Epilogue

Epilogue

Rosalee, One year later

S pring is quickly slipping into long summer days, and the warmth of the season makes me happy. So does coming home to him.

My husband. I never get tired of saying those two words.

It's my favorite time of year. I love the late evenings spent by the poolside with Gideon as we pore over files for the new scholarship program he created in my name as a wedding gift. The purpose is one close to my heart. It is created especially for people wanting to further their education while tending to ailing family members. It's the first of its kind and Gideon placed me as the head to oversee all applicants, so as I continue my education I am striving to help others who have fallen on hard times like I once did.

I grab a water bottle from the small mini bar by the pool and a frosted beer for Gideon. I have news to share I think will make him happy but I want to drink in the night a while longer before everything gets crazy busy once fall rolls around. I'm greedy for my husband's time, and I don't mind letting everyone know about it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to help all the people who will receive funds from this program and the four others we've created in different countries just like it, but when it comes down to it, I'm happy with my man and nothing will come between us.

Honestly, we could be in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on a desolate island under a handmade palapa sucking on coconut water and I would be just as happy. In fact, when I found out Gideon is an excellent sailor, an idea struck. As a belated gift for our first anniversary I have a secret trip to South America planned so we can visit a new school being built in Peru. I want us to be there the day they break ground, and I know Gideon does too. How we get there will be the fun part. With the help of a friend, I've charted out a course that will have us skipping along a few unknown islands along the way. We leave next week and there will be nothing but naps, lovemaking, and all the sunshine we can take in while it's just the two of us.

When I broke the news to my parents that I was engaged they were thrilled. Not so much at the shotgun wedding and missing me in my wedding dress, but they got over the initial shock after they met Gideon. Besides my parents sharing in our happiness we kept the wedding news a secret until after I graduated. Not that we had to, but it kept people from talking behind our backs. Now that I'm continuing on this fall toward my Masters I'm doing so as Mrs. Rosalee Blackthorne and this time around neither of us care what others have to say about that fact.

A week after meeting my family, Gideon pulled a few strings and found a lawyer to legally reverse the decision on my father's workman's comp payout. A week after that the new lawyer helped my parents file a lawsuit, which they swiftly won. And I'm glad to say the shady lawyer who found the ‘loopholes' that hurt my family won't be practicing anytime soon. Last I heard, the rat bastard lost his license. Karma is a mirror!

As a wedding gift Gideon surprised me with a full scholarship from BU, and since all the paperwork was completed I couldn't do anything but accept his heartfelt gift. His heart truly knows no depths when it comes to me.

But nothing is free in this world. I've worked my butt off every single day, and I earned my bachelor's in psychology with pride. And due to the new medications he received, my father was front row alongside my mother and brothers to see me graduate.

The administration wasn't exactly happy to see me step off the stage and into Blackthorne's waiting arms or to see the toe-curling kiss, but what are they going to tell the man who signs their paychecks? Not much, let me tell you.

To end the perfect day, we had a wonderful dinner all made from scratch by my mother and husband at Gideon's home—our home—complete with pink frosted doughnuts for dessert.

I've learned when love enters into a person's life it should never be shunned or shied away from. I almost lost the most beautiful thing to happen in my life out of fear of being rejected.

Handing over trust to Gideon the night we got married was the best decision of my life. Before I came along, I know it was a novelty for Gideon more so. He was betrayed by the one man that should have protected and nurtured him from birth to adulthood and beyond because a parent's job never ends.

I know he'll be a great father and we'll pass on a wealth of knowledge to our children and right several wrongs in this world.

I settle into the chair next to Gideon and run a hand down his arm over the scars he no longer feels ashamed of and take his hand in mine. I guide his hand to my stomach and wait for him to pull his attention out of the books.

Confusion swirls in his eyes for a moment, and I wait until he reads my silent thoughts.

It doesn't take long before his face lights up.

"Really?"

I only nod, which drives him crazy so I can't torture him too much tonight. "The doctor called while you were out earlier. I'm ten weeks. You've finally knocked up your wife, Mr. Blackthorne. How does that make you feel?"

He swoops me into his lap, and I wrap my arms around his neck, laughing the whole time.

I wiggle a little to accommodate my weight and feel the very hard and very massive cock pressing into my ass. Nothing has changed in the year we've been together and I doubt it ever will.

"Oh, Professor," I coo. "Whatever are you hiding from me under there?"

I can't believe how much my life has turned a one-eighty, and if I'm honest, I owe a big thank-you to Amber.

If someone had told me a year ago I'd be daring two of my friends to go after life with both hands, I would have laughed at the juvenile idea. I'd been so cocksure of myself when I told Emberly to break all the rules and follow her heart. Given I had a hard time following my own advice and all. But it felt good to have had a big hand in not only Emberly's happily-ever-after with her two professors, but I think by the messages I'm receiving from my other friend something big has happened for her too. I'll find out later, but for right now I'm going to glow in my happiness for a while longer.

Gideon stands, files and paperwork are momentarily forgotten as he takes me to a large sunbathing bed by the pool. Above us stars shine down and it's like the universe is blessing our budding family. "You're going to look gorgeous all round with my baby. I don't know how but I somehow found my calm in this crazy storm."

"And I found my forever," I add.

"Spread your legs for me, sweetness, let me pleasure my wife."

Chills run through me at the softly spoken command in my husband's voice, and my heart fills with love and happiness. This is only the beginning of our happily-ever-after and I for one can wait for the ending to come. I'm finally having way too much fun living life to the fullest.