Epilogue

S ix months later

Moonlight spilled through the cracks in the curtains, casting silvery shadows across the rumpled sheets. Pearl's body still tingled from their passionate embrace, her heart pulsing a gentle rhythm against Maverick's broad chest. The scent of his skin—like leather and fresh rain—enveloped her senses. He had stolen her heart in the most unexpected of ways. His breaths, slow and steady, warmed the back of her neck as she reached for the letter on the nightstand.

"Sarah sent this earlier," she said. She unfolded the parchment and began to read. "Dear Pearl, I hope this letter finds you well, and that rogue of yours is treating you right. Lord knows someone needs to keep him in line."

Maverick snorted softly but said nothing, his fingers idly stroking her hip.

Pearl continued, "I won't beat around the bush. I'm worried about you, Pearl. This thing between you and Maverick...just be careful. A bond between human and vampire is no trifling matter. Don't let him turn you until you are in a safe place. And I'd appreciate it if you'd wait until I was dead in the ground before you become a vampire." Pearl paused. "Why would she ask that?"

Maverick shifted behind her, his strong arm tightening around her waist protectively. "Because once you decide to become a vampire, you'll be lost to hunger for a thousand years."

Pearl leaned back into his embrace, her thoughts tangled in a web of desire and doubt. She longed to join Maverick in immortality, to stand by his side through every challenge they would face. Yet the darkness that lurked within him, a constant reminder of his vampire nature, instilled a gnawing fear in the pit of her stomach.

"Is it worth it?" she asked quietly.

"Only you can answer that, Pearl," Maverick replied, his voice heavy with unspoken emotion. "But I'll be by your side always, whatever you choose."

"The thought of losing you to time terrifies me."

Maverick pressed his lips gently against her temple. "I understand, Pearl. But Sarah's caution makes sense. We should wait until she's no longer around, and our situation is more stable. Turning you to a vampire will weaken both of us, even more than the bond had."

"The bond barely weakened us at all."

"Maybe it had already been in place before we ever met."

"Is that even possible?"

"You're asking me? I'm just an outlaw."

"Not anymore you're not. You're a Pinkerton detective." A wry smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she returned to the letter. The next part was focused on Sarah's relentless pursuit of Maverick's gang and the missing gold. "It's funny, really. Even in retirement, Sarah can't let go of a case. I bet she'll chase down your gang until they run out of places to hide."

Maverick's chest rumbled with a low chuckle, his fingers idly tracing patterns along her arm. "Ah, well, if she keeps it up, she'll find they've spent all the gold before she can track them down." The playful glint in his blue eyes elicited a laugh from Pearl.

"Do you ever regret leaving your old life behind?"

He regarded her for a moment, searching her face as if weighing his response. Finally, he shook his head, the corner of his mouth lifting in a lopsided smile. "Not for a single moment, Pearl. Before you came into my life, I was lost, consumed by my own darkness. But now, I've found something far more valuable in you."

Pearl felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words, and her heart swelled with gratitude for the love they shared. "I feel the same way, Maverick. You are my beacon in this world filled with shadows."

Pearl traced idle patterns across Maverick's chest, her fingertips mapping the scars that told the story of his life. So much pain, so much loss, all etched into his skin like a twisted tapestry. And yet, beneath it all, his heart beat strong and true, a rhythm she'd come to know as well as her own.

Maverick's arms crushed her to him, his lips claiming hers in a searing kiss that stole her breath and ignited her blood. He met her passion with his own, rolling her beneath him as his hands charted a path of fire across her skin. Every touch, every caress, was a promise, a vow written in sweat and sealed with desperate hunger. Pearl arched into him, the cool silk of the sheets a delicious contrast to the heat of his body against hers.

Maverick's mouth blazed a trail down her throat, his fangs grazing her pulse point in a thrilling reminder of the power he held over her, body and soul. A gasp escaped her lips as his hands roamed over her bare breasts, sending shivers of pleasure through her body. His thumbs teased the sensitive peaks, causing her to arch her back and let out a soft moan. With a satisfied grin, he lowered his head to capture one taut nipple between his lips, his warm breath sending tingles down her spine. Pearl cried out, fingers tangling in his hair to keep him close as he continued to lavish attention on her breast. She could feel his hardness pressing insistently against her belly, heightening the heat between them and igniting a longing deep within her. She would never get enough of him. Enough of this.

His fingers gently tickled between her thighs, making her moan softly but urgently.

Slowly, she spread her legs wider, inviting his touch. He wasted no time, sliding a finger inside her, feeling the warmth and wetness that welcomed him. Pearl gasped, her body arching off the bed as pleasure washed over her. He added another finger, continuing to move them slowly, expertly, creating a rhythm that left her breathless.

As Maverick traced delicate circles around her core, Pearl felt herself slip closer to the brink of pleasure, her body craving the sweet release only he could provide. She whimpered softly, her hands clinging to his shoulders as he teased and caressed her, one hand sliding between her legs, his fingers delving into her wet heat. His thumb found her throbbing core, rubbing circles around it, sending shivers of ecstasy coursing through her.

"Please, Maverick," she breathed, her voice hoarse. "I need you."

Maverick's eyes flared with hunger as he looked down at her, his own need evident. He kissed her again, his tongue darting into her mouth to dance with hers, his taste mingling with hers in a heady mix of passion and desire.

Pearl reached down to help guide him inside her, his thick length pushing against her entrance. She gasped as he entered her, his thickness filling her completely, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her body.

"Oh, yes," she moaned, arching her back to meet him. "Take me, Maverick. Take me now."

He began to move inside her, slow and steady at first, building up the pace as their bodies synced in a perfect rhythm. Pearl wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer, wanting him deeper. Her nails dug into his shoulders as their bodies moved together, each thrust bringing them to the edge. She could feel herself getting closer, the pleasure building, rising like a tidal wave. The sensation was exquisite, the mate bond throbbing between them. It overwhelmed her senses. Maverick moved in a steady rhythm that built to a frantic pace as their passion ignited between them. He bit into her shoulder, puncturing her skin and drawing out the sweet nectar of her blood. The pain and pleasure mingled together, creating a whirlwind of ecstasy that threatened to consume her entirely. Pearl cried out, arching her back as she felt the wave crash over her, her body convulsing.

Maverick groaned, his own climax drawing near. He thrust into her one last time, holding her tight as he spilled his seed deep inside her. He kissed her passionately, their tongues dueling in a dance of desire. As they lay entwined, Pearl traced the outline of his face with her fingers, her heart swelling with love and gratitude for this man who had become more than just a lover; he was her mate, her rock, her everything.

He rested his chin on her shoulder, his chest rising and falling with the exertion of their passion. "I love you, Pearl."

She smiled, brushing the hair away from his eyes. "I love you too, Maverick."

As they lay there, basking in the afterglow, their hearts beat in perfect synchronicity, a testament to the mating bond that had formed between them. Pearl smiled as she drifted off to sleep. They'd worry about turning her into a vampire later. She still had work to do as a Pinkerton, and with Maverick by her side, they'd be unstoppable.