Epilogue
EPILOGUE
LILY: SIX MONTHS LATER
I hold out my hands, trying to feel something…anything…in front of me, but I can’t. The blindfold Zeno tied on a few minutes ago doesn’t allow a single sliver of light in, and I have no idea where he drove us.
“Listen, I know you love using these in the bedroom, but not seeing anything is driving me crazy. Now, tell me where we’re going. And you can’t take us on too much of a detour because we’ll be late for dinner!”
My parents, Nico, Shaye, and my nephews flew in for my college graduation this afternoon, and we’re supposed to be meeting them for dinner. I know things have been better between Nico, my dad, and Zeno, but I still feel like there is static between them, so I really don’t want to keep them waiting and add salt to any unhealed wounds.
“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise. And besides, I like seeing you blindfolded,” he murmurs against my ear as we walk. My heels click against pavement, and one gets caught in I guess what must be a sidewalk crack. I pitch forward with a yelp, slamming against Zeno’s back.
He responds with a loud oof !
“I told you to take it off,” I say.
“Oh, I’m gonna take it off,” he mutters. “Just you wait.”
I snicker. “Is that the only thing you ever think about?” I ask as he leads me through a door of some kind.
“Like ninety percent of the time, if I’m being honest.” He snickers before stopping short.
I crash into his back for the second time and let out a huff. “Okay! I’ve behaved myself and haven’t complained…too much. Can I please take this off now?” My fingers itch to yank it off my head.
He loosens the knot and the blindfold falls to the floor as I squint in the dim lighting. “Where are we?” I breathe, looking around, my brows furrowed. Deep crimson leather benches line the perimeter of the room and the art on the walls looks…interesting. I step into the room, staring at the paintings.
“The Underground?” I ask.
“The VIP room,” he says with a grin. “The place where all of the bosses held court during Prohibition. The luxury getaway from the speakeasy.”
“Wait, are we in the Mob Museum?” I ask. “I’ve never been here in the entire time I’ve lived in Vegas. What made you take me here, of all places?”
“I wanted to make tonight memorable.”
“Okay…” I nod, still looking around, confused as hell. “I thought we were going to dinner with my family to celebrate my graduation.”
“We are. But first, I have a special celebration planned for the two of us.” He snaps his fingers, and Vito trots out from a hidden door in the corner of the room. He’s wearing a tuxedo shirt with a bow tie around his neck.
I gasp and kneel down next to him. He leaps at me, licking me like I’m a beef kabob. “You look so handsome, baby!” I squeal, canoodling him. “And so formal in your bow tie!”
Zeno clears his throat. “Uh, we need to switch places for this next part,” he says.
I look up at him. “Huh?”
He holds out a hand and pulls me to my feet, just as he drops to one knee.
“In honor of our future together, I wanted you to experience firsthand the place where all of the important and life changing deals were made way back in the day.” He pauses. “Deals and proposals.”
My jaw drops. “Oh my?—”
“And tonight, I have a proposal of my own.” He unclasps something from Vito’s bowtie and holds it out to me. My breath hitches as the large diamond glitters under the soft overhead lights.
“Zeno,” I whisper. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Lil,” he says, squeezing my hand tight. “You’ve turned my whole world upside down in the past six months. God, I’ve fallen so hard for you…for your huge heart, your beautiful soul, and that smart-ass mouth…” He grins and I giggle-sniffle. “I love you so much and I’ll do everything and anything for you. You’re the future I didn’t know I wanted….or needed. Will you make me the happiest guy alive right now and say you’ll marry me? Because I can’t live without you…or those chocolate chip cookies of yours.”
I laugh, tears of happiness streaming down my cheeks as I pull him up and throw my arms around his neck. “Yes! Of course, I will! I love you so much!” I graze his lips with mine. “That just earned you a double batch tomorrow.”
He pats his rock-hard stomach and winks at me. “Can’t wait. And maybe we can come up with something creative to do with the melted chocolate…”
A male voice from behind me clears his throat, and I spin around to see my brother standing there with the rest of my family and Zeno’s family behind him, smiling.
“I don’t need to hear about what you do with melted chocolate,” he grunts, closing the space between us and embracing me with a gruff, “Congratulations,” to Zeno.
They will eventually learn to love each other.
I hope.
The next few minutes are a whirlwind of tears, champagne, and heartfelt congratulations. It was a much-needed celebration after all of the turmoil we’ve experienced in the recent past. We laugh, we hug, and we toast to the future and all that it holds for us, for our families, and for our partners.
My eyes flit toward my fiancé’s and I immediately know it will be chock full of amazing.
* * *
A few hours later, I rest my hand on my full belly and let out a soft moan as Zeno and I meander through the museum, trying to find the exit. I have Vito on a leash, and he walks slowly because he’s practically in a food-coma, poor guy.
There are so many hidden doorways that lead to dead ends. I guess that labyrinth mentality served the bosses well when people tried to escape their punishments. “Thank you for including my family. I know they feel so disconnected from our life since they’re so far away. And it was so great for them to have time with your family, too. You know, off-duty.”
“Yeah, except Nico still wants to beat my ass,” he says.
“Probably,” I say. “But he’s getting better! He actually spoke to you tonight.”
“Yep, the tides are really changing,” Zeno says in a sarcastic voice.
I look up at Zeno with a smile. My God, I’m about to embrace the life I swore I wanted to leave behind.
And I’ve fallen for the guy who is going to keep me immersed in it.
Forever, with any luck.
Ha!
Luck.
I know it’s on my side.
It sent me Zeno.
And hope for a future.
I’ll take it.
Zeno opens a door but again, it’s not the exit.
I peer around. The whole museum is empty since Zeno rented the whole thing out. Two bosses under the same roof warrants privacy and plenty of security. And this room is no exception.
I walk forward, dropping the leash. Vito drops to the carpeted floor, snoozing before I have a chance to move even a foot. I take in the surroundings, caramel-colored wood-paneled walls, and wooden viewing area. The room looks like a courtroom of sorts.
“This place was recreated for the biggest mob trials in history,” he says.
I trail a hand over one of the benches, leaning against one. A tingling in my belly ignites and I crook a finger at him. "Does this room make you want to punish me?” I whisper.
“Fuck yeah,” he says with a mischievous grin, gently backing me onto one of the benches. He reaches under my skirt, looping his fingers into my panties and dragging them down to my ankles. He forces my legs open, dragging his hot tongue along the sensitive skin on my inner thighs. I shudder at his touch, the erotic sensations swirling in my belly about to explode throughout my insides.
“You don’t come until I say,” he growls. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I rasp.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, sir!”
He grins. “Good girl.” Then he dips his head between my quivering thighs, jutting out his tongue and delving into my throbbing pussy. He nips at my clit, using his thumb and forefinger to glide against it as his tongue probes my folds. It plunges deep as his fingers dig into my flesh. He loops his arms under my legs, lifting me closer to his hungry lips. I clutch the sides of the couch as his mouth brings me right to the edge of euphoria, so close, I want to just nose-dive into the carnal bliss overtaking my body.
My entire body trembles and I keep my mouth closed tight, even though it wants to sing out his name. I shake and quiver, fighting a losing battle against the pleasure that threatens to overtake me. He licks, he suckles, and he plunders my body in the most deliciously deviant way imaginable.
“Oh my God!” I whisper-scream. “Fuck me, Zeno! Please, fuck me now!”
“You broke the rules.” He pulls away. “But screw it, I’m still in charge. And I say ride my cock, Lily. Slide that beautiful wet pussy down my throbbing cock and make me come with you.”
He pulls away, shoving his pants to the floor, then backing onto the bench as I straddle him. His perfect pink cock is rock solid and I swallow hard, my heart beating out of my chest at the thought of it being inside of me.
He grabs my hips and settles me on top of him. I let out a tiny gasp of pleasure as I rock my hips against his. I clench him tight, rubbing my clit against him with each thrust. He grips my waist to keep me in position as our bodies rock against each other.
He smacks my ass, making me ride him harder and faster. It isn’t long before my pussy clenches and quivers, the tingling sensation in my core igniting a fire that blasts through every extremity. He plunges deeper, hitting my spot over and over until I can’t take it, and the ear-piercing scream I’ve tried to keep buried explodes out of me.
It’s so loud, in fact, that all other sounds are muted, just like white noise humming in the background.
So it’s not a shock that I didn’t hear the door to the courtroom fly open and slam against the wall.
I yelp, twisting around so fast, I almost fall off of Zeno.
“Lily! What the fuck?” Nico screams.
I clap a hand over my mouth.
Oh my God. This isn’t happening.
“Nico! What are you doing here?” I squeak, trying to cover up.
“I heard screaming…” Nico turns away, covering his eyes. “Holy fuck, I can’t unsee that. It’s gonna haunt me for the rest of my life,” he groans. “I know this is karma. Such fucking bad karma!” He makes a gagging sound. “Ugh, I just threw up in my mouth.” He turns, still shielding his eyes. “Jesus Christ!” He slams the door shut behind him, still muttering about the karma.
Karma. Hm. Interesting. I need more information on that. I’ll have to get the scoop from him later.
Much later.
“Sorry about that,” I say, a hot flush creeping up the sides of my neck. “Just be warned, he might attack you for this.”
“I’m not scared,” Zeno says, rubbing his hands down my back. “I already told you. I’m used to people wanting to kill me.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, about that…we may need to work on your people skills.”
“I think it’ll take more than just people skills to keep me alive. I don’t know if I mentioned it, but there’s a laundry list of grievances against me.”
“Well, I have plenty of very naughty ideas about things we can do as long as you’re still alive. So maybe that will be incentive enough for you to change your ways? Become more likeable, maybe?”
“I’ll consider it.”
“Well, if I’m calling the shots…” I waggle my eyebrows at him.
“Oh! So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh?”
“That’s right.” I grin, trailing my fingers across his chest.
“That makes me damn lucky.” He winks at me. “And for the record, I’m good with the luck thing. I need all the help I can get.”
I hope you adored these sexy and sinful stories! And I have one more for you, a novella called SAVAGE SECRET! It is Bruno and Chloe’s story! Enjoy!