Epilogue

Six Months Later

T oday, Pixie was moving into her forever home.

The bright blue two-floor Victorian wasn't far from Whipped, which was one of the selling points when they'd been house hunting. The process had been slow-going, mostly because Eva searched for something specific. Pixie hadn't minded. Checking out all the different properties had been a ton of fun from the definitely haunted murder house to the mushroom kingdom with clearly too much trapped moisture. And when they'd found it, there had been this gut feeling that it was the one. She hadn't been surprised when Eva confirmed the same.

"My fragile back can't take this," Micah complained as he hoisted a box up the walkway.

"Considering I've seen your fragile self take a hell of a spanking at Parker's hand, that's questionable," Pixie said, carrying a box of books.

"Yes, but that's the fun kind of pain. This is just…pain."

"With pizza," she reminded.

"Pizza isn't going to repair my beleaguered back, Pixie."

"Cool, I'll take your slice, then," Fin said as they bypassed them, hauling two stacked boxes like it was nothing.

The door was propped open, and inside was Eva directing everyone to where the boxes needed to be put. Leave it to the Domme to excel in logistics.

"I could kiss you for labeling all these boxes so clearly," Noles said to Eva as he walked to the kitchen.

"Only if I can watch," Pixie called. Eva shot a smoldering look at her, which reminded her of all the filthy things they'd done last week. The levels of creativity Eva had employed were staggering, and there had been a hell of a lot of crawling involved. Her cheeks heated as she bustled faster and placed her box in what would become their sitting room. She'd claimed the attic space for her studio, and with the extra bedrooms in this place, they'd have room for guests as well.

Eva had shared countless Pinterest boards with her of ideas for each room, and watching her girlfriend explode with excitement and passion over this had been an utter joy. She loved having her own spaces, but decorating more than tossing up paintings and buying blankets stressed her out.

"How much more is left out there?" Parker asked, his shirt stained with sweat. She was covered in a healthy sheen from all the trips back and forth to pack up and unload. They'd already done the same for Micah when he'd moved into Parker's place a few months earlier.

"Just a few boxes," she said. "The movers have taken care of the furniture, which was the bulk of it. This is the simple stuff. "

Parker flashed a grin. "I'm happy to get my workout in for the day. But seriously, I'm glad it's happening for you guys."

"Yeah, me too." The softness bloomed in her heart anew. Parker's dark eyes crinkled with understanding. If anyone knew, he would. After all, he'd claimed the other Abrams sibling. Building a home with someone—hell, even having a home—was something she hadn't believed would ever happen.

Not for her.

She had thought she was comfortable being naked—hell, she'd been stripped down and fucked in so many scenes she could barely count them. However, Eva had stripped her down to her vulnerabilities, and that was something she treasured about her every damn day. Their chemistry had been right, but more than that, it had been a miracle of timing, attraction, and pure magic. That was all she could chalk it up to in the end.

"Pizza," Fin bellowed from the other room, and Pixie chuckled.

"Calm yourself," Meg said. As if she could rein in her fellow Dom.

Pixie stood in the living room. The whole crew from Whipped, all her favorite people, had shown up, and she was beginning to test the idea of relying on them, of letting them into her life. The process had been such a breakthrough in helping her move on from the past. She could handle being around her mother a little longer now, which had helped their relationship. Maisie would always have her struggles, but Pixie didn't need to shoulder them herself anymore. She had help.

Her heart squeezed hard. Micah slumped against a wall, talking to Nolan, and Fin and Meg bickered over something in the kitchen. Tristan and Parker were going out again to make the next round of boxes, and Sloan carried his over to the pile in the corner of the living room .

All too easily, she could imagine having them over for dinner, for play parties, for game nights. And all too easily, she could picture the other moments with just her and Eva—curling up together on the couch, sitting at the kitchen island, which Eva planned on adorning with plants. Waking up in the same bed together over and over. Hopefully, for the rest of their lives.

Eva's breath against her neck made her jump.

"I didn't realize you were there," she said.

"C'mere." Eva grabbed her hand and tugged her into the room she'd come from. The chaos melted away like a bubble of privacy enveloped them. Eva ran her fingers along Pixie's sweaty neck, and she leaned in for a kiss.

Pixie's lashes fluttered, but she lost herself in it. Eva kissed like a dream, and she loved to be transported away every single time.

When Eva pulled back, her gaze was serious. "We did it, dove." She gestured around the room, and Pixie understood.

"We had to wait to find the right one."

And fuck if that wasn't true.

In a way, she was glad Eva was the one who had broken past her barriers because it meant they got to spend the rest of their lives together. If she'd just settled for anyone, she didn't think she would be as incandescently happy as she was now.

"I love you so much," Eva said, her deep brown eyes glassy. "I wasn't sure if this day would ever come, if I'd find someone who could handle…me. Who would love me and want to build a future with me."

Pixie's throat tightened. Eva didn't give herself enough credit. Discounting herself as boring or too demanding was clearly a remnant of her upbringing. She was sharp and clever and one of the most considerate people Pixie had ever met. Eva was the type who showed her love through action, and Pixie felt it every damn day .

They'd both been out there, getting scrapes and bruises, just searching for each other, only to find themselves here at last.

One thing burned in Pixie's chest, something she'd spent her whole life searching for—and had finally found.

"Welcome home."