Epilogue

Alicia looked out over the wedding guests milling around the ballroom at the casino hotel. Satisfaction and happiness danced through her. Alana and Bridget were running around, stealing bits of cake and giggling while they did it. Her new sister-in-law laughed at their antics. Dee was standing next to her friend May. The gorgeous Hawaiian held her newborn son.

The entire management of Rough ‘n Ready came over for the wedding. She knew it was expensive for them to do, but Micah and Evan had closed down the club, citing a family gathering. And, looking at the way everyone was interacting, Alicia realized it was true. While not all blood related, this was a family.

Six months ago, Alicia would have never thought this would be her. Not only had she gained a husband, but also a wealth of friends that included two BDSM club owners, a former FBI agent and somewhere along the way, an Australian cowboy. One top of it, she reconnected with Sean. She looked down at her ring. She had her life back. No, she had a better life and all because of one man. As if he read her mind, Strong arms slipped around her waist.

"Well, Mrs. Stryker, we do know how to throw a wedding," Devon said as he nibbled on her earlobe.

She patted his hand and turned to face him. "We do. A bloody amazing wedding. You don't think it's tacky we had it in Las Vegas, do you?"

He shook his head as a sexy smile curved his lips. "No. It's where I fell in love with you."

Her heart squeezed tight, but she rolled her eyes. She still wasn't accustomed to the way Devon expressed himself. It had to be the Italian in him. The man never seemed to have an issue with telling her how he felt. She lived for each and every comment, but Alicia still had to come to terms with it.

"No, it's true. Couldn't get you out of my mind," he said as he slid his hands up to cup her face. "You captured me that night, love. My heart and my soul."

Alicia lifted her hands and slid her fingers around his wrists. "You don't have to keep saying things like that."

"But I want to."

She smiled and leaned up to give him a kiss. Just a simple brush of her mouth had her body humming. When she pulled back, Devon kept his eyes closed for a few seconds before slowly opening them.

"You kiss me like that and I have to behave? Doesn't seem fair."

She opened her mouth to retort his question, but she spotted Sean heading to the door.

"I need to catch him."

Devon nodded and kissed her nose. She hurried through the crowd and caught Sean right before he reached the door.

"Leaving without dancing with the bride, Sean?"

He turned and smiled. "I walked you down the aisle. I don't need a dance."

She took his hand and walked with him out into the corridor. "That's rude."

He chuckled then faced her. She still didn't like what she saw there. He'd disappeared after her adventure, returning with a few more scrapes and bruises than before he left. Sean would never talk about it, she knew, but something went horribly wrong on the last mission.

"I never said I was nice."

"But you are, and I know it."

He studied her for a long moment. "I'm glad you're happy."

The simple statement meant more to her than any well wishes from anyone else. "You think Father would approve?"

"Yes. But not because of any reason other than you love Stryker and he is stupid in love with you. It was what your father would have wanted for you."

She shook her head as her eyes filled.

"Good God, don't start doing that again," Sean said, his voice filled with enough panic she started to laugh. He'd threatened to leave when she cried before the wedding. She couldn't help it. She saw Bridget in her little flower girl dress and lost it.

"Sorry. It's just so sweet. Big bad spy Sean Kaheaku is afraid of women's tears."

He jerked a shoulder and looked around as if to make sure no one heard her calling him sweet.

"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me, Sean."

He continued to look around and she knew that he was running out on her reception to go to a job. He'd postponed it for her, but Sean needed the work. Not for the money, but Sean needed to keep busy. She knew he did it to keep from dealing with real life.

Alicia couldn't judge him on that one.

"Where are you running to this time?"

"I have a job."

"With Lassiter."

She didn't need to ask. She knew from the expression on his face. And she knew he wouldn't tell her where he was going.

"I have a plane waiting for me."

Anxiety pushed away some of her happiness. She had a really bad feeling about this. "Please, be careful. I don't trust him or your companions on this matter."

"I'm going solo."

That alarmed her even more. Going on an assignment into hostile area was considered suicidal.

"Don't look like that. I can handle it."

"Going in by yourself is not a good idea. You know exactly what they'll say about you."

He shoved a hand through his hair. "I don't really give a fuck what they think."

"Then why are you doing it?"

"You did it when you went after Stryker."

"I was desperate. And it was the wrong place to go after him. My father would have had my head on a platter if he had known I was doing that. And he would say the same thing about this."

"So you know better than I do?"

She shook her head. "Answer me this. Would you have tried to talk me out of going to Vegas?"

"Would it have worked?"

Of course it wouldn't have. "That was different."

"How?"

"My father was involved. What has you running away to God knows where?"

He looked away for a moment, then back at her. "I just have to do it. I have to do something."

She wanted to say more—so much more. But she knew better. She would never convince him to stay.

"Promise me you will be safe?"

"Always." He leaned close to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Be happy, Alicia. You both deserve it."

Then, he turned and walked away from her. Helplessly, Alicia watched him walk down the hallway. She felt Devon's approach before he touched her. She leaned her head on his shoulder as he slipped an arm around her waist.

"You're worried about him."

"I know where he is, mentally."

He kissed her temple. "You were never there, were you?"

"Close, for different reasons."

"When?"

"Twice. When I came looking for you, then after my father was killed and I had to go on the run. I'm not sure what I would have done if I hadn't been pregnant for Bridget. Knowing I was the only person in the world for her, I had to be careful. Sean doesn't have that."

He turned her around to face him. "Well, now you have two of us to take care of."

She smiled and slipped her arms up over his shoulders. "Is that a fact?"

"Uh-uh."

He bent his head and kissed her. This time it wasn't as sweet as before. His tongue slipped between her lips and into her mouth. Her blood heated, her head started to spin.

She pushed him back. "Stop that. We have a room full of guests."

"Screw them."

She giggled.

"God, I love that sound," he said and gave her another hard, quick kiss. "I talked to Dee. They will handle Bridget and we spent over an hour in there. We have permission to disappear."

"Is that true?"

"Yes," he said, grabbing her hand and tugging her toward the elevator. As soon as the doors opened, he pulled her into the car and used his card to gain access to the penthouse.

"And, I am very happy you decided to not to wear a bunch of skirts beneath this dress."

"Is that a fact?" she asked. Before she finished asking, though, he had squatted in front of her. Without saying a word, he shoved her dress up. He leaned in and the moment before he touched her, she felt his breath. She knew she should stop him. They were in public and there were probably cameras, but the moment she felt his mouth on her bare flesh, she stopped thinking.

He slipped his tongue inside of her, lapping at her, teasing her clit to the point that she was ready to come. But, the door dinged and opened to the penthouse.

Devon pulled back and dragged her into the suite.

"I should take my time with you," he said, as he unzipped his pants.

"You can do that. Later," she said, kissing his throat as he lifted her up and stumbled over to the wall. He positioned her there and thrust into her. She almost came right there and then. She was dripping wet, her need building to new heights each time he plunged into her pussy.

He kissed her throat, her mouth. She sucked on his tongue and moaned as her orgasm washed over her. He shouted her name as he drove himself into her once more before giving over to the pleasure.

Moments later, he stumbled backwards, falling onto the couch in the living area. He grunted as he took the brunt of her weight.

"Sorry, that wasn't that romantic of a beginning to a wedding night," he mumbled.

She lifted her head. "I can't think of a more brilliant way to start a wedding night."

He opened his eyes. "Is that a fact?"

She nodded. "My husband stole me away from the reception because he couldn't keep his hands off of me. I find that to be the most romantic way to start a wedding night."

He brushed her hair away from her face. "I can promise you that I will never be able to keep my hands off you, love."

She smiled then settled against him, her head on his shoulder and her hand over his heart. Definitely the best way to start a wedding night…and the rest of their lives.

Thank you so much for reading Harmless Secrets! If you want to read Dee and Micah's story, check out A Little Harmless Lie!

If you are a fan of the intense, growly, "don't even look at my woman" hero, Micah is definitely for you. The fun he has showing her the BDSM lifestyle is super hot. Dee has just enough spunk to not always listen to her Dom 100% of the time. And Micah loves every second of it.

—SMEXY BOOKS