Epilogue
Specter
A little over a year later
Watching Colson hold court among his friends brings a huge smile to my face.
We’re celebrating his birthday today, and just the fact that he has friends now is amazing.
There’s a mix of dancers and employees from Segreto, as well as most of my brothers, filling the private room at the club I booked.
I can’t believe this is my life now. There’s no way I could have imagined all this the night first I laid eyes on Colson. Married? Me? I laugh to myself as I sip my gin. Never saw it coming, but I couldn’t wait to put a ring on him.
It was a simple ceremony, intimate and extremely romantic, but the week we spent locked in a cabin up north was the best of my life. We learned so much about each other and fell even deeper in love.
Now he’s laughing and tossing his hair back, the happiest I’ve ever seen him. I’m partly responsible for all that happiness, and damn, that feels good. He did the hard work though, reaching out for help, opening his heart, letting people in. He did that.
“Bror.” Wraith comes up behind me, clapping my shoulder. “There are too many sexy people here. I don’t know where to focus.”
Chuckling, I nod. “It’s a hardship.”
“Ah, you lucky shit. You already know you’re getting laid tonight.”
“I do.”
“Did you ever imagine it could be like this?”
I turn to my friend, shaking my head. “Never.”
“But it’s good, yeah? Being locked down to just one person?”
“That person, yeah.”
“Ah, there’s the rub, right? Gotta find the right person.”
“Right. I can’t imagine it with anyone I dated in the past.”
“I’m happy for you. Maybe a wee bit jealous.”
“You never know when it could happen. I didn’t see this coming.”
Wraith exhales slowly, smiling as he watches Rudy and Colson slam back shots. Colson’s eyes search the room until they land on me and he blows me a kiss. I pretend to catch it and wink at him. God, I’m so in love with this man.
“Hey,” Wraith says. “Got a weird favor to ask.”
“What’s up?”
“Want to go to a hockey game with me tomorrow night?”
My brow creases. “Hockey? The fuck?”
“I said it was weird.”
“Okay, but why? You don’t watch sports, do you?”
He shrugs. “I like hockey a little.”
I turn to face him, reluctantly taking my gaze off my man. “Why?”
“It’s work related. I gotta case the place.”
Now I’m really confused. “Dude, what? Your target is at a hockey game?”
“He always is when the team plays at home.”
“We have a hockey team?”
“In Mistone, yeah.” He chuckles. “He’s been hard to find, but he’s always there when they play. He’s related to one of the players.”
“That’s risky. There’s security and a lot of fucking people at sporting events.”
Wraith looks at me like I’m stupid. “I’m not gonna take him out there. I’ll follow him, figure out where he lives.”
“Ah.”
“But I don’t want to stand out like a sore thumb by going alone.”
“Yeah, alright. I’ll tolerate some hockey for you.” I return my gaze to Colson, smiling when I see how happy he looks.
The last year has been the best of my life. He’s still happily dancing at Segreto, and he’s learned how to keep himself distracted when I’m working so he doesn’t worry. But coming home at the end of the night and knowing he’s in my bed waiting for me is a gift I didn’t know I needed.
“Do you know what he did?” I ask.
“Who?”
“The target, Wraith.”
“Oh.” He chuckles, but his gaze is fixed on one of the dancers sitting next to Colson. “Um, blackmailing bullshit, I think. It’s too bad. He’s very good looking. I’d fuck him.”
“He’s young?”
“Late twenties.”
“Must be some pretty major shit to get us involved.”
“Definitely.” He smacks my arm, nodding in the direction of Colson’s friends. “I’m going in. Maybe you won’t be the only one getting laid tonight.”
“Good luck.”
I watch him sidle up next to a pretty blond twink, and I chuckle before making my way through the crowd to get back to my man.
Colson looks up and his smile grows, his eyes heat with love and desire, and his lips part, tempting me to lay him out on this table right in front of everyone.
“Hey, beautiful.” I kiss his cheek as I take the seat next to him.
“Hey, sexy.”
“Are you having fun?”
“So much. Thank you for doing this.”
“I told you you can have anything you want and I meant it.”
He touches my face with his left hand, and I pull it away to admire the sparkling diamond on his ring finger.
It’s not as big as I would’ve gone for, but he didn’t want to be “too much” as he said, and he was right.
It looks perfect on him, like it was always meant to be there.
My ring on his left hand, his parents’ on his right.
“Are you gonna fuck my brains out later tonight?” he whispers, dragging his tongue up my cheek.
“Fuck yeah.”
“Good, because I’m desperate for you.” He leans closer. “Give me your hand.”
I do as he says, watching him curiously as he slips it down the back of his tight pants. My fingers first come into contact with lacy panties that make my cock twitch. I’ve been buying him pretty things for a while, but I never know when he’s going to indulge me.
“A little lower,” he whispers, shifting closer.
I slide my hand lower, into his warm crease, and my breath catches when I make contact with hard silicone. “Damn.”
“Prepped and ready for you, lover.” Colson nuzzles my neck before moving up to my ear and blowing hot air against it. “Every time I move I can feel it and my cock swells. I want you to pound me to the edge of sanity later.”
“That I can do.” I cup his chin, holding his face up so the lights of the club twinkle in his eyes. “You’re so fucking sexy.”
“We make a beautiful couple, mon mari.”
“Yeah, we fucking do, husband.” I grin every time I say the word “husband.”
“Husband,” Colson repeats before pressing our lips together.
I kiss him deeply, ignoring the catcalling and cheers from our friends. Colson practically crawls out of his chair onto my lap as his hands twist through my hair, then someone yells, “Get a room.”
We break the kiss, pressing our foreheads together and laughing softly.
“We should do exactly that,” Colson says.
“Get a room?”
“Or go to our room. I’m ready.”
“I won’t complain about that.”
I get to my feet and we start saying our goodbyes. I’ve made sure the tab is paid for whenever the party ends, so I assure everyone they should keep enjoying themselves as long as they like.
We step out into the cold winter air and I pull Colson closer as I hand my ticket to the valet driver. I wrap my coat around Colson as he presses against me. It’s starting to snow, which has taken on a romantic air to me since meeting Colson. I love cuddling with him on a cold, snowy night.
“I have an idea for your birthday,” he says. “I think you’ll like it.”
“As long as I’m with you, I will.”
“You don’t even want a hint?”
I shake my head, lost in his pretty eyes. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll love it.”
“Like you love me?”
“Like I love you.”
“Quelle belle vie.”
Smiling, I brush my thumb across his chin. “A beautiful life indeed.”