Epilogue #2
“We take the girl,” Lucian said simply. “Strike a bargain. She stays breathing if Hayes plays by our rules. Maybe we keep her close, find her a husband inside the family to settle down with here in the city.” His brows bounced. “Keeps her safe, keeps him obedient.”
I gave him a dark smile. “Volunteering for the duty, brother?”
He barked a laugh. “Can you imagine me with a virgin nun? If she looks anything like Hayes, she’ll have buck teeth and be as wide as she is tall. No thanks. But I’m sure you can find someone to…keep her occupied.”
Lacey’s lips curved upward into a mischievous smile, her eyes gleaming. “Just because she’s a virgin doesn’t mean she’ll be some asexual lump.” She elbowed me lightly.
I slid my hand over her thigh, leaning in so my lips brushed her ear. “No, it just means she hasn’t met the right man to ruin her yet. Like I ruined you.”
Lucian groaned. “Christ, Nik, the girl’s a nun, not a pole dancer from The Sacrifice.
She’s probably never even seen a dick in her life.
” He looked at Lacey and pointed. “You, on the other hand, were a wild child from birth. Always looking for trouble. And you found the worst of it when you found him.”
I smirked. “I’ve loved being her first at everything—popping all her cherries, one by one. You might want to try it.”
Color flooded Lacey’s cheeks. “You two need to hush.”
I sipped my coffee, still watching her. “I’ll consider your proposal, Lucian.”
He slid out of the booth. “Do that. And have a good night, both of you. Merry Christmas.”
With Trina nowhere in sight, Lucian grabbed his coffee off the counter.
I stood as well, dropping a few bills onto the table. “Come on, little lamb. Time to go. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Her eyes lit up, all traces of our dark conversation gone in an instant. “What kind of surprise?”
“You’ll see.”
She hugged Lucian, wished him a Merry Christmas, and then we turned to Carmine and said our goodbyes before stepping back out into the velvet dark.
Lucian waved as he headed off down the sidewalk.
Snow sifted down in lazy veils, covering the city and turning it into a holiday wonderland.
Lacey’s hand was warm inside my coat pocket.
She kept her fingers threaded through mine as we walked toward home and then passed the entrance.
We could have stepped into the building—into the heat, into the private elevator that would take us straight to our bed—but not tonight.
“Where are we going?” she asked, smiling up at me, her breath ghosting white in the air.
“Patience, little lamb.”
We slipped through the park entrance and stepped onto a path of untouched white.
Tree limbs were hanging heavy with snow, and lamps burned inside halos of frost. There were no runners or dog walkers in sight.
The noises of the vehicles on the streets were muffled to a distant hush.
The rest of the world faded away in this serene wintry landscape.
A horse-drawn carriage waited just ahead—white coach, red leather seats, garland trimmed edges, and tiny gold lights twinkling along the rails.
The dark bay horse had a thick tail and was outfitted with a red girth, a leather harness polished to a shine, and a green wreath wrapped snugly around his neck.
Lacey’s breath caught, and then she was moving, softly laughing as she reached for his nose.
“He likes you,” the driver said, offering her a palmful of treats for the horse. Lacey flattened her hand and fed him; the big guy bobbed his head and snorted his thanks.
I placed my palm on the small of her back. “Come.”
She turned—and then stopped. Beaming, I held a large bouquet out to her that I’d stashed with the carriage driver when I’d made the arrangements for the ride. The roses looked dark as wine in my hand, snow pearling on their petals. Her eyes went glassy.
“This is the surprise?” she whispered.
“One of them.” I pressed the bouquet into her hand, and she launched herself at me, throwing her arms around my neck and kissing me, her mouth warm, grateful, and hungry.
We stayed wrapped up together for a moment, and then I lifted her into the carriage and stepped up myself.
The driver swung up onto the box seat and placed a thick red woolen blanket over our legs.
He gave a whistle, and we were moving, bells and the creak of old wood carrying out over the silence surrounding us.
Central Park was a cathedral when it snowed. Branches arched above us. Beyond the trees, the skyline was glimmering. Lacey set her roses to the side, tucked herself under my arm, and watched the world go by, a radiant smile on her face.
“This is the most romantic thing,” she murmured. “It’s like a fairy tale.”
We reached the lake and started across Bow Bridge, which was covered in a thin crust of snow.
The driver reined in at the crown of the bridge and tucked his chin and nose down into his coat discreetly.
The San Remo rose behind the trees—twin pinnacles glimmering through flurries of snow.
Lacey looked around, her cheeks flushed, her lashes jeweled with snowflakes.
“I haven’t…celebrated Christmas in a long time,” she whispered. “Not really. Not since…” Her voice faded, but she swallowed and continued. “This—this is the best gift I’ve ever had.”
I hugged her tighter. “I never celebrated it. Didn’t see the point.” The truth slid out easier than I had expected. “We should start a new tradition.”
Her responding smile was luminous. “I would love that.”
“Good.” I took her left hand and rubbed the place where her ring should have been, where there was now only our wedding tattoo. “I have something of yours.”
Her eyes widened as I slid the platinum band back into place.
“You— How did you—?”
“I found your cabbie.” I let the corner of my mouth tilt into a satisfied smile. “He won’t be taking advantage of anyone in need again.”
She arched a brow in concern, that little challenge that belonged only to me. “Nik…”
Darkly amused didn’t begin to cover the satisfaction that warmed my voice. “His missing fingers will be a daily reminder.”
She gasped, half relieved, half thrilled. “No. You didn’t.”
“You know I did.” I turned her hand so the ring flashed. “He touched what’s mine. He’s lucky to be breathing.”
Snow ticked against the blanket as it fluttered down. Lacey leaned in and gave me a kiss.
But I wasn’t finished.
I reached inside my coat and took out the black velvet box I’d been eager to show her all night. She eyed it, a wicked spark lighting in her eyes even as she frowned in caution. “If that’s another…” she murmured, “we’ll need a very patient horse.”
I laughed. “It’s not that.” I opened the lid.
She made a small gasp, pressing her hands to her cheeks as if to hold the moment in place. The round diamond solitaire in the box echoed the curve of her tattooed crown.
The ring was nothing gaudy. Just right.
I slid it onto her finger.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
“Beautiful,” I agreed, “but not nearly as pretty as you were on that balcony at Xyst. Lights silhouetting you. Dress up. Ass bare. Your pretty little stud gleaming.”
Color flooded her throat; her mouth formed an O before her lips lifted into a coy little smile. “That memory is burned into my mind,” she said, breathier now. “Every time I see my little jewel on the shelf, I—”
“Think of me,” I growled. “Good. Because now I’ve got an idea for your gift to me tonight.”
She bit her lip, her eyes lighting up with mischievous intent. “You do know you’re on Santa’s naughty list, Mr. Volkov?”
“I wrote the list.” I chuckled, tucking her fully under my arm and putting my mouth right by her ear, my voice for her alone.
“And here’s what bad boys get: I take you home.
I set you in front of the window with the city watching.
You keep only those rings on. Everything else comes off.
Then I press you to the glass and fuck the confession of my sins into you—slow at first, so you feel every inch.
Then harder, until you’re clawing at the skyline and telling me exactly how much of a naughty boy I am. ”
Her breath stuttered. The horse shifted, sleigh bells ringing.
“Driver!” I called without looking away from her. “Time for us to go home.”
The blanket rustled; the wheels turned. Snow kept falling—gentle, endless—anointing the city in white while I kissed my wife, tasted peppermint on her tongue, and promised her a Christmas she’d never forget.
Thank you so much for reading Eyes on You !