Bonus Epilogue
Violet
I’ve been staring at the box since it arrived this morning, my curiosity piqued, but uncertainty coils in my chest. It's sitting there on the kitchen counter, innocent enough on the outside, but I know exactly what’s inside—and I’m not quite sure how I feel about it.
Paxton wasn’t kidding when he said he was getting us a bed bondage system for our wedding.
He even had the nerve to include a cheeky card with just two words: ‘You’re Welcome. ’
I haven’t opened it yet. I’ve been debating whether I should wait for Callum or take a peek myself.
The longer I stare at it, the more my fingers itch to tear it open, but I keep hesitating.
It’s not that I’m afraid—Callum and I have already dipped our toes into this kind of thing.
We’ve played around with blindfolds and scarves, experimenting with a little power play.
But this…this feels different. It feels like the next level.
And I’m not sure if that’s dangerous or thrilling.
I can almost hear Paxton’s laughter in my head, imagining the look on our faces when we open the box. Typical Paxton. I chuckle to myself, but the nerves don’t go away. What if this takes things too far? What if Callum thinks it’s too much or feels pressured by it?
Then again, what if he loves it?
The idea of giving up control completely, of letting Callum take charge in such an intimate way, sends a shiver down my spine.
My heart races at the thought of him seeing me—really seeing me—vulnerable, trusting him fully.
There’s something about that kind of submission that excites me but also terrifies me a little.
What if I can’t handle it? What if I’m not enough?
I bite my lip, my thoughts spiraling in different directions. I’ve always trusted Callum. He’s never given me a reason not to, and I know he’d never push me past my limits. But this still feels like a step into unknown territory.
I reach out, my fingers brushing the edge of the box, and a jolt of anticipation runs through me. Maybe I should just open it. Take a look. After all, it’s just a gift, right? And Paxton can’t possibly know what we’d do with it—what we’re ready to do with it.
But something in me still hesitates. Maybe this is the kind of thing Callum and I should explore together. Maybe opening it without him would take away from the experience, from the shared excitement and discovery.
I hear the front door creak open, and my heart skips a beat. Callum’s home. My eyes dart to the box, and I can feel my pulse quicken, suddenly aware that in just a few minutes, this little box could be so much more.
“Hey, baby, what a day,” Callum groans as he steps through the door, running a hand through his messy hair. “Some days I wonder why I thought it would be a good idea to work with my siblings.”
I can’t help but giggle, glancing from him to the box on the counter that’s been taunting me all afternoon. “Well, you may want to start questioning a few more things if that’s the case,” I reply, my voice light but teasing, my eyes still glued to the package.
Callum’s brows knit together in confusion as he walks toward me, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto the chair next to me.
He looks utterly irresistible—his tie loosened, the top button of his shirt undone, giving me a glimpse of that strong chest I know all too well.
His sleeves are rolled up just enough to show his forearms, and everything about him, from his slightly disheveled hair to the confident swagger in his step, makes my heart skip a beat.
No matter how many times I’ve seen him like this, it never fails to make my pulse race.
“What’s going on?” he asks, his lips quirking into a half-smile as he follows my gaze to the box on the counter. “And why do you look like you’re about to either laugh or run away?”
I bite my lip, trying to suppress a grin. “Oh, you know. Just a little gift we got today from your brother. Paxton, to be exact.”
His smile widens, a knowing gleam in his eyes. “Oh no. What did he do this time?”
I motion to the box with a dramatic flair. “Well, let’s just say Paxton decided to be... thoughtful. Apparently, he thinks we could use a bed bondage system as part of our happily-ever-after.”
Callum’s eyes widen, and he lets out a deep, hearty laugh. “You’re kidding.”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” I raise an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my chest and nodding toward the card that came with it. “He even sent a card. It says ‘You’re Welcome.’ Very Paxton.”
Callum shakes his head, clearly amused as he steps closer to the counter, inspecting the box like it’s some kind of strange artifact. “Only Paxton would think that this is an appropriate wedding gift.”
“Right?” I say, rolling my eyes. “I mean, scarves and blindfolds are one thing, but this? I wasn’t sure if I should wait for you to open it, or if I’d end up accidentally tying myself to the bed and having to call you for help.”
His laugh deepens, and he shoots me a playful, mischievous look. “Well, I’m very glad you waited for me. I’d hate to miss that phone call.” He takes a step closer to me, his hand sliding up my arm, sending sparks through my skin. “But now I’m curious. Should we open it together?”
I bite my lip again, my mind torn between nerves and excitement. “I don’t know... this seems like it could be dangerous.”
He leans in, his voice a low rumble that sends shivers down my spine. “Dangerous, huh? You mean exciting.”
My cheeks flush, but I manage to keep my playful tone. “Depends on your definition of ‘exciting.’ I mean, Paxton probably thinks this will make for some good stories at family dinners.”
Callum smirks, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear as he whispers, “I’m sure we could come up with a few stories of our own.”
I can’t help but laugh, swatting his arm lightly. “You’re terrible.”
He grins, leaning down to kiss my cheek. “Only when it comes to you, Mrs. Atwood.”
We both glance at the box again, and Callum steps back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Well, I say we make it an adventure. What’s the worst that could happen?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Don’t tempt fate, Callum.”
He chuckles, grabbing the box and holding it up. “Okay, baby, let’s see what Paxton thinks we’ve been missing in our lives.”
A jolt of excitement hits me as Callum tears into the box, his hands moving with a kind of eagerness that sends a thrill through me. I watch him intently, my heart racing with anticipation. He peeks inside, his brow furrowing as he examines the contents.
"What? What is it?" I ask, leaning in, my curiosity bubbling over.
He shrugs, still staring into the box, and then glances at me with a bemused expression. "It’s just… not what I expected."
I crane my neck to see, and he pulls out what looks like two sets of handcuffs attached to some sort of bungee cords.
"Oh," I say, tilting my head to the side, trying to make sense of it. "That’s definitely not what I was imagining."
Callum chuckles, holding the setup in front of him as if he’s trying to figure out exactly how it works. The bungee cords stretch out between his hands, and for a second, we both just stand there staring at the contraption like it’s some kind of puzzle.
Finally, he grins, that playful, mischievous spark lighting up his eyes as he lifts an eyebrow. "What do you say, cowgirl? You wanna try it out?" His voice drops into that low, teasing tone that always sends a shiver down my spine.
I roll my eyes dramatically, but I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “Oh, so now I’m a cowgirl? I thought that was reserved for when we’re fixing fences.”
He steps closer, swinging the handcuffs playfully between us, his grin widening. “Well, you’re my cowgirl, aren’t you? Besides, I figured you’d want to test your lasso skills. You know, for research purposes.”
I can’t help but laugh, shaking my head at his ridiculousness. "For research, huh? And what exactly do you think you're going to learn from this... experiment?"
Callum’s expression grows a little more serious, though the playful glint never quite leaves his eyes.
He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating from his body.
His breath brushes against my cheek as he murmurs, "I’m hoping to learn a lot about what you like. "
The words hang between us, thick with tension, and my stomach flips in anticipation. I bite my lip, trying to play it cool, but the truth is, just the idea of exploring this new side of our relationship with him has me breathless.
"Well, if this is for research," I tease, pressing a hand to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart under my palm, "then I suppose it’s my duty to help you with your... studies."
Callum’s grin turns into something darker, more intense, as his fingers tighten slightly around my waist. “I’m a hands-on learner,” he whispers, his lips brushing against my ear in a way that makes my knees go weak.
I laugh softly, my hands curling into his shirt as I lean into him. “That’s good to know,” I murmur, my lips hovering just inches from his.
He leans in to kiss me, but before his lips can touch mine, I pull back slightly, grinning mischievously. “But maybe we should start slow. You know, ease into it.”
Callum chuckles, shaking his head as he looks down at the handcuffs still dangling from his fingers. “You drive me crazy, you know that?”
I smile up at him, my heart racing as I stand on my toes to press a quick kiss to his lips. “Good. Keeps things interesting.”
With a playful tug on his shirt, I step away, glancing at the handcuffs and bungee cords one more time. “All right, cowboy. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
His grin returns, wider this time, and I can feel the excitement bubbling between us, a mix of playful banter and the promise of something more.