“Ready to go? We should get a good night’s sleep and then tomorrow we can make arrangements to get you moved in,” I said, squeezing her shoulders.
As Juniper said goodbye to her grandmother, I checked around until I found her purse tucked behind a chair. Her eyebrows shot up when she saw it in my hand.
“I would have forgotten that and had a very pissed off boss when I didn’t answer his messages in the morning,” shemuttered.
We stepped out the back door and onto the sand. The door clicked shut, and I narrowed my eyes on my little witch.
“Quit your job.”
I waited for her protests, but she wet her lips and then nodded. “Alright.”
“That’s it? That easy?” I said, pulling her to me and planting a kiss on her open mouth. It was supposed to be a quick, affectionate peck, but Juniper steadied herself with her hands on my waist, and heat sparked between us.
I cradled her cheek, running my thumb over her jaw as I kissed her over and over. When we broke apart, I murmured, “You are my dream come true.”
She rolled her eyes but leaned in to kiss me again.
It took far too long to get back to the house, and my brothers had conveniently disappeared, either out of the house or into their rooms, and frankly I didn’t care. I was going to make my witch scream my name regardless of who heard.
We barely made it into the bedroom before clothes were shed and I made good on my promise, several times, before we fell asleep.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Malik
It was unseasonably warm for the summer solstice, but it seemed like I was the only one bothered by the heat. Adrian was thrilled to have the excuse to stop wearing a shirt, and Caspian was too wrapped up in his mate to notice.
Their one year anniversary was around the corner, and they spent more time kissing than not. Or at least that was what it seemed like when I looked up from my computer.
“Could you please wear a shirt?” Juniper asked Adrian, scowling at him with her hands propped on her hips. Boxes were stacked along the wall, ready to go to Caspian and Juniper’s new house.
“But it’s hot,” he whined, “and my tan is just getting good.”
Caspian jogged down the stairs, his steps slowing as he took in the standoff. His mouth twitched. “Ari, do what she says.”
“So bossy, baby brother!” Adrian said, dragging his hand through his platinum hair and huffing dramatically as he headed toward the stairs and his room.
“Something nice, like a white button-down!” Juniper called after him. She smoothed her hands over her white, lacy sundress as her attention swung to me. Apparently I passed inspection, because she smiled tightly.
Sighing, I closed my laptop and stood up. “You don’t need to be worried about the Summer Solstice party. It’s not a big deal.”
“Sure,” she muttered.
Caspian chuckled. With one smooth move, he tugged Juniper to him and kissed her soundly.
There they go again.
I tried to not roll my eyes, but it definitely still happened. Juniper giggled. “Try to not look so aggravated for once, Mal.”
“I didn’t—” I argued, adjusting the cuffs of my black button-down shirt. “Nevermind.”
I wasn’t very good at controlling my expressions.
The lovebirds weren’t paying attention. Caspian typed out messages on his phone as Juniper checked through the big beach bag she was bringing.
“Better?” Adrian said, taking the stairs two at a time.
