Epilogue
six months and some change…
Christian.
"Are you going to tell me where we're going now?" Scotlyn asked from beside me in the back of the Bentley. With the silk blindfold covering her eyes, I couldn't see all of her face, but I knew she was frowning.
"You'll find out when we get there." I watched her pout and wanted to kiss her, but let her sulk until she turned to the front of the car.
"Miles, where are we going?"
He glanced at me in the rearview mirror and smirked, shaking his head. "You know I'm not about to tell you shit."
"Miles, please. I hate this," she whined and my jaw tightened.
I gripped her chin firmly and turned her in my direction, letting my mouth land hard against hers. When I pulled back, I kept my voice low but firm.
"If you beg another man for anything in front of me, ever, it won't end well. Do you want to play with me like that?"
She smiled and shook her head. "No, Sir."
"Careful, Angel. I will fuck you in this car then fire him because he was here to see me do it."
Scotlyn's smile widened and she reached for my dick, but I caught her hand and moved it away. "Chill… because I'm not playing, Angel."
It took us another twenty minutes to get to CFA. Miles pulled up to the back hangar, and after he parked, I helped Scotlyn out of the car and guided her toward the waiting helicopter.
"Are we taking a flight? I hear planes."
"Just be patient." I helped her into the helicopter and secured her harness before sitting beside her.
This damn thing was loud as hell, so after we were in the air, she grinned. "We're in a helicopter, can the blindfold come off now?"
"No. I don't want you to see where we're going."
"We're in the air. How would I know?"
I kissed her cheek. "I said no, be patient."
When we reached our destination, I signaled the pilot to hover over the beach. I removed Scotlyn's blindfold and she blinked several times, adjusting her sight.
"Look down."
She leaned toward the window and dropped her eyes to the beach. I watched her face light up when she saw it. I came out earlier and wrote “I'm in love with you” in the sand just beyond the shoreline she owned.
Those beautiful browns were on me then she blinked a few more times.
"Did you do that?"
"Yeah…"
"You or you paid somebody?" She grinned and I chuckled.
"All me, beautiful. It was too personal to hand over."
"You mean it?"
"I don't play games, Scot. I think I've proven that I'm a man of my word.
We're still new at this shit. We're figuring it out as we go, and I don't have all the answers about what we're doing or what this will be, but what I do know is that I'm in love with you.
Not the idea of you, not what you represent, just you, Angel.
The woman who challenges me, trusts me enough to submit to me, makes me want things I thought I'd never want again.
I'm all in… with this and you. Whatever our future looks like, I’m good with it, as long as I have you. "
She yanked at the harness, unclasping everything before she climbed into my lap. "Me too," she whispered. I was cool with that because I knew exactly what she meant. She was all in too.
I really wanted to get her out of those jeans and drop her down on my dick but that wasn't going to work up here. So I kissed her as a preview of what would happen later, then pointed to another area below us. "Look over there."
When she looked down, I watched her smile big as hell when she noticed the aerial view of what she had been working on for the past three months.
The first phase of her property. The land had been cleared and a few weeks ago the parking lots had been paved.
The main road that led to the entrance was also complete.
From up here we could see the setup for her community preview happening this weekend.
Electronic billboards were placed at the site of each space to showcase the finished shopping area, hotel, and condominiums that would surround them.
Golf carts were lined up in rows so everyone could tour the first phase.
"This is really happening."
I reached into the cooler I requested to be on board and lifted two flutes. I handed them to Scotlyn before I lifted the bottle of champagne and popped the cork.
"Champagne?" she asked.
"Yes, we're celebrating. I wanted a private moment with you to tell you how fucking proud I am."
Scotlyn grinned. "I'm not mad at that."
She held the glasses and I filled them then worked the bottle between her thighs so it wouldn't spill. After we lifted our glasses, I made my toast.
"To the most beautiful and brilliant woman I know. Congratulations on proving that you know your shit. This project is amazing, it's all you, and you killed it. The first of many."
She tipped the glass to her lips, drank some, then lowered it and leaned in to kiss me. I placed a hand at the back of her neck and took more before she pulled away.
"Thank you," she whispered against my mouth.
"You're welcome but this is all you."
An hour later I pulled up to Seasonal Sweets and she glanced at the building then back to me.
"Cheesecake?" She smiled big and I laughed but didn't answer.
After that first night, she fell in love with a lot of their menu, but the cheesecake was her favorite.
I got out and rounded the car to let her out, extending a hand, which she accepted.
When we walked inside, Scotlyn stopped and swung her head in my direction before her eyes darted back to the display set up near the window—three glass trays of wedding cake samples arranged on a table.
"What is this?"
I reached around her and lifted the black leather ring box off the table and opened it. When she turned around, her mouth dropped open at the sight of the emerald-shaped diamond sitting in the center.
"What is this?" she repeated, this time her voice was unsteady.
I pointed to the table. "That's me learning your preferences for future meals."
"Wedding cake?" She smiled and I had my confirmation. I was making the right decision. This woman could have all of me. Had all of me…
I nodded and took the ring out of the box.
"This is so you know that my future is with you.
Everything I want for my life moving forward has to be connected to you, loving you, making sure you know how fucking amazing you are.
We have time and I'm not rushing this, but I want it to be understood that this .
.." I motioned to the ring, "...is the end goal. "
Her smile expanded. "You love demanding partnerships."
"Only when that shit works in my favor."
"So this isn't about me?" She lowered her eyes to the ring and her brow lifted.
"It's definitely about you. Because whatever works in my favor will always put a smile on that beautiful face of yours." I dropped my eyes to her lips then moved lower, slowly taking in every inch of her body until she groaned under her breath.
"How can I refuse that type of offer?"
"You can't." I stepped closer. "Now give me your damn hand."
She did as asked and watched as I slid the ring on her finger. Those damn cheeks lifted quick as hell.
"This is a really big ring."
I shrugged. "I have a really big ego and need to make sure it's understood by anybody who sees you that I'm your world, and if they like breathing, they will stay the fuck out of your orbit."
I kissed her finger then yanked Scotlyn into my chest, kissing her hard. I grinned against her mouth when the two employees behind the counter clapped and yelled congratulations.
Scotlyn smiled and blushed, burying her face in my chest. I kissed her temple. "Let's sample these cakes so I can take you home and fuck my fiancée."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm never going to be able to show my face in here again."
I chuckled and my mouth was on her again before I guided her toward the display, laughing but knowing she could go anywhere in this city she wanted and everyone would treat her like royalty because she was mine.
"Come on, Angel. Time to pick out our wedding cake."