Epilogue

EPILOGUE

EMMELINE

Six-month checkpoint

A happy sigh drifts from my lips as I hurry home with some snacks and supplies. Soon, the Governing Body representative will be here, and after, Branson and I get to celebrate with all our friends and family.

My heart skips a beat as I walk in and set everything down on the counter. My husband isn't home yet, so it gives me time to prepare for my big surprise. The bond ripples between us as I try to hide my thoughts, keeping them to myself until he gets home.

It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But based on how things jangle between us, it seems as if he's cutting me off as well. Curiouser and Curiouser. Since we've bonded, neither of us has kept secrets from each other, but in my mind, as long as it's for a surprise, it can't be that bad.

Humming under my breath, I fiddle about with things, keeping myself busy so the bond can't reveal the secret before I have a chance to share it. A small smile curves my lips as I prepare three bags, one for each parent, and slide the small surprise inside.

Minutes feel like hours as I wait for him, but soon he strides inside. I run into his arms and drag in his scent, needing that more than I need air. He wraps his arms around me and holds me close, his heart pounding against me as I sink into his warmth. With a soft kiss on my head, he leads me into the living room and helps me sit down.

My body squirms as excitement rolls off of me. It takes everything in my power to not blurt it out then and there, because it's clear he has something to tell me himself. To take my mind off of it, I let my gaze drift about the room and linger on the various artworks hanging on the walls.

My artwork.

Until Branson and his family, I've never had anyone believe in me like they have. It's a balm to my ragged soul, a bandage that melds my broken pieces together. Looking back into his eyes, I take in his shining gray depths.

"Wife," he growls, the sound drifting over my body until my clit and nipples throb. "I have something to tell you."

"Yes, yes," I squeal, bounding around in my seat. "What is it?"

Instead of answering me, he hands me a sheet of paper. A frown pulls down my lips as I hold it up and skim. I read it, then read it again, not sure I'm completely understanding. "You're going back to your family name?"

"Yes. I figured now is as good a time as any before any official paperwork is filed. You loved me as an Afford, so now I want you by my side as an Astorford."

Tears prick my eyes as squeeze his hand. "Do your parents know?"

"Yes. They had to be there to finalize it."

"What does this mean for us? Does this mean you're not working as an EMT anymore?"

He smiles and shakes his head. "You're not getting out of being an EMT wife that easily. I'm still going to have to take the odd shifts every now and then."

"Oh."

"You're not disappointed, I hope. I can't really get a good read on you. I thought the money didn't matter."

Hurt rankles through the bond for a moment, and I can't help the tears dotting my eyes. "You misunderstand. This has nothing to do with money, or your job, or anything like that. I'm happy here with you regardless if you're an Afford or an Astorford."

"Then what's going on? Please. The suspense is killing me."

"Well, I'm just trying to figure out if our children will be an Afford or Astorford."

A sigh drifts from his lips as he shakes his head and runs a hand across his beard. "You worried me for a moment. But any child born after this change is an Astorford. Not that we have to worry about that any time soon."

My heart pounds in my chest as I take his hand in mine and place it on my stomach. "Maybe sooner than you think?"

His face goes slack for a moment as he stares at me. For a few heartbeats, I worry he's not happy, but then he scoops me in his arms as he tips his head back and shouts for joy.

"Really? Truly?"

Unable to keep the grin off of my face, I dig around in my purse and pull out an ultrasound. He simply stares at it, running his finger across the small bean in the picture. "How did I not know?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure it's because you've been more concerned with the process and less concerned with the result."

"You know we'll have to tell my parents."

"Oh, I already thought of that. I was hoping to tell them at the party?"

"Perfect!"

Branson leans in and kisses me, his touch gentle as he holds me in his arms. Arousal swirls through my body as I feel his barely leashed savagery through the bond. Before things can go too far, however, there's a knock at the door. His groan as I pull away follows me through the house, making me tingle from head to toe.

"Later, love. After the party, I'll be all yours."

Thankfully, the meeting is quick. All that seems to be needed is both of us agreeing to stay in the marriage. As if there's anything or anyone else. No doubt when she saw the mark, she knew it was pointless to drown us in bureaucracy. The only other thing was to confirm the name change, and she was gone.

With a large grin, I pack up my goodies and the snacks, and we race away to his parent's mansion. They greet us with large hugs and shouts of welcome before Mr. Astorford mans the grill. Never in my life did I ever imagine someone as rich as them doing the cooking, but he looks so natural there. So much like a dad.

Tears prick my eyes as I watch all of Branson's friends from the EMS unit and family laugh and joke as if they're all one big group. My father stands off to the side, unsure of the interaction, but soon, even he joins in, his lips lifting into the ghost of a smile over Mikey's antics.

Once everyone is settled, Branson clinks his knife against his glass and draws everyone's attention onto us. My heart swells as I watch the outpouring of love from each and every one of them.

"Thank you for joining us this evening, and a huge thank you to the hosts." Mr. Astorford stands, puffs up, and tugs on his grill master apron before sitting back down. "We can't think of a better way to celebrate six months than with all of you. Thank you for being there with us and for us, and thank you for your continued love and support as we go off into the future. Now, I believe my lovely bride has a special present for the parents."

My lips hurt from how hard I'm grinning as I take the bags over to the three. My father sits off to the side, his expression wary as he holds the frilly thing to his chest. One by one, they open the bags and pull out a shirt. Everyone sits in silence as they read them.

First, Mrs. Astorford looks at me, her eyes wide and shining with happiness. "Truly?" Like the proud grandparent she is, she turns the shirt around to show everyone what it says.

Number One Grandma. Cheesy, but fitting for this ragtag family. My father blinks as tears gather in his eyes. He says nothing but clutches his Number One Grandpa shirt to his chest and mouths the words thank you. Unable to hold back any longer, I walk over to him and give him a tight hug.

Tears stream down our cheeks as everyone whoops and hollers, wishing Branson well and congratulating the grandparents. My heart swells even more as I catch my husband's gaze from across the way, seeing and feeling the love pouring from him and into me.

Never in my dreams did I think I'd be allowed to find my happiness, and now I have it flowing all around me, shoring me up. Who would have thought my happily ever after would have come from a butt plug gone wrong, but here we are. And forever seems brighter than I could have ever imagined.

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Want to read more in this world? Check out any of these other titles:

Bound to the CEO

Bound to the DA

Bound to the Chef

Bound to the EMT

Bound to the One-Night Stand

Bound to the Daddy

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The End… For Now