Epilogue
Grace
One year later.
Abrown blob zoomed around the corner, a ferocious, excited growl echoing down the barren hall in its wake. A second later, Henley appeared with a towel slung around his waist and his chest glistening with water. He checked over his shoulder before setting his eyes back on me.
“Did you see that?” he asked, walking toward me where I stood staring at the pile of boxes in the middle of our new living room.
“Stabby’s excited,” I replied, melting into him as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.
“Meanwhile, his brother is scared shitless behind the toilet,” he mumbled into my neck, hands roaming.
I covered his hands with mine, sighing. “He’ll warm up to the place.”
“Speaking of warming up the place,” he murmured, lips coasting along my neck. “We have a new house to properly break in.”
I turned in his hold, dangling my arms over his shoulders. “Hmm, let’s see. We’ve already taken care of the kitchen, the bathroom counter, the shower, the back window… Where else did you have in mind?”
His hands slid down to cup my ass, dragging me against him. “Everywhere, baby. I want this house ruined because of us.”
He peppered my neck with kisses, and I tossed my head back and laughed. “We just bought the place.”
“Exactly why this is necessary,” he said as he moved to my collarbone.
We’d spent months looking for the perfect house, not wanting to rush the process. When we finally came upon this place, I knew right away it was meant to be. We were on day two of moving in, and Henley was already planning out my built-in library in the front room.
The house was about thirty minutes from Booker’s ranch, isolated from reality. My old home held too many memories I didn’t want to think of every morning in this new life. This place felt like a fresh start, somewhere Henley and I could build our future.
I groaned as Henley’s mouth traveled to my breasts. “We have to meet our friends.”
He grunted his denial. “They can wait.”
My fingers slid into his hair, tugging gently. “We promised.”
He loosed a breath against my skin, the warm air feeling blissful against my chest. I wanted nothing more than to jump his bones right now, but being late would lead to inevitable teasing from our friends.
He pulled away, gazing down at me while his hands squeezed my hips. “Later.”
I nodded. He grabbed the towel and let it fall from his body into a heap on the floor. I pressed my lips together, trying to gather my restraint not to look. One glance and I’d be sucked in, and then we’d never leave this house.
He smirked, then turned and headed for the hall. I couldn’t help myself—I let my eyes fall to his ass.
“You’re looking,” he called over his shoulder.
“Oh, I’m definitely looking,” I said back, immediately missing the sight of him as he rounded the corner and shot me a grin. But I forced myself to stay put, waiting for him to return fully clothed.
Once he was ready, we headed to the ranch, making it with a minute to spare. We met the others in the pasture closest to the barn, taking our seat on the old pine log. Henley didn’t let my ass hit the wood, instead pulling me onto his lap.
“How’s the house?” Austin asked from across the fire we all surrounded, a sparkle in his eye. McKenna, Brynne, and Booker sat around it as well, enjoying the evening.
Henley’s thumb ran along the outside of my thigh. “Everything we wanted.”
“When are you going to finally let us come over and help?” McKenna asked, leaning into Austin’s side.
“That’s a great question,” I noted, looking at Henley pointedly. “When are we going to let them come over?”
“When we’re done christening every surface,” he said easily.
Booker grunted while Austin choked on his beer. “So basically I shouldn’t eat off the counters,” Austin noted after clearing his throat.
I opened my mouth to tell him we were—mostly—sanitary about it, but Henley beat me to speaking. “Nope.”
The men continued to give each other shit before we fell into easy conversation with the people we loved. Life might have been utter chaos a year ago, but seeing how things turned out, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
The End