Epilogue

My fingers weave through Kai's curly hair as he dozes on my shoulder in the departure lounge of London Luton Airport.

My eyes occasionally flicker towards the information screen to check if our gate has been announced, but for the most part, I find myself looking down at Kai like a love-sick fool.

After two years together, I'm still enchanted by him. Even when he's a complete diva, I can't help but be entertained by his ridiculousness. For example, when I woke him up at 3 a.m. to catch our flight this morning, he told me he hated me at least five times. The drama of it all, honestly, you'd think I was sending him off to war. But I wouldn't have him any other way.

When we first got together, I could sense he was still insecure about what he brought to the table, but I've repeatedly told him I take him as he is. It took a while for him to believe me, but once he did, everything changed. The Kai I now get to wake up to every day is beyond my wildest dreams. He continuously amazes me with his quick wit, self-assuredness and resilience.

After a lot of hard work on both our parts, we worked on our mental health, alone and together. The first six months were tough. Kai still had graphic flashbacks and anxiety, and I had recurring nightmares. After the initial shock of what happened to us wore off, I ended up battling depression. I decided to take medication, which I know isn't for everyone, but a small dose worked wonders for me, and I've been in a much better place since.

It felt like a thick cloud hovered over us for the longest time. But with therapy, mindfulness and the support of our family and friends, we somehow managed to find peace after the storm.

Pete was found guilty on all counts and is serving life in prison. On the other hand, Jeremy's only serving five years because he cooperated with the police. Part of me feels like that isn't enough. He had so many opportunities to help us escape. If Kai hadn't snatched the gun, I have no doubt Jeremy would've killed me. Even now, Kai still carries a degree of guilt for shooting him. He sees Jeremy as a victim, but I struggle with that. He's part of the reason Kai still occasionally gets traumatic flashbacks. I can't forgive him for that.

Dr Evil and the other people involved in the organisation were never found. Either that, or they're well connected to the police and have wormed their way out of facing charges. I try not to get too caught up in the fact these vile people are free and able to hurt others because it only makes me spiral.

I think Kai's recovery was initially slower because he didn't have the same support system as I did, and he tried to push away the support he did have. But he's a fully-fledged part of my family now. Get Olivia, Nola, and Kai together, and they're insufferable. They're like a bunch of cackling schoolgirls. I try to steer clear of them when the wine is out.

After about four months of officially dating and Kai dragging his feet, I convinced him to move in with me. He was spending six nights a week at my place, and I'm sure he only went home one night a week out of principle.

After how things ended with his family, I could tell how determined he was to be independent and fight his demons alone, but I persisted. I was patient with him, and it worked.

It sometimes feels as if we fell in love twice. Once in that warehouse and again when we were free. The second time around, we got to experience all the things we were robbed of in the early stages of our relationship. Our If We Survive list seems to get longer each year, and I don't think we'll ever stop adding to it. Sometimes, it includes the most simple and mundane things, and other times, it's something extravagant, but either way it's special, and I feel grateful we even get to fulfil these things together.

I place a soft kiss on the top of Kai's head, lingering to enjoy the smell of my honey shampoo, which he always steals. Then I glance up at the screen to see our gate has been announced. I gently nudge Kai with my shoulder to wake him up, and he lets out an irritable groan.

"Baby, it's time to board."

Kai grunts at me with his eyes still closed, then wipes the side of his mouth with the back of his sleeve.

"Always dribbling." I say playfully.

His blue eyes squint at me through dark lashes, and I can tell he's less than impressed. But my god, he looks cute when he's just woken up and feeling grouchy.

"Next time, I'm booking the flights. What kind of psychopath books a 6 a.m. flight?" he grumbles.

"This psychopath," I say, aiming my thumbs at my chest and flashing an animated smile. He scowls at me, looking like an angry puppy, and I can't resist booping his nose, knowing it drives him crazy.

Kai audibly growls and snaps at my finger, attracting the attention of some sleepy passengers sitting opposite us. I give him a stern look as a warning because I know what's coming next. I never fucking learn.

"For the love of god, quit it with the animal impressions."

On cue, he lets out a bark, and I almost die of embarrassment as I climb to my feet and hastily gather our belongings, pretending I'm not with him. Kai lets out a few more barks, and I can tell without looking that people are staring.

"Stop it," I hiss, feeling heat climb up my neck.

Kai wraps his arms around my waist, laughing against my back. I stop what I'm doing and try to suppress the laughter brewing inside me.

"You know the rules, you boop, I bark," he manages to get out through his carefree chuckle.

I start cracking up and twist in his arms, bringing my hands to either side of his face.

"You're ridiculous," I say, looking down into his aqua eyes.

"So you keep telling me."

He grins up at me, and my stomach does a weird fluttery thing. Even though we see each other every day, his smile and eyes still catch me off guard. I lean down and kiss him, trying to keep it PG, considering we're in a busy airport, but that doesn't stop him from climbing onto his tiptoes and deepening the kiss. I pull away before we get a little too excited.

"Down, boy," I tease.

He lets out a quiet growl but, fortunately, doesn't start the barking shenanigans again, thank god.

* * *

"Shit, why am I nervous?" Kai mumbles as we walk across the cobbled streets hand in hand. I chuckle at him and give his hand a few light squeezes.

"Don't be. This is exciting," I reassure him.

Like a typical tourist, my arm's stretched out in front of me, following Google Maps on my phone. When we reach our destination, I look up and scan the outside tables of the quaint bar.

"Oh my god, there she is," Kai says, lightly nudging me.

I follow his gaze and spot her. As if all his nerves are forgotten, Kai clutches my hand tighter and drags me over, winding through the tables and chairs.

"Emiliya," Kai's voice breaks as he calls her name.

Her glistening brown eyes shoot up from her phone, and she squeals.

"Kai, Eden, you're here. I can't believe it," she says in almost perfect English but with an accent.

"Hello, yes, we're here. This is surreal," Kai replies in a higher-pitched voice than usual.

Emiliya climbs to her feet, dragging Kai into a crushing hug. I release his hand and watch on, waiting for my turn to greet her. Kai lifts her off the ground and kisses her cheek, and my heart expands at their wholesome embrace.

Since we escaped, Kai and Emiliya have become close and have regular video calls. They've formed a beautiful friendship and seeing them together reminds me that something good came out of our abduction.

"Eden, get over here." Emiliya beams.

I gather her in a tight hug before releasing her. She flicks her thick brown fringe, which has grown out since our escape.

"I still can't believe you're both here. How was your flight?" she asks, motioning for us to sit down.

"Too early, that's how it was," Kai says, giving me a playful glare.

"Yes, flights between the UK and Bulgaria are bad with times. But you are here now."

Emiliya's face glows, and her cheeks have filled out. I've seen her on video, but in person she looks vibrant. Her energy is infectious, and I can't hold back my wide smile at seeing how happy and healthy she looks.

"Exactly. How are you?" Kai asks, looking equally as ecstatic. I knew his nerves wouldn't last long.

"Amazing. I have some news, but want to tell you both in person."

I sit forward in my chair, eager to find out, but as she's about to fill us in, our waiter comes over and asks for our orders in Bulgarian. Emiliya goes to answer, but Kai cuts in, "Wait, I've got this. I've been practising." He takes a deep breath before speaking, "Mozhe li edna margarita, molya." It's slightly stilted, but he gets all the words out.

"Bravo." Emiliya cheers, clapping her hands.

"Well done, baby," I say, leaning over to peck his cheek.

Kai's chuffed little expression is priceless. He rehearsed that one line about 20 times on the plane.

"Anything else?" the waiter asks in English, looking unamused by how long we're taking to order.

"Oh, sorry. I'll have what he's having," I respond.

"S?shtoto molya," Emiliya says with a bright smile, not deterred by the waiter's frosty attitude.

"Dobre," he says with a blank expression before returning inside.

"What did you say to him?" Kai asks, keen to learn more Bulgarian on our trip.

"Oh, I said the same, please. What else do you know?"

Kai looks sheepish, flicking his fringe out of his eyes.

"I know the important stuff."

"And what stuff is that?" Emiliya asks with a raised eyebrow.

"By important, he means alcoholic drinks, please and thanks," I jump in, leaning over to playfully pinch his earlobe.

He scoffs at me, then twists back to face Emiliya with an innocent smile.

"That is very important." She laughs.

"Anyway, moving on. You had news for us," Kai says, swiftly changing the subject.

"Yes, what's got you all excited?" I ask.

"I got into UCL," she says, doing a little dance in her seat.

Kai's on his feet instantly, dragging her into a hug and congratulating her. I stay seated and reach over to squeeze her hand once they've settled down.

"Well done, we knew you'd get in," I tell her.

"And your parents are ok with it now?" Kai asks, brows drawn together.

Although she's 23, her parents were less than thrilled about her returning to the country where she was trafficked, which is understandable, but that was always her plan. The whole purpose of her trip around Europe was to find a place she'd like to eventually study for her master's, and despite what happened, the UK was still her number one option.

"They are not happy, but I have you guys there and a cousin, who I will move in with. They will get over it." She frowns, waving her hand, dismissing her parents' concerns.

"Fair enough, we're proud of you," I say, making her smile return.

"Enough talking of me. Tell me what is new with you guys. When is the wedding, and can I be a brideslady?"

Kai's eyes widen, but then he turns to me with a grin.

"Yes, Eden, when's the wedding?"

"Who says I'm the one proposing?" I challenge.

"True, we do like to challenge stereotypes." He smirks, giving me a cheeky wink, then continues, "Maybe I'll beat you to it."

"Maybe," I reply, raising my eyebrows.

As much as we banter about who will propose, I know that's not in our immediate future. Kai wants to get more established in his career before we commit, which I respect. But it's definitely something we've spoken about, and both want eventually. And when the time comes, you can bet my arse I'll be proposing.

* * *

Closing my eyes, I brace myself for the cool water to cleanse my sticky skin. I flinch at first contact but bask in the cold relief after a few seconds. It was over 35 degrees today, so I'm grateful for the cold shower.

We spent the afternoon sinking a few too many margaritas, eating traditional Bulgarian food and pottering around Plovdiv's old town. The Roman open-air theatre with stunning views over the city still facilitates performances, so Emiliya promised to take us to watch the live version of the Lion King musical while we're here. Kai almost lost his shit with excitement when he found out.

Today was perfect. Seeing Kai and Emiliya prancing around and being a nuisance was heartwarming. It's hard to believe we made it to this point. But we're here—it's real.

Kai is halfway through his business master's, and my company is booming. In the space of two years, we've managed to build a life together and come out of this experience stronger.

I'm deep in thought, with my eyes still closed and head tipped back, when a warm hand brushes my shoulder.

"Honey, if you think I'm getting in a cold shower, you've got another thing coming."

Grinning, I keep my eyes closed and pretend I've not heard his sassy remark.

"Please, Eden, I can't join you if it's cold," he whines.

"Who says I want you to join me?" I jest, peeking out of one eye.

"Trust me, you want the company." The flirty air in his voice makes my eyes ping open. I rub them clear of the water, clouding my vision to find Kai turning around and spreading his arse cheeks. I almost choke on my breath.

"Y-you brought toys?" I stutter.

"Obviously, couldn't leave Alan at home."

A bellowing laugh leaves me, and he starts cackling, too, making the large silver plug pop out slightly.

"For the love of god, Kai, stop naming the butt plugs."

"Don't make me laugh, or Alan will fall out." He howls, supporting himself on the basin so he doesn't topple over from laughing.

"Let it fall out. I have something better to fill that slutty little hole with," I say, putting on a sultry voice but failing to suppress my laughter.

I flick the water to warm, so his Royal Highness doesn't kick off and pull him into the shower. He screeches and tries to move away from the water, but I hold him tightly against my chest, hindering his escape.

Our already half-hard cocks brush against each other, and suddenly, the lukewarm water doesn't seem to bother him. Just as he's about to speak, I grip the back of his neck and take him in a bruising kiss, forcing a little squeak out of him.

Kai climbs to his toes, and I lean down to match his height. My other hand trails down his crack until it reaches the plug. I lightly tap the end, making Kai arch his back and push out his perky arse. The moan he makes into my mouth almost sounds like he's begging. He wants more.

Gripping the base of the plug, I pull it out by half an inch, stretching him, then release it, allowing the plug to slip back in. I repeat this action several times, then angle it so it brushes right over his prostate. Both of our cocks are rock hard now, and I thrust my hips towards him, eager for some friction.

As I stretch Kai's hole with the plug, hitting that spot just right, his legs shake, and cherry-red nails dig into my shoulders.

"Honey, yes. Keep doing that," he needily moans into my neck.

I pick up the pace and apply more pressure. After two years together, I know exactly how to work his body, and I can tell when he's about to come.

Feeling his dick twitch between us and getting dangerously close to erupting, I completely remove the plug. Kai groans in disapproval, but I don't leave him hanging, reaching down to cup his balls tightly and whisper into his ear, "Not yet, baby. You're going to come with my dick buried inside of you."

Placing the plug on the shelf in the shower so my hands are free, I grab him by the waist and on instinct, he climbs up and wraps himself around my larger body. I twist so his back hits the shower wall and slam my hips into him, grinding our solid cocks against one another. I tilt the shower head away from us slightly and fumble for some lube I tactically placed in the shower earlier today. I lean back and squirt some onto my eager dick. Kai's hand trails between us, and he smears the lube up and down my length. Spreading his legs wider and positioning myself perfectly, I slip into him with little resistance.

"Fuuuck," I groan against the side of his face as I bottom out.

I bend my knees, slipping out of him to the tip so I can get into the perfect position to plough up into him. Kai holds his breath in preparation, and then I let him have it.

He uses his core strength while gripping my shoulders to leverage himself so he can meet me thrust for thrust. The wet slapping sound of our bodies meeting echoes around the bathroom. Kai tips his head back, and I aggressively kiss from his shoulder up to his neck, then his chin, until our mouths fuse. Our kiss is hungry and desperate, and the shower only slightly muffles our loud moans. I pull away because I need to see those bright eyes. He opens them just in time, making my heart trip. I pin him to my shaft and grind up into him with deep thrusts.

"Never stop fucking me, Eden, never stop loving me," he cries out.

His eyes are hooded, and his legs tremble around me. He's so close, as am I.

"I won't. I fucking love you," I huskily reply.

Slamming his lips against mine again, I pick up the pace, knowing it's what we both need to reach our orgasm. It only takes a few more thrusts until he's clamping around me, and his cock starts to throb, releasing spurts of cum between us. Dropping my head to bite down on his shoulder, it suppresses my grunt as I empty myself into his tight hole.

I slow down the roll of my hips as the waves of our orgasms fade away. Even though we're in the shower, I can feel the sweat clinging to our bodies. Giving him one last deep thrust, he whimpers before I slip out.

Slowly releasing him, he slides down my body, arms still wrapped around my neck and forehead pressed against my hairy chest.

"Shit, why is holiday sex so good?" he murmurs against me.

"I thought all of our sex was good," I joke, tipping his chin up to find his eyes.

"True, but damn. You were like a steam train."

"Choo-choo," I sound, pumping my arm.

We break out into a laugh, and I kiss the top of his damp head.

"Yep, I was pretty relentless. I blame Alan."

Realising that I've slipped up and actually named the damn butt plug, I clamp my mouth shut.

"Ha, see? They do have names," he says smugly, shoving me lightly.

"This isn't going to be a thing."

Scowling down at him, I pinch his earlobe.

"Oh yes, it is."

"Oh no, it isn't," I sing-song.

* * *

After cleaning off the events of the day and having a ridiculous debate about why we can't name our butt plugs, we end up on the balcony.

"This is life, isn't it?" Kai muses.

He's only wearing tiny red running shorts and dramatic sunglasses. Kai's wet curls stick to his forehead as he sips a glass of rosé like he's the king of the world. His flawless skin glistens in the golden hour sun. I can't help but smile at his laid-back attitude and the pure bliss on his face.

I only ever wanted this for him—happiness.

"It's not bad," I reply, reaching across the small wire metal table to take his hand. Twisting his head to look at me, he pushes the glasses back. I watch his eyes explore every inch of my face, his cheeks bunch up into a sweet smile.

"What are you thinking?" I quiz, knowing there's something he wants to say.

"I'm just thinking. We did it."

"What did we do?" I smile fondly.

"All the things we promised each other when we were abducted."

My shoulders clench at the mention of it. It's rare for Kai to bring it up now, but the brief sadness passes as I notice the twinkle still in his eyes.

Kai climbs to his feet and sits sideways on my lap. He palms my face and glues me in place with his breathtaking eyes. My chest could burst with love as I soak in the only man I've ever truly loved.

"If we survive," I whisper.

"Honey, no ifs, we survived."