Page 131 of Branded

I wrap my legs around him and pull him deeper, and he groans against my mouth and his rhythm stutters and then finds something new—the sound of a man who has stopped trying to prove he isn’t worth it.

“Lennox.”

“Here,” I breathe. “I’m right here.”

He reaches between us and touches me, and I cry out as I arch hard and clench around him and the groan that pulls out of him is the most real sound I’ve ever heard from another human being. I hold on to his shoulders and let the wave build, let it gather all the fear and relief and love. When it breaks, it takes everything with it—every wall, every defense, every careful distance I ever tried to keep between myself and this man.

I come apart completely and he follows me over, shuddering, his arms locked around me, crushing me to his chest like I’m the only solid thing left keeping him tethered to the world.

We stay tangled together for a long time. His hand moves in my hair. My face is pressed to his neck. Neither of us speaks because there isn’t anything left to say that our bodies haven’t already said better.

Eventually he pulls back just enough to look at me. His thumb moves across my cheekbone, catching the last of the dried tears.

“You’re stuck with me now,” he says quietly. “I want you to know that.”

I look at him—at the open honest face of a man who isn’t open or honest with anyone, who’s spent his entire life making sure of it—and feel the truth of it settle into my bones.

“Good,” I say.

He kisses my forehead. My cheek. The corner of my mouth.

Then he pulls me back against his chest and holds me while the night settles around us, and outside the window the stars are out and the land stretches dark and endless in every direction, and this is home.

“I love you,” he murmurs into my hair. “So fucking much.”

“I love you too.” I hold him tight.

His hand traces patterns on my back. “Seven hundred and some days left, I stopped counting. But I’m hoping for a lot more than that. Hoping for forever.”

“Forever’s a long time.”

“Not long enough. Not with you.”

I lift my head to look at him, and I smile. “We’ll see.”

EPILOGUE

LENNOX

Two Years Later

I run my hand over my expanding abdomen, exhaustion creeping in as I stand behind the reception desk at the newest Drake Resort. This one is in South Carolina; Sebastian wanted to offer another coastal vacation spot that had a more family feel around it.

We looked at properties up and down the East Coast, and when we stumbled upon this place, we both knew we could make it work.

I’ve had fun helping with the renovations and design decisions. The West Coast properties aren’t meant for children; they’re darker, more business-focused, and the people who vacation there aren’t fond of being splashed as they walk past the pool. But this location is light, airy and fun.

“Mrs. Drake, I’ve got a gentleman saying he booked a suite, but we don’t have any left,” the young woman who I’m training says as she walks up to me. Her eyes are as wide as dinner plates, and she’s shaking like a leaf.

“Okay, Gia, what we’re not going to do is panic. This is an easy fix. Let’s get into the system and see what’s happening.” I walk to the desk and smile at the gentleman who has clearly forgotten to bring his smile on vacation.

“Good afternoon, I’m Lennox Drake. Let’s see where things have gone wrong.” As I say my name, the man’s entire attitude changes. Suddenly he’s agreeable and smiling. As I type in his confirmation number, I point out things for Gia to take note of.

“While I seem to see you booked a room with two queen beds, unfortunately it’s not a suite.” I reach over and unplug the keyboard slyly and keep typing like I’m trying to figure it out.

“That’s not possible, I need a suite, I never book a regular room. That’s just ridiculous, your system screwed up. This is what I get for listening to my wife.” Just because we’re a family-friendly resort doesn’t mean we don’t have to deal with pompous guests.

“We are booked up this weekend with it being our grand opening, but I can give you access to the dining room that’s reserved for suite guests. Just show this card at reception, and you will be able to access it. And here’s a spa gift certificate for your wife.” I grab a card, sign it with the dates for the length of their stay and hand it to the man. Then I look up his wife’s name on the computer and make that card specifically for her.