the odd weekend with the Romanos to keep them sweet. I may have turned my back on my duty, but I will never turn my back on them. They are my blood and this way we get to enjoy all that is good about that, without any of the fucked-up fear that goes with it. We can have it all and exist outside of the darkness and live among honest people who have values that match our own. If you’re up for it, darlin’, I want to do all that with you as my old lady because if I’ve learned anything, it’s that you are the perfect match for me.”
He crushes my lips to his and there are no more words. It’s actions that count now and it’s time to show him.
We crash into the cabin that is luckily on the other side of the boat, far enough away from Tobias and Ana not to make an embarrassing conversion at breakfast.
As soon as we are inside the room, we tear off our clothes with a haste that makes us both laugh as we fall onto the bed and cling to each other as if we’re imprisoned by invisible bonds.
Maverick is a wild man in every way and tonight is no exception. As he kisses me fiercely, I return it with a passion that surprises me. He tortures my body with kisses and gentle nips and drags his tongue all the way down my thighs, before parting my folds and biting and sucking my clit, causing me to stifle a scream that is threatening to push me over the edge before I’m ready. I shift closer to him and then he takes one of my legs and lifts it high in the air and growls, “I can’t wait another minute.”
Then he thrusts inside me with an ownership that causes my heart to twist in delicious pleasure as I feel him inside, rocking against me, filling and stretching me until there is nothing left to fill. I groan as I feel him own me, and gasp as he runs his hands over my ass and pulls me harder against him. I grip his balls in a strong, unforgiving grip, reminding him that he’s mine. He grunts and moans my name over and over again and then pulls out as suddenly as he went in, before reaching for a condom from his jeans and tearing it open with his teeth.
Then he growls, “We’re going to have to either protect you, or book the preacher because I want to fill you completely with everything I have.”
I smile with an understanding that neither of us are going anywhere anytime soon and this is going to be on repeat for the foreseeable future. It’s as if he chases the last shadow away as my heart fills so full with happiness, I feel as if I’ve been reborn. I’m no longer that frightened controlled princess who fears the world. I own it now because I am free. Released into the unknown with a magnificent warrior by my side. We will be ok. Of that, I am certain.
For the next two weeks, we make the most of every minute we have on the Island Star. Maverick settles into the family as if he has always been there. He forges a strong bond with Tobias and they have much in common. Ana adores him and we enjoy a leisurely vacation with the family we always will be. I never imagined love would feel like this. We have it all and I never thought I’d say that.
So, it’s with regret that we reach our final destination because Tobias and Ana will be continuing their travels in Europe and we are returning to start our life at the Rubicon.
It’s hard to say goodbye to my brother and my much-loved sister-in-law but we do so with the promise of meeting up soon and then head off alone without the usual guards and black cars. Instead, we take a cab to the airport and join the rest of civilization aboard a commercial jet bound for Washington.
37
Six Months later
Maverick
I can see her in the distance and it strikes me just how well I’ve trained her the past six months. Where it used to be easy to hunt her down, she is now making it increasingly difficult to do. I can tell which way she’s heading though and still have a few tricks left up my sleeve, although that’s a joke because as usual, I’m