98. Epilogue

NINETY-EIGHT

EPILOGUE

THREE WEEKS LATER

AMETHYST

I lean over the mezzanine, staring down into the bookstore Myra inherited from her aunt. It’s crammed with customers, some of whom I recognize from the book fair.

Today is the launch of Rapunzelita, which Myra published under her new imprint. My notoriety and my best friend’s relentless publicity efforts have propelled my book to the top of the charts.

Myra’s store is the only one selling a limited edition with bookplates containing my signature. She claimed to have found a large box of them after inheriting my possessions. Now she’s created a retail frenzy.

Xero’s arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back against his solid chest. He presses a kiss to my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.

“How does it feel to be a bestselling author?” he murmurs against my skin.

“Bittersweet,” I reply with a sigh.

“Why?” he asks, his lips brushing my ear.

“I should be down there.” My gaze drops to the fans clamoring for a hardback of my book. “I want to sign autographs, not be honored posthumously.”

His grip around my waist tightens, and he grinds his erection into my ass. “Want me to cheer you up?”

My breath catches, and I push against his hardening cock. “How?”

“Look straight ahead.”

I obey, my gaze locking on the crowd below. Myra stands on a small podium, delivering a speech about our decades-long friendship. Xero’s hand slips beneath my skirt, his fingers tracing a path up my thigh. Shivers run down my spine, and I turn my head.

“Do it, or I’ll stop,” he growls.

“A-Alright.” My teeth clamp down on my lower lip.

His fingers continue their journey, sliding along the lace of my panties. The pulse between my legs pounds hard, drowning out the excitement below. Each touch sends a rush of heat to my core, and my folds become slick.

“Are you watching the crowd?” he asks.

Gulping, I force my gaze back down to the bookshop. “Yes.”

“Good girl.”

He pushes my panties aside, exposing my pussy to the cool air. When his fingers slide up my slit and find my swollen clit, I want to scream.

“Xero,” I say, my voice strangled.

“Shhh… Show some respect for the book launch.”

Swallowing back a moan, I relax into his embrace. My body thrums with anticipation as his digits tease my needy clit with slow, deliberate circles. Pleasure rolls through my core in delicious waves, making it impossible to focus on regrets. Breathing hard, I roll my hips and concentrate on the moment.

“Stay still,” he whispers, his voice thickening with desire.

“Fuck.” I force my body to go rigid.

He chuckles. “You’re doing so well. Keep watching your fans while I make you feel like a queen.”

His fingers continue their relentless teasing, driving me closer to the edge. My legs tremble, and my lips part with a throaty moan.

“Don’t make a sound,” he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear. “You’re going to take my fingers like a good little ghost.”

The thrill of his words add to the sensation, and I stifle a whimper. Public sex has always been my weakness, and it’s even more illicit with the oblivious crowd below. Xero and I are supposed to be dead, yet here we are, getting off at my author debut.

His fingersslide down to my opening, teasing the slick moisture there before plunging inside. Molten ecstasy surges through my core, making my knees buckle. Xero keeps me upright, his strong arm an anchor around my waist. His fingers move in a rhythm that has me gasping for breath, and pleasure mounts with every thrust.

“Look at them,” he purrs into my ear. “They adore you and your words. You’re an artist in your own right, just as I always believed.”

It’s true. Xero was the first person to fall in love with my manuscript. He even asked for more books. And even during that lull when I still thought he was a ghost, he read through my work, giving me inspiration at night.

Pressure builds around my clit, and his fingers increase their pace, stroking and thrusting until I see stars. My pussy clenches around his digits, the pleasure becoming nearly unbearable, his words fueling my desire.

“Remember how it feels to be adored, to be wanted. That’s how it’s going to be from now on.”

His fingers rub a spot that makes my inner muscles convulse. Then his hot breath fans across my skin, sending shivers down my spine. “Now, come for me, little ghost. Let go.”

At his command, he takes me to the edge, then the thumb stroking my clit presses down, and I explode. A climax tears through my system, white and hot and all-consuming. Electricity sizzles across my nerves, making my body shudder.

“That’s my girl,” he growls, his thumb tracing gentle circles, heightening the intensity of my pleasure. “You feel so good, spasming around my fingers.”

The crowd launches into polite applause before forming orderly lines to the cash register. I lean my forearms over the railing, panting and gasping through the aftershocks.

Before I can fully recover, Xero pulls his fingers out of my pussy, yanks down my panties, and bends me over the balcony railing. The rush of cool air makes the skin on the backs of my thighs erupt into goosebumps.

Gripping my hips, he runs the crown of his cock along my wetness, coating it in my arousal. His Prince Albert bumps against my clit, detonating delicious sparks. As he nudges at my entrance, my need for him becomes unbearable.

Whimpering, I push back, desperate to be filled.

“Patience,” he murmurs against my ear and pulls back.

I brace myself, my heart racing with anticipation. “Please,” I whisper. “I need your cock. I need you.”

“When you put it like that, how could I deny my talented little ghost?”

He enters me with a slow, deliberate thrust, lavishing me with a spine-tingling stretch. I grip the railing, my knuckles turning white, as he buries himself to the hilt. A low moan escapes my throat at the delicious torture.

“Feel that?” he whispers, his grip tightening on my hip.

I nod, the movement frantic. “Xero. Please. Move.”

“You’re so adorable when you’re needy.” Chuckling, he draws back his hips before delivering a sharp thrust that makes me gasp. The burst of pleasure he delivers sends all thoughts of being caught scattering to the wind.

Each drag of his cock fires needy sparks across my nerve endings, making my toes curl. He sets up a slow, teeth-grinding pace, making sure to hit that sweet spot inside me with every stroke.

“You feel so fucking good,” he hisses, punctuating each word with a deep thrust.

His hand snakes around my waist, pinning me against his chest as he strokes my over-sensitized clit. The combined sensations are too much, bringing on the approach of another climax.

Each move is powerful, possessive, controlled. His lips find my neck, peppering my skin with kisses. The sensation of his lips and teeth grazing my skin only heightens my arousal. He bites down on my shoulder, the pain making me whimper and clench around his shaft.

“Look at them,” he snarls. “Look at your adoring fans while I fuck you senseless.”

I stare down at the bookstore, where the first dozen purchasers stream through the crowd with their bags. Xero’s pace quickens, and I push back, matching his rhythm, our bodies moving in perfect sync.

“You like this, don’t you?” he asks, his voice rough with desire. “Fucking beneath their noses with the danger of exposing your dirty little secret.”

“Yes,” I gasp, barely able to form the word. “Don’t stop.”

Hands tightening on my hips, he thrusts deeper. “Never. Because you’re mine. You belong to me, Amethyst. Every pretty little inch.”

The bustle of the bookstore fades, leaving only Xero, the railing, and the way he pounds into me with raw intensity. An orgasm builds up again, the tension coiling tight within my core.

Loud footsteps echo up a set of iron stairs leading to our mezzanine. I glance down to find Myra approaching, clad in the same white shirt and leather skirt she wore to the book fair.

“Xero,” I say, my words choked. “Someone’s coming.”

The finger thrumming my clit falters for a heartbeat, then moves faster. “Let them come. Let them see who you belong to.”

Terror explodes across my chest, making every nerve ending thrum. The thought of nearly getting caught sets off an explosive climax that seizes control of my limbs. My walls clamp and convulse around Xero’s cock, making his shaft swell.

“Fuck… I’m coming.” Spurts of warm cum hit my cervix, filling me with a delicious heat.

Xero’s grip on my hips tightens, his movements becoming more erratic as he pounds through his own release.

I collapse against his chest, gasping through my climax. When the footsteps grow louder, Xero pulls out, letting my skirt fall back into place.

Seconds later, Myra appears at the top of the stairs, her shoulders sagging. Strands of red hair fall across her face, making her look drawn. When she raises her head and we lock gazes, her expression brightens.

“Amethyst! Xero!” She advances toward us with a broad smile. “The special edition is selling like crazy. We’ve already sold out of the first batch.”

“That’s fantastic!” I pull her into a hug. But as I draw back, her forehead creases. “What’s wrong?”

Her smile falters, and her shoulders droop. “Martina sold her share of the store.”

“To who?” I ask.

“Gavin,” she whispers.

My gaze snaps to Xero, who scowls. I turn back to her and ask, “Gavin from school?”

She nods, her features twisting with annoyance. “He turned up one morning, saying he owned the store. When I called my sister, her assistant told me she’d sold her share online.”

“Wait. How is that even legal?”

“Martina got an expert in inheritance law to look through the contracts,” Myra replies with a grimace. “There’s nothing else I can do.”

Xero steps forward, his shoulders expanding. “Does this guy need to lose five more fingers?”

Paling, she shakes her head. “No, he’s a friend who’s become an annoying asshole who won’t leave me alone.”

It takes a second for the reason to register. The reason why Gavin was always such a creep. The reason why he tattooed BDSM on his fingers. “Don’t tell me it’s because of that .”

Her face tightens.

I lean forward. “Seriously?”

When her gaze darts to Xero, I wrap an arm around her shoulder and walk her to the other side of the mezzanine. Xero remains in place. I’m sure having two sisters has gotten him accustomed to giving women their space.

“What happened now?” I ask.

“Don’t laugh.”

I give my head a vigorous shake.

“Do you remember when I told you about taking him to the Wonderland playroom when he was depressed about never being able to find a sub?”

Nodding, I school my features into a neutral mask.

“Well, he’s decided I’m his Domme.”

“Shit. No!”

“Shhh!” She places a finger to her lips. “He’s become obsessed.”

I lean in close and whisper, “Do you want us to have a word with him? If you don’t want Xero to do it, I can pay him a visit?—”

“No, no! He’s harmless, just annoying. He’s spent a fortune refurbishing the shop and excavating the basement for more storage.”

“Where did he get the money?” I ask.

“Computer stuff,” she replies with a shrug and returns to where we left Xero.

I follow her, my brows pulling into a frown. Gavin is more irritating than dangerous, but he also rented Xero’s execution video from X-Cite Media. His name didn’t come up under the list of members, and he didn’t rent any snuff movies. Nobody bothered to investigate him any further because he was insignificant.

Xero approaches us, his expression grave. “We’re going to be out of action for a few weeks. If this man is causing you trouble, say something now, and he’ll be gone before morning.”

“Do you have a mission?” she asks, her gaze darting from Xero to me.

Excitement bubbles up in my chest, and I grin. “Xero is taking me on a trip to France. We’ll be staying at a vineyard in the Armagnac region, then moving on to Paris to explore the catacombs. After that, we’re taking a train to London for a Charles Dickens tour.”

Myra’s eyes soften with a wistful smile. “I wish someone would take me on a romantic vacation.”

Footsteps creak up the metal stairs, making our gazes snap to the direction of the sound. Myra rushes at a fire door and pushes it open. “You’d better go. He’ll recognize you both immediately and call the cops.”

Xero’s jaw tightens. “Let me deal with him.”

I tug at his arm, pulling him towards the exit, but it’s like trying to drag a great oak. “Come on, let’s go.”

The footsteps quicken, and I release Xero’s arm and step outside into the night, knowing he’ll follow. Sure enough, he scoops me off my feet, making me squeal, and jumps off the fire escape like a superhero.

My stomach lurches during the one-story drop, and my mouth opens in a silent scream, even when he lands in a perfect crouch. As he races towards the car, I ask through panting breaths, “Are we late for the airport?”

“Private jets have no boarding times, but I’m in a hurry to introduce you to the mile-high club.”

An hour later, we arrive at the airport, where Xero holds my hands as we ascend the steps of a private jet. Heart pounding with excitement, I lean into his side, reveling in his quiet strength.

We settle into the plush seats, and Xero refuses the flight attendant’s offer of champagne, eager for a speedy takeoff. I glance around the luxurious cabin, at the cream leather seats, polished wood accents, and the door leading to what looks to be a bedroom.

I’m so excited for this trip that I barely hear the captain’s announcement. The hum of the plane’s engines forms a soft undercurrent as we soar into the night sky. Xero shifts in his seat and reaches into his jacket pocket. “I have something for you.”

“What?” I ask.

He hands me a small red envelope, containing something solid. “Don’t tell me it’s another body part.”

“Take a look,” he murmurs.

I tear open the seal. Inside is a delicate silver locket I’ve only seen in pictures. My breath catches, and I turn to Xero. “Is that?—”

“My mother’s locket that your assistant intercepted,” he says with a smile. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment to give it to you.”

Gratitude swirls through my chest, making my eyes sting with tears. I pull it out, along with a delicate silver chain. “Oh, Xero,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “This is perfect. Thank you.”

I lean in, brushing my lips against his for a slow, lingering kiss. This moment is perfection. Receiving this locket from him in person is a thousand times better than getting it in the mail.

When we finally pull apart, he reaches into his jacket again, this time extracting another envelope.

“There’s more,” he says, his tone teasing.

My brow furrows. What could be more meaningful than the locket? I take it from him and ease open the seal. Inside is a worn page. When I pull it out and unfold it, it’s the sex contract I’d sent him while he was in prison.

“But I thought it was destroyed in the fire.” My voice trembles.

His smile widens into a grin. “I kept everything. Every letter, every memento. They’re the most precious things I own.”

My heart swells to bursting, rendering me speechless, overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness. I cup his face and kiss him again, slow, deep, and full of promise.

When we break apart, he brushes his lips against my ear. “There are still a few things in that contract we haven’t yet tried.”

My pulse quickens, and warmth spreads across my core. “Why don’t we start with the mile high club?”

“You don’t need to ask me twice,” he growls.

Now that Delta is dead, along with all the other ghosts of our pasts, Xero and I can finally focus on the future—one filled with everything we’ve earned and all the things we’re yet to discover.

THE END

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for joining me on Amethyst and Xero’s story! I hope you enjoyed reading about them as much as I enjoyed writing them.

In the future, I hope to expand the story work with tales from my favorite characters in the duet. While you’re waiting, please enjoy a short story from Xero and Amethyst’s trip to France.

Love,

Gigi

P.S. Get the story at www.gigistyx.com/paris

P.P.S. Xero, Dr. Saint, Officer McMurphy, the Montesano brothers, Salentino sisters, and even Myra appear in my Morally Black series, which starts with Taming Seraphine.