Epilogue
ARIA
TWO YEARS LATER
T he air was thick, heavy with the promise of a storm. Propping my head up on my boyfriend’s thigh, I lay back on the blanket we’d spread out on the soft sand on our private beach, well away from the shore, watching the dark clouds roll in.
“Aria?”
‘Hmm?” I tilted my head to meet Tristan’s gaze.
“You know how everyone left us alone today,” he began.
“I was thinking the same,” I told him, already moving to sit upright. He tugged me back down into him, rolling on top of me.
His body pressed into mine, and I hooked my leg over his thigh, pulling him closer. Breathing in his scent and feeling his warmth wrapping around me, I smiled. I’d never get enough of him. If I thought back to the majority of our time at Hatherley Hall, I would’ve probably been disgusted with myself, but now I knew Tristan inside out…now he was the closest person to me, I could barely remember how badly we’d antagonised each other.Well, okay, I remembered it, but it felt as if we’d been completely different people back then.
Now, he loved me. He’d entrusted me with his heart, and I loved him with everything I had in return. And that was something that I was certain would never change.
The clouds darkened further, thunder rumbling overhead, and I shivered beneath him as a sudden cold breeze scattered sand across our blanket. “Do you think the others will be back soon?”
His hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb stroking over my skin as he shook his head. “Probably not. Knox and Elena were visiting those crypts or whatever they were.”
“Some ancient Greek history thing,” I said with a shrug, and he grinned at me.
“Yeah. So there’s no way they’ll be able to tear themselves away for at least another hour, probably longer. Ro and Quinn will be back from the boat trip, but they were gonna stop off at that ruined coliseum we saw yesterday, and Roman said they’d get barbeque food in town before they came back.”
“Good,” I said. My gaze rose to the cliff behind us and the large villa perched on top, the bright white stone darkening to grey as the storm clouds above us covered the skies. “I think we should make the most of it, in that case.”
He kissed me again before disentangling us with clear reluctance. I smiled at the speed with which he rolled up our blanket and grabbed my hand, pausing for a second to shove his feet into sliders before tugging me towards the path that led up to the villa.
When we reached the top, the rain was beginning to fall, fat, heavy drops that refreshed my overheated skin. Tristan led me over to the outdoor shower, the rain mingling with the spray from the drench head as we stripped down, washing the sand from our bodies in between kisses and touches that led to him lifting me and carrying me over to the huge outdoor sofas in the covered area of the huge terrace. He fucked me as the storm rolled in, our moans lost in the deep rumble of thunder and the crashing of the waves against the cliffs. A huge fork of lightning split the sky as he thrust against my G-spot, and I gasped as my body arched beneath him, my climax making my vision temporarily white out.
Tristan buried his face in my throat, thrusting once, twice, and then he came, filling me with his release. We held on to one another, trembling, overcome, as the storm picked up in intensity, raging around us.
“Fucking hell,” he muttered, raising his head to meet my gaze. His pupils were still wide and dark and dazed, and I loved that we still had the same effect on each other, even now.
“I agree.”
He dipped his head to kiss me before easing out of me with a groan, rolling over and climbing to his feet. I watched the muscles in his back shift as he walked to the towel cubby against the villa wall, returning with two huge, fluffy towels.
Wrapped in the towel, with Tristan behind me, encircling me in his powerful arms, I watched the storm, safe, sated, and so, so happy.
His mouth dipped to my ear, pressing a soft kiss there. “Remember how I said I wouldn’t let the storm hurt you?”
My entire body warmed all over, thinking of that night. The night he’d protected me from the storm. I’d been a scared little eight-year-old, and he’d somehow known exactly how to take my fear away. “You remember that?”
“I remember everything. That night, you were scared, but you were so brave, Aria. And you trusted me, without hesitation. That…that meant a lot to me. I don’t know if you knew that.”
“I trusted you then, and I trust you now. You make everything better. I’m not afraid of the storm anymore, Tristan.”
“I know.” He brought his hand up to brush his finger over the lightning bolt I always wore around my neck. “And now, I get to watch every storm with my favourite person.”
I smiled, watching as another lightning bolt split the sky. “Sharing your facts with them, too. I’ve got one for you this time. Did you know lightning bolts are two miles long?”
I felt his answering smile against my skin. “Hmm. I seem to remember telling you that fact. I hope you’re not trying to take the credit for it.”
“I’d never do that.”
“You absolutely would, little scorpion.” He gently gripped my jaw, turning my head so he could kiss me properly. “I guess it’s one of the many reasons I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“I know.” His mouth slid against mine, and I forgot about the storm, losing myself in the man I loved.
Until the sound of the doors sliding open penetrated my brain and the voices of Elena, Knox, Quinn, and Roman filtered through to my ears.
Tristan groaned, dropping his forehead to my shoulder, but when he raised his head again, his lips curved upwards as he took in our friends.
“Barbeque time,” Roman announced. “Get some clothes on. Tristan, you’re on steak duty. Aria, you’re in charge of the seasoning.”
“Yes, sir.” Tristan saluted him before helping me to my feet. We headed back to our room to shower again and dress…interspersed with another round of sex, and then rejoined our friends.
Everyone was gathered around the giant marble-topped kitchen island, waiting for us with glasses of chilled white wine poured and ready. Knox slid two of the glasses across the island to us before holding up his own. “To us. For being the fucking amazing people we are.”
“Nice and simple and true. I like it.” Tristan gave a decisive nod, lifting his own glass. “And to add to that—to good times we’ve had and even better times to come.”
“Cheers,” Roman said.
We clinked our glasses together and drank, then began preparing the food.
Outside, the storm clouds rolled away until the storm was nothing but a distant rumble. The night sky spread out before us, dotted by countless glittering stars, and everything was still.
THE END