EPILOGUE – MAKSIM
EPILOGUE
MAKSIM
Zermatt, Switzerland
Two Years Later
The world outside is white and endless, with peaks like frozen waves stretching for miles, swallowing the horizon.
The cabin sits high above the valley, wrapped in a silence so complete it almost feels sacred.
Away from the rush and chaos of home in the city, it’s the kind of peace that makes a man forget he’s ever drawn blood.
Almost.
I cross into the living room, warmth spilling around me, as the faint scent of wood smoke and her perfume hangs in the air.
My eyes are drawn to her instantly. Valentina is standing on the balcony, a heavy fur draped over her shoulders, bare legs peeking through as she leans against the rail, gazing out at the Swiss Alps.
Every instinct in me aches to go to her, to wrap her up, and hold her, but I stay where I am, watching from behind the glass. I can’t help but smile as I drink her in, framed by snow-covered mountains, a view that feels like nothing more than a backdrop to her beauty.
And suddenly, I feel like the luckiest son of a bitch alive.
Maybe I don’t deserve her, or the kind of happiness flooding the cracks of my once-black heart, but I stopped caring about redemption the moment I realized my life meant nothing without her.
Fate’s a vengeful bitch for the cards she dealt me, for the blood, the suffering, but I’d live it all again if it meant falling for this woman and spending forever by her side.
My hand drifts to my pocket, brushing over the small box hidden beneath the fabric.
I’ve stared down the barrel of guns, taken blades to the ribs, and been dragged half-dead through darker nights than I can count. But nothing has ever made my pulse beat like this. It’s strange, knowing fear has never owned me, yet loving her feels like the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done.
And still, I’ve never been more sure of anything.
I take a step closer, and she stills, just a faint glance over her shoulder, breath fogging the air from perfect pink lips. The heavy coat slides down her curves, pooling at her feet.
Instinct takes over, and I shove the glass door open, cold mountain air rushing in. But I don’t feel it. Not yet. Not when adrenaline floods my veins and pounds through every heartbeat.
“You’re going to freeze out here like that,” I murmur, wrapping her against my chest.
She nuzzles closer and kisses my forearm. “Not anymore.”
“Then why are you shivering?” I chuckle, lips brushing her ear.
“Hold me tighter then.” There’s a soft sway in her hips, and I fall into rhythm. “This is probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. It’s like getting a glimpse of heaven.”
“Agreed,” I say, not sparing the view a single glance. My eyes are on her, the only heaven I’ll ever need.
“Valentina…”
Maybe it’s the tone of my voice, but she stills and waits.
“Words will never be enough to describe the way you make me feel…the way my heart beats for you. And only you. I love you.”
I slip the ring onto her finger. She gasps softly, then turns to face me, eyes wide and shining.
“Maksim—”
“Marry me, Kolibri. Be my wife.”
Words that, two years ago, I never imagined would ever leave my lips.
She touches my face, tears gathering in her eyes. “Yes. A hundred times, yes.”
I lift her off her feet and kiss her like it’s the first time—like it’s the last—as if I’ll never get another chance. She melts into me, fingers in my hair, whispering against my mouth,
“In every lifetime…yes.”
“Forever,” I murmur, pulling her closer and capturing her in another heated kiss. When I finally pause, I rest my forehead against hers. “Valentina, I’m sorry for doing this now. I know we have dinner with our parents in two hours, and they expect—”
She presses a finger to my lips and smiles.
“Shut up. This is perfect. You and me. The way we were always meant to be.” Then she nips at my jaw, her voice low and teasing. “Now, let’s go back inside so you can fuck your fiancé.”
I tip my head back and laugh, already giving in to her pull. Always.
My wife.
I can’t wait to say those words and mean them.
We stumble inside, my face buried in her neck, and I set her down by the fireplace. The black velvet box slips from my grip and rolls under a small table.
Before I can move, Valentina bends to grab it, giving me the most perfect view of her plump little ass. I slap what’s mine, and she yelps, the box clattering to the floor again.
“Leave it,” I say, straightening, arms folded across my chest. “I want to see you do that thing you do. On your hands.”
Her eyes narrow slightly, a grin spreading. “A press handstand?”
“Yeah, that. Only slow it down this time, beautiful. I’m trying to see something.”
Valentina bends, palms flat on the hardwood, her legs straddled. She glances back with a glint of mischief just before raising her hips.
“Like this?”
I don’t answer right away. I’m too busy admiring every line and curve I want to taste and get my hands on.
“Fuck,” I breathe. “Just like that.”
Her shorts are skintight, like she’s been sewn into them, and not a single trace of underwear beneath. Perfect. I drop to my knees, hands roaming down her thighs.
“How long can you hold this position for me?”
She laughs, breath coming quick as she balances. “Maybe the real question is...How good and how fast can you break me?”
“Cute.” My fingers trace the seam between her legs. “Let’s find out.”
In one swift motion, I hook my thumbs under the waistband and tear. The sound of fabric splitting fills the room, followed by her startled gasp. Valentina’s balance falters for a second, and she presses harder into the floor, steadying herself as the ruined shorts fall away.
“Max—” she starts, breathless, but it dies on a sharp inhale when I grip her ass and spread her legs wider.
“Shh.” I lean in, my mouth against her pussy, already wet and begging for me. “Focus on your form, Kolibri.”
Her muscles tremble beneath my hands as I drag my tongue up slowly, savoring my favorite dessert. She moans, arms trembling, but she holds herself up—barely.
“Your hands are shaking a little, baby. You okay?” I rasp against her skin, lips brushing her clit. “Don’t drop yet. I’m not even close.”
She lets out a strangled sound that’s half laugh, half plea.
“I’m…I’m good,” she pants.
“Let’s remedy that.” My grip tightens on her hips, keeping her perfectly still as I devour her with long, deep strokes that make her legs quiver. “One thing about Zermatt,” I say, between flicks of my tongue, “the views are unrivaled. Would you agree?”
Another long stroke. Slow and cruel.
“Y-yeah…fuck.” Her voice is broken, desperate. One elbow bends, but she recovers.
Always so goddamn stubborn.
“Beautiful landscape,” I murmur, squeezing her ass cheek with one hand while my finger trails along her seam, then dips inside. “So smooth, so wet. And so damn good.”
Valentina’s balance finally gives when I suction hard, and she collapses, legs folding around my neck. But I don’t let go. I tug her closer, mouth greedy, tongue relentless, holding her upside down like my own little Valentina lollipop.
“Fuck—Maksim—”
I growl against her, drunk on the sound of her coming undone, on the taste that drags every last ounce of control out of me.
“I win.”
My victory is short-lived. Even on the brink of her orgasm, her hands reach into my sweatpants, freeing my cock. She strokes once, then takes me into her mouth.
“Oh, shit,” I hiss, the words strangled when her lips wrap around me. Her tongue teases the head in slow, lazy swirls that make my vision blur for a second.
“Not fair,” I groan, gripping her thighs tighter, still tasting her, still starving for more. She hums, and the vibration shoots straight through me. I curse and steady the tremble in my legs.
“Thought you liked fair play,” she says, mouth full of cock—just how I like her—but still smug as hell.
“I’m still winning,” I bite back, dragging my tongue through her sweet cunt again, rougher this time, forcing her to wimper around me. The sound alone nearly undoes me.
Her rhythm stutters, and I feel the moment she starts to shatter. Her hips twitch, her moans vibrating down my shaft as her breath becomes erratic. I slide my fingers deeper inside her, curling them just right, and that’s all it takes for my girl to fall apart.
Her entire body tightens, trembling as she comes against my mouth. I hold her there through every quiver, devouring every second until she’s panting into my skin.
When she finally goes limp, I ease her down, guiding her onto her back. Her cheeks are flushed, lips swollen, eyes glazed over with pleasure and defiance.
I drag the back of my hand across my mouth and smirk.
“You nearly had me there.”
She gives a breathless laugh, hand still wrapped around me. “Your win is my win too, Maxy. So don’t get a big head.”
I lean over her, bracing my weight on one arm as my other hand slides up her throat. “You sound like someone who wants to lose again.”
Her smile falters just enough to reveal the spark I love most, that mix of challenge and surrender.
“Absolutely. Only win harder this time and make me cry.”