Epilogue

EPILOGUE

EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER: GRAYSON

J ade grins as the seat belt sign turns off. She unbuckles the belt that's across her lap, pulling off her top in one smooth motion.

I raise an eyebrow at her, shoving the seat belt from my lap. "What do you think you're doing?"

She eyes me, sliding the skin-tight jeans down her legs. "I've been thinking that there's still hours before we get to Paris, and we could have a little fun."

My cock swells against my zipper as she stands in front of me in nothing but a matching lingerie set. "I thought you would have been tired after how much you've been working."

"Well, being named partner at LRH Global has put some pep in my step." She straddles me, grinding her core against the bulge in my jeans.

"Oh, has it?"

My hands slide up the curves of her waist, cupping her breasts through the thin black lace over them. I brush my thumbs over her nipples, groaning at the way they pebble beneath my touch.

"You know, we could go to the bedroom for this."

She smirks and grabs the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head and tossing it to the side. "Nope. I've been thinking about this all day."

Her mouth slants over mine, tongues tangling as she grinds harder into my lap. She moans with each brush of her pussy over the rough material.

My fingers slip between her legs, teasing her clit even though she's already soaked. I kiss my way down her neck, sucking on one of her nipples through the lace.

Jade arches into me, her fingers digging deep into my shoulders. "I need you now. Please."

I groan, hand dropping to my zipper. I pull it down quickly before pulling out my cock and stroking it. She rocks back and forth, her core grinding harder into me.

As I pull the fabric of her thong to the side, she sinks down onto me. Her back arches as she takes me deeper, her inner walls stretching around me.

I rock up into her, needing to feel her squeeze around me. Her arousal coats me as she bounces up and down, taking my cock deeper with every movement.

I bite down on her other nipple and she whimpers, growing slicker. She tugs on my hair, guiding my mouth back to hers just in time to catch her moan.

I kiss her until we're panting, her pussy quivering around me. When we part, our gazes lock, my cock throbbing as she comes.

Gripping her hips, I rock her faster on me. "I love you so damn much, Jade."

She smiles, legs clamping tighter on either side of my thighs. "I love you, too."

I stiffen, strokes slowing as I come, holding tight to her until the waves of pleasure stop.

Jade leans into me, her body limp and her lips tracing patterns over my collarbone. "I think we should go to the bedroom now. I could use a nap after the last couple weeks."

Laughing, I stand with her in my arms, heading to the bedroom at the back of the plane. "Well, lucky for both of us, we get to spend the next two weeks in Paris, doing whatever the hell we want with nowhere to be."

She grins as I lay her on the bed. "That sounds perfect to me."

I shed the rest of my clothing and crawl into bed beside her, pulling her tight against my body.

"You sound perfect to me," I say as I drop a kiss onto her shoulder. "Now get some rest, my love."

Jade smiles at me as she takes my hand, leading me through the same streets we wandered last year. "I can't believe we're going to be going through Asia with Mom in a couple months, too. It seems insane to be taking this much time off work."

I glance over my shoulder at the Seine and the boats traveling along it before looking back at her. "After dinner, I booked a boat for us to go on a night cruise."

She raises an eyebrow. "Asia made you think of that?"

"It might have." I lift her hand to my mouth, kissing the back of it.

My heart races as I look at her. I almost let the secret slip. If I did that, I wouldn't forgive myself.

This is the first trip we've had a chance to go on since the relaunch and Jade coming on as a partner. It took a lot of convincing to get her to stay on permanently too, especially with the success of her own businesses.

I want this trip to show her how much she means to me. She's the best thing in my life, and I need her to see that.

Which is why I turn down the street that leads to the little rooftop bar I took her to the first time we were in Paris.

She presses closer to my side, a smile stretching across her face. "You know, I didn't peg you for a romantic."

I scoff and twirl her beneath my arm before pulling her into me. "I resent that. I am a very romantic man."

When she laughs, it sends a warmth spreading through me. I spent twelve years without that laugh, and I know I'm never going to spend another day without it.

Grinning, I walk with her over to the rooftop bar, leading her up the stairs and through the doors. "I booked the place tonight, so nobody should be here to bother us."

She grins and lets go of my hand to look out at the Eiffel Tower as it lights up with the setting sun.

The dusky blue sky with the shining tower is perfect for the moment I've been waiting for all day.

I slide my hand into my pocket as I walk up behind her. "It's a beautiful night."

She leans into me, her eyes shutting for a moment before she stares out over the city again. "It really is. I'm glad we came out here."

"I am, too."

With a deep breath, I pull the ring out of my pocket and kneel beside her.

Jade's hands fly to her mouth, tears shining in her eyes. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Proposing to you in the spot where I realized that you were going to change my life in the best way possible, even if I didn't want to admit it at the time."

She laughs and shakes her head. "You're insane, Grayson. Yes, I'll marry you."

"You didn't even let me ask," I say, tone teasing as I hold out the ring and look up at her. "I had a speech all prepared and everything. I was going to tell you how much I love you and how much my life wouldn't be the same without you."

Her hand shakes as she holds it out for me. The diamond glitters against the gold band as I slide it onto her finger.

"You don't have to make a huge speech." She throws her arms around me as I stand, pulling me into a tight hug. "I would accept your proposal in my living room wearing sweatpants."

"I know you would have." I cup her face in my hands and take my time kissing her, savoring the moment for as long as possible before the applause and cheering starts.

Jade jerks back from me and looks around as our parents and friends pour out of their hiding places.

She looks up at me with wide eyes. "Did you plan all of this?"

I grin. "Why else would we be going on a cruise tonight? We're going to have a couple drinks here, and then dinner is going to be served on the boat. And then after that, I'm going to pass out."

Jade laughs and throws her arms around me again. "I love you, Grayson."

"I love you, too." I kiss her temple and hug her tight. "Now, go show off your ring to your mom before she comes over here and gives both of us hell over buying her that house last week."

With a blush, Jade nods and scurries off to show off the ring to her mom and the rest of our friends.

Dad approaches me, clapping a hand on my back. "I'm proud of you, Grayson. The two of you are going to have a very happy life together. Just like I always knew you would."

"Always, huh?"

He smirks and shrugs. "Who do you think gave Jade's number to Victoria?"

"You've got to be kidding me. Was that bit about working with influencers just to get everyone going?"

"I remembered how happy you were when she was in your life the first time. I figured the worst that could happen by putting on a show and asking her for help was that the two of you decided you still wanted nothing to do with each other."

He chuckles, looking proud of himself as he saunters away to give Jade a big hug.

By the time she wiggles her way out of everybody's embrace and makes her way back to me, her face is flushed, and her smile stretches from one side of her face to the other.

"This has been the most perfect night." She holds me close, her head on my shoulder, as the others start filtering toward the bar and ordering drinks.

I hug her back, knowing that I could spend the rest of my days just holding her.

When she first walked back into my life, I didn't think that it would ever end up this way. There is no way on earth I thought that she would be the woman I would be working with, let alone the woman I got to fall in love with.

Before Jade, I didn't believe in soulmates, but now that I get to spend the rest of my life with her, I know she's always been mine.

We would have found each other again eventually. Of that, I'm absolutely sure.

The End