Epilogue
Four Months Later
Max
Stepping back from the building, I squint as I look up at the new sign Colt, Gray, and I just finished hanging above the door.
Hart & Associates
Attorneys at Law
Sutton has yet to find any associates, but knowing my girl, she’ll have an office full of passionate ball-busters in no time. She’s been working her ass off to start this firm, and I’ve been in awe of the dedication, the hunger.
Watching Sutton Hart build the career she wants is truly something to see.
She’s incredible.
I’m absolutely obsessed.
I’ve been by her side for most of it, taking a bit of a break from Apex so I can support the woman I love.
And frankly, Apex is a beast. They’re doing just fine without me.
Stepping away helped me clear my head, reminded me what matters most, and I’ll let you in on a little secret: it was never about the money or fucking Forbes.
So I’m good with taking a backseat while my trusted team holds down the fort.
Turns out, Gray knew what he was doing all along.
We’re still dominating the sports agenting side of things, while blowing up in other endeavors.
The overall morale has never been better.
“We’re gonna head out,” Colton says, reaching out to clap his hand against mine. “You guys leavin’ for the draft soon?”
I look at my watch. “We have an hour or so before the car picks us up for the airport.”
“Right on, man.” Gray pulls me in for a hug. “You all set?”
Patting the square-shaped bulge in my jeans pocket I tell him, “Yes.” So fucking ready.
“Make us proud.”
I snort. “I always do.”
He pulls back, and there’s a hint of sentimentality in his eyes I don’t often see. “You really do.”
“Oh god,” I tease, pushing him away from me. “You better hurry the fuck up. Sasha hates when you’re late for a tourney.”
He chuckles. “Keeps her on her toes.”
They wave as they stride down the street toward the closest public parking garage, and movement catches my eye inside the small office. I focus on the glass, spotting her in the open doorway that separates her office from the lobby.
My heart stutters in my chest at the sight of her. I wonder if she’ll ever not steal my breath.
Sutton curls her finger at me and bites down on that bottom lip.
Hot damn, I’m one lucky bastard.
I start for the door and she grins, then disappears deeper into the building.
It’s a tiny place, just this little lobby and her back office, but it’s perfect for a starter firm, and I have no doubt that unlike Hart Strategic Management, Hart & Associates will absolutely outgrow this place soon.
Then we’ll find a bigger office. I already have my eye on a place a few blocks over from Apex.
I lock the main door behind me, then breathe deeply and twist my neck to each side, stretching my muscles.
“I want you on your knees, darlin’,” I call out to her, then take a step forward.
“Yes, Max.”
“I want you naked, my love.”
“Perhaps, Sir.”
I growl and stalk forward. When I reach the office, the overhead lights are off, but she’s visible in the little bit of light leaking in past my body in the open doorframe.
Naked. Kneeling.
Perfect.
“You’re beautiful.”
“You’re late.”
My lips twitch into a smile. “I’m sorry, did we have a date?”
She licks her lips, then trails a hand up her belly to cup her right breast, closing her fingers around her nipple as she holds my gaze. “Your friends were supposed to leave hours ago.”
“Hm.” I tilt my head. “You’re upset with me.”
Sutton pouts and I take a stalk toward her, smirking when she audibly gasps.
“How can I make it up to you?”
She looks over her shoulder at her desk, the top of it cleared of all papers and law books. Somebody already planned exactly how our scene would play out this afternoon. “Help me christen my new desk?”
I chuckle, dragging a hand over my jaw. “That’s not a new desk.”
She grins. “Semantics, darlin’,” she says in her best impression of a southern drawl. Which is horrible, by the way, but still sexy as hell.
“Hop up.” I motion to the desk and stride toward her. “Spread yourself open. Show me what’s mine.”
She shudders as arousal quakes through her, but moves quickly, climbing onto the desk in a hurry—
“Slow down, goddamn.” I whistle lowly. “Let me savor you.”
“You have your whole life to savor me.”
“That I do.”
She sits atop the desk, legs hanging over on this side of it, then she leans back, resting her weight on her palms.
She makes me wait a beat, as she often does, and sometimes I can’t tell if she’s punishing me or seeking punishment herself. Either way, we both always end up winning.
Slowly, she spreads her legs wide for me, and I run my hand over the back of my neck.
“Perfection. Absolute perfection.” Reaching for the small velvet box, I pull it from my jeans’ pocket and set it down on the desk, then begin to unsnap my button-fly.
I’d planned on asking her at the draft party, but something about this moment feels intimate, more us than a crowded room full of strangers.
This, us, alone in her office like this… just this beautiful, naked woman and the man who is nowhere near worthy of her but cannot breathe without her…
This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.
“Max,” she whispers.
“Hm?” I slide my jeans over my hips, then let them drop to the floor.
“Max,” she says again, her voice soft with disbelief.
I lean forward, placing my hands on either side of her hips. “Yes, darlin’?”
Her eyes are frantic as they search mine, then flick to that little velvet box.
“What?” Looking over at it, I pick it up, then play with it between my fingers. “Oh, this old thing?”
Sutton’s lips twitch, but she rolls them together to keep from smiling.
I place my hand against her chest, then slide it upwards, smiling when she shivers from my touch. Cupping her chin, I look into her eyes.
Honeyed-amber, with flecks of gold and darker brown throughout.
“I love your eyes. Have I ever told you that?”
“Max,” she whines, gaze flicking in the direction of that box.
“I love the freckles across your nose.” I place a kiss on the tip of her nose.
“I love the way your lips twitch when you’re trying to hold back a grin.
” I kiss the corner of her mouth. “I love the way your breath hitches when I touch right… here…” I brush my nose against the soft spot beneath her ear.
“I love the way you challenge me every damn chance you get.”
“Someone has to.”
“I’m so fucking glad it’s you.” I swallow hard, then continue, “I love that you’d rather have stadium food than a five-star meal. I love that Nina calls you more than she calls any of us now. I love how you sing in the shower.”
She laughs again—because we both know she’s not great at that.
“I love that you snore, and sometimes even talk in your sleep. I love that you chase what you want, even if it’s difficult.” I place a kiss on her forehead, then another on her left temple, then her right. “I love that you laugh when people tell stories about their dead cats—”
She barks out a laugh, trying to shake her head, but I keep her still. Eyes on me.
“I love that no matter where you are or what you’re doing, you always check in with your best friend.”
She smiles, and I catch the way her eyes have started to glisten with unshed tears.
“I love how you look in the morning, baby, but even more so how you look at me.” Fuck.
I have to clear my throat to continue. “I love the way you love yourself, Sutton Hart, but the way you love others is fucking incredible.” My voice cracks so I lick my lips, then lean in and kiss her, gently, tenderly, distracting her while I try to get my emotions under check.
“Most of all, I think I love the way you love me.” I rest my forehead against hers, seeking strength in her steady breaths. “You make me feel like the luckiest man alive.”
“I love you,” she whispers, hands finally sinking into my hair.
“It would be one awkward-as-hell marriage if you didn’t.”
“Is that a proposal?” she teases.
“No, darlin’.” I drop down to one knee, open the velvet box, and hold the ring up to her. “Sutton Hart, it would be an honor to spend the rest of my life loving you. Will you marry me?”
Her lip trembles, and for the first time, I’m proud to be the cause.
Eyes welling with tears, she nods.
I tilt my head, eyes narrowing. Words, baby. These might be the most important ones of all.
“Yes, Max, I would love to be your wife.”
I exhale, a thousand tons of weight lifting from my shoulders. “Wow,” I say, rising back to my feet. I pull the ring from the box, then slide it onto a slender finger trembling nearly as much as my own shaky fingers. “What do we do now?”
“Now,” she says, using her legs to pull me closer. She wraps them around my hips as her arms circle my neck. Then she looks up at me with those eyes I love so much, and says, “Now you kiss me. And you never, ever stop.”
The End