Epilogue

EPILOGUE

T hree months later…

A stray beam of sunlight woke Willow not long after sunrise. The restoration work on their room had been completed but she had yet to put up any curtains, enjoying the sunshine that flooded the room all day long. All of the main rooms had been finished, and they were gradually working their way through the others. Wraith had insisted on hiring help - very carefully vetted help - for a lot of the work, even though she'd assured him she was happy to tackle it.

He'd found gardeners too, a female pair who were now living in the set of rooms attached to the greenhouse and who were working wonders on the overgrown gardens. They shared her vision of restoring order without losing the charm of the previous wilderness.

I need to see them today about the fountains , she thought as she snuggled against Wraith's side. They'd discovered a surprising number hidden amongst the tangle of bushes and vines, and she was determined to restore every one.

She tried to go back to sleep but even though she'd been lethargic in the mornings for the past few weeks, today she felt unexpectedly energetic. She was tempted to get up, but Wraith was still asleep and he didn't like waking up alone.

Since she understood that only too well, she wasn't going anywhere until he woke up. Of course, there was nothing to prevent her from hurrying that process along. Smiling to herself, she slid down under the thin sheet. Enough sunlight made its way through the fabric for her to see quite clearly. She smiled again at the sight of that thick cock, heavy against his leg, his frills relaxed along the sides.

She leaned closer and blew gently across the head and it immediately began to respond. She took him in her mouth, still large even in this state but less of a challenge than he would be when he was fully erect, and sucked gently. He grew with gratifying speed, filling her mouth until her lips were stretched wide but she did her best to maintain the gentle suction, occasionally stopping to flick her tongue across his frills, now fluttering wildly.

He still hadn't moved, which surprised her a little, but it meant she had more time to play before he woke and took control. He rarely let her do this for long, claiming he couldn't last long with her mouth on him.

Determined to test that theory, she closed her hand around as much of his shaft as possible as she drew him a little deeper. He stiffened, his cock jerking in her hand, but when she tugged the sheet back far enough to see his face, his eyes were still closed. Excellent. Stroking him more firmly, she worked the head of his cock with her lips and her tongue, sucking hard one moment and swirling her tongue gently around him the next.

He was breathing faster now, his chest rising and falling rapidly, but his eyes remained tightly shut. His cock grew even harder, and then his fingers tangled in her hair. Instead of pulling her away as she expected, he held her steady as he began to thrust, almost too much for her to take but she did her best to meet each stroke.

She adjusted her grip, her fingers sliding between his frills, and he groaned her name.

"Willow," he rasped.

She hummed in response, unable to speak, and the vibration pushed him over the edge, his hips jerking wildly as the first pulse of seed hit the back of her throat. His hand tightened in her hair and she swallowed eagerly as he flooded his mouth.

He loosened his grip as his body slowly relaxed, stroking her hair before pulling her up into his arms.

"You were awake all along, weren't you?" she accused playfully.

"Did you really expect me to be asleep?"

Even his current happiness hadn't changed the habits of a lifetime. He still didn't sleep much, but he came to bed with her every night and remained there until she woke. If he had to leave for an early meeting, he would kiss her awake long enough to say goodbye. Those meetings were occurring more frequently now that Conran had appointed him as an advisor, but this morning he was all hers.

At least he was until a small green head poked around the door.

"Are you awake yet?" Sooni asked.

"No," Wraith said firmly. "And Willow needs her sleep. I put a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table for you if you're hungry."

The little girl gave a theatrical sigh, then grinned and raced away as Willow tried to stifle her laughter.

‘You forgot to lock the door again. It's a good thing she didn't show up five minutes earlier."

"An oversight I intend to take care of immediately."

She watched his muscular body admiringly as he walked over and locked the door, the sunlight picking out the shifting colors in his skin. When he turned back, the purple sparks burned in his eyes.

"Are you in need of something, my love?" he purred as he returned, his cock already thickening again.

"What makes you think that?" she asked breathlessly.

"Your scent is richer, sweeter, even more delicious."

Instead of returning to the bed, he went down on his knees next to it, pulling her towards him as she shivered in anticipation.

"So pretty," he murmured as he gently spread her legs, pressing teasing kisses to her inner thighs. "But I need to taste you."

He kissed his way higher until he could lick softly along her slit and she shivered at the touch of his tongue. He continued the light, teasing licks as he slowly inserted a thick finger, the intrusion easing the need that had been building in her since she touched him.

He flicked his tongue across her clit, not hard enough to give her what she wanted and she wriggled against his restraining hands.

"Please, Wraith."

"Such a polite little mate."

He sealed his lips around her clit, his tongue working its magic on that small bundle of nerves as his finger slid deeper and then curled upward. The sensations crashed over her, leaving her hovering on the edge of climax, and then he drew her clit into his mouth and sucked hard.

Her body convulsed so hard she saw stars, arching helplessly against his mouth until he gentled his touch, soothing her down into a state of boneless contentment. Then he straightened and joined her on the bed, gathering her close.

"A remarkably pleasant way to begin the day."

"Mmm," she agreed, already half asleep, but then she remembered what he'd told Sooni and gave him a puzzled look.

"What did you mean when you told Sooni I needed my sleep?"

"I meant that nurturing another life is hard work, and you need your rest."

His eyes glowed, warm and loving, his face softer than she'd ever seen it.

"You know?" she gasped. "How? I only figured it out yesterday."

She'd intended to confirm it with the doctor before telling him, still half-afraid to believe it was true even though the signs were obvious once she thought about it.

"I know everything about you."

His voice was light, teasing, but she suspected he was being truthful.

"Are… are you happy about it?"

"I am delighted that our family is growing," he said firmly and she could see the happiness on his face, once so inscrutable.

She bit her lip.

"Do you think Sooni will be happy about it as well?"

"I think she will be thrilled to have a sister."

Unexpected tears sprang to her eyes. The little girl had started calling her mama lately - not all time, but it always filled her with happiness when it occurred. The first time the word slipped out, Willow had gone to see Malacar, tinkering in his workshop as usual. He was developing a small but growing repair business and she loved seeing him so content.

She told him what had happened, concerned that he might think she was trying to take his daughter's place. Instead his wrinkled face creased into a gentle smile.

"I'm glad to hear it. Sooni needs a mother's love and comfort."

"I can't replace her mother, but I'll always love her and I hope she knows that."

"She does. We both do."

She'd hugged him impulsively and to her delight he'd hugged her back before clearing his throat and turning back to his tools.

Now, she put her hand on her stomach and Wraith covered it with his much larger one.

"I can't believe it didn't occur to me sooner - especially since Unity is so very, very pregnant." The other woman was only a few weeks away from what she'd calculated as her due date and her stomach was almost as large as she was. "I guess we were just so busy working on the house and settling in that I didn't think about it."

"I suspect you were afraid to consider the possibility."

He wasn't wrong. She'd been so focused on enjoying her new life, the happiness of having a home and a family, that she hadn't thought beyond it.

"Maybe it seemed like too much to hope for when I've already been so blessed. I love you, Wraith."

"I love you too."

He kissed her, softly at first, then more deeply. She responded eagerly, her need rising as his tongue stroked against hers. When he finally raised his head, arousal hummed through her veins but she gave him a teasing smile.

"You know, Unity said that being pregnant made her very… needy. You're going to have your hands full."

He flashed her a predatory grin. "I think I'm up to the challenge."

Her laugh turned to a moan as his hand moved to her breast, his fingers toying with her nipple.

"I'm glad to hear it," she whispered against his lips, "Because I'm going to need you a lot."

"You can always count on me, my love," he murmured as he drew her into his arms.

A long, pleasurable time later she snuggled against him, her heart filled with a joy she'd never imagined, and gazed out the windows, at the lovely old house and the colorful blooms in the garden, at the city below, the castle on the hill, and the endless sky above.

"We're home," she whispered, and he tightened his hold on her.

"Yes, we are," he whispered. "We're finally home."