Epilogue – Río
From across my bedroom overlooking the Pacific Ocean, I throw back my head and yell, “I love you.” Even though only one night has passed since we attended the Oscars, I can’t stop telling Hayden this fact. I guess because I never told anyone else this before in my life.
Big blue eyes soften. “I love you, too.” She walks next to me. “If I didn’t mention this before, thank you for dinner last night. The Inn of the Seventh Ray was phenomenal.”
I raise my hands in the air. “Didn’t hurt that Cole and Rose Manchester were there, did it?”
She puts her hands around my neck. “It was cool meeting them. But you’re the only rockstar who’s caught my eye.”
“Right answer.” Putting my nose in her strawberry blonde hair, I inhale her orange scent, which continues to drive me insane. “I know how you could thank me.”
“With a kiss? I can do that.”
She gets on her tippy-toes and brings her lips to mine. Her sweet kiss blows out of proportion almost immediately. The next second, she’s opened my jeans and rolled them down around my ankles. She’s on her knees.
Her mouth engulfs my hard cock, and I’m done for. It doesn’t matter that I intended to lay her out on the bed and sample her secrets, now that I’m surrounded by her wet mouth, all other bets are off.
She slurps the precum off my tip and sits back on her haunches. “Usually, your top half is on display. I’m happy it’s the other way around now. Only for me.”
“Yes, only for you.” My hips push forward. “But he’s lonely.”
“Can’t have that, can we?”
I don’t have time to even shake my head before I’m engulfed in her mouth again. She sucks hard, causing all the muscles in my body to tighten. So. Good.
Her gaze shifts up to mine. There’s nothing more erotic than seeing my woman with her lips around my most sensitive appendage. I pump, soaking up all the pleasure she’s offering, putting my hand on the back of her head. “Exactly like this.”
Suddenly, I don’t want to come in her mouth—no matter how enticing she’s making it. No. I want her in my bed. Where I can look into her eyes as she comes for me.
With newfound determination, I command, “Stop!”
My desperate tone must have penetrated her haze, as my cock slips free. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Holy hell. No. You did everything right, but I want to make love with you. Not—” I motion to my upright body.
She puts her fingers in her mouth. “Well, alrighty then.”
“In my bed. Naked. Now.”
She walks toward the bed. Over her shoulder, she tosses, “You better make me.”
“Oh, I will alright!” Kicking off my jeans and shoes, I nearly leap to get to her. She’s managed to toss her dress onto the floor. Finishing undressing her will be my pleasure. My fingers go around to her back. “Let me help you.” I unclasp her bra. “Isn’t that better?”
“Let’s take off your shirt so we’re even.” She giggles. “I never thought I’d be naked from the waist up before you.”
I smile. “Hard to believe.”
Her hands push my shirt up my torso. “In a rush, Babysitter?”
“You make me this way.” She pauses. “Besides, your upper body is unreal. I’ll never get enough.”
“Your wish.” I strip buck naked, and toss my shirt over my head. “Now who’s overdressed?” My hands reach out for her panties.
She steps back. “Maybe I want to keep them on.”
The challenge in her voice is cute. “Well, I guess you don’t want me to give you any orgasms tonight then.” I shrug.
“I didn’t say that!” She rolls her panties down her legs. “There. I’m wearing my birthday suit, just like you.”
“You wear it better.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “For your reward, let me give you a warm-up orgasm.” I pick her up and drop her on the bed, following her to the headboard.
Her thighs open to allow me better access and I don’t waste a second of the gift she’s giving me. I lick and suck and explore her pussy, watching as her head thrashes on the pillow. Her body tenses and I give her clit one last bit of attention. Boom! She comes in a loud shout of completion.
Before she can regain her wits, I grab a condom and put myself in a position I’ve never been. On top of her, looking down directly into her blown-out pupils. I swallow hard. “This is a first for me, Hayden.”
My use of her name earns me a double-blink. Then a smile. “Hate to break it to you big guy, but we’ve had sex quite often.”
My chest expands. “True. But never like this.”
I allow her to absorb what I’ve said. “You mean, missionary?”
Leaning down, I kiss her. The fact there’s nothing between us, or I don’t have to turn her head to make contact, feels so right. “Yeah.”
“Here’s a secret. Before you, that’s all I ever did. Usually in the dark. Under blankets.”
I glance around at the moonlight streaming in through the windows overlooking the ocean. We’re on top of the comforter. “Let’s try my version of missionary then.”
“I think I’m going to like it.”
We both really do.
Sometime later, I join her on the balcony. “You have ruined me for every other woman on this planet. You know this, don’t you?”
While staring at her phone, she offers a slight smile. Not the resounding, beaming happy face I expected. Nor does she say anything. “What’s up?”
She holds up her cell. “They went in another direction.”
It takes me a while to process what she said. “Are you talking about the interview you had with that company, Behind the Scenes?”
“It’s Behind the Memories, drummer boy.”
She continues to stare at her phone, folding in on herself. Not dramatic. Not loud.
Just… smaller.
Time goes by in silence, then she nods. Stands. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Never thought I’d hear those words from my babysitter.” My joke earns a smile. Not a fake one, nor halfhearted. Not a full-body one either. But we’re getting there. We walk into the kitchen and share a couple of glasses of sparkling cider.
It’s right. And it’s good.
She’s a bit quieter than usual—but not lost. No. She focused in a way I haven’t seen before.
Later on, in bed, I ask, “Want to make it official?”
She bolts upright. “What?”
I sit up. “Marry me, Hayden. I can’t imagine doing any of this without you. Before I met you, no one cared if I lived or died. Now, I want to build a life with you—whatever that looks like. You, me… Mila too. She’s part of your package and I say this makes me the lucky one.”
“Río, I don’t know. What do I have to offer you? I’m walking in with nothing but debts and responsibilities.”
“Are we back to that? Who cares about money, Babysitter? All I have I’ll gladly share with you.”
“I need to make money.” Hayden adds, “I’ve been tossing around another job I might be suited for.”
I smirk. “In between orgasms?”
She whacks my stomach, then takes a deep breath. “What about administrator for Darren’s scholarship? The foundation has to be growing, and it needs full-time stewardship.” She pauses. “I think I’d be good at that.”
“You’re brilliant, Hayden! I know you’ll be excellent at it!” I kiss her smiling mouth. “We’ll talk with Luke tomorrow at breakfast.”
Hayden’s phone rings. The smile slides off her face as she shows me “The Haverford School” on her screen. Before she can answer, I say, “Put it on speaker.”
She looks like she might argue—but doesn’t. “Hello?”
“Hi, this is Mrs. Smitty from the Haverford School. Mila’s having a bit of a situation. Can you come in?”
Hayden presses her lips together. “I’m across the country right now.”
The need to help rises up fast. I lean toward the phone. “This is River Sullivan. Unfortunately, we’re in Los Angeles. Could you put Mila on? Maybe we could talk with her?”
Blue eyes filled with questions search mine. I nod.
There’s a shuffle, then screaming—loud, raw, cutting straight through the line.
Hayden tries first. “Mila? Hey, it’s me—”
Nothing.
Hayden’s voice wavers.
That does it.
I step in. “Hey, Mila—It’s me, Mr. River.” I glance at Hayden. “I need your help.”
The screaming stutters, just a fraction.
“I’m working on a new song, and I think it needs a triangle. But I can’t figure out where it goes. Can you help me?”
I tap out a rhythm on the table beside me.
Silence.
Hayden freezes.
Then—
“…a triangle?”
“Yup. My new favorite instrument—listen.” I repeat the beat. “Where should it go?”
We bounce ideas around for a minute, building it together. Behind me, Hayden becomes completely still.
“Right there!” Mila says. “That’s where it goes!”
I grin. “I knew you’d know.”
“I’m helping,” she says, proud now.
“You are. Big time.”
Hayden clears her throat softly. “Mila, can you put Mrs. Smitty back on?”
A moment later, the administrator returns.
“She’s calm,” she says. “Whatever you did—it worked. She’s got her triangle and she’s singing.”
Hayden exhales. Her shoulders drop, like something heavy slipped free.
This wasn’t just another phone call.
“Thank you,” Hayden says quietly.
Mrs. Smitty replies, “Of course. We can handle her from here.”
The call ends.
For a second, neither of us moves.
If this is her world… I’m not going anywhere.
Hayden turns to me, her eyes soft in a way I’ve never seen before. “I can’t believe you did that.”
I shrug, but I don’t step back. “Mila’s awesome. I’m glad I could help.” I rest my hands on her shoulders. “I feel pretty lucky to have both of you in my life.”
Her breath catches. She tilts her head up. “You might be something special, Mr. River.”
I grin. “Don’t you forget it.”
I pause, then lean in slightly. “And now that’s handled…I’m still waiting.”
Her brows knit. “Waiting for what?”
“My answer.” I hold her gaze. “Will you marry me?”
She huffs a soft laugh and drops onto the bed. “I liked the way you asked the first time better.”
Not a problem.
I follow her down, bracing myself over her. Clearing my throat, I say, “Miss Vaughn. Mila’s big sister. Soon-to-be scholarship administrator. Love of my life…”
I drop my voice.
“Will you fucking marry me?”
Her expression shifts—soft, certain. “Since you asked so nicely…”
She pauses.
My heart stutters. Once. Twice.
“Yes.”
Not one to allow her even a split second to reassess, I swoop down for another kiss. Which leads to another round of amazing sex. Missionary style.