Epilogue #2
Steph steps forward and actually takes his hand.
“It is,” she assures him gently. “I’m very happy.
I didn’t think I would be, but I was willing to keep an open mind.
I love Adam. We’re going to be a family soon.
In a way, you made all of that happen. It will be your first grandchild, and I hope that we can keep having family gatherings so our baby can know all the aunties and uncles who will love it.
And his grandma and grandpa, of course.”
I’ve never seen my father’s face so soft as when he looks down at Steph. It blows my mind that this is the same man I grew up basically loathing and fearing. I know we have a long way to go. A real long way, but I suppose that everything has to have a start.
I can’t remember a time in my life when my father ever willingly touched me. I mean, more than a brush of an arm here or there.
Steph still clings to his other hand, but I surprise myself by reaching out and taking his free one.
I study the veins at the back, the surprising age spots, the way the skin has thinned and slackened, and I realize that my father might not be just the fearsome presence that I thought he was.
He might not be icy and rigid and filled with cruel, cold ambition.
Or if he was, maybe something has changed.
The past six months have changed all of us.
I think about Wraith. How The Riders gave him a shot. How if Steel hadn’t, I never would have met him. The man I love, the soul that was always meant to be twisted up with mine. He’s everything to me. The day and night. My reason for being. The joy in my life and the sun in my heart.
So maybe I can give my father that chance too.
“I had a good time,” I admit, blinking hard against the sudden sting of tears. “This. It was fun. We should do it again.”
My father, a man I might learn to call dad, in time, nods. “We will.”
He leaves Steph and I in the kitchen, stunned. We barely manage to pick our jaws off the floor and stare at each other.
“That was really weird,” Steph breathes. “All of this is.”
I shrug. “Maybe he’s just getting old and realizes he shouldn’t have burned quite a few of the bridges he did.
Everyone has regrets. Maybe it’s his turn to try and atone for his.
Or maybe it was us being taken. Threatened.
He’s never tipped his hand before, but he’s been different since it happened. ”
“Maybe it’s the fact that we’re out of his hair with husbands and he can just finally relax and learn how to try and enjoy us.”
I can’t help but grin. “Maybe.”
“Whatever it is, it’s kind of nice. Weird, but nice.”
I agree with Steph, and I take her hand easily and lead her back outside.
Wing stands and retrieves his wife, a huge, goofy grin blooming over his face, as per usual.
He leads her off back into the yard so they can stand there and get lost in their own little world, flirting shamelessly and sickeningly for all of us to see. I have to admit, I love it.
I’m free to wander back to my seat. As soon as I slip into it, Wraith cocks a brow and flashes me a lopsided grin. “That bad, huh?”
I shake my head, still in disbelief. “No. It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t bad at all.”
“Care to fill me in?”
“I will at home.”
Wraith grins at me, a wicked, heated grin that contains all the filthy promise in the universe. “If I give you time to talk.”
“I’m sure there’ll be time after.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” That lazy grin grows more confident and the heat rising in his eyes darkens their depths.
It mirrors the heat welling between my legs.
“I plan on keeping you busy pretty much all night. And after that, I have half a mind to paint you, your skin glowing, my cum glistening on your thighs, your sex swollen, the rest of your body flushed. What a glorious picture that would be. I’d like to put it up on the wall. Right in the living room.”
I let out a choked sound that is completely unladylike, and nearly jump out of my chair, ready to head home.
Wraith barely suppresses a laugh. Instead, he clenches his jaw, keeping it inside.
He bends down, to whisper heatedly in my ear.
“Say your goodbyes and get that sweet little ass on the back of my bike.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “Yes, sir.”
“Don’t forget it, darlin’. I own you, body and soul.”
It might be said jokingly, but when I respond back, a private, shy smile gracing my own lips, I’m not joking at all. “I know.”
It’s true. As Wraith leads me through the yard and we say our goodbyes, as he helps me onto his bike and takes off roaring down the open stretch of road, heading back to our home, the truth has never been more obvious.
That thread that sewed us together from the first, binds us tight, body to body, heart to heart, soul to soul. I thought that day all those months ago was going to be the worst of my life, but instead, it turned out to be the best. The day I became his wife.
I’m entirely his and he is truly mine.
That will always be our truth.
THE END