Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Marco

Six months later...

I heard Hyacinth coming down the stairs and even six months of being together did nothing to quell the butterflies in my stomach as he neared.

In fact, the more time I spent with him, the more my love grew. The more I got to know him and understand him, the deeper my appreciation went.

When he entered the kitchen, I was just taking the basket out of the steamer, so I didn't turn around.

He waited until it was on the counter to wrap his arms around my waist and hold me close to his chest.

"God, you smell good," I told him, shutting my eyes and leaning back into his warmth. "As always."

He chuckled.

"And whatever culinary masterpiece you've cooked up smells incredible," he said, releasing me to peak.

I slapped his hand away from the lid and pointed to his seat at the table.

"It's a surprise, go sit down."

Chuckling, he followed my order and sat down patiently while I made sure it looked like it had been cooked properly.

"Why are you so nervous?" he asked. "I'm sure it will be amazing."

I swallowed, not answering until I brought the food to the table to place it between us.

"Do you remember the first time we ever spoke?" I asked.

"Yes," he said, smiling warmly. "You looked so nervous and so beautiful. I couldn't take my eyes off of you."

I blushed, remembering the way I'd stared when he'd opened the front door. I hadn't noticed him looking at me the same way, but I didn't doubt it now. Hyacinth had left no room for doubt in my mind. He adored me the same way that I adored him.

"Not that time," I finally said. "On Alien Mates, when we were first texting."

His eyes widened.

"Yes," he said slowly.

"Well, I said I'd cook you your favorite meal, but it was something I had never heard of before."

He frowned.

"You didn't find a papilionoidean recipe somehow, did you? Surely they don't even have the ingredients here."

"Not exactly," I said, shaking my head. "But I found something that sounded similar."

Finally, I lifted the lid, exposing the meal for our at home date night.

"It's something called Lo Mai Gai," I said. "It's a Chinese recipe. Rice and mushrooms and chestnuts wrapped in a lotus leaf... Of course, it might taste nothing like your papilionoidean dish."

His species name was still a mouthful, but I'd been practicing saying it and now could manage without embarrassing myself.

He shook his head and reached for one, looking like he had no words. I took one as well and waited for him to unwrap the rice and take the first bite.

When he did, his eyes drifted shut in appreciation.

Relief filled me. I'd wanted this to be special but to my shock, when he opened his eyes, tears glistened over the pale blue.

"Hyacinth..."

He shook his head, swallowing another bite before speaking.

"You know," he finally said. "I had no idea how many memories could be stored in a familiar taste."

Emotion overwhelmed me too, on his behalf. I wanted so badly to make him as happy as he and his beautiful family had made me.

"I know you miss your home and I just—I wanted this to be special for you."

"I can tell," he whispered. "It's amazing."

He devoured the food and to my surprise, I quite liked it too. By the end, Hyacinth had a huge smile on his face and an even bigger hug to engulf me in.

He kissed my cheek and nuzzled me, clearly not planning to let me go for the rest of the night, not that I minded.

"Maybe I can take you home for a visit. It's a long trip, but I would love for you to see where I come from, and it would be good for the kids to understand their heritage."

I put my arms around his waist, holding him tightly, my fingers brushing up and down his silky wings, making him shiver.

"That sounds amazing."

"Really? You would go?"

"Of course," I laughed. "I would go anywhere with you."

He took a breath and held me a little bit tighter.

"I don't think I could love you more," he informed me. "Thank you for everything."

I shook my head in wonder.I had been welcomed into this family with open arms and I didn't know how I had ever gotten so lucky.

"I love you," I whispered. "Always."

"And forever," he added, kissing my cheek. "How did I ever get so lucky?"

I chuckled.

"What is it?"

I shook my head.

"Oh nothing, we're just on the same page without having to say a word. As usual. That's just us."

He smiled.

"It is, isn't it?"

END