Epilogue
Eris
As of today, she had stayed a week past her designated trip to Rawhide Ranch. She now had all her luggage in Gabriel’s house, and next week, they planned to head home to Virginia to collect her things from the apartment she would be vacating.
And meet her parents. And Bluebell, who she was insanely excited to introduce to Gabriel.
Her horse was more prominent in her plans than her best friend Tara was.
And Tara couldn’t even be mad about it when they texted.
After all, she was just excited that Eris had followed her heart for once.
Vivian made plans to see the couple separately, and Eris knew her trip home would be full of fun.
She also had a tentative schedule with the Ranch to consider, where she would come and check in on the maze twice a week.
Now that it was open to everyone and out of the testing phase, more and more people were trying out primal.
It wasn’t as common during the day, but at night, it was becoming quite the thing.
Master Derek was more than accommodating, working the planned trip into her schedule before turning matters over to Master Lucas.
A little part of her missed the maze being just hers and Gabriel’s, but he had a solution to that.
She had her first official maintenance job today, which really just meant she was going to walk through the maze to ensure that everything looked okay after a week of so many people running through.
She doubted there would be much to do, but she really wanted to take a peek at the Virginia Creepers and make sure they were holding up if people were regularly crashing into the lattice fences.
The vines could break off, and they deserved some love if they were helping create the maze.
“I’m going to draw a map,” Eris explained, holding out her hands as they wandered toward the outdoor play area.
“Of the maze here?” Gabriel asked, shooting her a look.
In just a dark t-shirt and jeans, he looked extra yummy today.
Eris didn’t even mind what he would be doing while she worked, but he was nice enough to walk over to the maze with her during daylight before taking care of whatever he planned on doing today.
“No, silly,” she said, raising her eyebrows. “The one at your house. The one you’re going to let me grow in the backyard. I need to map out what that’s going to look like. Mazes can create designs. I’m so going to make a design.”
He smiled, and she kept going on about her plans.
Everything on his estate was currently new growth and plants Gabriel helped her bring onto the property, so they weren’t going to have a true maze anytime soon.
She was considering adopting the Ranch’s idea for the fencing and Virginia Creeper, so they could use the play area at Gabriel’s house without having to wait a few years.
No, it was their house. She had officially moved in, and now, she was pretty damn sure she would never, ever leave.
“You can do anything you want with it,” Gabriel agreed, gesturing for her to lead the way. They were close to the maze now, and with the trees above them, there was some actual shade to work with. “I trust you with everything that I give you, Eris.”
She grinned, pausing to press her hands to his chest. Master Lucas didn’t appear to be around yet, and she used the time alone to press up onto her toes and kiss him. His lips met hers halfway, and he wound his arms around her back to keep her close.
Just as quickly, she broke the kiss with a smile. “No sexy kisses, Master. I’ll never get any work done that way.”
Gabriel grinned, handing over the gardening supplies she had brought with her, and nodded. “Whatever the lady wishes, little vixen.”
Gabriel
He left Eris alone for a few hours, giving her space to work and speak with Lucas so they could get accustomed to working together.
He wasn’t fully convinced the Ranch really needed Eris for this task right now, but as popularity with the maze grew, he could see it evolving into the type of work she loved.
He took a detour to Derek’s office while she was distracted, holding up his end of the deal with Damiano. He hadn’t promised the biker anything, but at the end of the day, Damiano was a good person and he didn’t get into dangerous mischief. If anything, he avoided it.
Aria on the other hand, Gabriel had no idea what to make of her.
And he told Derek exactly that when he asked questions.
Whatever happened with Damiano and Aria joining the Ranch, it was in their hands.
He put in his two cents with Master Derek, gave him his truthful thoughts on both of them, and wondered what would become of it.
After that bit of messy business, he found Eris sitting in the maze right by the entrance, eyes closed and a smile on her face. She had a bit of a sunburn across the tops of her shoulders.
She’d insisted on buying her new gardening tools in her favorite color. He could see dirt marring that pink on each tool as well as the bag holding them and smiled, knowing that only made them more beautiful in Eris’ eyes.
Her eyes cracked open as he approached. “Best. Job. Ever. When you actually have a maze, it might take second place.”
He chuckled. “You played in dirt all day.”
“Not just dirt.” She accepted his hand up, dusting off her jeans before grinning. “Come here.”
Eris led him back through the maze, which looked more or less the same. He imagined pinning her against things and hoped that she would be up for playing at the Ranch again soon. Two turns into the maze, she stopped and pointed something out.
Not quite on the maze path, but set between the bushes, was a plant.
It seemed to be a new growth and had one of those colored nets around it to protect it.
It was set back from the main trees and the maze itself, so someone running in the dark shouldn’t fall and hit it. There was no way to really crush it.
“Master Lucas agreed adding some nighttime flowers would be good. This is my trial plant. I asked him to order it, and if it takes and people like it, I’m going to randomly place them throughout. I also worked on some on the lattice work for the fences. People run into those hard.”
Gabriel smiled, wrapping her in his arms. “So, at least you had fun playing in the dirt.”
She huffed, wiping her finger across his nose. Her fingertips had enough dirt on them he was sure it left a mark, and her bemused smile just confirmed that. “If I can get fucked in the dirt, I can sure as hell play in it.”
Gabriel smirked, lifting her up with a squeal. It was daylight, so there was no hiding in the shadows now as he pressed her back into a tree and kissed her feverishly.
She sighed into his mouth, kissing back with the same intensity. After a moment, her hips began working against his, and he already had plenty of ideas about where he wanted this to end.
Eris pulled away first, her gaze hooded with lust. “People run and hunt each other in the daylight too. It’s not taboo anymore.”
“It was never taboo, little vixen. You only needed to let yourself fully immerse into the experience to be free.”
She grinned, kissing him once more before she tapped his hands, and he set her down. “I’m more than free now, Master. And my day is finished.”
“Not tired?” he teased.
Eris smirked, wiggling her fingers at him before she started down the path. “Not in the least. But don’t worry if you’re too tired, Master, we can just take it easy.”
She spun on her heel, waving over her shoulder before she took off. “And if not, catch me if you can!”
Gabriel growled, spurred on by her teasing, and just like that first night, he took off after her through the trees.
The End