Epilogue #3
I feel his hands tighten even more over my hip bones, like vices on my delicate skin.
His teeth find my bottom lip, hungrily biting it as the pleasure intensifies between us.
“Baby,” I moan breathlessly.
He releases my lip from his teeth to look up at me. “Oh, baby, you look so perfect like this. My perfect little witch.”
My body is burning from my core to my fingers and my magic is struggling to control itself with the emotions. It steals me away briefly from the moment between us as I try to push the magic below the pleasure.
“Look at me, baby,” he growls. “Eyes on me. It doesn’t control you, you control it.”
I nod, fighting the urge to let it splay from my fingers and create carnage.
We move together fluidly, like our bodies are one.
The pressure builds until it’s too much. He adjusts his hips just right to hit it where I need it most, sending us both toppling off the cliff.
Our bodies fall in a pile on the stairs, panting, trying to find any oxygen left in the room.
He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and holds me to his chest.
“Harri?” he whispers.
I find my voice in the back of my throat, enough to muster a soft yes from my lips.
“Marry me.”
The statement, so tender and soft, is laced with our passion and desire.
I pull myself up to look into his eyes, dazed and confused. “What?”
He smiles that stupid smile I love so much. “Marry me, Harri,” he states again, so causally.
My eyes search his for any doubt, for anything other than what he truly means: him wanting to actually marry me.
“Yes!” I smile. The reality of what he just said hits. “Fuck yes, I’ll marry you.” I almost scream it so I can feel the realness of it.
It makes him chuckle with the way I accept.
He kisses my head and eases me off him onto the step below. “Wait there.” He pulls his jeans up as he runs up the stairs. I wait, unsure of what just happened and what is currently happening.
I hear him rummaging around in his room before he comes back down the stairs.
He sits next to me, his body oozing love. “I was going to ask you tomorrow, but I can’t wait any longer. I need you, Harri.”
He pulls out a small black box. He opens it slowly in front of me. Inside is a striking engagement ring with a large black diamond within a halo of white sparkling diamonds. He takes it out. “May I?” he asks quietly, like it’s just a secret between us.
I nod as he slides the ring on my ring finger. I admire the beauty of it for a moment, the breathtaking black of the middle with the sparkling stars around it.
“It’s beautiful,” I mumble. I look at him, his eyes smiling along with his face. “It’s so beautiful, Sam,” I whisper, still in complete shock.
“It’s been in my family for generations.” He smiles softly. “Very fitting for us I think.”
I nod. “It really is.” I kiss his soft lips gently, savouring the moment where only we exist again in our own private world.
I pull away to look back at the ring, gently fingering the stone to make sure I’m not dreaming right now.
Sam looks at his phone. “OK, so we have been longer than we planned.” He laughs. “Maybe we head back to the cafe? Before Lois and Hannah start talking.” He laughs.
I laugh with him. “Probably for the best.”
He lifts my chin to him, his emerald eyes meeting my sapphires. “You happy, baby?”
My shoulders relax, my gaze softens. “I’m the happiest girl in the world.”
He kisses my forehead, lingering for just a little longer.
“I’m just going to use the bathroom before we go. Sort myself out.” I stand, trying to pull the ripped tights from my body.
He smiles. “OK, baby. I’ll wait downstairs, fiancée.” His grin widens.
“Fiancé.” I grin back pulling myself to my feet and up the stairs to the bathroom.
I close the door softly, allowing myself a moment alone.
The rush of emotions hits me as I stand in front of the mirror admiring the ring now perfectly placed on my finger.
When I was engaged with Greg, the ring felt heavy.
A constant reminder of the burden of our pretend love.
But this, this felt right. Light and beautiful.
I can’t help smiling as I gaze into the blackness of the stone.
My gaze shifts up to meet my own. The girl I once was feels like a ghost now.
In her place is someone new, someone sure of herself.
Who no longer hides behind clothes and makeup to feel beautiful.
A girl who was trying so desperately to be wanted by the wrong people.
Someone who now knows that the dangers to our coven are far from over.
But she is ready. A girl who now feels the strength she had within her the whole time.
Who now believes in everything she is. Who now feels everything so deeply and intensely that the world looks different, sounds different, tastes different even.
Marrying Sam is a dream come true and together our power can do remarkable things for our kind.
It’s everything I could have ever wished for.
But seeing this girl in front of me right now.
Falling in love with her again.
That was the magic within me the whole time.