“As good as I can be, I suppose.”
“Have you checked on Jonathan?”
I sigh, shaking my head. Jon didn’t come to the service. When he found out about my father’s death, he seemed happy. And when we told him the truth about his own father, he seemed relieved.
It’s odd, knowing that James and I share a brother, but now that he’s out of Rockford Prep, and living with us on the yacht, I’m excited for them to get to know each other. To love each other, as much as I love both of them.
If there’s anything I’ve learned over the past few months, it’s that family is what you make it.
“Hey, do you think we can stop by The Vanilla Bean?” I ask, suddenly wanting to see the smiling face of a friend.
Angie reached out after hearing of my father’s passing, and we picked up right where we left off. She hasn’t asked what happened while I was gone, and I haven’t offered an explanation. Although, we haven’t seen each other in person yet, so who knows if that will change.
James leans in, pressing his lips to my ear. “We can do anything you like, darling. All you have to do is say the word.”
“Okay.” I grin, turning toward him. My hand reaches up to cup his face. “And you? How are you doing?”
He smirks. “I’m ready to go back home and tie you to my bed.”
“Behave, darling.” I press a kiss to his lips. “Hey, not to change the subject, but do you want to have a service for Ru?”
His eyes darken, his jaw tensing underneath my palm. He opened up about his relationship with Ru over the past week. He said he was just bored from being bedbound, and needed to talk, but I have a sneaking suspicion it was his way of helping me grieve.
When my thoughts would overwhelm me, and my heart would ache with pain, James would wrap me in his arms and tell me tales of The Lost Boys, led by Ru and his bright red hair.
And it did. Help, that is.
He shakes his head. “No. He wouldn’t have wanted that.”
My heart clenches in my chest. “Okay, but we always can. If you want.”
He presses his lips back to mine, his fingers trailing down my dress and dipping underneath the hem. “You’re a very caring woman, pet. Allow me to show my appreciation.”
“James,” I gasp. “You’re still healing.”
He smirks as he slides off the limo’s seat, his hands forcing my legs apart so he can settle between my thighs. “You’re absolutely right about that,” he says, his fingers moving my panties to the side and dipping into my folds. “You would deny an injured man some pleasure?”
“I just think you need to be—” My voice cuts off as he leans in, the flat of his tongue swiping up my core and swirling around my clit. My fingers reach down, gripping his hair, my hips pressing into him.
My heart rate speeds as I glance to the driver, but the partition is up and the windows are tinted, so I’m sure that he can’t see. Still, the thought of him hearing is enough to make my body coil tight.
His finger dips inside of my core, curling against my inner walls, drawing a long moan from my mouth. A few more passes of his tongue and that’s all it takes, my orgasm cascading through me like an avalanche, my thighs pressing harshly against his face.
He places my panties back in place, pressing a soft kiss on top of the fabric before gliding his body back up my frame and meeting my lips for a kiss.
“That’s my girl,” he says.
I grin against him, warmth spreading through my chest, my arms wrapping around his neck. “Only yours, James Barrie.”
“And always yours, Wendy, darling.” He kisses my jaw. “Every night.”
“And straight on ‘til morning.”
Epilogue
James
Two Years Later
I used to hate the sea.
Not that you would know it from the way I stand on the sundeck of The Tiger Lily, the saltwater breeze blowing on my face.
It’s Wendy’s second year by my side and the first full year as my wife. And she promised she’d finally let me take her out on the water.
She didn’t used to like it either, but I think it’s growing on her now.
I glance to the table where we had our first date, back before I knew she would soon eclipse my world and become the sole reason for my existence. She sits there now, her belly swollen with our second child, the first one just old enough to waddle around on his own.
We didn’t know it then, but she was pregnant when we buried her father.
A little boy. Named Ru.
Jon and her laugh at our baby while he wiggles his hips to music as it croons through the speakers, and a warmth spreads through my chest, happiness infusing every pore.
I never thought I would have this.
A family.
A life.
But then Wendy swept through with her unfailing loyalty and her selfless way of forgiving even the worst of mistakes, and she showed me that even the most damaged of hearts can still learn to love.
Eventually, we’ll have to go back home, of course. I still have an empire to run, and Jon is starting his first week of college to get his engineering degree.
He wants to build planes, of all things.
Shortly after the dust settled on everything, Wendy attempted to get her job back at The Vanilla Bean, but they said no, citing the multiple times she no-showed. Which was my fault, really.
So, I bought it for her.
And before little Ru came along, she spent her days brewing coffee and bonding with her best friends, Angie and Maria.
Maria took a while to come around, but once she started dating Curly, she softened up and these days they’re as thick as thieves.
I look back out on the water, closing my eyes and looking toward the future where adventure awaits, feeling grateful for how far we’ve come.
And to think, it all started with a little bit of faith.
Misplaced trust.
Missing pixie dust.
And a villain who just needed to steal a little love.