Epilogue

Christian

Six months later

The wheels of the taxi slow to a stop, the faint screech of the brakes blending into the sounds of the city. Outside the window, Paris stretches before us, alive with a rhythm all its own in the cool evening air.

As I step out, Hailey follows, her eyes wide as she takes it all in—the flickering streetlights casting golden halos on the cobblestone.

Above us, the iconic wrought-iron balconies of the Georges V Hotel are draped in lush ivy, their black railings gleaming in the streetlamps. There’s a timeless elegance to the place, as though Paris itself has been waiting for us to arrive, ready to unveil its secrets. I slip my hand into Hailey’s, feeling her fingers tighten, and for a moment, we just stand there, absorbing the beauty around us.

In her wide eyes, I see the reflection of the city—the Eiffel Tower, just visible in the distance, its lights twinkling against the velvet sky, the Seine winding its way lazily through the heart of Paris, and the soft glow of cafés lining its banks. The air is cool, crisp.

Hailey leans into me. “I’ve always dreamed of this,” she whispers, as though speaking too loudly might break the spell of the moment. “Being here with you.”

I squeeze her hand. Here, in the heart of Paris, it’s as if the world outside doesn’t exist—only us, this city, and the promise of what’s to come.

As we step through the grand entrance of the Georges V, the warmth of the lobby envelops us, a contrast to the cool night air. Crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, casting soft, golden light over the rich velvet drapes and marble floors. Hailey’s eyes sparkle, and I can’t help but smile. Paris has that effect. It makes everything seem possible.

“Can you believe we’re actually here?” Hailey’s voice brims with wonder as we step through the ornate doors into the hotel lobby.

I smile at her enthusiasm. And I remind myself that back in Vancouver, Addison is in good hands with Taylor, who has spent the last six months gaining strength and confidence and battling her demons. I can’t believe how far we’ve all come. The thought brings relief, allowing me to immerse myself fully in this moment with Hailey.

Our suite is a dream, draped in lavish fabrics and adorned with golden accents, but it’s the view from the balcony that steals Hailey’s breath. She steps outside, her grin stretching ear to ear as the Eiffel Tower stands proudly against the skyline.

“Look at that view, Christian!” Hailey exclaims. She’s already flipping through her meticulously planned itinerary on her phone. “We have to visit the Louvre, Notre Dame, Montmartre, and—”

“You’ve scheduled every minute,” I chuckle, following her onto the balcony. Her attention to detail is one of the many things I adore about her, but I want this trip to be an exploration, not an expedition. “Are you planning to storm the Bastille? Should I start calling you Madame Tyrant?”

She swats my arm, her laughter mingling with the soft Parisian breeze. “Okay, okay, maybe I got a little carried away. But there’s so much to see, and we’re only here for ten days!”

“Let’s take it one day at a time, and remember, whatever we don’t get to is another reason to come back.” I wrap my arms around her from behind, cherishing the feel of her against me. “Let’s let Paris reveal itself to us, without a plan.”

“Spontaneity from Mr. Has-Every-Minute-Scheduled?” Hailey teases, turning in my arms to face me. Her eyes are alight with mirth, and I lean down to capture her lips with mine.

“Only with you,” I whisper against her lips.

The warmth of her body against mine is the only anchor I need. “I love you.”

I slip my hand into my pocket, fingers curling around the small box that holds the key to our future. As I pull it out, Hailey’s eyes widen, a gasp parting her lips.

This moment—it’s everything I’ve been waiting for, everything I’ve been building up to. But now that I’m standing here, the weight of it hits me harder than I expected. It’s not just about the ring or the perfect backdrop of Paris. It’s about the life we’ve been building, the love we’ve fought for. The woman in front of me has been my anchor and my light, even when I didn’t deserve it. She’s been the constant in a world that’s thrown everything at us.

I take a deep breath, my pulse racing. “There’s something I need to say.” I begin, my voice low, almost trembling with the weight of the moment.

I drop to one knee, and all I can see is her. “You’ve changed everything for me. You’ve brought light into my life and into Addison’s life in ways I never thought possible. I was lost without you, and I don’t ever want to go back to that. You’ve made me a better man.”

I pause, my eyes searching hers. “I don’t want to spend another minute without you. Not as just the woman I love, but as my wife and a mother to Addison. Will you marry me?”

The words hang in the air between us, and for a split second, everything stops—the sounds of Paris fade, the world around us blurs. All I can focus on is her, and the look in her eyes as she stares down at me.

Her lips part, but no words come out. Instead, a single tear slips down her cheek, and she presses a hand to her mouth, as if trying to contain the flood of emotions rushing through her. I wait, every nerve in my body on edge, afraid to move, afraid to breathe, afraid of what might happen next.

And then she nods.

“Yes,” she whispers. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Relief crashes over me. I feel my heart swell, bigger than I ever thought possible as I slip the ring onto her finger, my hands trembling. The diamond catches the light, sparkling like the city around us, but nothing compares to the brightness in her eyes.

Hailey pulls me to my feet, her arms wrapping around me as I crush her against my chest. We stand there, holding each other, the city of love sprawling beneath us. But in this moment, it’s just us. The world feels small, the future wide open.

“I love you,” I whisper into her hair, my voice thick with emotion. “I love you so much.”

She looks at me, her eyes glistening. “I love you too,” she says, and it’s enough. It’s everything.

We kiss, the sweetness melting into the Parisian night, and I know without a doubt that this is exactly where we’re meant to be, together, with our future stretching out in front of us, brighter than the city lights that shimmer below.

Overwhelmed by the moment, we return to the suite. My hands, steady and sure, find the hem of her dress, lifting it over her head in one fluid motion, leaving her gloriously bare before me.

With reverence, I worship her body, my mouth trailing kisses, licks, and gentle bites across the expanse of her breasts. Each touch elicits soft moans, stoking the fire that burns within us both. Her skin tastes of adventure and promise, a flavor I’m addicted to.

“Christian,” she whispers, her voice thick with desire. Her hands roam over me, seeking, stroking my cock with an urgency that mirrors my own. Her pleading gaze locks onto mine, her words a sweet torment. “Please, I need you.”

There’s no holding back. Her plea is my command, my purpose. I’m hers, completely and irrevocably. And tonight, under the watchful eye of the Eiffel Tower, I’ll show her just how much she means to me.

I lower myself between Hailey’s thighs, my breath hot against her skin. The city lights cast a soft glow through the sheer curtains, but all I see is her, all I want is the taste of her. My lips find the tender bud of her clit, and she arches beneath me, a gasp escaping as I suck gently, strumming my tongue over her in a rhythm that has her hips undulating.

“Christian…” Her voice is a sweet melody, laden with desire.

One finger slips inside her, easy and smooth, followed by another, curving to find that spot that makes her legs tremble. She’s wet and warm, and I stretch her slowly with three fingers, just the way she likes it. The room fills with the sound of our connection, wet noises that speak of the need between us. As I bring her to the brink, her hands clutch the sheets, her body wound tight like a spring.

“Please,” she begs, her eyes wild. “I need you inside me, now.”

God, how could I deny her anything? I laugh softly. “Every time you ask,” I assure her, my voice husky.

Positioning myself at her entrance, I part her farther, taking in the sight of her laid bare for me. “You have the most beautiful pussy I’ve ever seen,” I breathe.

I push inside her, and she groans, a deep, primal sound that vibrates through me. This is where I’m meant to be, nestled within her embrace, the world outside our Parisian haven fading into nothingness. I feel at home here, in the warmth of her body, as if every moment before this was just a journey leading to her.

“Christian…” Hailey’s voice is heavy with desire.

“Shh,” I whisper, even as I pivot inside her, holding her legs wide to delve deeper. “Just feel.” My strokes are deliberate, synchronized with the rapid beat of my heart. I watch her face, the way her eyes flutter closed and lips part in silent pleasure.

“Touch yourself for me,” I murmur, guiding her hands to her breasts. She complies, twisting and pulling on her nipples, the sight stoking the fire within me. I squeeze her tight, claiming her with every fiber of my being.

The rhythm builds, a crescendo of movement and sensation, and I’m getting close, so damn close. The pressure mounts, radiating from deep within. Hailey meets my gaze, vulnerability and passion intermingled in her eyes.

I want to time our climaxes perfectly, and I know we’re both close. I strum her clit, staring into her eyes. As her climax reaches its peak, she clenches me.

“I love you,” she breathes, the simple confession slicing through the haze of lust.

Her words detonate something inside me, and I’m lost. “Hailey!” I groan out my love as I spill into her. It’s a profound surrender, the kind that only happens when two souls are irreversibly entwined.

Exhausted yet exhilarated, we collapse into the bed’s embrace, our limbs tangled as we catch our breath. I’m filled with a profound sense of peace. Holding Hailey close, I press my lips to her forehead in a lingering kiss, breathing in the scent that is uniquely hers.

“Paris has so much in store for us,” I tell her, my voice a low murmur against the quiet of the room. “And I’m just fine if we spend the next ten days in the room preparing to give Addison a baby brother.”

“You want a boy?”

I shrug. “I want a house full.”

Hailey shifts, her body still flush with mine, and she tilts her head to look at me, an impish glint in her eyes. Her tongue darts out, playfully licking the side of my face, sending a shiver down my spine.

“That sounds perfect,” she says. “But right now, I have other things in mind.”

I chuckle. It’s all the response I need to give. Paris, with its endless treasures, will be there tomorrow, but right now, it’s just Hailey and me, and whatever “other things” she has in store.

Thank you for reading Doctor Tyrant . If you’d like to read a scene that was deleted because it was so hot it had to be moved out. Warning! I suggest a cold glass of something and a fan to cool you down.

Next up, meet the Paradise brothers.

The Paradise family vineyard was founded over a century ago by Greyson’s great-great-great-great-great grandfather, and it’s been the family’s pride ever since. But as time passes, so do family bonds, and buried secrets have a way of coming to the surface. Each brother carries his own share of the family’s history and burdens. From Greyson, the determined emergency department doctor, to Beckett, the grumpy cardiologist, to Ryker, ready to take over their mother’s family practice, and Kingston, the reclusive orthopedist and inventor. The Paradise brothers struggle to protect the vineyard’s legacy while finding their own paths…and love stories along the way.

I’m so excited to bring you into this world of wine, romance, and rivalry, inspired by my recent visit to the Okanagan Valley (British Columbia’s wine valley). This series dives deep into the Paradise family, their legacy, and the challenges that come with running a family-owned vineyard and practicing medicine.

I’ll share more details as we get closer to launch, but for now, let’s raise a glass to love, legacy, and a fresh start! Below is a sneak peek, and you can watch for the series beginning in April 2025.