Epilogue
YEARS LATER
Ryo
There was a man breathing heavily against the back of my neck. Almost like a chainsaw that needed oiling. Yet, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
I love him. Completely and utterly.
He was the first to break down my walls and somehow see I was worthy of his love.
Even when I still let my anxiety rule my actions in public and shut down any moment that made us seem like a couple, Link would just tease me back with a wink or a grin, and later he’d reassure me of his feelings for me.
My stomach fluttered.
I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve someone like Link—someone who weathered my moods, distance, and temper and still looked at me like I mattered. Like I was worth loving. It made me feel seen in a way I never had before… and a little terrified of how much that meant to me.
Today, I would prove how much, though.
He would be mine.
I would have my ring on his finger, so everyone knew he was taken.
And I wasn’t only asking him because of the men and women who kept looking at him like they wanted to be in his bed.
Link was mine.
He’d accepted me, flaws and all. I wasn’t about to let him slip away or doubt that I wanted a future together.
Slowly, I slipped out of bed and stood beside it, staring down at the naked man. A sheet covered his lower half, but I intimately knew every inch of him.
He mumbled in his sleep and rolled onto his stomach, pulling my pillow down to hug it. His fully inked back was on display.
There wouldn’t be a day that went by when I didn’t think about how good-looking he was.
How fortunate I was to find the one man who brightened my life with laughs and love.
My heart swelled.
He really was mine, and I would make sure everyone knew. Even when what I would do today would bring my anxiety forward.
For him, I would do this.
With a rush to my pulse, I made my way to the en suite for a shower. I managed to wash my body and hair before a tattooed arm wound around my waist and lips kissed my shoulder.
“Why’d you leave me, snook?”
“You know there are people coming for lunch at Wolf’s. I need to check with Katon that everything is running smoothly.” Wolf didn’t have people coming, I did. I’d reached out to Link’s friends and family to come share this moment, and all of them wanted to be here.
My stomach churned.
Still, I knew I could do this.
For him.
He hummed under his breath and pushed his erection against my arse. “Soon, you can go. You sore after last night?”
My body melted against him at the reminder of the couple of rounds we went through. One was slow and sweet, the other hard and rough. Both I loved because they were with Link.
“No, Link. You always take care of me so well.”
He turned me and took my mouth in a deep kiss. Lips parted as our tongues slid together in an unhurried dance. Each movement was slow and deliberate, meant to savour rather than rush. It left my head light.
When he pulled away, he dipped back in for a nip and suck to my lower lip as he palmed my hard cock. “You want me to take care of this now or later, snook?”
I wanted him now, but I also had things I needed to do.
I wanted everything perfect.
He grinned and kissed my cheek before he stepped out of the way and tapped my arse cheek. “Go, we’ll play later.” I stared down at his erection, and he chuckled. “I can wait, too, baby. Besides, you had me seeing enough stars last night, I doubt I have a drop of cum left in me.”
“Link.” My face warmed.
He chuckled. “You better get going, though, before I change my mind.”
I swept close, kissed him quickly, and rushed from the shower to dry.
“Who’s Wolf got coming again?”
“People who will bore you.”
He snorted. “Baby, I’ll sit through anything if I’ve got you at my side.”
This man.
He was the sweetest one I knew.
“You’re ridiculous,” I told him with a small smile.
He winked. “And you love it.”
I did.
“I’ll meet you next door later?” I asked, wrapping the towel around my waist.
“You got it, snook. Love ya.”
Cheeks warming, I glanced away and then back to whisper, “I love you too.” I rushed from the room with a thundering heart over the thought of soon showing him exactly how much he held my heart and soul.
Link
Since I’d been out on business, I kept on my suit for this lunch Ryo wanted me at and walked through the tunnel from our place to Wolf’s.
Still couldn’t believe Wolf had been all for the secret entrance.
Though, I think Ruin was the one who talked him into it because he was a lot like me and thought it was cool.
Plus, Ryo still worked for Wolf, and it made things a hell’va lot easier getting to and from each other’s place.
Up the stairs, I pushed open the door to the new area in the garage that no one was allowed to enter, and I went to the next door. I pressed my thumb against the security panel, waiting for the beep before the door unlocked and I could open it.
No one questioned how I got in the house or what I was doing there.
They were used to seeing me around, and I knew from the years Ryo and I had been together that Wolf’s people were just as loyal as mine were, and they were paid well to keep their mouths closed.
No doubt they’d have figured out Ryo and I were together.
Ryo still kept any public displays of affection behind closed doors, but anyone could tell I was completely crazy in love with my man.
When I reached the dining room, I pulled the door open and stepped in, then stilled.
“What the fuck?” I breathed, gaze widening.
Trisha was here. My sister and her husband.
Travis, Violet, and Izzy. Bradshaw and some other trusted guards. A few Hawks members, like Talon and Dodge and their families. Then there was Wolf and Ruin.
They’d all turned my way when I’d walked in.
“Ah, I’m not drunk. And I don’t do drugs, so is this an intervention about me and Ryo? There’s no fuckin’ way I’m giving him up.”
Some chuckled.
But I was damn serious.
Ryo shifted out from behind Travis, and he looked a little green around the gills.
Had these fuckers said something to him?
“You good?” I asked, walking his way. “Because even though I liked these guys, I’ll beat the shit outta them.”
Izzy snorted, and there were more chuckles.
But I was goddamn serious.
I ground my teeth together when I realised I was probably fucking up even more by getting everyone’s attention on Ryo.
He’d hate that.
“You don’t need to hurt anyone,” Ryo told me.
Okay. I stopped near him, but not close enough that’d make him uncomfortable in front of people.
“What’s going on?” I asked. “Not that it’s not good to see you all. Especially you, Trisha.” My eyes widened, and I thumbed at Ryo. “Have you met Ryo?” I asked.
Trisha laughed. “I have.”
“Link,” Ryo said.
I faced him, and when he stepped up to stand in front of me, I grinned. “What’s up?”
When he took my hand in his and dropped to one knee, my gut ate my arsehole as my mouth dropped open.
This couldn’t be what I thought.
Holy fuck, was it?
“Lincoln Graham, you’re the most annoying and craziest man I have ever met, and for some insane reason, you picked me to be at your side.
” His voice was low and trembled from nerves.
“The problem is, I want to stay at your side forever and have other people know you’re not available to anyone else but me.
So, the best way to do that would be to marry.
” He drew in a shaky breath. “Will you marry me, Link?”
Jesus Christ.
Jesus motherfucking Christ.
My man had just asked me in front of everyone.
He wanted his ring on my finger. What he didn’t know was that I had a ring back in the bedroom at our place and I’d planned to ask him tonight after dinner.
But this was better.
Way better.
“Link?” Ryo said.
“Answer him, dickhead,” Travis called.
“Don’t call him that,” Ryo clipped, glaring over his shoulder.
Travis grinned.
Reaching down, I helped Ryo to his feet and cupped his cheeks.
“Baby, you wanna make an honest man outta me?”
“It’s more so other people stop looking at you and thinking you’re single when they see no ring.”
Laughter sounded.
My grin grew to a crazy happy one. I held my shaking hand out to him as I said, “Snook, I’d be damned honoured to marry you. When? Tonight?”
Ryo smiled as he slid his ring on. The black-and-silver band was one I would’ve picked for myself. “Not tonight. But soon.”
“Got it. We’ll do it next week.” I leaned in and kissed my man, and for the first time in front of anyone, he pushed against me to kiss me back, wrapping his arms around my neck.
My heart soared.
It was too bad everyone was here, though. I would’ve liked to have fucked my man sweet and slow for being brave like this in front of people.
“Let’s get this fuckin’ party started,” Ruin called.
Pulling back, I smiled at Ryo, who returned it.
“Love you, snook.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my jaw. “I love you, too, Link.”
Christ, I fucking knew Ryo and I would have a happy ever after. He was such a sucker for me, but I was glad he was strong enough to let his walls crumble enough to allow me in.
Now he’d never get rid of me.
“What’s that smile for?” he asked.
“Just thinking about how you’re stuck with me now.”
He rolled his eyes and smiled. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
I kissed the tip of his nose. “Me, either, baby.”
We were fucking perfect for each other.