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Epilogue
5 April
Austin Manor
Juliana was resplendent in an ivory sheath dress. Perched on her head was a delicate tiara that had belonged to her biological mother. On her wrist was a bracelet, the match to her engagement ring, which had belonged to her adopted mother. She was all platinum and diamonds, satin and purples. The face that had graced magazines and stopped people in their tracks with its swath of freckles and sea-green eyes glowed with a broad smile.
Ele flanked her on one side, Jamie on the other. When they reached Rowan, her siblings gave her away, both of them giddy with pride. The guest list was small. Tristan, Sheena, Caleb, Robert, Millie, Meena, Tati, Bea, Lucy, Leia, Leo, and Pelé – and approximately thirty armed guards. Violet was Juliana’s maid of honor, and Nico was Rowan’s best man. Times were unstable and there was a small circle of trust.
Nothing was settled. but they had the queen in hand. They had not ordered her exile yet. But they’d all decided to take today and celebrate. And Juliana appreciated it.
With his marriage to Juliana, Rowan cemented himself as the rightful heir to twenty-three titles. If Juliana was ever unsure about his love, she merely had to remember this, and her fears melted away.
Nico tapped his fork to his champagne flute, and the chatter around the table immediately quieted. He stood.
“I think all of us can appreciate the miracle of this union. Not because Rowan is the grouchiest man on the planet.” He paused to let the laughter die down. “Or because he has definitely overachieved with his amazing bride.”
“Hear, hear!” Tristan laughed.
“But because the union of these two individuals is a bit of a miracle. In December, Rowan was sure his life was over. He couldn’t see past his misfortune. He was cut off from his friends and more miserable than usual.” Nico winked at Rowan, who smiled graciously. He couldn’t really argue. “When he least expected it, he was given a gift. One whose value he couldn’t quite figure out.
“We like to joke, but I’m fairly certain Juliana was gifted with the same thing. A chance to become a better version of who we are. And at its best, isn’t that what love is? A person who complements, and challenges, and laughs, and desires. Who stands up to us when we are at our worst, who cheers us on when we are down. Who celebrates our victories and sees us through our defeats. A person who helps us overcome our hardships, hands us a scotch when we need it, and throws us a party when we win. I know times are uncertain but being here and seeing the two of you fills me with hope.
“To Juliana and Rowan, the royal”—he bowed in Juliana’s direction—“and the rebel!”
“Salud!” everyone chorused.
Juliana hung her gown in the closet. She grabbed the gift bag Ele had handed her earlier in the day.
“It’s from Rowan. He said to wear it when the festivities are over.” Ele had raised her brow. “I hadn’t thought Rowan would go for gifts of lingerie.”
Juliana had wrinkled her nose. “Me neither.”
She had tossed the bag onto the ottoman in the closet and hadn’t thought much about it until now. Their day had been magical from start to finish. Aside from Nico’s lovely speech, he had gifted Rowan and Juliana Austen Manor. They had both protested, but Nico had adamantly insisted the house belonged to them.
“Do you really think I’ll be able to get rid of all of the dog hair?” he’d joked. “Really, after everything, this just seems like it’s yours now. I don’t really feel sentimental about structures. Especially now, with the kids splitting time with me and their mother.”
With their vast holdings, it was hard to imagine they needed another property. But Nico was right; this place did seem like theirs now.
Juliana absently reached into the bag, her mind definitely on the night ahead. Rowan had been cleared two days ago for more movement. Sex, really. And while Juliana hadn’t wanted to wait, Rowan hadn’t wanted to rush. They’d spent the last two weeks exploring Juliana’s research and mixing it in with Rowan’s experience. It had been an erotic journey. But she was so ready that she’d almost kicked everyone out of the house earlier. Juliana reached into the bag and instead of a satin negligee, she pulled out a soft cotton T-shirt. Skeptical, she unfolded it and held it up, so she could see it.
She read it out loud, “Looks like a PRINCESS, fights like a JEDI.”
Then, she burst out laughing.
She went to put it on when Rowan said, “I wouldn’t bother with that tonight.”
Juliana looked up at him as he leaned against the doorframe.
“I love this,” she said. “You couldn’t have gotten me a better gift.”
His smile was radiant. It hit her sometimes, when he smiled like that. She did that to him. She made him so happy that he didn’t even look like himself. She loved to tease him about his perfectly straight white teeth. She’d seen more of them than she’d ever thought possible.
He held out his hand to her. She took it and laced their fingers together. They walked to the bed, like they’d been married for years. She was so comfortable with him. He worked to put her at ease, so she could ask for what she wanted and tell him what she liked.
“Today was a good day,” Rowan remarked as he pulled her onto the bed with him. “What Nico said really stayed with me. It’s true, you know. You are all those things for me.”
She crawled on top of him and leaned down to kiss him. “It was a perfect toast.”
Then, she kissed him again, not a light touch, but a heat-seeking missile. She’d been patient, but she was riding high on the endorphins of the day. She didn’t realize how sexy it would be to watch Rowan smile at his friends and mingle with her family. They’d held hands and enjoyed simple kisses all day—the kind born of familiarity. But her whole body was on fire with want. It wasn’t necessarily about having sex. Every new experience they shared—cooking together, taking progressively longer walks with the dogs, spending time with their families—opened her up to him more. Now, she wanted to take this final step with him.
He rubbed his hands up and down her back. Exploring her and planting touch bombs all up and down her spine. One little perfect pressure, and she would explode. He discarded her bra and worked her panties off without taking his mouth from hers. When she was naked above him, he ended their kiss.
“What do you want?” he asked her, his voice a haze of desire and lust.
“You,” she said, like duh!
