I drop to my knees in front of him, and use my hair to cover him up. I don’t know if he’s cares if he’s exposed, but I do. I don’t want anyone else seeing what’s mine. Leaning down I kiss the head, and then suck it lightly into my mouth. He stiffens, so I reach my hand up, and place it over his heart.
It doesn’t relax him all the way, but I continue on, because he needs it, even if it’s a little uncomfortable for him right now. Before long, his body takes over, and he’s thrusting up into my mouth. A few minutes later, it’s all over, and he’s pulling me up onto his lap for a kiss.
“Thank you.”
“Did it work? Can I do that again now?”
“I’m not sure about it ‘working’, but I loved it because I knew it was you, and yes, please do that whenever you want. Wake me up that way, do it in the shower, at work—wherever you want.”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
He zips himself back up, and we walk hand in hand back to the main foyer. Guil approaches me while I’m at the coat check, and Rhys is cleaning up a little.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“How were you okay with coming here today? I mean, I know you weren’t exactly comfortable with it, but you did it anyway.”
“I love Rhys, so I’m willing to do almost anything for him.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s it.”
“Why? Is there someone you want to come here?”
“No. Yes. Maybe. But, I know this isn’t the place for her.”
“You should probably let her decide that for herself.”
“Yeah, but that would mean telling her it exists.”
“Um, yes. That would be a requirement.”
“What’s up?” Rhys asks, putting his arm around me.
“Guil and I were just talking about a mystery woman he’s interested in.”
“Oh yeah? Cool. Good luck.”
“Thanks. I’m going to need it.”
With that, he gives us a salute, and heads inside the club. Rhys and I head back to our hotel, where I plan to have my mouth on him again before the sun rises. This place was necessary, but it’s not where I wanted to be the first time I did that again. But, I really can’t complain since he’s going to let me keep doing it now. He’s the gift I’ve waited too long for, and I plan to unwrap him every single day for the rest of my life.
EPILOGUE
ONE MONTH LATER
RHYS
The past few weeks with Viv have flown by. Days filled with work and lunch dates, and nights filled with more dates, and passion. Okay, yeah, there’s been passion during the day too, but it’s the nights and mornings I love the most, and not just for the sex. Going to sleep with her in my arms, and waking up to the same—or sometimes something a little more invigorating—is better than I could’ve dreamed of.
She’s not pregnant yet, but we’re both hoping it will happen sooner, rather than later. For now, we’re just having fun together, and loving each other hard. Which leads me to today.
This fountain inside a topiary maze holds a memory I need to re-make for her. And, for me. I’m not totally healed, and I don’t know that I’ll ever be, but I’m better, and she deserves the best of me, even though I gave her the worst.
“What is all this?” she asks, when she finds me inside the maze.
“A picnic celebration.”
“What are we celebrating?”
“The day you gave me yourself again, even though it hurt you. After you stuff yourself with tiny sandwiches, and welsh cakes, I’m going to take advantage of your blissed-out state to make love to you.”
“You know you don’t have to get me food drunk for that.”
“You deserve a little romance.”
“Coming from the guy who finds little ways to romance me every single day.”
“It’s not ever going to be enough.”
“Isn’t that for me to decide? And, I thought you were done punishing yourself.”
“Yes, and I am. Mostly.”
“I knew you were planning something when you wanted us to come back here.”
“I’ve planned many things. This is just the beginning.”
“Good, because I love you too much to ever let you run away again.”
“I love you too much to ever run.”
It’s a hard truth I had to learn, but now that we’re here, I realize how much I could’ve missed out on if I’d stayed hidden inside of myself, letting the demons rule me. It’s sobering to imagine how my life wouldn’t played out if I hadn’t had this woman, the friends who’ve become life brothers, and access to good mental health care. I’ll never take any of it for granted again.
COMING SOON
Look for Cohen’s book, Vital Company, coming in November!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Dominique, and Gabi, I love you!
Helen Williams, thanks again for the awesome covers!
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To all my readers, all over the world, thanks for sticking with me through the books that are hard to read, but necessary! I promise to make things fun sometimes, too!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Crystal Perkins has always been a big reader, but she never thought she would write her own book, until she sat down and did it one day. She lives in Las Vegas, where you can find her running author events when she isn’t reading, buying too many Sherlock t-shirts and LulaRoe leggings, or finding a place to put all of her Pop! figurines. In 2016, she won the Creative Initiatives Award from Romantic Times for encouraging literacy, and also the Community Advocate Award from the Clark County School Librarians Association. A mac and cheese connoisseur, she travels the country looking for the perfect version, while attending book conventions and signings as a cover for her research. The Griffin Brothers, Corrigan & Co., and the Society Girls series are all international best sellers, and she’s thankful to the readers who made that happen.
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Find her here:
www.crystalperkinsauthor.com
facebook.com/crystalperkinsauthor
@wondermomlv
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