Epilogue
5 years later
I stifle a giggle as Max and I take adjacent seats on the private plane his ‘brother’ William rented for our family trip to and from their private tropical getaway. It was the first time all three of the men who refer to themselves as beasts (or sometimes lab experiments) got together in one place along with Javier, who they also include in their ranks, even if his connection is more tenuous.
Each of the men has made surreptitious glances back at the one bedroom located in the rear of the plane. Then each shakes his head ever so slightly and continues sitting with a sigh. From what the wives have shared, they all have non-stop libidos, but they’re even more careful with their privacy. So while there might be a door that can be closed, it’s not enough to entice them back there, where everyone will know what they’re doing. Javier might be the exception. I don’t think he gives a damn what anyone is aware of or thinking. But his wife is much more reserved, so I imagine he’s holding back for her sake.
The other wives intimidated me at first with all their scientific advanced degrees. I have a college degree in English, but that’s worlds away from PhDs or Candace’s degree in botany. But when the four of us absconded to the fire pit one evening with a bottle of wine each, the barriers quickly slipped away. They’ve all read Max’s books and had a million questions about how I could find the focus to edit instead of curling up terrified under the covers.
Then we moved on to discussing the men and how each of them has struggled with the genetic inheritance they didn’t ask for.
“It’s taken all this time for Javier to agree to have children,” Lena mused. Her real name is Aileen, but she’s adopted Javier’s pet name for her when she’s not in a professional setting. I think it suits her much better, and I gained a fresh respect for Javier’s insightfulness when I heard her tell the story.
“So are you trying?” Angie asked cheekily. When Lena blushed, she caught herself. “Oops, sorry. Sometimes I talk before I think, especially when there’s wine.” She waved the bottle over her head happily.
“It’s okay,” Lena smiled shyly. “Yes, as soon as we get back home. Javier is very determined to be a responsible parent, and I didn’t want to give up alcohol on this trip so…” She blushed again and took a big sip from her plastic wine glass.
“What about you, Jenna? Are you and Max going to have kids or adopt? Or go the happy childless route like Angie and William?” asked Candace, the only one of us with children so far.
I shrugged. “They messed with Max so much he can’t reproduce with any known species. I’m not saying he would if he could, but… He’s known that for a while, so we haven’t really discussed other options.”
“Do you want to?” Lena asked softly. The inherent therapist in her rising gently to the surface.
“Not really?” I felt guilty even saying it, knowing how many kids in the world need a home. “I love that we can plan the day around our work and find time… whenever…” Then I was the one blushing like a teenager.
Soft sighs echoed around the fire pit. “Yeah, the whenevers are the best,” Angie remarked with a satisfied smile.
Now on the plane watching the other couples, I can tell the women are all equally aware of the opportunity assessed and not taken. Smiles are being bitten back and male thighs patted.
Max leans down to growl in my ear, “Whatever are you feeling so smug about, little one?”
I sigh and lean my head on his shoulder. “I’m ready to get home and back to our own bed,” I reply. His grunt of satisfaction tells me he read adequately between the words.
Don’t think that all this reticence was in evidence on vacation, though. Each couple had a private cabana designed by William himself set well back from each other. And with no set agenda, there were plenty of trips to and from the main house where the food was located. And the beach. Although I have to say Max seemed to delight in dragging me through the vegetation to another little alcove inlet where he would fuck me slowly and completely on the white sand.
“William said we can come back whenever we want,” he murmurs against my hair.
“Hmm. January might be nice, when the snow is six feet deep,” I’m joking because shoveling enough of it to get to the airport might take all the fun out of the trip.
“We could spend Christmas in New York? Then head to the island?”
I raise my head to peer up at him. Maxim Behr voluntarily suggesting spending the holiday in a big city? “Did a mosquito bite you?” I ask suspiciously.
Max smirks down at me. “I enjoy spoiling you, little Jenna. And that’s easier to do in New York than in the backwoods of Maine. And I also love how uninhibited you are in the warmth of the tropics.” He slides one finger down my cheek and I realize he’s thinking about the time we sat naked on the porch of our little getaway with his cock buried deep inside me and watched the stars come out. I don’t know how many times I came that night, but enough to be walking carefully the next day. I stretch up to kiss his cheek.
“We could alway screen in that balcony at home,” I suggest with a smirk, but Max shakes his head.
“It’s only warm enough in August. I will content myself with a nice fire in my study until January.”
I practically shiver with delight. He loves building up the fire and having me ride his cock in his comfy reading chair. I can’t say as I mind either. However, I’m not budging on the rules.
“Not until you get that manuscript finished,” I state firmly, even though we both know I won’t hold out for long. Not even an hour if truth be told.
“Yes, dear,” Max responds mildly, but with a satisfied, smug expression. He knows he’s planted the seed in my brain and by the time we’ve stopped to let the driveway gates open, I’ll be wet and needy.
“Love you, Max,” I mumble into his sleeve.
“And I you, little mate.” The sincerity in his voice tugs at my heartstrings. He hasn’t let up on the adoration or started taking anything for granted, even after all these years.
And if you’re wondering, Diana did get out of prison after six months with time served. Her psyche is apparently twisted but not clinically sick and while she tried to spread her weird alien stories, the movers and shakers in the publishing world had already moved on and they found no traction. Javier keeps loose tabs on her, so we know she’s trying her luck in Hollywood, but sleeping your way to the top is much harder when you’re over forty.
I snuggle into Max’s side. “Maybe all of us should gather in New York for Christmas. We could barge into Nick and Candace’s place.” I say this part loudly and get enthusiastic nods from all parties.
“Fine,” Nick sighs, looking over with a slight smile. “But all bedroom doors must remain unlocked on Christmas morning. Damned if I’m going to be the only one woken up by screaming children at four a.m.”
Max and William look mildly terrified, while Javier is downright smug. He must be thinking Lena will be pregnant by then. Yup, she’s blushing after he leans down to whisper something in her ear. They’re so freaking cute together. I sigh with contentment and kiss Max more thoroughly on the mouth. “I got the absolute best of the brothers, just sayin’,” I whisper in his ear.
The burning look he sends me suggests we might not make it all the way home before he gives in to temptation. I sit back in my seat, content and happy. No, maybe joyful is the best word because Max and I are already living happily ever after.
Thanks for reading!