Epilogue Stephanie

Two pink lines. I’m pregnant. Tears streak down my cheeks and I hold my hand curves over my belly, laughing lightly.

We’ve only been trying for six months but both of us were starting to wonder.

But now I’ve got a little miracle growing inside of me. A little piece of Benjie and me all mixed up together in perfect harmony.

“You are about to make your daddy really happy,” I whisper lightly.

“Hey, baby! Are you ready? The studio car is here. The guy looks like an ass and he’s pointing at his watch.” I hear him muttering under his breath. “Guy thinks his fucking Swatch watch is gonna get me moving any faster. I should shove it somewhere the sun don’t shine.”

I grin and holler, “Gimme a minute! I’m almost ready.”

“Hurry, I think he’s gonna beat the door down pretty soon.”

I hurry down the stairs of our new house. We ended up buying something two towns over from Pine Grove. I just couldn’t live there again. It was good to go home and dust the ghosts of the past off and finally kiss them good-bye but I just didn’t want to start a new life with Benjie in some place that I consider to hold some of the darkest days of my life.

With the sale of my old house and his we had plenty of money to put towards a new house. Most of my money that I made on my first book is now in a very large bank account drawing interest and in a college fund for our future children.

Benjie takes my hand and helps me out the door, staring down at me, his brown eyes full of lust and love.

“Fuck! I wish we didn’t have to go do this right now. You look good enough to eat.”

“Later.” I pat his cheek and smirk at him as he helps me into the car.

When we reach the studio, I ask the anchor to make a point of showing Benjie on camera. I know he hates it but I want everyone to see the man of my dreams. My best friend, the love of my life.

The father of my baby.

But when it comes time, I just can’t tell him about the baby in front of this huge audience. I thought it might be fun but I want this to be just us.

Want to see the love and wonder in his eyes alone.

So I finish the interview and let him take me home. Let him lead me upstairs. I kiss him, my fingers dancing up and down the sleek, smooth skin of his chest, feeling his deep breaths as he growls and then throws me on the bed like an animal.

He slides inside me rough and hard and I groan, my eyes wide and tears of happiness welling in them.

“God, I love you, Benjie! Make love to me. Take me, claim me, make me yours.”

And we come together like a hurricane of heat and light and storm, our bodies thrashing and slamming against each other.

“Please, please!” I scream and moan and fly apart as his steely length drives into me again and again, taking me over into pleasure that I’ve only ever known in his arms.

I shake and shiver and moan like a wild animal. And he growls and nips at my throat as he grinds into me one more time and then stills, his warm seed splashing me as he jerks and groans.

“I love you so much,” I whisper. “I’m pregnant.”

Tears well in his glorious golden gaze and I suck in a breath as he smiles like the sun coming up in the morning of a glorious day.

“God, I love you too. Thank you, baby.”

He holds me tight and I know that I’m home. After so many long years alone and so much misery and heartache, I’ve found my safe space.

Benjie is my safe space. He’s the only place that’s ever felt like peace and security. Like the home I’ve always wanted and could never find until I went back to the scene of all my worst moments.

Because it was also where it all began. Where I met him and fate wrapped its sparkly tendrils around me and brought me back to find him.

It’s him. It’s always been him and it always will be him.

I curl up on his chest and sigh, content to just be where I am.

I kiss his chest and let my eyes close, breathing in that spicy, manly smell of him.

And I let myself drift off to all the dreams of our future. Happy dreams with him and our family. Together forever.