft. Subtle. But I don’t miss it.
She catches my eye and smiles like she’s sharing a secret, and my heart gives a hard, startled jolt.
My throat closes up as I lower my gaze to her belly and back to her face to gauge her reaction—but she's already turning to the approaching staff, smiling politely.
"No, no alcohol for me tonight, thank you. "
And that settles it for me.
We hadn’t discussed it before, but she doesn’t need to say anything else. I just know. I mean, we’ve been having unprotected sex the past two months. It was inevitable, really.
A baby.
Our baby.
The air seems to shift around me, and the animated conversations happening at the table slowly fade away into meaningless background noise as I stare at the woman who will soon be my wife—and the mother of my child.
A tidal wave of emotions barrels through me. Too many to name, too intense to process.
“Thank you,” I mouth silently and lean forward to press a reverent kiss to her temple, my hand squeezing her thigh gently.
My world just got infinitely brighter.
THE END