Chapter 40

Chapter Forty

Zane

Two Weeks Later

“ C an I remove this blindfold now?” Autumn impatiently asks as she stands in our bedroom at Hollow Manor. “It’s my birthday and I should be able to do whatever I want.”

“Keep it up and I’ll have to deliver those thirty-four spankings I promised right now.”

“Mm. Don’t forget the one to grow on.”

I chuckle, admiring how fucking beautiful my wife is without even trying.

“I want to know what you have me dressed in. It feels very… fluffy .”

“You’re an impatient little thing.”

Her brows lift. “You have no idea.”

I close the space between us and place my hands on her hips, guiding her into the bathroom. Carefully, I untie the blindfold. Autumn covers her mouth when she sees her reflection.

“Am I Cinderella?” she asks, noticing what I’m wearing. “Prince Charming.”

I grin wide. “We have a ball to attend and some crowns to win.”

Laughter escapes her. “Why are you perfect?”

“Only in your eyes,” I mutter, stealing a kiss. “Finish getting ready. I’ll meet you downstairs, okay?”

“How much time do I have?”

I check my watch. “Thirty minutes, max.”

“Just need to put on some lipstick and pull some hair back,” she tells me, grinning. “Be down in twenty.”

I hold her face in my hands and sweetly kiss her. “You’re fucking gorgeous, Princess.”

“I’m grateful you’re mine,” she says in a whisper, and I taste her lips.

“Looking forward to taking that dress off you later.”

“Don’t tempt me,” she warns.

My girl is insatiable, never satisfied, always wanting more of me. I feel the same. No matter how much time I spend with Autumn, it’s not enough, and I’m not sure it ever will be. I want more than a lifetime with her. It’s how I know she’s my one true love.

I take the stairs with a hop to my step. All of our friends and family are in costume, hiding downstairs.

“Is she coming?” Julie whispers loudly.

“Not yet. Twenty minutes,” I explain.

Silvia and my dad are sitting on the couch, chatting with Autumn’s parents. Our folks are dressed like queens and kings.

Harper claimed the fairy godmother title, but her outfit is completely sequin.

Moments later, the door cracks open and Weston appears as the Grand Duke. It’s fitting, considering our friendship has only strengthened since our get-together in New York.

“The pumpkin and horses are waiting where the road curves,” he explains.

I check my watch, knowing in fifteen minutes, I’ll return upstairs. “Fantastic, right on time.”

Carlee, the woman who was his plus one at my father’s wedding, enters. She’s wearing a light pink dress that looks like it fell out of a Jane Eyre novel.

“Everyone, this is Carlee.”

Billie sweeps in behind her. “My brother’s girlfriend.”

“Shh. Autumn has excellent hearing,” I whisper.

“See? No one cares,” Weston says. “You’re making a big deal out of it.”

“You know, Zane, no one has ever been able to successfully throw Autumn a surprise party,” her mom quietly says.

“She told me.” I grin. “I’m on a mission to change that.”

Her father smiles at me. “Is that Autumn’s laptop on the counter over there?”

“Yeah,” I explain. “She started writing a few weeks ago.”

Julie and Blaire give each other a high five.

The front door cracks open and Winter quietly enters with a wide smile, wearing a dress very similar to Carlee’s but purple.

“You made it after all,” I say. Winter has hung out with us a lot and even took up running with Autumn. Last week, she officially moved into Autumn’s old apartment. Well, now it’s ours. I purchased the building and told the vinyl record shop they never had to pay a penny of rent again. The owners couldn’t believe it and thanked me at least a million times.

Harper walks over and pulls her into a hug.

“Thanks for sending the costume,” Winter tells her. She’s become great friends with my sister. Everyone has. But Harper has always had a knack for making fast friends with everyone she meets. Her kind personality is one of her superpowers. Our mom was the same.

“Oh God, are we the evil stepsisters?” Winter says, glancing at Carlee, Blaire, and Julie, who find it hilarious.

“No, no,” Harper says. “Think of it as being a cast member in Bridgerton . That came from the set. I asked for a favor.”

Blaire’s mouth falls open. “Seriously?”

The four of them discuss how it all went down. It’s a story I haven’t heard yet, but because she’s in fashion, she knows tons of people in Hollywood. She and Billie have designed red carpet looks for the most elite.

“How are things?” my father asks.

We make small talk until the fifteen-minute mark. As if I can predict Autumn’s moves, I turn to Harper. “Do you have the final piece?”

She nods and returns with a pair of clear high heels that were made for my wife. A few seconds later, I hear the thick bedroom door snap closed.

“She’s coming,” I whisper, holding the shoes behind my back. “Hide.”

They scatter around and Autumn rounds the corner, grinning. Our eyes immediately meet and she pauses, taking me in before she approaches. I stand a little taller. “Hi, beautiful.”

“Hi,” she says, lifting her dress to show her bare feet.

“There is one problem,” she explains.

“What’s that?” I ask.

“What shoes do I wear? I tried on every pair I have.”

When she’s in front of me, I drop to my knees, revealing her glass slippers. “Will they be a match?” I grab her ankle, then put one shoe on and then the other.

“You’ve covered it all.” She laughs, looking down at them. “Perfect fit.”

“Meant to be.” I wrap my arms around her and our lips slide together.

A confetti cannon goes off and Autumn jumps. I hold her tighter against me as her eyes widen.

“SURPRISE!” everyone shouts, jumping from their hiding places.

“Oh my God,” she says, holding her chest. “I was fucking scared!”

“Curse jar!” Julie yells.

“How’d you pull it off?” she asks. “I didn’t hear anyone coming or going!”

“Magic,” I tell her. Harper walks over with a single cupcake and a candle. I take it from her and move closer to Autumn as our closest friends and family sing her Happy Birthday .

“Make a wish, Pumpkin,” I whisper when the song ends. She meets my eyes before closing hers. The candle lights her face, and then, with a single whoosh of breath, it’s out.

She smiles.

“Was it a good one?” I ask as the lights flip on.

“The best,” she tells me, swiping her finger across the chocolate cream. She places it in her mouth. “This is from that bakery.”

“Cakes from that place are a tradition. One my mom started. Harper always delivers it by hand, no matter where I am in the world. Gifting sentimental things that mean something to her is her love language,” I explain as everyone approaches us.

Autumn finishes licking the icing from the top, and it’s fucking erotic as she looks into my eyes as she does it. I slowly shake my head and she grins like a little devil. As Autumn exchanges hugs with friends and family and compliments everyone’s costumes, I take a step back and snap photos of smiling faces.

When we’re eighty, I’m sure we’ll talk about how young and in love we were. I never want to forget these moments. They're the ones I cherish the most. Champagne glasses are passed out and several bottles are opened.

Her dad holds up his flute. “Happy birthday, Autie. We love you.”

“Happy Birthday.” I wrap my arm around her waist. “Are you happy?”

“The happiest,” she says, grinning.

When everyone’s glass is emptied, Harper claps her hands, always keeping everyone on schedule. “We should probably get going! There is a ball we have to attend.”

I guide Autumn to the front door.

She steps outside and freezes at the sight of the white horses pulling a golden pumpkin carriage.

“Surprise.”

The coachman greets us with a nod as I step off the porch and open the door for her. She moves toward me.

“Living the dream,” I whisper, and she smiles, stepping on board. Our friends and family load into the limos that pull into the driveway.

“We’ll meet you there,” I say, climbing inside with Autumn.

“Thank you,” she says. “This is…I’m speechless.”

I grin wide, grabbing the Moleskine book to write my poem for the day.

Happy Birthday, Love.

Hope the wish you made comes true.

Tell me when it does.

Then I scribble below it.

(I love you!)

As she tries to peek over my shoulder, I snap it shut. “No peeking.”

“Not even on my birthday?” She playfully pouts.

“Rules are rules.”

She pokes out her bottom lip. “What if I begged?”

“Keep looking at me like that and I might have to christen this pumpkin carriage.”

“Mm. I think I decided what I want for my birthday.”

Fire flashes in her eyes and she chews on her cheek as she scans down my body. I glance out the small back window, seeing the limos slowly following behind us. The driver is in the front, secluded away from us. It’s fully private.

“What’s that?” I ask.

“You,” she whispers.

“Your wish is my fucking command.”