by Xavier Neal
His description trembles my jaw.
“Then I saw the burnt remains….I called the local hospital looking for her and you. When there was no record of either of you checked in, I just…I waited around for you to come home. Ended up falling asleep in my car. Woke up this morning and when you still didn’t answer, I had this niggling in the back of my mind that you weren’t there, but I had no clue how to find you. That’s when a little bird landed on my windshield with a piece of popcorn in its beak.”
As soon as the first tear falls from my eyes, Chance’s arms wrap tightly around me. I bury my sobs in his chest, hand abandoning the bag of popcorn I had been clutching onto.
Chance’s strong arms flex at the same time he whispers, “It’s alright, babe. I’m here. Let my spirit help heal yours.”
For way too long, I sit on the bench in his arms and bawl. Tear filled babbles about the fire, her death, and missing her pour out of me in rapid succession with guilt for not checking in on her the night before. He listens on in silence, stroking my back and placing gentle kisses on my forehead as signs of understanding.
Finally, when my eyes seem to be incapable of crying further, I pull away and ask, “Why did you go to my apartment?”
“To apologize.”
“Chance-”
“To tell you I wouldn’t strip for them. To tell you I quit,” he continues. “To tell you that the path we’re on together is the one I wanna be on.”
Unsure of what to say, I press my lips together.
“Syd, I don’t wanna strip any more. Not because there’s anything wrong with it, but because it’s not fun anymore. More importantly, because your love is worth more to me than any amount of money a job could throw my direction. I should’ve respected your request immediately.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Fear.” The lack of delay in his answer surprises me. “It’s the same reason I wasn’t sure about pursuing you to begin with. Fear has had a ruling moon in my life for far too long. Crossing energy streams with you has been the most incredible experience of my life. I trust The Cosmos and the Goddesses of Fate. We’re destined to be together, Syd. There is no question in my mind that you are my yin, Syd, and I am your yang. And if you forgive me for momentarily listening to the whispers of fear rather than my spirit guide, I swear on the angel that led me here to you, I will spend the rest of my life showing you I’m worthy of being your mate as well as worshiping you as mine.”
“I’m sorry for the way I reacted,” I softly apologize. “I could’ve handled it better.”
“You were grieving, babe. Besides, you have no reason to apologize. In that moment, you had picked me and my emotions over your own. You could’ve told me about Birdie’s death right then. Made the situation about you, yet you chose to acknowledge my pain and turmoil over yours. You always put me first, and you deserve the same. I thought that handling all your money woes was what you needed most from me, but I was wrong. You need to come first on our emotional and spiritual plane as well as the others. From this point forward that’s exactly what it’ll be. Our love comes first in this life, Syd. Money, work, and everything else will definitely work itself out.”
“And if it doesn’t at least we have each other.”
“That’s enough for me, babe.”
“Me too.”
Our parted lips gravitate together. The instant they touch our tongues rush to re-establish a connection I feared was permanently severed.
Never would I have guessed my happily ever after would begin in the haunting shadows of death. But maybe that doesn’t have to be a bad thing? Perhaps, it can be a reminder the same way Chance encourages my father’s death to act as a reminder of the importance in celebrating my life. Birdie’s love for James, love for me, and love of love, are all beautiful reminders to love the life you’re given. Sure. I don’t have the fanciest slippers or the shiniest castle, but I have a life filled with gems that are irreplaceable. To me? That’s the greatest wealth in the entire universe.
Epilogue
Chance
One Year Later…
Syd giggles as my mouth lowers to the crook of her neck. “Chance….”
I lightly moan at the beautiful way my name sounds.
Best fucking sound in the entire Cosmos. Still love hearing it now as much as I did when we first started our journey together.
“Quit that,” Becca fusses from her office doorway. “Dancers will be arriving any minute now.”
The Court, which is the title of the fitness studio Syd and Becca run, opened at the beginning of this year. French wasn’t exaggerating about their enrollment being filled or the anticipation of their opening. Syd teaches eight classes a day, Monday through Friday, including a Mommy and Me class, while Becca teaches two dance competition classes in the evenings. There are also classes for younger dancers starting at the age of two, which is run by one of the other dancers who graduated with Becca. They also have a couple of dance students who help out and assist when necessary. She still hosts tantric sex classes for the aging on Sundays, but that’s it. Nothing else. Weekends are reserved as our time to connect outside of work. We do fun shit like take nude drawing classes together or go to Bounce, Bounce Revolution. Sometimes we meet up with my family for dinner or hang out with the boys and their girls. We do cookouts now, but we still meet up for our bi-weekly basketball games and poker sessions. Whether or not they admit it, I know they still need the bro time as much as I do. As for her family? Well, Daniella’s behavior got her banned from The Castle and fired from work. Black balled to our knowledge. No one likes a sexual predator. She recently had to move in with Drewella because she couldn’t afford her apartment or car any more. She also had to stop paying her half of their grandparents living arrangements. Syd immediately stepped in, willing to use the large sum of money Birdie left her to support them only to find out an anonymous donor had already handled the cost. Bet you can guess who that donor is, huh? We still see Syd’s grandparents almost every Sunday, but we’ve also began to see her mother more as she’s realizing how much of her own life she’s missed due to overworking. While Syd’s relationship with her sisters is pretty non-existent, she has finally made peace with that, insisting whenever they’re ready to rebuild their bond she will be waiting with open arms. Not sure they’ll ever have a friendship like the one Apollo and I have, the one we’ve been nurturing a little more now that he’s settled down as well, but there’s no harm in sending them well wishes and warm vibes.
Syd snickers, pushes me away, and turns to apologize, “Sorry, Becca.”
“I don’t blame you,” she swiftly states. “I blame the blow fish determined to give you a hickey before 8 a.m.”
Popping my head into sight, I wink. “Morning, Becca.”
She fights the urge to smile. “Don’t you have treats to deliver, lover boy?”
Chance’s Charming Treats has taken off beyond my wildest dreams. It opened at the same time The Court did, and our contract with Push It To The Maxx has not only been renewed, but expanded to include other branches rather than just their main one. I’m constantly experimenting in the kitchen, aiming to bring the same pleasure to taste buds that I used to bring to the ladies with my body. So far, not one unhappy customer.
“I’m goin’, I’m goin’,” I insist at the same time I tug Syd out of Becca’s line of sight.
With a mischievous smirk, I kiss her again, this time a little rougher, wanting it to last until lunch time and please our mated spirit guides.
Regardless of the fact we work in close proximity there isn’t much time to linger. I do love when I catch a glimpse of her stretching, or she pops over for a quick shake, but when we’re in the building it’s mainly business. It was actually one of Syd’s requirements for taking the job. She didn’t mind if the world knew we were in love. She just didn’t want anyone to not take our businesses seriously because of it. French had some serious respect for that. As for me? My negotiation was a lot easier. Holidays, v
acation days, and most importantly when the work day ends for me, which is three o’clock. Shops open until The Court closes, but my ass is to never stay past three. It’s my way of making sure I keep my life in balance. There’s an equal amount of time I give to work and fun. However, Syd is still at the center of it all. She is the sun, the moon, and the stars to me. She is my yin, as I am her yang. Together, we are one. And there’s nothing more at peace than a soul that is complete.
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Meet The other Princes!
Prince Arik (Prince of Teaser #1):
This is not your typical fairy tale.
These are not your average princes.
The Castle is a member's only club where dirty, little fantasies can come true.
Prince Arik is cocky, playful, and known for making ladies hit the high notes.
Will he find a woman who makes his heart sing, or will his love life just keep playing the same old tune?
https://amzn.to/2IB4ZSO
Prince Hunter (Prince of Tease #2):
This is not your typical fairy tale.
These are not your average princes.
The Castle is a member's only club where dirty, little fantasies can come true.
Prince Hunter is sweet, southern, and known for leaving women's hearts in knots.
Will he a find a beauty to rope for life, or will he be forced to ride off into the sunset solo?
https://amzn.to/2LhKETG
Prince Brock (Prince of Tease #3):
This is not your typical fairy tale.
These are not your average princes.
The Castle is a member's only club where dirty, little fantasies can come true.
Prince Brock is hot tempered, protective, and has a bark that is just as vicious as his bite.
Will this beast finally have all the love of his beauty, or will he spend his entire life just wishing for it?
https://amzn.to/2sLne2c
Curious about Warren?
While he doesn’t have his own novel YET he is an important character in another story.
Watch his best friends fall in love….
The Gamble (A Standalone Novel)
3 friends. 2 players. 1 bet.
When Luca Larson makes an expensive wager, guaranteeing the bedding of his only real female friend, he's expecting the situation to go as smoothly as sleeping with any other woman would. It doesn't take long before he realizes his usual plays won't work. She knows them too well. She knows HIM too well. If Luca wants to win, he'll have to do things he's never done before. Friendships will be challenged. Hearts will be broken. Lives will be inevitably changed. But one question will remain. Was it all worth the gamble?
https://amzn.to/2HB3CCB
Remember the gym Chance got a job delivering to?
Meet the owner and see how he fell in love….
Blind (Senses Series #1):
Aside from being blind to the fact his best friend, Maxx Hughes, is madly in love with him, Logan 'Unbreakable' Kellar has it made. He's the best amateur fighter at TKO, has a buffet line of women desperate to be taken by him, and three friends that are his family. However, when Maxx crosses over from Logan's blind spot on the side lines to the dead center of his vision, he realizes that he can't stay blind to the fact this girl, is the girl.
https://amzn.to/2HCLR5I
Gratitude
The list of people who allow this entire process is truly too many to name. So rather than run the risk of forgetting anyone, I want to just say thank you to EVERYONE. Readers, bloggers, friends, family, reviewers, and street teamers….You are an integral part of my process and success. My wildest dream is possible because of you. Never forget that.
Until next time….
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Also by Xavier Neal
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About the Author
Xavier Neal lives in Texas where she spends her time getting lost in writing, reading, or fandoms she recently discovered. Whether she is enjoying books or movies, she continues finding inspiration at every turn to bring more exciting stories to life.
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Chance