Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Marcus
2 months later
I come home from work and find my place a disaster. I slowly take in the open boxes around the living room, the fluffy pillows on the couch and chair, and the knickknacks spread all over every surface in the cabin, and smile.
Buddy barks over the sound of music and comes running, happy to have me home. The last couple of days, he’s stayed home with Ryan instead of accompanying me to the shop. I think he likes it better. You know, a comfy bed and a gorgeous woman to hang with all day? What’s not to love.
After giving him a good scratching behind the ears, we take off in search of the woman who brought utter chaos into my world. I find Ryan standing at the counter, reading something on her phone screen before measuring out an ingredient and adding it to a large bowl. I lean against the doorjamb and watch, damn happy to see her making herself at home in the cabin.
This past weekend she officially moved in. It wasn’t easy, considering all her stuff was in California, but we made it work. I went out to her place and helped her pack and then hired a moving company to deliver what she was keeping here. While she opted to sell a lot of her furniture, the amount of clothes this woman has is insane. Like closets and closets full. And don’t get me started on the shoes…
We spent the last two months traveling back and forth, but I admit, she did most of the travel. It was much easier for her to come here, thanks to me owning my own repair shop. I did hire another mechanic to help while I was away, and it was a great decision. It gives me a bit more flexibility to be able to go see Ryan or travel with her for upcoming work trips.
Now, she lives with me.
Me.
Marcus Wright.
I fell in love and moved a woman into my place of solitude.
I never expected that to happen, but when it came to Ryan, I didn’t have a choice. She owns my heart and always will.
She spins around to go to the fridge and jumps. A yelp falls from her lips as her hands go to her mouth. “Holy shit, you scared me.” She runs over and turns down the pop music pumping through the speaker on the counter. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
“I could tell,” I reply, meeting her halfway and taking her in my arms. I press my lips to hers, reveling in the feel of her tongue against mine. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Whatcha making?” I ask, noticing the messy counter.
“Ummm, muffins?”
“Was that a question?” I ask with a chuckle.
“Yeah, well, I’ve never made them before, and Jillian swore they were easy. She sent me a recipe and everything, but I think she’s a liar. This isn’t easy,” she proclaims, clearly frustrated with her first attempt at baking.
“I’ll help you,” I insist, bringing her hand to my mouth and placing a kiss on her knuckles.
“You will?”
“Of course. I just need to shower first.”
She pulls back as her eyes slowly trail down my body. “I’ll help you,” she repeats, a big grin on her lush lips. Lips I hope will be wrapped around my cock in just a little bit.
“What about the muffins?” I ask, not caring in the least what happens to the ingredients.
“What muffins?”
Ryan
I groan and close my eyes, letting the pleasure course through me. This. Being with Marcus. Best. Feeling. Ever.
“Good?” he asks, digging his thumbs into the pads of my foot.
“Your hands are pure magic,” I whisper.
“Just wait. I can do more with these hands,” he says, the innuendo heavy between us.
He continues to rub my feet, the water in the huge tub lapping just below my shoulders. It’s Labor Day weekend, what is dubbed as the end of the summer tourist season. The park is full of families taking advantage of the lake, trails, and cabin rentals one last time before fall approaches.
I’ve officially been a resident of Pine Village for a week now, and I’ve never felt more at home. The townspeople welcomed me with open arms, and while I’m sure fans and members of the media will eventually descend upon this small town, it shouldn’t be what it was the first time.
I was able to get out of the second year of my contract. My dad’s lawyers combed through the documents and found the loophole. I was able to terminate the contract without paying out the ass in penalties. I’ve decided to focus on my makeup line, which is showing steady gains in each report I’m presented.
I’m also returning attention to my YouTube channel. I cover a little bit of everything, from makeup and skincare tips—it’s a fabulous way to promote my product—as well as throwing in random episodes, like showing pieces of what happens on the inside of the business and peeks at life inside our home. Of course, Marcus doesn’t want anything to do with my on-screen presence, but he supports my desire to stay visible and relevant.
Plus, it’s fun. In the last week, I’ve made four YouTube tutorial videos, and all received thousands of views within the first twenty-four hours. I touched on makeup techniques, skincare tips, and even discussed the muffin recipe I’m perfecting.
I’m set up to work from Pine Village. He turned the downstairs bedroom into my home office, so I can still very much be part of running and growing my business. I’ll still have to travel, but at least it’s not back and forth from California to Wisconsin every weekend like it was before I relocated. My first big travel is a trip to Paris. I’ve been a few times over the years, but this is the first time I’m doing it for my own career, not that of my mom or dad. Plus, it’s Marcus’s first trip out of the country, and I’m eager to show him my favorite romantic spots around Paris.
Tonight, after a long day, Marcus surprised me with a bath in his huge tub. It’s not my first one, but it is our first one together. He even went as far as to light some candles I had around the cabin, as well as turn on some romantic country playlist he found on the internet.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks, interrupting my thoughts.
“Paris,” I reply, a dreamy little smile on my lips, as I close my eyes and sink a little lower into the water.
“Yeah?” He switches feet, starting to rub the ball of my left foot.
“Are you excited?”
“To go to Paris?” he asks, then shrugs in response, water glistening off his broad shoulders. “I’m excited to go with you. And fuck you in some fancy French hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower.”
I snort a giggle and shake my head. “Typical Marcus. Always thinking about sex.”
“Always,” he replies, waggling his eyebrows. “Why do you think I agreed to this bath?”
After a few blissful minutes, I ask, “Are you happy?”
He looks up from his task and smiles. “Yeah, Princess. I’m happy.”
I pull my foot from his hands and carefully move until I’m straddling his waist. Pressing my lips to his, I whisper, “Me too.”
He deepens the kiss, his hands cupping my ass and his tongue sliding against mine. “What do you say, Princess. Wanna go get wild with me?”
“I don’t know if you can handle it. I can get pretty wild,” I tease.
“Well, little lady, you’re in luck. I know just how to tame your kinda wild.”
He stands up, completely ignoring the fact we’re both soaking wet, and steps out of the tub. With his hands on my ass, he carries me into our bedroom, the one we now share. I don’t know what our future holds, but as long as he’s by my side, I know we can weather whatever life throws at us.
A country boy and a city girl.
Two completely different people from two opposite worlds.
Who would have guessed it would ever work so well? No one, that’s who. But here we are, proving them wrong day after day.
Together.
That’s so wild.