Epilogue

Clusters of low-hanging Edison bulbs bathed the sprawling Dupont Circle bookstore in an inviting glow. The smell of aged paper and fresh ink hung in the air, and the claustrophobic aisles toward the back reminded me of the smaller shops I'd haunted as a teen growing up in the suburbs. I'd been beside myself when Cooper had informed me that Verse Vision Book Emporium would be the first stop on my book signing tour. In fact, I'd been beside myself that there was a signing tour in the first place. Apparently, preorder numbers skyrocketed after two interviews I'd done in July—one on a late-night talk show, the other on a morning talk show roundtable, where the topics had ranged from politics to career choices and gossip—and the publishing house wanted to capitalize on the momentum.

"I had no idea you had such strong opinions about celebrity fashion," Cam had said on a FaceTime call after the morning talk show interview. And then he'd tilted the camera lower, revealing a pair of skintight briefs I'd never seen before, the silky fabric outlining the firm hills of his quads and, also, the prominent bulge between them. "Opinions on these?"

My mouth had gone dry as I stared, struggling before I finally strung together a reply. "Those are keepers. Now, take them off." We'd laughed before the inevitable tension between us crescendoed and led to a heated exchange, both of us breathless, staring into each other's half-lidded gazes as we stroked ourselves to orgasm amid promises of what we'd do to each other when we next met. A phone screen was a poor substitute for reality, though, and always left me longing for him. My desire for Cameron was a hunger that hadn't diminished. Not even a little bit. I'd missed him immensely and often over the summer. Not just the sensation of his body next to mine or kissing him, but the quirks of his personality, our tangent-prone conversations, and seeing the brilliant arc of his smile in person.

One more week.

I had another stop at a bookstore in Richmond and then a few days to spend and recoup in Silver Ridge before hopping a flight to Chicago. My whirlwind signing tour would end just before the Thanksgiving holiday, and while I'd enjoyed and was grateful for every second of my travels so far, I was more than ready to return to my life in Silver Ridge, especially since Cameron would be moving in with me. Thinking about it gave me both the comfort of the familiar and the exhilaration of embarking upon a new life with him. But right now, I was dying for a tiny taste of what was to come. It had been way too long since I'd kissed him.

One more week.

I adjusted the stack of books on the wooden table where I sat. Above me was an elegantly hand-lettered chalkboard sign that read, "Meet the Author: Dr. Grady Lusk." A title I hadn't heard in ages and was still getting used to.

I'd slept restlessly, nervous no one would show up. As nervous as I'd been that I'd fail my oral dissertation defense. I'd told Cameron as much the night before, and he'd laughed before chiding me gently. "People will show up. Look at how well the book is doing, doofus." Two weeks into its release and it had just broken the top fifty on the New York Times bestseller list and was rising. "But if they don't, who cares," he'd continued. "In my eyes, you're already the best."

Sasha, the store manager, hustled over with a bottled water that she set next to me, then checked her watch. "Ready for the chaos, Dr. Lusk? Need any more Sharpies?"

I ticked my chin toward the Sharpie in front of me. "Thank you. I think I'm all set with just the one."

She looked down at the single marker, back at me, and then cackled. "You've never been to one of our signings before. Let me go get you some more."

It turned out I needed an additional four.

The book signing began at five. By five thirty, animated chatter filled the air around me, and there was a line that wound through the store. Sasha hadn't been joking. She and another staff member kept the line moving efficiently while I fought hand cramps I wasn't prepared for as I scrawled my signature, barely registering the faces I greeted.

By six fifteen, the pace transitioned to a manageable ebb and flow, some eager folks sticking around to engage in conversation while others merely wanted their book signed before disappearing. I pressed my thumb against the heel of my palm and massaged the webbing between, paused for a sip of water, and then accepted the next book that came my way.

"Could you sign it to Beatrice?" the dark-haired woman chirped with a bright smile.

"Of course." I flipped the book open to the title page and paused.

The ability of the human mind to pick out particular aberrations, even in a crowd, would never cease to amaze me. Because when I glanced up, seeking the source of the peculiar prickle of awareness that had moved over the back of my neck, Cameron stood just inside the doorway of the shop.

My heart hitched at the sight of him. He wore jeans that skimmed his lean legs and a black shirt that hugged his wide shoulders and emphasized his biceps, eyes dancing beneath that wild tousle of blond. A copy of my book was clutched in his hand.

Our gazes met across the distance, and he winked, flashing me a broad grin. It took everything in my power not to lunge over the table and attack him, though I supposed that wouldn't be professional in any capacity. So I held myself in check, chuckling as I shook my head that he'd caught me so off guard.

"Dr. Lusk?" Beatrice's voice snapped me back to the task at hand.

"My apologies." I picked up the Sharpie again and signed the book quickly, then wished her well.

I kept track of Cameron as the line moved, watching as he chatted with people around him, that easy smile of his lighting up his face. Every time our eyes met, a frisson of electricity moved through me.

And then, finally, he was in front of me.

"Dr. Lusk," he greeted me with a playful smirk, that same twinkle in his eye as he handed me his copy of my book. "I'm a huge fan." His tone was teasing, but the warmth in his eyes was genuine.

"Is that so?" As I took the book, my fingers brushed against his, and the contact sent a familiar rush of heat straight to my core, stirring up the undercurrent of desire I perpetually felt around him.

"Mm-hmm," he drawled. "I've already got another copy at home, but it's extra special. I've read it three times already."

I laughed as I opened the book to the title page. "You're exaggerating."

"On my honor." Cameron held his hand over his heart solemnly. "What can I say? It's a real page-turner, and I really appreciate an intelligent man. I mean, book."

Our flirtatious banter came as easily as a familiar dance. God, I couldn't wait to finally be alone with him so I wouldn't have to deny myself the temptation to touch him. "I see." I could hardly focus on the title page for the warmth creeping up the back of my neck. "To whom shall I make this out?" I managed, looking back up at him with a grin.

"To your biggest fan, of course." He dropped his voice lower, leaning in a bit. "And the one who's looking forward to being turned inside out by you in about an hour." He straightened and affected nonchalance. "Or just to Cam. That works."

Chuckling, I decided to indulge him and wrote, "To Cameron, my number one fan and the one I'm looking forward to turning inside out in about an hour." I signed my name with a cheeky flourish and handed the book back to him. "So, I'll see you in an hour, then?"

"You sure will."

An hourand fifteen minutes later—because getting away from the book signing had proved harder than I'd expected—I was standing outside the door of the hotel room Cam had texted me the details for. The same prickle of anticipation I'd felt at the bookstore was back, amplified tenfold. My heart beat wildly as I knocked on the door.

Barely a beat later, it creaked open. A pair of black sweats that hung low on Cameron's hips teased me with a mouthwatering view of his V-line.

"I'm sorry, it took me longer than—" I started, eyes roving him head to toe hungrily. I didn't get to finish the sentence before Cameron yanked me inside and we crashed into each other.

My lips found his, and I drank in his kiss like it was water after a long drought. His hands roamed over my back, pulling me closer, before disengaging long enough to slam the door behind me.

He tasted like coffee and comfort, and I rumbled a low groan as he pulled my shirt free of my slacks. "God, I missed you," he murmured against my mouth.

We shed articles of clothing haphazardly before I pushed him onto the bed, hell-bent on expressing the very same sentiment as I worshipped his naked body with my mouth and hands.

"Grady." It sounded like a plea, each syllable driving my arousal higher and making my heart beat twice as fast. I'd been longing to hear him say my name just like that for months, without a phone screen between us.

I blazed fervent kisses across the jaw, relishing the bite of his stubble against my skin. When I bit down lightly at the juncture of his neck and shoulder, he shuddered beneath me, hands gripping my shoulders tighter.

"Say it again." A soft command I pressed into his skin.

"Grady," he moaned, hands moving to tangle in my hair and pull me against him.

I lost track of time and the world around us, the positions we moved through, the ways our bodies intertwined, him astride me, riding my cock, my fingers digging into his waist, below me, back arched in open-mouthed ecstasy, then inside me, his hand splayed over my chest as he thrust into me over and over until we both shattered.

Afterward, we lay with our fingers laced as cool air from the window unit blew over our feverish bodies.

"I missed you, too," I said softly once I finally caught my breath. "More than you can imagine, in case that didn't come across when I attacked you."

"I don't know that either of us left anything to imagination." Cameron's lips curved upward. "And I'm pretty sure I was the one to attack you."

"Fair point." I rolled fully toward him and released his hand so I could prop my head on my hand as I gazed at him, taking in the disheveled gold of his hair, the sated laziness of his expression. I couldn't wait to wake up to that sight every morning. "I can't believe you surprised me." I poked him gently. "You told me you were working doubles all weekend."

"Just a little white lie. Turns out they're handy sometimes." He playfully swatted me away and then sobered, eyes meeting mine. "I couldn't stand to miss it. And it worked out perfectly because…" He broke into a wide grin. "I also found out I got in to Crestview. I can start spring semester."

"Cameron!" He laughed as I rolled upright abruptly. "That's incredible." My heart swelled with pride and happiness for him, knowing how much he'd wanted to get into the program and how hard he'd been working for it.

I pressed my hands to the sides of his face and murmured, "Congratulations," before kissing him. "Goddamn, I'm so incredibly proud of you."

He ducked his head sheepishly. "I really wanted to tell you in person since we had to miss out on some things over the summer."

"I'm glad you did. It killed me to miss watching you graduate."

"You look pretty alive to me right now."

"Semantics," I muttered.

Cameron leaned in, lips brushing mine in another kiss that was soft, sweet, and brimming with promise. "It's an easy drive from your place?—"

"Our," I corrected him, joy flooding me at saying it aloud.

"Our place," he agreed easily. The wattage on his grin notched higher. "It's an easy drive from our place. Like thirty-five minutes. I already test-drove it. God, I love saying ‘our place.'"

"I love hearing you say it." I wondered when I'd become such a sap, but I couldn't seem to help it either. He had that effect on me. "How long do I have you for?"

"Forever. Oh, or did you mean now?"

I laughed. "Both."

"In that case, you have me forever. And also until Sunday." He flashed me a wink and scooted closer so he could lie with his head on my chest. "So what do you want to do next?"

"Recoup and then go another round?" I ventured.

"Definitely that." Cameron chuckled. "But I meant what do you want to do tomorrow. Explore the city? Do a bunch of tourist-y things?"

I considered for a few moments. "I think I have an idea…"

The next morning,after we'd messed up the bed all over again and then grabbed breakfast and coffee from Buzz, I drove Cameron over to the Enigma maze.

"Jesus Christ, it's even bigger in person—don't make a joke about that." He side-eyed me as I laughed. "But seriously, I have my doubts about this, even as a team."

I grinned and grabbed his hand. "Ready to get lost?"

"With you, Professor? Anytime."

As we stepped into the maze, hand in hand, undaunted by the twists and turns, I felt an overwhelming sense of reassurance in Cameron's presence, a silent promise that together, we'd be able to conquer whatever lay ahead of us, no matter how uncertain the path. It dawned on me that the real magic of this maze wasn't beating it but being able to experience its twists and turns with Cameron by my side. Like life, each dead end and every unexpected obstacle was another opportunity for us to lean on each other and grow stronger. It was about relishing the journey with the man I loved.

So as we started forward into the unknown, I knew that even if we didn't reach the elusive center, we'd already won.

—End—