Epilogue
GRACE
Sunlight streams in through the sheer drapes of our home, causing me to stir.
I stretch, enjoying the warmth surrounding me.
My left cheek feels as if it’s being kissed by the sun.
A familiar breeze ruffles my hair, causing a smile to cross my face.
Has this whole marriage been a dream? Because I feel like I’m right back there in that hotel room all those months ago.
I wipe the sleep from my eyes and try to orient myself to where I am. The warmth isn’t coming from the summer sun, but the firm body enveloped around me.
My husband’s firm body.
Ben’s recognizable exhales dance against my neck. His rugged, woodsy scent causing my thighs to clench. Jeez. Even asleep this man makes me wet.
As is customary, he’s got one hand wrapped around my waist, his fingers teasing my panties. His other hand is cupping my breast. I arch into him hoping for a hungry response. And he doesn’t disappoint. He’s hard.
I’m not sure if this is smart. He has an incredibly big day today. I tap the pad of my finger against my lower lip. Maybe it could be the stress reducer he doesn’t even know he needs.
Rubbing my backside against his rigid length, Ben lets out a delicious, gravely groan.
“What are you doing to me?”
I roll over to face him and reach for his impressive morning erection. “Hoping to take care of this.” I slide down, taking his boxers with me. His hard length springs free and I waste no time taking him into my mouth.
“Fuck, baby. What did I ever do to deserve you?”
I smile around him, continuing to take him deep into the back of my throat. The delicious sounds of pleasure tumbling from his mouth spur me on. Holding the base of his cock, I bob up and down a little faster as I cup his balls with my other hand.
“Gracie, as beautiful as you look with that sweet mouth stretched around my dick, I need to be inside you. Climb on top of me, baby girl. Let me watch you take what you need.”
This man. He’s always giving. Yes, please.
Holding the base of his cock steady beneath me with one hand, he places the other on my hip as I guide myself down around him. He lets out a moan as I rock back and forth, trying to open myself up for him as he squeezes my breasts in his firm hands.
I alternate between sliding up and down his length and rolling my hips backward and forward, my head thrown back in ecstasy when I sense something is off and still.
His previous sounds of rapture have gone silent.
My eyes fly open at the realization. I peer down at him, concern replacing my earlier state of frenzy. “You okay?”
“How did I get so fucking lucky?”
My heart swells. “What?”
“You’re everything I wished for. Beautiful, smart, funny, and devoted. And the sexiest woman on the planet. I’m so in love with you, Grace.”
I lean down to kiss his handsome face. My fingers teasing the dark stubble on his hard jaw. “I love you too. And I’m the lucky one.”
Ben flips me over so his firm body covers mine, kissing me with reckless abandon. Entwining his fingers with mine, he pulls my hands over my head as he sinks into me. He glides in and out, in and out, until his pace hastens.
Then, as if a switch has been flipped, he starts to pound into me.
The sounds of our skin slapping together as his dirty words rain down on me have me teetering close to the edge.
“You think you can start each day with that sweet mouth wrapped around my cock and you’re not going to get what’s coming to you? ”
“I know exactly what’s coming to me.”
“Oh, yeah?” he pants over his vigorous thrusts. “What would that be?”
“You’re going to come inside my greedy little pussy. Right, daddy?”
“Fuck, Grace.” He slams into me repeatedly until the familiar waves of euphoria take over, my orgasm crashing into me. The intensity is so strong, I almost miss the telltale jerks of his release above me.
Ben collapses on top of me. Both of us are completely spent. “Jesus. I had no idea it could be this good.”
“Me either,” I reply on an exhale. Reaching up, I run my fingers through his damp hair.
I’m still in shock this is my life now. “You have a big day, Ben. You better get up and start getting ready.” It’s the grand opening of his hotel, the new and incredibly improved Lake Anna Resort. I’m so proud of this accomplished man.
“Yeah. I’m a nervous wreck.”
“I know. Wrapping my arms tightly around his torso, I give him a squeeze. It’s why I thought you could use a stress reliever.”
His face morphs, focused on an invisible spot in the distance, appearing serious and introspective. “I think all of my mornings are going to be quite stressful. Probably should start every day like that.” He drops a kiss to my nose.
I roll my eyes at his predictable quip. “I really am proud of you, Ben.”
“Want to know something?” he beams. “I’m pretty fucking proud of myself too. And to think it all started at dinner with my fake fiancée.” He nuzzles my neck. “Remind me to thank Milton the next time I see him.”
I giggle. “I will. You know he’s bound to be there for the ribbon cutting.”
“Jeez, that guy. I’m worried I might find him sitting in the lobby every morning, reading those guest books.” Ben snorts. He pushes up, rolling to the edge of the bed. “Do you want to shower first while I make you some coffee?”
My heart melts. From day one this man has put me first. “No, baby. This is your big day. I’ll get the coffee going. You go shower.”
He gives me a sexy wink before sauntering into the bathroom, only to return moments later.
“And it’s our big day.” He heads toward the shower, the view of his rock-hard ass makes me wish we had time for round two.
His words cut through my lusty haze from the other room.
“I can’t wait until my beautiful wife has her handmade soaps lining the gift shop shelves and placed in each and every guest room. ”
God, I love him.
Ben
I’m pacing back and forth in the kitchen when Grace spots me, instantly becoming alarmed.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen? Is your mom okay?”
“What? No, she’s fine. Everything’s fine. Why?”
“Because you’re about to tear a hole through the linoleum marching back and forth like that.”
I ball my hands into fists on my hips and give her a playful smirk.
“First, it’s travertine, not linoleum. And second, I’m nervous as hell.
” I’ve sunk so much of my time, sweat, and personal equity into this resort.
The pride over making it to opening day is being replaced by the fear my business could go bankrupt if no one books rooms. It just has to be successful.
Grace comes closer, wrapping her arms around me. “It’s going to be great. I mean, it’s opening day, and you’re already sold out through the rest of the month.”
I admit that fact alone shocked me when the hotel manager I hired shared the news. Not sure how it happened given how late in the game I got around to advertising. Turns out, building it was the easy part. Letting the world know, well, that’s an area I need to leave to someone much more qualified.
My momentary relief fades as anxiety kicks its bony ass. I check my pockets again on instinct before shaking my head. Good grief, man. It’s been over a year. It’s not there. Just move on. I rub the center of my chest where an ache has bloomed until I see the worried expression on my wife’s face.
Why am I like this?
It was only a stupid little good luck charm. And I believed it to be lucky merely because I wanted it to be. I carried it with me to exams, my mother’s wedding to Charles, my first day driving… anything that made me the slightest bit nervous. But Grace is my lucky charm now.
She’s all I need.
“I should’ve gone down the same path as my stepfather and Devon.
They’d done all of the heavy lifting and have so much money it’d be no big loss to them if it fell through.
But, no. I had to carve my own path.” I turn to take her hand in mine, only to discover she’s not here. Shit. Was it something I said?
Grace rushes back into the room, thrusting her balled fist in my direction. “Here. This might help.”
“What’s this?”
“It’s something I found. I meant to take it back. But now I’m thinking you might need it more than the owner.” As her clenched fist unfurls, the tarnished brass compass comes into view. Flipping it over, I mouth the words.
Follow your heart.
Tears well in my eyes. “I can’t believe it. Where did you get this?”
She pauses. The exuberant smile falling from her face. “It was in the back of the truck I rented.”
Lost in the shock of finding my father’s compass again I completely miss what she’s saying. “What?”
“The day I rented my moving truck, I found it in the front seat. I put it in my pocket, planning to return it with the truck. But life got in the way and I completely forgot about it. So I put it in the jewelry box you got me for Valentine’s Day.”
My mind goes back to a time when I was trying to move on with my life after my ex-girlfriend and I hit the skids. And to think I was so sure I knew what my future looked like back then. Then entered Grace and her broken down truck.
“This was my father’s. I used to carry it around everywhere. It was like having a small piece of him with me.” I dust my thumb over the dull surface. “I don’t remember much about him now. What his smile looked like. Or the sound of his voice. I was only five when he died.”
“Oh, Ben.” Grace grips my arm, her face awash with emotion. This conversation is way too heavy for a day like this. “I’d gone back there, asking if anyone had turned it in. But you had it the whole time?”
“I’m so sor—”
Cupping her sweet cheeks in my hands, I give her a chaste kiss on those gorgeous ruby, red lips. “Jesus, Gracie. I’d ask you to marry me on the spot…” I chuckle. “But I kinda already did that.”
She glides her arms around my waist, pulling me tighter into her. “Yes, and I’ve never been so thankful for anything.”