Epilogue
VIVIAN
I t takes a few weeks of healing and therapy for Declan to get back to being mobile without any assistive devices, which he refuses to use anyway. While he heals, I work nonstop at the office and remotely when I’m with him to clear off my caseload. I’m sad to be leaving my job after all I have accomplished there, but I refuse to be without Declan any longer.
Declan offers to move to DC for me, a gesture I am sure is due to the drugs when he first brings it up. But the third time he offers, I give it some serious thought. Declan’s entire life—his brothers, his business, his home—is all back in Massachusetts. I can’t ask him to move; I know what it’s like to leave stuff behind.
Besides, wherever Declan is, that’s home for me.
It amazes me how my love for him hasn’t faded in the slightest in all the years we’ve been apart. It’s like my feelings were frozen, and seeing him again has thawed them out. Every interaction between us only makes my heart love him more.
Of course, he is still Declan—overstepping and doing whatever he thinks is best for me. Like when he has two guards assigned to follow me at all times when I’m not with him. Or when he had my entire condo packed up and moved me into the home he and his brothers own just outside of DC. Then again to move me back to Massachusetts.
I know he will get me things; that’s Declan. And now that he is one of the richest men in the country, there is no stopping him. So, when my jacket has a small rip, he buys me four Canada Goose coats. And when I say in passing my hair looks ragged and I’m overdue for a trim, he has the most renowned stylist, along with three assistants, come to the hospital and give me a complete treatment lasting 6 hours.
I appreciate his generosity, but I don’t need it. I don’t want him to lavish me with expensive things or try to buy my love. It’s unnecessary and silly. I’m not with Declan because he can give me everything and anything. I’m with him because being in love with Declan Falco is the only thing I am 100% sure is right in this world.
I do have to admit, the perks of him being a billionaire are pretty sweet. I mean, I’m never going to be as satisfied with a first-class flight as I am with a flight in the Falco private jet. That plane may be the second love of my life.
Now that we are in Massachusetts, things feel more settled. Declan and I live in his apartment in Fall River. Of course this apartment is the size of a family home in an old mill building minutes from the Falco International Headquarters.
Each day since returning, I head out and check out the community centers surrounding us where I might work. Declan, of course, tells me I don’t have to work, but I want to. Helping people, especially kids who are growing up like I had, is such an amazing thing. But while there are plenty of opportunities, none of them seem like a good fit. Today I went and checked out a youth center in New Bedford, but they were adequately staffed, and kindly turned me down.
I get home just as Declan is finishing up his PT in the gym. I don’t want to disturb him and instead walk back to our bedroom. I’m ready to change into my comfy clothes and settle down for the night. It has become a routine at the end of the day for Declan and me to have dinner, then settle in for a couple of episodes of something fun—most recently, Bob’s Burgers.
I’m just kicking off my shoes when Declan enters the room, shedding his T-shirt as he does. His wounds are healing beautifully, and his body is as muscular as ever. You’d never know what he has been through just by looking at him. This is what I love most: us just being together doing ordinary things. His body is also a nice bonus.
I am positively ogling him when Declan says something I can’t hear over my horny thoughts.
“Huh?” I say as Declan puts on a shirt and draws me back to the here and now.
I watch him smirk, but I don’t care. He is mine. And after years of denying that he could ever be mine again, I will take all his smirks and teasing. I feel so much happiness and peace now that we are back together. It just feels so right.
“I said I have to go somewhere,” Declan says as he buttons up the shirt he’s put on.
His words break me free from my peaceful fog. “What? Where?” I ask him. He’s supposed to be off duty until his PT is complete, which isn’t for another three to four weeks, depending on his progress. I feel my blood start to boil at him not doing what has been agreed upon.
“There’s something I have to deal with,” Declan says, offering me absolutely no inkling of what it is he has to do.
“What do you mean there’s something you have to deal with?” I demand. “You said you were off; that was the deal. You’re gonna get hurt if you push yourself too hard!” I finish hotly, my anger flaring, and my voice rising right along with it.
“This can’t wait,” he says flatly, tucking in his shirt and momentarily distracting me. It’s crazy—ever since we’ve gotten back together, I’m a horny teenage boy with this man’s every move.
“Declan, we agreed—”
“Vivian, somethings I handle can’t wait. I’m sorry. But if you are concerned, you’re welcome to come if you need to babysit me,” Declan informs me.
“Babysit you?” I can feel the anger rising in me like flames—a reaction only Declan can elicit in me. The way this man can rock my emotions from sexually hot to hell flames angry is unreal. “Yeah, I think babysitting is exactly what you need.”
Declan gives me his trademark flat stare. “Okay, you can come along if you want to watch me.”
Twenty minutes later, we leave the city and drive to a heavily wooded area in the middle of nowhere. There’s been silence between us ever since we left. I’ve come to make sure Declan doesn’t do anything stupid, but I refuse to make conversation with him. I’m super pissed at him for working so much and not taking care of himself, so I give him the cold shoulder for the entire ride. I know I’m being petty and childish, but I’ll worry about that later, when he’s home and resting.
I’m staring out the window at the forest of trees around us when the car turns down a gravel laneway. We move down it slowly, passing a large brick building, and keep going. I glance over at Declan, hoping for a clue, but he’s preoccupied with something on his phone.
I refocus my attention back out the window as the car turns from the laneway onto a long driveway. The trees are thick on either side of the path, but then they suddenly open up to reveal an huge old house with a large wraparound porch. We pull to a stop in front of it, but before I can ask Declan what’s going on, he’s out of the car. He moves faster than I expect him to, so I guess his PT is going pretty well.
I go to open my door, but as always, Declan is there to open it for me, offering his hand. I take it and glance at him, but his eyes are focused on the house as we walk up to it.
When we reach the front steps, I start to feel anxious. “Declan?”
“You’ll see,” he says, as if already knowing my question.
Declan opens the door, and I follow him inside. Before me is a beautiful foyer with freshly sanded pine wood floors and tons of windows letting in natural light. I take in the space, noting the wooden stairs that look like they’re mid-refurbish.
“Declan, what is this?” I ask, finally looking at him. When I do, I find him watching me instead of the house. He’s silent, studying me, and something about his expression feels off. Then a thought hits me when I recognize what I see in his face. “Declan, are you nervous?” I ask.
DECLAN
No one ever makes me nervous. Ever.
Except for Vivian.
Despite all our years apart, no one could ever read me like she does. And, of course, she’s right—I’m extremely nervous.
I took a shot that she would demand to come once I told her I was going out to work. Was it the best idea to anger her just before getting in a car with her for over twenty minutes? Nope, but I was pretty sure it would work for my plan, and it had paid off.
I want to give Vivian the world. I want it all to be perfect for her. Making her happy has been the only thing that got me through our time apart. Nothing brings me as much joy as seeing her happy, and I really hope this surprise will do that. I want her to love it as much as I believe she will.
So yes, I’m beyond nervous that she’ll hate this surprise I have for her—that I’ll fail her and make her unhappy.
I push through the nerves and finally tell her what is going on, “I bought this for you,” I tell her.
Vivian stares at me in complete silence. It feels like years pass, and we end up in a tense, awkward standoff in the beautiful entryway, just staring at each other.
Finally, Vivian says something. “Huh?”
My heart thunders in my chest at her response because—what the hell does that mean? “I said I bought this for you,” I repeat, gesturing around us. “Well, for us. As a home.”
Since reuniting, I’ve subtly lavished Vivian with gifts, careful not to overwhelm her. I know material things have never mattered to her, so I keep my gifts frequent but simple. And when I overstep—like having her entire apartment packed and moved while she’s at work—it hasn’t gone well. I’m not sure how she’ll take this gift, which she might see as extravagant.
When she still doesn’t respond, I do what any man would do: I keep talking.
“See, this property used to be a farm, and this was the main house. I’ve had some work done to shore up the structure and added more space to the back, but other than that, it’s a blank slate. And that brick building we passed? I thought we could make that into an office. For you. I thought you might like to start an organization like the one you worked at in DC—your own thing.
“And beyond the house, if you go down the laneway, there’s a lake with brooks, trails, and an old camp. I was thinking we could use it as a camp for underprivileged kids, if you wanted. And there’s more space, so maybe we could build a section for people who need emergency services and—oof.”
I don’t get to finish because Vivian crashes into me, squeezing my chest. It hurts, but I don’t say anything. I take it as a very good sign—and I’m too happy to care about the pain.
“Do you like it?” I ask, trying to keep the discomfort out of my voice.
“Oh my God, Declan, you’re amazing!” she shrieks. “I can’t believe you did all this for me—all while you’re supposed to be taking care of yourself. Oh my God, your chest! I must be killing you,” she says, immediately pulling away.
But I don’t let her get far. I pull her back, wrapping my arms around her. She returns the embrace, though much gentler this time.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” I say, kissing her forehead. “I want you to do what you love and be happy in our life together.”
“This must have cost a fortune,” she says, looking around.
“Vivian, I’m a fucking billionaire,” I remind her. “I make money just breathing, and you are my reason for breathing. I would go bankrupt to show you how much I love you.”
Tears fill Vivian’s eyes and spill down her cheeks as she leans her head against my chest, sobbing.
“Babe, what is it? What did I do? I’ll fix it,” I say, panicking.
Vivian sniffles and pulls back, and I wipe her cheeks as she speaks. “Declan, you’ve done nothing wrong. I’m just so glad I get to have your love—that we get to love each other again. You’re so perfect.”
I huff a laugh. “I’ll never be perfect, but I promise I’ll always love you.” I lean down, placing a soft kiss on her lips. “Can I show you our home now?”
A smile spreads across her face, and she nods. I grab her hand, kiss it, and lead her through the house, giving her a tour. I’ve left the finishes undone so she can pick them out herself.
When we reach what will be the master bedroom, I pull Vivian over to a large bay window with a window seat. We stand together, looking out over the backyard, my arms wrapped around her from behind.
“Hey, Declan,” she says softly.
“Yes, baby?”
“Can we christen our bedroom?” she asks innocently.
I feel myself harden at her question, and by the way she shifts against me, she feels it too. “I guess that’s a yes.”
Vivian turns in my arms, wrapping hers around my neck, and pulls me down for a kiss. She’s wearing a dress, and I silently thank her for today’s outfit choice and the ease it provides me to get my hands on her bare skin. I grab her waist and lift her onto the window seat.
“Declan, you’re going to hurt yourself,” she scolds, placing her hands on my chest to push me back.
I grab her hands and pin them to her sides, pushing my face into hers. “If I don’t get inside you, I’m gonna be in way more pain than when I was shot,” I growl. I seal my mouth over hers, sliding my hands down to the hem of her dress and pushing it up to her waist.
My thumb brushes over the fabric of her panties, and I smile against her lips when I find them wet. “Seems like you were eager to christen this room,” I tease before kissing her again.
I slide my thumb back-and-forth over her wet panties, and drink down the muffled whimpers that come out of her mouth into mine. I slip my thumb under the fabric and gently sweep it over Vivian’s swollen clit. At the touch Vivian locks her legs around my waist and scoots her body closer to my hand. She flexes her hips up and down, and I can tell she is trying to feel more. She doesn’t want the slow, leisurely pace I am using now.
“Let’s not rush,” I say against her lips.
“Declan please,” she begs. “I need you. Please.”
I drag my mouth from hers and kiss my way across to her neck, “Vivian I want to savor you,” I tell her.
Vivian groans in frustration and moves to my pants, undoing them and sliding her hands inside. She wraps one hand around my hard cock and cups my sack with her other hands. “No Declan,” she says firmly, giving my cock a stroke, “I need you to fuck me.”
I freeze and groan as rising pleasure races through me at Vivian’s hands on my painfully hard shaft. I realize I have no choice but to comply with her demands. I mean, what could a man do? Vivian quite literally had me by the balls.
Vivian strokes my cock and I almost come right there in her hands. I push her hands off so I don't come too fast, move my pants out of the way, and rip her panties off. Vivian pulls my face to hers and fuses our mouths together as I sheath myself inside her tight heat.
“Oh God Declan,” Vivian whimpers against my mouth. “So good.”
“Always so good with you Vivian,” I tell her as I grab her hips, tilting them back and slamming into her. I know what my girl needs, and this angle hits just what she likes. I move in and out of her, my pace ratcheting up with each stroke. Sweat beads on my forehead as I hold myself back, feeling her wetness flood around me.
I feel Vivian quiver around my hard cock as I move inside her. Her mouth leaves mine as she drops her head back and moans as her orgasm hits her.
Watching Vivian come is my 8th wonder of the world. It’s beautiful, and hypnotizing and just so fucking hot that I can never last once I watch her pleasure rock through her. And this time is no different as I feel the tingling down my spine and hasten my pace until my own orgasm barrels through me and I call out as I fill her with my seed.
Afterward, we stay in each other’s arms until our breathing steadies and our heartbeats return to normal.
“Any other rooms you want to christen?” I ask as I run my fingers through her silky black strands.
Vivian laughs against my chest. “Let’s not rush,” she suggests, throwing my earlier words back at me.
“Okay,” I say, brushing her hair back from her face.
She smiles up at me. “I love you, Declan.”
“I love you too, Vivian. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Tears shine in her eyes as she looks thoughtful for a moment. “Maybe just one more room?” she offers with a mischievous smile.
I feel one of my rare smiles spread across my face as I scoop her up despite her protests that she’s too heavy. I carry her to the attached bathroom, already planning to show her just how much I love her. Again.
If giving her this house gets this kind of reaction, I can’t wait to see what happens when I propose.
And They Lived Happily Ever After