Epilogue
One month.
It had been one month of pain, nightmares, and fear. One month of being alone, but also a month of recovery. She’d rested, started therapy, and began to understand the complex road ahead.
One month without Adam. They’d speak on the phone every day, but he insisted she stay put. Protocols need to be followed. The vetting needs to be approved. You need to be safe.
Katya understood all of that, or at least she tried, but what drove her insane was his refusal to her confession of love. He’d always stop her, interrupt her. Not yet, little one. Not until we’re together.
Not until today.
Today, they were finally reuniting. Today she’d see him again after a month and she’d make sure to tell him she loved him.
Mate.
The tiger purred its approval within her. Butterflies swarmed in her stomach.
“Are we there, yet?” she asked, looking out the window. “I don’t recognize the area.”
Sarah, who had offered to drive her, smiled.
“It’s a surprise.” She glanced in her direction and must have noticed something on Katya’s face because she hurried to add, “A good one, and we’re almost there.”
“Okay.”
She rolled down the window and took it all in as they drove past. The streets were lined with sidewalks on both sides, dotted with the occasional blooming tree.
Single houses, some with porches and some without, proudly displayed American flags.
Lawns were kept neat and tidy, with an assortment of cars parked in driveways, equally littered with kids’ toys or basketball hoops.
Children played, their excited voices echoing throughout.
A couple strolled with their dog, and a runner sped by, oblivious to them.
The smell of someone barbecuing reached her, mingling with another person’s flowers and the scent of recently cut grass.
A bird squawked loudly, and another dog barked at them from a porch.
“This is Queens,” Sarah said, “And we are here.”
She pulled the car to a stop in front of a modest two-story house with a covered porch and a neat patch of lawn. The door flung open.
Katya’s breath caught. Her heart skipped several beats. She jumped out of the car, running toward him and into his arms. She buried her nose in Adam’s neck, taking in his unique scent, digging her fingertips into the muscles in his back.
“Adam.” She sighed.
“Welcome home, little one,” he whispered into her hair.
She tilted her head to look at him.
“Home?”
He nodded, a sheepish smile crossing his features. “I didn’t want us to go back to that apartment after everything. We needed a fresh start, and I figured—” He shrugged, leaving the sentence hanging. “I assumed, I mean, I hoped.” He cleared his throat, a blush beginning to spread over his neck.
“Yes. All I want is to be by your side.”
Katya grinned and hugged him tighter. He let out a stifled groan and she pulled back.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t ever apologize for hugging me. I’m still a little sore is all.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “Let’s send Sarah back into the city, and then I’ll show you inside.”
They headed toward the smiling woman, and after thanking her for everything and saying their goodbyes, Adam grabbed Katya’s small suitcase and led her into the house.
“Welcome,” he said. “It’s still a mess, but I wanted to buy furniture with you. It’s our home, not only mine.”
Katya beamed. In the living room, boxes were still strewn about, but he’d hung the TV. The dining room was behind it with a modest kitchen at the back.
“I got here last week, and I’ve been working on something I want to show you.
” He climbed the steps. “There’s three bedrooms. One for us.
” He pointed to the end of the hallway. “Another one can be an office or whatever we want, and the last one.” Adam opened the door.
The room had a queen-sized bed, already made, a nightstand, and a white dressing table with a mirror.
“For Irina. When we find her, so she can have a place to stay until she can get back on her feet.”
Katya’s jaw dropped. She flung herself into his arms. He captured her with an oof.
“You didn’t have to do this,” she whispered.
“I know, but I wanted to.” He caressed her hair, leaning his cheek on top of her head.
“I have another surprise.” Taking her by the hand, he led her to the main room.
A king-sized bed dominated the space, made up with a soft blue comforter.
A black six-drawer dresser stood in front, over it a large mirror.
White curtains hung from the windows, giving the room an airy feel.
“We can change it if you like.” He ran his fingers through his hair.
“I liked the blue because it reminded me of your eyes, and I needed a place to sleep—”
Katya smashed her mouth to his. Every ounce of emotion she’d been keeping back for the last month came out in that single moment.
He returned the passion, their lips molding perfectly, their tongues entwining in a dance they’d only done a few times but to which they knew the steps perfectly.
She slid her palms across his shoulders, fumbling with the hem of his shirt.
He understood her request and flung it off.
She trailed her fingertips over his chest, feeling every ridge, every muscle.
Her tips touched the puckered flesh of his shot wound.
She pulled back. It was pink and slightly raised, about four inches long.
“Katya.”
She bent over, gently placing a kiss on it.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Don’t be,” Adam replied, tugging her to her feet. “We wouldn’t be here otherwise.” Spinning her around he pushed her onto the mattress. She fell with a laugh. “Enough talking. I’ve waited over a month to have you and to try out this bed. I promised I’d fuck you raw and I’m not waiting anymore.”
Desire hung in the air. Days and weeks of suppressed longing and lust pressed heavily between them, making their movements choppy and desperate as they slipped out of their clothes.
Katya wet her lips at the sight of Adam in his naked glory.
His cock jutted out, thick and long, the bulbous head already glistening with pre-cum.
He sat on the edge of the bed and grabbing her by the waist, rolled her over so she straddled him.
Tangling his fingers through her hair, he brought her down for another all-consuming kiss.
She placed her hands on his shoulder, mindful of the still fresh wound under his ribs while he kissed a path across her jaw, down over her neck, and finally to her left breast, rolling his togue across the nub.
Katya moaned, pleasure spiking through her and landing hard between her legs, wetting her further.
She ground her hips against him, her slick folds teasing his erection.
“I missed you,” he murmured, switching to her other breast. She threw her head back with a mewl. Unable to wait any longer, she reached between them, guiding him inside. “Fuck,” he groaned. His eyes shut, ecstasy written over every crease of his face.
“I can’t wait anymore, Adam.” Bliss erupted across every ounce of her flesh as she lifted herself, rising until only the thick head remained, then slipped back, riding him fast and urgently. Adam gasped and dug his fingers into her ass, taking hold of her movements, slowing them.
“I’ve missed your touch so badly,” she whimpered, bucking.
He grasped her hips, pumping into her at a slow, steady pace. She moaned, passion building bit by bit, growing into a tsunami which would ripple through her at any moment. The tiger within her bloomed, searching for its mate, desperate to claim what belonged to her.
“That’s it. Show me the stripes, little one,” he groaned.
“I need...” she panted. They picked up the pace in unison.
She slammed down and he pulled her close.
They moved wildly, sweat coating their skin, their moans filling the bedroom.
She teetered on the edge of release. Her canines skimmed her bottom lip.
Katya leaned forward and bit into the soft flesh between his neck and shoulder.
Her orgasm exploded, hitting her like a wave crashing against jagged rocks.
The taste of blood filled her mouth. She trembled as shockwave after shockwave rippled through her.
Adam held her down. Their gazes met. He grunted as he joined her in the throes of ecstasy.
They rocked back and forth, gathering their breaths and regaining consciousness of their surroundings. Adam rolled them to the side, spooning her. She sighed, content.
“Mate,” she said. “You’re my mate, Adam, and I love you.”
She sensed his smile behind her back.
“This is what I was waiting for. This moment. Where it was just the two of us, alone, in our home. I love you too, little one.” He swept back the tendrils of hair which clung to her face and kissed her temple.
****
Katya sleepily reached for her phone. What time was it? They’d been making love on and off for hours, only stopping to order some food.
“Hello?”
“Katya, it’s Eddie. I was calling Adam, but he’s not picking up. We found her. We found Irina.” The excitement from the other end was palpable and she bolted upright. Her heart hammered in her chest and for an instant her vision swam.
“You found her?”
Adam came out of the bathroom with a questioning glance and a towel around his waist.
“They’ve found her,” she whispered, incredulous. He took the phone from her, clearly noticing the tremble in her hands.
“Eddie?” he said. He nodded gravely and grinned. “Got it. Thanks.”
He hung up and looked at her, a big grin on his face.
“They found her, little one. Your battle is over. From now on, it’s all happiness. For Irina, for you, for us.”
She nodded, brushing the tears silently streaming across her cheeks.
“Happiness,” she repeated.
The concept was foreign to her, the last few years having been a constant struggle, but as she watched Adam slip on some boxers, grab a t-shirt and bring it to her, she nodded to herself. Her sister was safe, even if she still had a long road ahead, and she was too.
Happiness.
Adam smiled at her. His eyes shone with love. For the first time in forever, Katya didn’t doubt that next to her mate, her life would indeed be a happy one from that moment onward.
The End