Epilogue - Courtney
“ I f you keep pacing, you’ll wear a hole in my expensive rug,” Maximus jokes, pointing at the patch of carpet I’ve been walking up and down for the last ten minutes.
My nerves are getting the better of me, and I can hardly stay still.
I’ve picked at the skin around my fingers until they’re close to bleeding, and the only reason I’m not still doing it is because Maximus told me he’d spank me so hard I wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week if I carried on hurting myself.
So instead, I’ve taken to pacing in what I’m now sure is a failed attempt at keeping my nerves under control.
It’s been exactly two weeks since Marcus walked in on his dad licking my pussy on the dining room table, and now the timer he set for me is up. I’ve spent the last fourteen days trying to come up with the best way to tell Miles about me and Maximus, and I still have nothing.
I have mentally run over so many scenarios, it actually feels like I’ve already told him. When in reality, he’s walking around blissfully unaware I’m hiding such a big secret.
In the end, Maximus took control and invited Miles round to talk. He said he needed to have a meeting with him about a work-related issue, which was enough to get Miles here on his own. After that, it’s all on me.
Maximus offered to be the one to tell Miles, and as grateful as I am for that, it has to be me—I owe Miles that much. He’s more than just my brother. He’s been like a father to me, and a best friend, too. I owe him much more honesty than I’ve given him over the last few months.
I know he’ll be mad. I just hope he can see how happy I am and forgive me.
There’s a knock on the office door, and I freeze. Maximus is leaning back in his office chair, looking like he doesn’t have a care in the world, with a lazy smirk on his face as he watches my every movement.
“Come in,” he shouts, and Mrs Branch opens the door.
“Miles is here to see you, Mr Morelli,” she replies politely, using the professional tone she only has when we have visitors.
Miles pushes into the room, pausing when he sees me. He looks confused as his gaze rakes over me, no doubt checking to make sure I’m okay, as he didn’t expect to see me here.
Mrs Branch closes the door when Maximus thanks her, before turning to Miles as he points to one of the chairs on the opposite side of his desk. “It’s nice to see you again, Miles. Please, have a seat.”
Miles ignores Maximus completely and walks over to where I’m standing, his brows pinched in confusion. “Court, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
His words sound almost panicked, which only makes me feel worse. I take hold of one of his hands and give him a small, tight smile, as that’s the best I can do.
“I’m fine,” I tell him, as I lead him over to the chairs. He takes one and I sit in the other, but we both stay turned towards each other.
“You don’t sound fine. You look pale as a sheet. What’s going on, Courtney? You’re making me nervous.”
I squeeze his hand reassuringly as I pull in a ragged breath, trying to slow down my racing heart. “It’s nothing bad. I just have some stuff I want to talk to you about.”
Miles’ eyes narrow on me, and he casts a suspicious glance at Maximus, no doubt wondering why he’s here too. I asked him to be, for support, but he obviously doesn’t know that.
“You know you can tell me anything,” Miles says, sounding just like the big brother who has come to my rescue more times than I can count.
“You might not like what I have to say, but I want you to promise that you’ll let me tell you the whole story, and that you’ll hear me out before you get judgemental,” I tell him, fixing him with a hard stare, so he knows this is no-negotiable.
“Okay,” he replies, dragging the word out.
I take in a deep breath and flick my gaze over to Maximus. He’s staring at me with nothing but love and adoration written across his features, and when he nods at me in encouragement, he gives me the strength I need to find my voice.
“Maximus and I are in a relationship. We have been for the last few months, but we’ve been keeping it quiet because we weren’t ready for people to know.
We wanted to explore this thing between us, just the two of us, before we told people about it.
But now we’re both sure how we feel, we have no reason to keep it hidden any longer. ”
A barrage of emotions flicker across Miles’ face, almost like a comical flip chart, and he doesn't seem to be able to decide which one to land on. Mostly he seems confused, but there’s a lot of anger thrown in too, so I’m not at all surprised when his expression turns hard and he glares between us.
“What the fuck? You two are fucking?” he snaps, pointing between us.
Maximus leans forward, looking threatening as he says, “We aren’t just fucking. It’s more than that.”
Miles’ eyes widen comically, and he turns to me before shaking his head in disbelief. “I can’t… I don’t… I’m not sure what the hell to say.”
I squeeze Miles’ hand, but he pulls away from my touch, and I wince as my heart aches from his dismissal. “I’m sorry. I know this is a lot.”
His face twists into disgust as he glares at me. “It’s more than a fucking lot, Courtney. What the hell are you thinking? He’s old enough to be your fucking dad.”
His anger hits a nerve with me, and I fight for my relationship. “I’m very aware of how old he is, Miles, and I don’t care. Maximus is good to me. He takes care of me and makes me feel more beautiful than I ever thought possible. We aren’t just messing around. I love him, and he loves me.”
As soon as I say the last sentence, Miles seems to deflate, looking almost lost as he flicks his gaze between us. “You love him?”
I nod. “More than I thought was possible.”
He screws his eyes shut, like hearing my truth is painful for him. When he opens them again, he addresses Maximus. “Do you feel the same about her?”
Maximus doesn’t hesitate. “I do. I love her, and I want to be with her for as long as she’ll have me.”
Miles lets out a huff that turns into a long sigh. “I don’t know what to say,” he admits, as he runs his fingers through his hair, leaving it disheveled.
I reach over and grab his hand again, smiling when he lets me lace our fingers together instead of pushing me away.
“I’m telling you this because you’re my brother, and you mean the world to me. I want you to be happy for me—for us—and to accept our relationship. I’m not asking for your permission or approval, as I don’t need it, but I’d really love it if you could give it, anyway.”
Miles lifts his lips into a tight smile that I can see is painful for him, but I know he’s trying, and that’s all I can ask for. He’s silent for a while, just looking between us, like he might find something new if he looks hard enough.
Eventually, he lets out another sigh as he squeezes my hand. “I can’t promise I’ll be okay with it straight away, but I will try. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”
I lean forward and throw my arms around his neck, pulling him in for a tight hug as I press a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you,” I whisper into his ear, before pulling away and sitting back in my chair .
Miles then turns to Maximus, his expression stern once more. “I have respect for you as my boss, but we’re not having this conversation in a professional capacity. Right now, you’re my sister’s boyfriend, and I’m her protective older brother.
“She is my entire world, and I will do anything to protect her. You’re more than aware of the lengths I will go to in order to keep her safe, and to make sure she lives a happy life.
“Whilst you are making her happy, and she’s loved and cared for, we won’t have a problem.
But if you hurt her… I don’t give a shit how powerful you are, or how much danger it might put me in, I will take you down.
I will make you pay for every bit of pain you put her through, until you’re begging me to end your life. Do I make myself clear?”
“Miles—” I snap at my brother, shocked that he’d threaten Maximus in such a way.
Maximus holds his hand up, cutting me off from saying anything more. Both men are staring at each other, neither of them blinking as they engage in some sort of pissing contest that makes me roll my eyes at them both.
After far longer than is necessary, Maximus’ lips lift into a smile. “I understand. I won’t ever hurt her, so your threats are unwarranted, but I appreciate them all the same.”
Miles nods, and the two of them share a weird moment of understanding that I can’t even bring myself to understand. Then, just like that, they both lean back and smile as all the tension in the room dissipates, and we’re back to just being three people having a conversation.
Miles’ then gets a wide smile on his face and his eyes sparkle, as he suddenly looks almost excited. “Oh, can I be there when you tell Marcus? He’s going to lose his shit.”
His laughter echoes around the room, and I wince, looking over at Maximus. I silently tell him he can take this one, and I hope like hell Marcus will forgive us.
“Marcus knows. He walked in on us the other day. We made him keep it a secret from you, as Courtney wanted to be the one to tell you in person. He was not happy about keeping things from you, but if it helps, he was more freaked out about this than you were,” Maximus tells him.
“He wanted to tell you, but I made him promise not to,” I add on quickly, hoping that will be enough to save Marcus from Miles’ wrath.
“He walked in on you?” he repeats, his face scrunching up in disgust.
Maximus chuckles wickedly. “Yes. Apparently, he’s going to need a lot of therapy, as well as bleaching his ears and eyes.”
Miles is silent for a second before he throws his head back as a full belly laugh erupts from him. “I can just imagine Marcus overreacting.”
“It will teach him for not knocking,” Maximus replies flippantly.
Miles nods in agreement, as they both laugh over Marcus’ shared pain. After a few minutes, I squeeze Miles’ hand to pull his attention back to me. I shuffle nervously under the weight of his stare, suddenly feeling shy again.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
He looks between Maximus and me, before shrugging his shoulders with a small smile.
“I mean, it’ll take some getting used to.
But honestly, I don’t think any guy you introduced me to would ever be good enough for you.
At least I know that Maximus will do everything in his power to keep you safe, and to take care of you, which is all I’ve ever wanted.
“The idea that my little sister is in love is scary, but I’m glad you’ve found someone who loves you back.” The way he says the last part breaks my heart.
Miles knows all about loving someone who doesn’t love him back. He never recovered after Dee left him, taking a piece of his heart with her when she left all those years ago.
All I’ve ever wanted for him is to find peace, and to find someone who loves him, so it’s not surprising that he wants the same for me.
“I didn’t think I was capable of falling in love, after everything I’ve been through.
But with Maximus, it came as easily as breathing.
There wasn’t any part where I had to think about it.
I just knew that’s how I felt. I can’t even remember what my life was like before he came into it, and I never want to think of what it will be like without him. ”
Miles pulls me in for a hug, which I’m only too happy to return. He leaves shortly after, promising to visit again soon when he’s had some time to process everything. He might not have said he approves, but just knowing he’s going to try is more than enough for me.
Once Miles has left, Maximus wastes no time pulling me onto his lap. He wraps his arms around me and nuzzles his face into my neck as he presses soft kisses along my throat.
I relax into his hold, feeling more loved and cared for than ever before. He presses a kiss just below my ear, his breath sending a shiver down my spine as he whispers to me, “How do you feel now that Miles knows?”
“Relieved,” I tell him. “And also freer, like nothing can hold us back now. I can shout how I feel about you from the rooftops.”
He chuckles at how bright and happy I sound. “I love you, Little Lamb. You’re the best thing to happen to me in a long time. They say you often find love when you least expect it, and I never saw you coming, but now you’re here, I don’t want you to ever leave.”
I press a kiss to his lips, not able to stop smiling as I do. “Good, because I’m not going anywhere. I love you, Maximus Morelli, and you’re stuck with me from now on.”
The End
If you want a sneak peek of what to expect from Prized Possession , keep reading…