Epilogue
Toby
“So, that’s it,” Toby told his parents who he was talking to on loudspeaker on his cellphone. “I’m sorry to say that you won’t be getting your Cryptex back, but I think we can all agree that it’s been returned to its rightful owners.”
“Absolutely,” his mom said. “I’m proud of you for solving the case, Toby.”
He shrugged, even though his parents couldn’t see it. “I didn’t do much, really.”
“He’s being modest,” Harper said. “He was amazing. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”
When his mother sighed dreamily, Toby rolled his eyes. His mom had been doing that every time Harper had spoken from the moment that he had first introduced her to them. He could only imagine how his mother was going to dote over her when they finally met in person.
“I’m very sorry for the part my brother played in all of this,” Harper said.
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for,” Toby’s dad said.
Harper sighed. “I’m only hoping this experience has scared some sense into him.”
“Let’s hope so,” his mom said.
“Okay, Mom, Dad, we’ve got to get off,” Toby said. “We’ve got an early flight tomorrow.”
“Okay, but you fetch that nice young lady to visit us soon, you hear?” his mother said.
“I will, Mom, I promise.”
“Bye, Harper!” his mom said.
Toby chuckled as his mate said her goodbyes.
“Bye Son, Harper,” his dad said.
Toby ended the call then slid an arm around Harper’s shoulder, pulling her closer into his side.
“So, it seemed like you were a big hit with the folks,” Toby joked. “You know that my mom is going to be bugging me to bring you home for a visit every time I call her.”
Harper giggled. “Well then you’d better hurry up and take me home to meet them.”
“You don’t mind?” Toby asked.
Harper shook her head. “Of course not. They sound wonderful. I’m looking forward to meeting them.”
Toby smiled happily then leaned down and pressed his lips to his mate’s. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
Harper let out a happy little sigh, her blue eyes fluttering closed as she tilted her head, seeking more.
Toby obliged, his lips meeting hers again, this time with a deliberate slowness that belied the heat building in his chest. The kiss started soft, a tender brush of lips, but it deepened quickly.
His coyote stirred, a low growl of approval vibrating in his mind, urging him closer to his mate.
Their lips moved together, each kiss stoking the fire that had simmered between them since that first moment in her coffee shop.
Toby’s hands found her waist, fingers splaying across the soft cotton of her shirt, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath.
Harper responded with a soft moan, her fingers threading through his hair, tugging gently to pull him closer.
The sensation sent a shiver down his spine, his coyote’s instincts flaring with a primal need to claim, to protect.
He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, his breath uneven, green eyes darkened with desire.
“Harper,” he murmured, her name a reverent whisper, “you have no idea what you do to me.”
Her cheeks flushed, a soft pink that made her look impossibly radiant in the lamplight. She reached up, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingertips, her touch light but searing.
“I think I might have some idea,” she teased, her voice husky, a playful glint in her eyes that made his heart stutter.
Toby’s hands slid lower, resting on her hips, pulling her flush against him.
The world outside their small room faded, the jungle, the danger, the Cryptex, all of it irrelevant in the face of this moment.
His lips found the sensitive skin of his perfect mate’s neck, brushing soft kisses along the curve where her pulse fluttered.
Harper’s breath hitched, her fingers tightening in his hair, and he felt the mate bond pulse stronger.
She tilted her head, giving him better access, and he took it, his kisses trailing lower, lingering at the hollow of her throat.
Her soft scent filled his senses, intoxicating, grounding.
His coyote yipped in delight, the sound echoing in his mind, but he kept his animal half in check, focusing on the woman in his arms. Their mate.
Harper’s hands roamed his back, her touch bold yet tender, exploring the planes of muscle beneath his shirt.
She tugged at the fabric, and he helped her, pulling it over his head in one fluid motion, revealing the taut lines of his chest, marked with faint scars from past missions.
Her eyes softened, a mix of admiration and concern, and she traced one scar with her fingertip, her touch sending a jolt through him.
“You’ve been through so much,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
“So have you,” he replied, cupping her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. “And you’re still here, stronger than ever. My mate.”
The word hung between them, heavy with meaning, and Harper’s eyes glistened, a smile breaking across her face. She leaned into him, kissing him deeply, her hands sliding up his chest. Toby groaned softly, the sound swallowed by their kiss, and he lifted her gently, guiding her to the bed.
They sank onto the soft mattress, the world narrowing to the space between them.
Toby’s hands moved with reverence, peeling away her shirt to reveal the smooth expanse of her skin.
He paused, drinking in the sight of her, his heart pounding with a mix of awe and desire.
Harper reached for him, her fingers curling around his shoulders, pulling him down until their bodies pressed together, warm and alive.
Their movements were unhurried, a slow exploration of touch and taste, each moment deepening their bond. Toby’s lips traced patterns across her collarbone, her soft gasps urging him on, while her hands mapped the contours of his back, her nails grazing lightly, sending shivers through him.
Time seemed to stretch, the world outside forgotten.
Toby’s coyote hummed with contentment, the primal urge to claim tempered by the tenderness of the moment.
He whispered her name against her skin, delighting in the way she shivered to his touch.
They moved together in perfect harmony, each caress a step deeper into their shared future.
Hours later, they lay tangled in the sheets, their bodies still humming with the afterglow of their passion.
The bedside lamp cast a golden glow over Harper’s face, her eyes half-closed, a contented smile curving her lips.
Toby traced lazy circles on her back, his fingers memorizing the feel of her, his coyote finally quiet, sated by her nearness.
Harper nestled closer, her head resting on his chest, her breath warm against his skin.
“I could stay like this forever,” she murmured, her voice soft, drowsy.
Toby pressed a kiss to her forehead, his heart full. “We’ve got all the time in the world, Harper,” he said, his voice low, certain. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She lifted her head, meeting his gaze, her blue eyes bright with emotion. “Neither am I,” she whispered, sealing the promise with a soft kiss.
Toby held her close, regretful only that their flight loomed in the morning, but secure in the knowledge that this was just the beginning. Harper was his mate, his home, and he would spend every day proving himself worthy of her, cherishing every moment of their shared life.
The End