Epilogue
RHYDIAN - ONE YEAR LATER
Frost licks up the glass.
The silver ice crackles like a pale spiderweb over the pane. I shiver, not from the cold as the bakery ovens are making me sweat through my apron, but of the creatures lurking out in the snow.
I’ve never been fond of winter. Everything is blanketed in white nothingness.
The cold bites at the flesh. More than the discomfort, my father used to tell me tales of the creatures who would wander into the Woods during the snowy months.
Searching for fresh kills and making meals out of anyone who happened upon their path.
Towering figures that drank blood and crunched bones between their sharp teeth.
A twig snaps from outside, and I jump. Shaking my head, I turn from the window and back to my task. I’m grateful those creatures are far from here. As protector of Dew Hollow, it’d be up to me to run them off, and I’m not particularly thrilled at the idea of becoming a meal.
Depositing the fresh loaves onto the counter to cool, I inhale the yeasty scent of the bread. The familiar aroma conjures up memories of the first time I entered James’s bakery with Bloom by my side.
Bloom.
My heart pounds in my chest. I wish she were here beside me, but I know why she can’t be.
The hour is late, and my need to be beside her is becoming hard to ignore.
I’ll see if her father has any more tasks for me before making the short distance home.
During the cold, I’m grateful we’ve chosen to live so close.
As if my thoughts summoned him, James claps me with a wrinkled palm on the shoulder. His warm smile is an exact mirror of his daughter’s. I’ll never forget the kindness he showed me when we first met. He understood my love for Bloom.
Giving me her hand has been the greatest blessing of my life.
Over the past year, I've come to view him in the same manner as my father. I wish they could’ve met. Their caring natures would’ve suited. Working with him has soothed away some of my misery over the past. The grief is always there, but it’s not as all-consuming as it once was.
“Why don’t you head home. They say the storm is gonna get worse tonight. Take some cinnamon loaves with you. I know Bloom has been craving them.” He jerks his finger towards the door. “And some logs too.”
“Do you have enough? I can chop more before I leave,” I offer.
James shakes his head.
“You’ve got me stocked for several winters, Rhydian. Go home. My daughter needs you. It shouldn’t be long now.”
Excitement makes my heart race.
“It shouldn’t be. Everything is all ready. It’s just a matter of waiting.” I slip on my coat hanging from a peg by the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow. If you need anything—”
“I’ll be fine. You worry worse than her,” James chuckles. “Take tomorrow off. No one is coming to the bakery with this much snow on the ground.”
Nodding my farewell, I set off into the blustering wind.
Snowflakes cling to my eyelashes and hair. I curl in on myself and trudge through the icy ground. If it keeps coming down like this, we’ll be snowed in. While I’d love nothing more than to be trapped inside with my Bloom, it’s paramount we are able to receive guests.
Namely the healer.
Smoke billows from our chimney as light glows behind the snow-packed window panes. Kicking my boots against the door to shake the snow loose, I push open the door and let the warmth envelope me.
Bloom’s lavender scent invades my lungs.
Our little cottage has grown into a home.
A small kitchen is off to the side. The scent of garlic and onions wafts from the pot simmering atop the stove.
A sitting area made of my old furniture and a set of towering bookshelves laden with leather bound tomes make up the front room. The hearth snaps with a raging fire.
My heart crams into my throat as a familiar dark head turns towards me.
Bloom’s hazel eyes glitter like stars. Her beaming smile turns wider as she spies the package in my arm. Her pink tongue licks along her lower lip.
“Is that—”
“Fresh from the oven.” I hold up the package. “Cinnamon bread. Your favorite.”
“You are too good to me.”
Bloom presses down on the couch as she makes to stand, but I race over to her. Settling her back amongst the array of pillows, she rolls her eyes.
“I’m pregnant. Not made of glass. I can stand, Rhy.”
“The healer said you should enjoy the remainder of your pregnancy from bed.”
Bloom sticks out her tongue.
“But the bed is so boring.” Her eyes gleam. “Unless you’re in it with me.”
I chuckle.
“Naughty. Is that any example to set for our child?”
I settle next to her on the seat. My hand falls to her round stomach. The wool gown she has on flows freely over her body. The pale gray is soft to the touch as I feel the press of our baby’s foot against my palm. I marvel at it the same way I did when it first happened.
Bloom smiles up at me, love shining in her eyes.
“He always comes awake when you’re near.”
“I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Me too,” she sighs. “I love him so much, but I need him out of me.”
I nod sympathetically.
Minotaurs can only sire sons. Due to our size, this baby will be much larger than a human one. The discomfort has not hampered our joy but has made us both eager for the end of her pregnancy.
We both enjoyed the first few months immensely once we discovered she was with child. Besides the craving for cinnamon bread, Bloom didn’t experience any morning sickness or fatigue. It was only until she really began to show around the fourth month that things started becoming difficult.
The healer and midwives have all encouraged bed rest, but Bloom is stubborn. It was a fight to keep her out of the bakery, though once she fell asleep with the oven open, that silenced her opposition on the matter.
Bloom looks gorgeous while pregnant.
She glows with an inner light as if the sun radiates from her heart. I had my qualms about getting her in such a state again, but she made it clear that once she is fully recovered from our first, she has every intention of giving him a brother. Maybe two.
Her bravery knows no bounds.
“For you,” I say, handing over the package of bread.
Bloom moans as she rips through the paper. Steam rises from the piece she tears. Popping it into her mouth, her head falls back and the expression normally reserved for when my tongue is buried in her pussy transforms her face.
Pulling off a small hunk, she extends it towards me. I quickly wave her off.
“I’d never take any of your precious bread.”
“You are the beast husband,” she says around a mouthful.
I smile as she devours the whole thing.
Satisfied, she rests a small palm atop her stomach. I cover her hand with mine as our child rolls in her belly. He too is enjoying his grandfather’s loaves.
“There’s stew on the stove if you’re hungry.”
I thumb a trail of cinnamon from the corner of her mouth. Licking it from my finger, I watch Bloom shiver. Her eyes grow heavy as her nipples bead along the front of her gown.
Her breasts are larger since becoming pregnant. More responsive as well. I can make her come just by licking them if she’s worked up enough.
Glancing towards the snowstorm raging outside our window, the solace of an early night with my wife calls to me.
“I’m starving,” I say, lifting my palm from her stomach to cup her breast. “Just not for stew.”
Bloom whimpers as I gently massage her supple mound in my hand. I thumb her nipple through her gown as her head falls back.
“Oh, oh, Rhy—please. I’m so sensitive.” She bats her lashes at me. “Devour me, husband.”
Leaning down, I grin against her lips.
“I can’t say no to you when you look at me like that.” I kiss her firmly. “Or when you’re tasting of cinnamon.”
Lifting her into my arms, she clings to my neck. She practically hums with excitement. I thought once she was pregnant her need for my cock would wane, but if anything it’s only intensified.
She needs me inside of her morning and night. Sometimes I’ll see her gazing out our kitchen window and have to come over to fuck her full of my seed in the middle of the day.
Making Bloom come is my life’s purpose.
“I’ve had you wrapped around my finger from the beginning,” she sighs.
Setting her on her feet, I strip off her gown and find her gloriously naked beneath. Carrying her to the bed, I lay down and fall to my knees. Bloom shakes her head and rolls onto her side. The bed creaks with the movement.
“If you lick my pussy, I’ll fall asleep from the climax.” She pats the sheets behind her. “I need you inside of me, husband.”
I growl at the picture her supple body makes.
She is all softness—all mine. I make quick work of my clothes before sliding up behind her. Gripping my already leaking cock, I slide it through her drenched folds. Bloom whimpers as I slide every inch into her wet, hot perfection.
“Rhy,” she moans. “It’s so good. Perfect.”
“You’re what's perfect, Bloom. I love you so much.”
I withdraw slowly before pushing back in.
Our fevered lovemaking has cooled with her condition. I would love nothing more than to pound Bloom into the mattress, but we have to be careful. She craves it too—the roughness I once took her with.
We’ll get that punishing need back soon enough. All that matters to me is her.
Her responsiveness to my possession is breathtaking. Already she is tightening on my cock. I rock into her in a gentle rhythm. Kissing her neck, my hand trails over her hip and finds her clit.
“Please, Rhydian, I’m so close. One touch and I’ll erupt.” She turns towards me, eyes wide. “Come inside me, my love.”
Capturing her mouth, I groan into her as my fingers work her quickly. I taste her scream as her hips lock and her pussy clamps down on my thrusting cock. I feed her my entire length again as I bottom out inside her. Ropes of sticky come fill her in hot waves.
Her hand reaches behind my back and holds me tight to her.
Even when I’m spent, she wants me inside her, needs our physical connection more once our coupling is done. I play with her clit until the shudders from her climax wane. I lick into her warm mouth one final time before releasing her.
The love I feel for her reflects back at me in her gaze.
“Perfect, husband,” she slurs. “Just what I needed. You know the midwife says sex can induce labor.”
“Did she?” I ask, kissing her temple. “Maybe I should be taking you more thoroughly throughout the day.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Her fingers trace down my arm. “I love you so much, Rhy. Love our growing family.”
The snow batters the window. The icy winds can’t touch us in our cocoon of warm devotion.
“I love you too, Bloom. You are everything to me. Forever.”
I watch her gold-streaked eyes grow tired. A yawn slips from her pink lips as she tucks her head below my chin.
“I was thinking,” she says, “that we should name the babe after our fathers.”
“Really?” She nods. “That’ll be quite the first and middle name for our young son.”
I’d never deny Bloom anything, but my father’s name, Tauryn, doesn’t exactly pair the best with James. Still, if it’s what she wants—
“It’ll be two first names,” she whispers.
My brows pull low. Bloom takes a deep breath as her hand trails down my arm to rest atop my palm.
“The healer and the midwife came by to check on me today, and they are both quite certain that it’s not just one baby.” Her eyes sparkle up at me. “It’s two. Twins.”
My fingers tighten on her stomach as my mouth goes dry. I lean up, but quickly remember I’m still buried inside her. Bloom’s bright gaze banks slightly as she takes in my shock.
“Are you ready for that?” she asks.
I kiss her soundly in answer. Two babies. A miracle. What are the chances?
“As long as you and our sons are healthy and happy, I’m ready for anything.”
Bloom laughs into our kiss. Salt water perfumes the air as our mingling tears rub together atop our cheeks.
I spent years in isolation. Afraid to seek vengeance for my father and start my life beyond my grief.
I would’ve died in that cottage if it hadn’t been for Bloom.
She brought life and love into my world.
She made me into the male I am today. One she can be proud to call her husband.
To be the father of her children. I live each day for her and our family.
“We might want to get some rest while we can.” Bloom burrows into my chest. “Two little ones will be quite the handful.”
I kiss her soft brow and drape the wool blanket over us. Withdrawing from her tightness, I turn her towards me and clutch her close. Her hands curl between our bodies as she quickly drifts to sleep.
Snow pounds against the window, but I’m too happy to give the tales of frost giants any weight at the moment. Creatures like that couldn’t possibly understand the meaning of love. I once thought the same of myself but have since seen the light.
She is resting peacefully in my arms. My love for Bloom fills the room.
Radiant and everlasting.