I kneeled on the long, padded bench at the foot of the bed. “Think we can attach restraints to this?”
“I’ll go to the hardware store the second it op…” He trailed off mid-word when I crawled up the bed toward him.
There was so much blatant lust in his gray eyes, but so much love, too. I wasn’t sure how I’d missed it before. Likely because I’d never seen actual romantic love aimed my way.
But I had it from Tripp. Love. Safety. His attention. His comfort. His companionship. And his dominance.
He gave me that last part. “Straddle me.”
I did as he ordered, careful to keep the blanket between us. “Tell me everything.”
And then he gave me his trust, sharing what he was likely not supposed to but knowing I would never tell. I listened raptly as he filled me in on everything, my anger growing at Alex’s part. It turned to rage and betrayal on my man’s behalf when he saidthat Tony was the puppet master behind so much of Tripp’s pain.
I stroked my hands through his hair. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe he would do that.”
“I can. This town is full of greedy snakes who are always ready to strike for a little more power, influence, or money.”
Don’t I know it.
Reading my expression, his own softened. “Your dad isn’t a snake.”
“He is. But a garter one. Still bad, but not venomous. I think? I really don’t like snakes enough to know about them.”
“You’re fucking cute.”
I grinned, and that made his expression soften further as something else grew harder.
I wiggled, playing it off like I was just repositioning as I drew out the conversation. “I can’t believe it’s really over.”
My ploy backfired, and he tensed under me—and not in the good way. “It’ll get better without Tony sabotaging us, but it’ll never be over. There will always be people wanting to cut us down and stick their faces in our business to enjoy the carnage. It will be less if I retire, but it’ll never go away.”
“You can’t retire. You’re one of the rare people who knows their purpose. You love what you do.”
“You’re my purpose. And like I already told you, I love you more.”
I was fairly certain that was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to me.
But I still couldn’t let him walk away from everything he’d worked so hard for.
“I’ll stay out of comment sections,” I vowed. “But as long as I have you, the rest doesn’t matter.”
He rolled until I was pinned beneath him. “You’ll always have me, whether you want to or not. I’ll follow you anywhere, siren.”
EPILOGUE
AN A-LISTER WITH A HAPPILY EVER AFTER? WE’RE SHOCKED. AND THRILLED. AND, FINE, MORE THAN A LITTLE JEALOUS.
Greer
FOUR MONTHS LATER
Ineed to get outof here.
Filming forSummerwas in full swing, and it was everything I knew it was going to be. Better even. Scenes weren’t shot sequentially, and I couldn’t attend nearly as much as I would’ve liked, but since I’d read the script, I could follow along.
I’d spent the morning in court while my dad had his sentencing. Tripp had wanted to be there for me, but we both knew thatwould’ve turned it into a circus. Instead, Hank had been there at a distance for silent support and obvious security.
I’d only gotten to set a bit ago, but I knew I should leave.
