Epilogue
EPILOGUE
THEO
“Today was amazing .”
June comes out of the bathroom in a cloud of humidity and concentrated smells of soap and perfume, collapsing down onto my chest on the little hotel couch. The sudden weight makes me grunt, but I smile down at her flushed cheeks, running my hands over the hotel robe she has on.
Arin steps out of the bathroom and I glance down at our omega again, wondering if the flushed tinge to her skin is just from the warm water.
She hums, sinking into me and kissing my chest once. “Twelve cities, twenty stops, and the European signings are done . Do not let me do this again. I’m exhausted.”
I laugh, playing with her hair as I glance down at her.
June’s eyes raise, then squint. “What’s that look for?”
“I’m proud of you.”
She makes a little noise, cheeks darkening as she shakes her head at me, biting her lower lip. “ Theo .” I’ll never get tired of the way she says my name — or variations of it, ranging from annoyed to embarrassment to little sighs.
The emotions hit me all at once.
It’s been over a year since Seth left our kitchen, leaving me in front of the TV, watching a newscaster flash up an image of June’s face — “ As of right now, June Wald’s agent has not made a comment, but we do know the author is registered as a beta. Time will tell if the rumors are true. ”
I’d stared at the screen, barely registering Bennett as he’d rushed off behind the beta. The feeling of rightness had hit me from that very first second, knowing from her photo alone that I’d never be the same. Then she’d been in our townhouse mere hours later, and I was right.
There was before June — and now my future is hers. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Lifting her by the chin, I press a soft kiss to the tip of her nose. “I thank the stars every day that you love me.”
Her eyes water before she’s kissing me back fervently. “And I do , Theo. I love you so much.”
We linger for a moment, breathing in each other’s air before I readjust us so she’s resting on my chest as I sprawl across the couch. The news plays on the TV — my mother is back in Rochester, keeping an eye on the house with Charles.
The older beta has been a stalwart companion at my mother’s side for a year as she went through the messy negotiations and procedures to remove herself from my fathers’ control. But her vibrancy has come back — she has a little apartment in the city, and she’s been helping run a community garden that Ashley buys produce and herbs from for her restaurant.
June wiggles and I glance down at her. “What?”
“Cramp.” She mutters the word, nose scrunching as she calls out, “Arin? Do we have that heating —”
“Coming.” He pads out of one of the bedrooms, heating pack in hand. With a kiss to her forehead, he lays it on her stomach, eyes catching mine.
We leave for Switzerland from France tomorrow.
I never thought there’d be room for… more between Arin and I, but then he touches my arm, eyes softer. “Need anything?”
“No,” I grunt, holding June against me a little tighter. For years I pushed everything down, from my designation, from my own feelings toward the prime looking at us right now — but the last year has made me realize I have a lot of extra love in my heart — love that extends to more than just the woman in my arms.
June sighs, readjusting. I rub her shoulders. “We could delay the trip.”
“Absolutely the fuck not,” she grumbles, rolling her eyes. “I am not giving up a month-long spa vacation in the Alps where I’ve been promised massages and heat sex.”
I laugh loudly as Arin drops onto the other end of the couch, shaking his head with a wide smile. “Okay, okay, noted.” She wiggles again and when her hips graze the front of my sweats, I grab her and grunt, “Settle, or you’ll be filled and fucked in five minutes.”
She flashes me a challenging look. “I’d love to see you try.”
“I’ll hold you down —”
“I’ll bite you —”
“Both of you,” Arin cuts us off, half laughing, half groaning, “stop it before I separate you two. Bennett and Seth will be back in ten minutes with dinner. Can’t you behave that long?”
June’s eyes flash to mine and I see the gears working before the slow grin spreads across her features. My hands slide to the tie on her robe, then under it, looking up at Arin as his nostrils flare.
I unwrap her like the little gift she is.
“Chop, chop,” June moans as my hand wanders between her thighs, spreading her wide. Arin’s eyes focus on her and even imaging what he’s seeing — her shiny, wet cunt — makes me impossibly hard. “I want two orgasms before they’re back. I will be eating dinner before it goes cold.”
Arin and I give her three.