Epilogue
Astoria
Five Years Later
“Pretty bird,” he sings in a whisper into my ear then kisses my cheek from above.
I'm lying belly down on our bed, both my hands are flat on the pillow underneath my cheek and ear, hearing the Mediterranean sea through our tiny balcony, not wanting to open my eyes. The salty air tickles my nose. “Hmm.”
“Come on sleepyhead, wake up. Today is a very special day," he sings. "I have a surprise for you.”
"Hmm."
"Oh, I know what you need. You've been dying to be fucked. You think I don't know?"
My eyes flash open at his words and at his palms caressing down the side of my body. Right across from the bed is the shimmering sea view I love.
He opens my legs and slips his fingers into my pussy. I moan and open up even more for him. For a whole month now, Asher hasn't touched me. I was beginning to wonder if something was wrong. At this moment, I'm so grateful. His fingers massage my insides, sending immense relief to every part of my body. He's right, I've been tense for it. Dying. But I hide it.
"Does that help? No?" He hurries the pace, pulling panting and another moan from me. "This is what you need. Isn't it? You're already wet, you little fucking slut."
I whimper as he fingers me faster. The hard slap to my bare ass cheek startles me. "Fuck. I'm awake. I'm awake–"
He chuckles. "Mmm. Too late. Now I'm gonna fuck you, so you can't go back to sleep."
"Ash–Asher, I'm awake."
"Turn around. I want to see your face." In one move, he flips my body and within a second, his dick slams into my pussy, stealing my breath.
"Oh, fuck," I manage to whisper. He's too big. "Fuck, Asher. That hurts." My pussy must have tightened in the time he hadn't touched me. I can't focus on anything else as his cock rubs against my walls, stretching them. I whimper. His hands intertwine with mine, pinning me down.
"Mmmm. So fucking juicy and tight, just like the first time I tried to get you pregnant."
I meet his gaze, shocked at his words. "What?"
With a cunning smile, he lowers his lips to my ears. "You're ovulating baby."
I gasp, search his eyes for the joke, and try to hide my horror. His expression holds the very same glee as that day. I know he's been waiting for me to be ready for pregnancy again. He's cautiously asked me for a baby before and I've blatantly refused. "Julian…" That's all I can say with how fast and hard he thrusts into me. I shake my head at him and his smile widens.
His tongue drags between his lips. "Yes, pretty bird. Come on, you know what I want. I wanna see that belly again."
I lose myself in the aggressive, possessive kiss he attacks me with while pummeling me. My whimpers, and our panting mix with the sound of the sea from not too far away. Julian hooks his arm under my knee, lifting it to open more of me while his lips muffles my scream. I break the kiss. "Julian–"
"You're gonna be a good girl and let me put a baby in you. Right now. Right. Fucking. Now!" he growls while I whimper, feeling helpless.
"Julian. I can't–"
"Yes, you can. You're going to take it. Take all my come and become our baby's mother." He pushes it in deep and holds it there.
"A-h! Fuck!" I arch my neck.
"Just like that... You like it. I know you do. Come for me. Let me feel that greedy cunt beg me for my sperm." He fucks me while sucking on my breasts.
I gasp. "Oh my God–what are you doing? Julian, please. Don't–" I'm losing my courage, panicking as my climax builds.
"That's it, baby. Always such a good girl, my good slut. Come for me. I need to feel you come." My eyes flutter closed at the feel of his mouth sucking on me. "Please." When he begs, I lose it.
"Say it again."
"Come for me, Tory. I'm starving for you. Please."
"Oh my G-god." I moan as my body tightens. "S-say it… Again."
"I fucking love you. Come for me, pretty bird. Please. Please."
"Holy fuck!" We both repeat, and come at the same time.
"I love you," I cry.
"God dammit, I fucking love you," he cusses as he fucks me a few times more while I try to not faint. Julian forehead collapses on my chest, pushing his cock as deep into me as possible while I scratch his skin raw, sobbing.
The rage fires out of me. "What the fuck was that?" I yell at him after he's rolled off me and we've caught our breaths.
He opens the drawer from his night stand, and holds something small between his fore and middle fingers, then turns back to me. I grab for it but he pulls it away. "Pretty bird."
My gaze meets his. "It's your choice. This pill will prevent the pregnancy. I only have one request."
"What?"
"Can you please wait until the end of the night to take it? Just… give it some thought."
I sigh, close my eyes, and when I open them again, I nod at him. He hands me over the pill enclosed in a plastic pouch, and smiles before kissing my forehead. "Thank you. And happy birthday. Now, you made us late so get up and get ready fast 'cause I obviously have a big surprise for you.”
“You’re so weird, Asher. You care way too much about dates and anniversaries.”
“You're going to love this so much you’re going to worship the ground I walk on.” He kisses my fisted hand, the one holding the pill and then turns away to get off the bed.
“I already worship the ground you walk on, you idiot.”
“Not like this.”
I giggle. “Okay, fine. But you better let me sleep in tomorrow.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let’s go. Hurry up." I follow him to the shower.
It’s August, the hottest month of the year in Monaco, so after showering, I take out the long, royal green silk jumpsuit Asher bought me last month with the matching spiky, green two-inch high heels. After many arguments, we settled on no more than three inches for my shoes. I'm hurrying because Asher finished showering and dressing a long time ago. I throw the pill he gave me in my tiny purse. What the hell was all that about anyway?
When I arrive down stairs, Asher is standing by the archway to the patio, enjoying the ocean view.My three babies run from him to me, meowing, and gathering around me the minute they see me.
"Don't believe those liars. I already fed them," he yells so that I can hear.
I chuckle at their love-hate relationship. Asher is always talking about controlling their diet but the giant fish he feeds them every week is the reason they're so fat. I rake my nails through their fur. "I'll be back soon, babies."
Asher walks to me and lifts his folded arm so that I hook onto him. He can barely contain the smug smile. I roll my eyes at his obsession with gifts. While driving around the coast, I say, “It’s such an amazing day today. But–”
“But you’re starving. Yes, I know. We’ll be there in a few minutes. Can you please put on some red lipstick? I want you to look otherworldly.”
I fake a glare toward him. “I thought I always looked otherworldly.”
“Right now you look angelic. Come on. Just this once can you listen to me without arguing?”
“Fine. But red lipstick for breakfast is a bit much.”
“It's perfect for brunch so put it on."
He parks on the side of the road and the valet takes the car. It’s my favorite restaurant, which hangs from the cliffside with an amazing view of the sea right under.
“Baby, the restaurant is closed at this time on Saturdays,” I warn.
“Not for us, not today. Come.” He takes my hand, leading me and almost walking too fast all the way to the back of the restaurant, where I find Mindy, with her two kids and Fernando. I stop walking, covering my mouth. “Oh my God.”I turn my eyes to Asher. There's a full smile on his face. He knows this means the world to me. I thought I'd never see her in person again because of what happened in Mexico.
Asher stands to the side as Mindy hands over the baby to Fernando, pushes past everything, and runs towards me. She pulls me into a hug.
“Oh my God! I can’t believe you’re here. What-how?”I ask.
“The doctor here arranged everything for your birthday.” She takes a peek at Asher.
“Asher, please,” he corrects her.
She smiles at me and whispers into my ear, “I still cannot believe you ended up with the doctor after all.”
“You’ve known this for five years.”
“Seeing is believing, girl. Come.” She pulls me by the hand toward her family. As we walk, I smile at Asher behind me several times.I hate that his smile is screaming, I told you so , and that he's right.
Fernando and I hug and kiss on the cheek. “It’s good to see you well and happy,” he says to me.
“Thank you for being such a good partner to my friend,” I reply.
When we're seated, Mindy immediately passes me her ten-month-old baby. “Here, I’ve been dealing with these two heathens for ten months, now it’s your turn,” she jokes.
The baby girl and I stare at each other for the longest time. Time seems to stop. Her hand reaches for my wet cheeks. Maybe this is the first time she’s ever seen an adult crying. My eyes pop over to Asher only to find him studying me with a serious, concerned expression as if he's worried how much this will affect me.
There’s a silent exchange of thoughts between us. Now I know what this morning was about and it crushes my heart. Asher knew meeting Mindy's baby would remind me of the one we lost. Instead, he wanted me to think of the one we could create. I smile at him and give him a nod which fills him with glee.
We sit for hours having the best food, in the best place in the world, with my best friends.