me before I left. She was so sorry she didn’t make the connection sooner. I never actually admitted it because hearing her discuss it made it so much more real. Knowing that maybe if I would have said something, I could have spared someone else. We cried together for about ten minutes.”
She takes a cleansing breath, and now that I look closely, I can see the dried tear streaks and redness.
“I told her that I love her, and that I’d be by to visit soon, and then I told her about you.”
My ears perk up. “Really? What did you tell her?”
“Just how much I love you. I left out the crap that got us to this point because all that matters is now. You saved me once before—gave me back the power to reclaim my sexuality. More importantly, you showed me what love looks like. All this time, my goal was to save you like you once did for me, and you ended up saving me again.”
“I love that I was able to get you to the place, mentally and physically, love, but you’re wrong on one part.”
“What is that?”
“You actually did save me as well. I didn’t even know I needed saving. I’ve always valued my control to the point that if anything or anyone threatened that, I was ready for a fight. Only that fight was with myself. From Claude treating me like I didn’t belong, to finding out my source of redemption was from a woman who slept with both my brother and me, to finding Claude has a twin and wasn’t actually my father because my mother cheated, to finally finding out Melissa was plotting against me. Everything in my life has been one lie after another.”
I take a seat on the bed and pull her to me. “I tried so hard not to be vulnerable with you. I think I always knew you owned my heart, and that was scary as shit. But your loyalty was steadfast, and it’s given me blind faith. It’s given me the courage to leave it all behind—the deceit, betrayal, and the possibility of consequences of my faith if you hurt me. I don’t know if I could come back from it, but I just know I want to move forward with you.”
“Today has been the best day of my life. I buried my demons on the same day you buried yours. I’ve never known what hope feels like, and I have to say, though it may be intangible, it’s the most beautiful gift you could have given me. I love you so much, and I’m looking forward to our lives together.”
“Harlow?”
“Yes?”
“Will you be my girlfriend and submissive?”
“Yes, sir,” she answers excitedly, already getting into submissive mode. My cock jumps with excitement. We have lots of catching up to do.
“And Harlow?”
“Yes?” She drops the formality, but I can work with that.
“Promise me, when we get married, we can get our wedding date tatted on our ring finger instead of wedding bands. Rings can be removed. I want forever.”
“Are you proposing?” She gasps.
“Not yet. I want to do things right this time, starting with Asher and your mother.”
“Okay.” She smiles sweetly. She has no idea how soon that “not yet” is going to change. I just give her a mischievous grin as I slide off the bed.
“On your back, now. Knees bent and ass close to the edge of the bed.”
My Dom vibrato perks her right up. She moves without questioning, eager for whatever I have in store. It’s about to be a long day. I don’t plan on turning her loose until my nuts are empty. Now it’s time to unleash my demons she enjoys so much … now it’s time to really play!
Epilogue
Harlow
I relax on the sofa backstage as the guys’ show starts to come to an end. They’re the last act of the night, finally the headliners. Lily couldn’t make it out tonight, but I know she is just as proud. Their road to success has been a hell of a ride for us all. A number-one single and four weeks on top of the music charts is more than they could have ever hoped for.
Once the twin scandal was old news, and Phoenix officially made things right with Asher by professing his love for me, the guys were free from distraction. They soared to the top, taking my finally published novel with them. I hit the New York Times bestsellers list, something I would never have imagined.