Epilogue
Albrecht
T he large stage sits in the middle of a vast vineyard, surrounded by leaves tinged with hues of gold and red. I sit in the audience with Giselle’s family and hundreds of other captivated ballet lovers who’ve traveled from near and far for this event. The Dance Among the Vines festival is on its final day of shows this weekend, and Giselle is currently performing a solo that takes my breath away.
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we first met, and everything we both dreamed of last October has come to fruition. I’m fully settled into living here with Giselle and have successfully opened a North American branch of my family’s real estate investments here in California. Giselle developed her idea for this festival in the spring, and it was such a success that she decided to host another in the autumn. It’s amazing how quickly word spreads and it’s attracting dancers from all over the world. And it’s all because of her—her vision, her dedication, her talent. I’ve never been more proud of anyone in my life.
As she dances, I can’t help but feel a sense of awe. How did I get so lucky? To be here, watching the woman I love do what she was born to do. I pinch myself that I get to be the man who takes her home and shows her just how incredible she is by worshiping every inch of her. This past year together has truly been the best year of my life. I’m finally free to live the life I thought was never possible before I met her.
Her dance ends to thunderous applause, and I’m on my feet, clapping and cheering louder than anyone. Giselle takes a bow, her eyes scanning the crowd until they find mine. The smile she gives me lights up her whole face, and I feel my heart swell with pride. That’s my sunshine.
After the festival wraps up and the crowds are long gone, I wait for her backstage. The energy is high, dancers buzzing with excitement after another successful run. I watch as they all take turns thanking her for the experience. When she finally says her last goodbyes, she walks over to me and I can’t help but pull her into my arms, kissing her with all the admiration and love I feel.
“You were incredible,” I whisper against her lips.
“Thank you,” she says, a little breathless, her cheeks flushed. “Take me home?”
“I’ve got you,” I say, taking her hand and leading her toward the car.
When we get back to the cottage, I run Giselle a bath while she changes out of her ballet clothes and takes all the bobby pins out of her hair. It’s become a routine of ours after her performances. I make sure to pour in some lavender epsom salts to relieve her muscles, before lighting some pumpkin spice candles to create a relaxing vibe.
She walks into the bathroom, completely naked, and I can’t help but pause what I’m doing and take my fill of her beauty.
“Want to join me?” she asks with a smirk as she takes in my perusal of her gorgeous body.
“Are you sure? It may not be as relaxing if I get in there because I won’t be able to keep my hands off of you.”
“I’m okay with that. It’ll be a different kind of relaxing,” she says with a wink.
I don’t waste any time chucking off my clothes, while Giselle sits on the edge of the large clawfoot tub, dipping her hand in and testing the water’s temperature.
“Too hot?” I ask as I come up behind her and press a kiss to her shoulder.
“No, I think it’s perfect. You get in first.”
“Okay,” I say as I step in and slowly lower myself down into the steaming bath. Giselle steps in and sits between my legs, giving me a glorious view of her perfect heart-shaped ass. She settles in, laying her back against my chest and resting her head on my shoulder. Once she seems fully relaxed, I can’t help but lazily run my hands up and down her torso, caressing her breasts along the way. When she starts arching into me, making me painfully hard under her, I eventually find her clit and rub it in slow, tortuous circles.
“Yesss, don’t stop,” she moans while squirming against me. I keep the pressure against her bud, while lifting up her hips with my other hand, the water helping her float upwards while I slowly slide into her warm, wet center. Grabbing onto the side of the tub, she brings herself back down on top of me until I’m fully seated inside her.
“God, I love you,” I tell her as I grab her face and meet her lips with mine, capturing all of her little gasps as I start moving my hips. She spreads her knees wider, lifting her legs over mine with her feet hanging over the sides of the tub. Her ballerina flexibility always comes in handy. This position gives me more room to thrust into her faster and harder, so I do. I can feel her squeezing me so tight, and I know she’s close. When I reach around and pinch one nipple with one hand and her clit with the other, she loses it. Feeling her lost in pleasure sets me off and I come so hard inside of her that I see stars.
“That’s exactly what I needed,” Giselle says with a small laugh as she brings her legs back under the water and kisses my neck.
“I think I need a nap,” I tell her.
“That sounds perfect.”
“Good. Let’s take a nap and then I have a surprise for you this evening.”
“You do?”
“I do, but don’t even think about trying to get it out of me.” I’ve learned over the last year that Giselle is not the most patient person, especially when it comes to surprises. She’ll try anything to figure it out.
“Fine,” she says, rolling her eyes before standing up to get out of the bath. I take the opportunity to smack her ass for that sass. She just laughs as she gets out and towels off. A smile takes over my face. I’m so fucking happy with her.
“Where are we going?” she asks, a playful glint in her eyes.
“You’ll see,” I say with a grin, enjoying the anticipation building in my chest.
We drive along the winding highway from St. Helena into Napa, the landscape bathed in the soft light of the setting sun. Eventually, I pull into a local pumpkin patch, and Giselle squeals. This woman and her love of pumpkins is one of the many things I adore about her. She’s been bugging me to go here since it opened last week.
“I think they’re closing soon, babe,” she says, biting her lip.
“It’s alright. I called ahead and the owner said they’d stay a little later for us.”
“Hmm. Alright then, let’s go.”
We get out and I grab a wagon to take with us as we walk hand in hand into the patch. The crisp autumn air wraps around us as we meander through rows of orange, white, and gray pumpkins of all sizes.
“I want them all,” Giselle says with a beaming smile.
“Get as many as you can fit in this wagon.”
“You’re going to regret saying that when you have to haul all of these into the house.”
“I’ll do it happily for you. Anything for you, sunshine,” I say as I kiss her forehead. “It looks like the best pumpkins are up ahead aways, so let’s start there and then work our way back.”
“Okay,” she says, shrugging her shoulders.
She follows me down the path a few yards until we reach a spot where I’ve had the owner set up a round rug surrounded by pumpkins and candles. The sight of it makes her gasp, and she turns to me with wide eyes. Her eyes dart around as if trying to figure out what I’m up to.
“Albrecht, what is this?”
“This,” I say, taking both of her hands in mine and looking into her eyes, “is the place where I want to ask you something important.”
I drop to one knee, and the moment her eyes widen in realization, my heart feels like it’s going to burst.
“Giselle,” I begin, my voice steady despite the emotions swirling inside me, “this past year with you has been the happiest of my life. You’ve shown me what it means to truly live, to love, and to be loved. I know I didn’t make it easy at first, but you still accepted me for who I am. We may have started out as roommates, but now we’re so much more. You're my best friend. My lover. And the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. So sunshine, will you be my forever roommate? Will you marry me?”
Tears stream down her face, and for a moment, she’s speechless as I hold up a diamond ring for her to take. Then, with a radiant smile that lights up the entire pumpkin patch, she nods.
“Yes, Albrecht. Yes, I’ll marry you,” she says, her voice thick and hands shaking as she holds it out for me. I slide the ring onto her finger, a perfect fit, and stand to pull her into my arms. We’re both laughing and crying as we kiss, wrapped up in our love and our future among the vines.g with a Nutcracker Prince. I don’t think I’ve ever slept so soundly.