Epilogue Two
ELIJAH
Five Years Later
I’d like to say my son trusts me well enough to take care of his little sister, but there’s a thoughtful expression on his face.
“Dad, Millie won’t stop crying,” he says, peering down at her from his spot on the couch.
“She’s fussing, not crying.” I moved the coffee table, giving us ample space for tummy time. The six-month-old, stretches her arms, noise rattling around her throat.
“We should call Mom,” Ivan suggests. His cousin Sailor recently taught him how to make video calls on his tablet. There’s only two people he likes to call the most: his mother and Yelena. And his favorite subject? Documenting all the ways I fail as a parent.
It’s unsurprising Yelena answers his calls every time.
“We are not bothering your Mom,” I tell my son. It’s girl’s night. Leonora, the introvert, didn’t want to go at first. If Ivan calls she’ll come running back, to do exactly what we’re doing now—hanging out in the living room.
I moved Leonora into the warehouse as soon as Gia came to terms with the idea that her daughter had fallen madly in love with me. One night I slipped a diamond ring on her finger, knowing she needed time to get used to the idea that she’d become my wife one day.
Ivan came next. Leonora decided on honoring her former bodyguard and my best friend.
Three years later, I can’t believe how much my son makes me laugh.
It amazes me how he shares similarities with his namesake despite never meeting him.
But my son goes out of his way to antagonize me, his dear ol’ dad, just like my best friend did.
“Is she hungry?” Ivan asks, from his spot on the couch.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, watching his sister reach for a soft toy.
“I could go for a cookie.”
When I glance at him, he wears the face of an angel. He’s wearing a button-down shirt and pants he picked out. His socks are mismatched and some game plays on his tablet, though, he’s not paying attention to it.
“Turn that off,” I instruct. “And then go and get one for the both of us.”
He scampers off the couch, flinging the pantry door open.
“Easy!” I order.
“I’ve got them,” he calls back, the hellion. “Oh, yep,” he speaks to himself, reminding me of his aunt.
“Come here, son,” I say, worried about what else he’ll get into. I stay by his sister, but crane my neck to keep watch over him.
He holds two chocolate chip cookies in his hand, triumphant on his return.
“Thank you,” I tell him when he hands me one.
“Can we watch the game?” he asks, settling back onto the couch.
“Which one?” I ask, reaching for the remote.
“Grandpa Lev says I need to watch more football,” he says, around his bite of cookie. “Premier League that is.”
“I have a game recorded.” I only did so because I knew about his conversation with Grandpa Lev. “It’s Arsenal against Tottenham.”
“Okay,” Ivan says. Five minutes later, he says, “No, this is boring. Let’s watch hockey.”
That’s my boy.
“Hey, where are you going?” I ask, when his little feet pad against the hardwood.
“I’m going to get my jersey!”
“Don’t throw any of your clothes on the ground,” I call back to him. I’ve made it my mission to ensure his style doesn’t end up like Roma’s, or worse Uncle Dima’s, but his cleaning skills need work.
Hours later, Leonora returns to find us still on the couch. Ivan’s on his side, his head on my lap. I cradle Millie against my shoulder, her favorite spot to sleep.
“What’s this?” Leonora asks, a grin on her face. She bends down, pressing a kiss to my lips. I don’t like it when she steps away. “The great Elijah Zimin tamed by a couple of kids?”
Most wouldn’t believe it, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“How did it go?” I ask.
She wipes crumbs off Ivan’s face. “How many cookies did you let him eat?” she asks, eyes narrowing.
“Like you two don’t go to Russ’s place just to eat cream cheese frosting.”
Her mouth drops, but after a second she kisses me again. “Love you, too.”
She prods Ivan, forcing him off the couch. “We’ve got to brush our teeth before bed.”
“It’s not bed time,” he mumbles, rubbing his eye.
“Your ass looks incredible in that dress,” I tell her as she leads him away.
She shoots me a look, but Ivan’s too tired to understand, his face turning to the TV when the crowd erupts.
“Did we win?” he asks of the Rangers.
“We did,” Leonora says, getting him to the hallway bathroom. “That’s just the highlight reel. You finished the game.”
I take the chance to settle Millie in the nursery.
Since I bought this place, I’ve done everything to create a home. But for years, there were empty bedrooms. Now we’re constantly running around the place, chasing feet down the hallway and worrying if Ivan’s room around the corner is too far away in case something happens.
“Did Millie take her bottle?” Leonora asks, taking off her earrings as she slips into our room. “Do you want the gossip now or later?” She heads toward the shower and jumps when she sees that I’ve followed her. “Elijah! I turned around for two seconds.”
Her eyes run down my naked form.
“I’m very talented,” I tell her, turning on the shower for us.
“I’m not having shower sex,” she tells me. I force her to turn around, my fingers brushing her back as I unzip her black dress. “I’m too old for that.”
“That’s not what you said last night.” I pour shampoo into my hands. “Why are you blushing, love? The image of you on your knees had me hard all day. Your face fucking my cock is award winning.”
She tries to elbow me, but I grab her into a hug, kissing her neck. “I love you, wife. I missed you while you were away.”
“It was only a few hours,” she hums, but bites a smile back. I slap her ass and step out of the shower, letting her have a second.
“Adeline and Cia—” She gasps when she steps out of the bathroom. “Elijah!”
“What?” I ask from my spot on the bed.
“That’s my fancy face mask.” The bed shakes as she climbs in, her body nestling against mine. “Ren got me that from South Korea.”
“You don’t want me to shower, you don’t want me using your skincare. What do you want me for, woman?”
Her fingers trace down my thigh.
“Oh, that.” My cock stirs. I pull the sheet mask off my face and position her on my lap.
“Elijah,” she says again, falling forward slightly.
“I’m old,” I tell her, brushing back a strand of her hair. “And tired. And I love your tits from this angle.”
Her blush amuses me. I know every inch of this woman, but she’s still shy at times.
“Don’t be a cock tease,” I whisper, my fingers pressing into her waist.
Biting her lower lip, she sinks onto my cock and I relish the look on her face. Her eyes glaze as she takes a deep breath. I buck my hips and she throws her head back.
“That’s it, love,” I praise her. “Come on, ride my cock.”
She moves her hips, before shyly glancing down at me.
“Just like that,” I tell her. “Feel my cock inside you? I’ve been waiting all day.”
The blush spreads across her face. She toys with her nipple and I bite back a groan as she rubs herself. Her confidence grows, as she teases herself, putting on a show. I don’t look away, but I do growl when her hand lowers between us.
“Mine,” I tell her, stopping her from touching her clit.
A noise catches in her throat when I circle the nerves and my hips meet hers.
“Come on, love,” I coax her. “I fucking know you need it. Come for me, love. Come for me right now, Leonora.”
Her muscles stiffen, her walls clenching around me. She’s still coming down from her high when I flip her onto her back. I pull back until only the crown of my cock is inside before ramming inside her.
I muffle her cries with a kiss, my hips bucking wildly. Her moans spur me on and it’s not long before my cum coats her insides.
I own every inch of this woman but she’s the one in charge.
She rules my heart.
I kiss her shoulder, rubbing her nipple, as I sink beside her.
“I missed you,” she whispers.
“I kept Ivan from calling you ten different times.”
She laughs against my chest. “Thanks for that. He got your clinginess.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I circle her nipple. Her hand tries to slap mine away, but I’m afraid she’s fighting a losing battle.
“Did he call Grandma Lana instead?”
I don’t respond.
Tracing patterns on my chest, she sighs. “When you think about it, choosing Yelena as his favorite grandparent is a total power move. He’s your kid, after all.”
I frown. “Careful, love. Gia won’t be happy to hear you say that about Yelena or her grandchild.”
She snorts softly, her breath against my skin. “Roma and Re?—”
I make a noise. “I don’t need to know anything about Roma.”
“So no updates on Russ and Max either?”
I shake my head.
“No gossip at all? Not even one tiny tidbit?”
“None.”
She gives me a look of disbelief. “This coming from the biggest know it all on the planet?”
“I’m a tired old man. My focus is my kids and my wife and?—”
“They’re going to announce their marriage tomorrow.”
I groan, flinging an arm over my eyes. “I had such high hopes for her. Honestly.”
Leanora laughs, her hair tickling my chest. “They’re happy.”
“I highly doubt that.”
She shoves my side.
“Fine, fine.” I grab her arms, pulling her in for a kiss. “Who am I to get in the way of love?”
I brush Leonora’s hair back. My hand cups her left cheek, my thumb tracing her scar.
“I know the truth about you, Elijah Zimin.”
“Is that right, Mrs. Zimin?”
My wife smiles bright. “You’re the biggest fucking hopeless romantic, I’ve ever met.”
I drag her in for a kiss. “Only when I’m with you.”