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“I love you, Bastian.”
“I love you too,” I reply. “And I plan on spending every single day for the rest of my life proving that to you. I will be by your side from this day forward.”
“You better be,” she replies.
“Count on it, baby girl. Count on it.”
Epilogue
Bree
One Year Later…
I spin around in front of the full-length mirror, giggling as I admire the new sundress Bastian bought for me. He likes it when I wear sundresses and has bought me enough that I can wear one practically every day of the year and never duplicate them. This one is a black satiny material with a pink and white floral design over it and has spaghetti straps. The bustline is heart-shaped and it falls to the middle of my thighs. It’s beautiful. He has excellent taste.
As I turn and pad out of my room, I feel like I’m walking on air. It’s a big day for us. Though we’ve been together for a little over a year now, today will be the first day that we step out together as a couple and I know he’s a little nervous about it. It’s not that we haven’t gone out as a couple before. We definitely have. Bastian has spent the last year opening up the world to me. He’s taken me to the finest restaurants, theater productions, amusement parks, and we’ve even had a few trips to other countries wedged in. Bastian has made the world a far bigger place for me than I ever imagined it could be… and not just in the bedroom.
Later tonight, Bastian is hosting a party for his firm and will be introducing me as his fiancée. Fiancée. Just the word makes me smile and feel light and airy inside. The thought that I am going to be Mrs. Sebastian Bullock makes me feel positively giddy. It’s something I used to dream about as a little girl—I used to write Mrs. Sebastian Bullock in my diaries and practice saying it out loud in front of a mirror. But it never occurred to me that one day, I would be saying it for real.
As far as the people at Bastian’s firm though, some of them apparently knew my father and they know of me. And they know that I’m Bastian’s goddaughter. He and my dad had attended quite a few of the firm’s functions back in the day when Bastian’s dad was running the place. Knowing people like I do, I expect that some of them won’t understand what Bastian and I have between us. All they’re going to see is a man with a woman who’s literally half his age. And I’m sure plenty of them are going to judge us for that.
As far as I’m concerned though, those people can all fuck right off. They don’t know what we share. They won’t see a couple that has fallen deeper in love every single day. They won’t see a relationship that is solid and healthy, one built on mutual respect. They aren’t going to see two people who’ve pushed each other to step outside their comfort zones and have opened each other up to new ideas, new experiences, and new ways of thinking. They aren’t going to see the kind of love we share—a love that’s incredibly rare in this world.
No, all they’re going to see is an older man with a younger woman. They’ll think I’m a trophy wife. They’ll call me his mid-life crisis piece behind our backs. But that’s because most of those people are so unhappy in their own lives and relationships, they can’t fathom the depth of our love and respect. They can’t understand that a relationship can be as free and healthy as ours is. I pity those people.
“Good morning, husband to be,” I say as I step into his office.
He swivels in his chair, taking his eyes away from his computer monitors, and when they land on me, a wide, wolfish smile crosses his face. I hold my arms out and the skirt flares out as I give him a spin, showing off the new dress.
“Beautiful. Absolutely stunning,” he says. “Oh, and the dress is nice too.”
I laugh as I step over and perch on the corner of his desk and take his hand in mind. His eyes slide up my body and his green eyes glitter in that way that still makes my heart skip a beat all these months later. A ball of warmth flares in my belly and spreads through my body as I look at him. Our sex life is incredible. Usually at least once a day, sometimes—most of the time actually—more. And yet my thirst for him is never slaked. We spend so much time having sex and, in those times, when we’re not, I’m thinking about having sex with him. I never imagined I could be such a wanton, lust-filled creature. But I like it. I like it a lot.
“What can I do for you, my love?” he asks.
I give him a shrug. “I was just checking in on you.”
“I can see something is on your mind. What is it?”
A small smile touches my lips. Bastian, as always, can see right through me.
“I was just thinking about the party tonight,” I say. “I was just going to—”
“It’s already settled. We’ll be announcing our impending wedding.”
“But people can be so judgmental.”
He shrugs. “I don’t care what anybody thinks. All that matters to me is what you think,” he says. “And I will not continue hiding our love—hiding you—like I’m ashamed of you. Like you’re my dirty little secret. I’m done with that. Let people think what they want because I’m proud of our love. I’m proud of you. And it’s time the world gets to see that.”
My eyes well with tears and my lips quiver at his words. The love burning in my heart has never been brighter or hotter than it is right now. Bastian raises my hands to his lips and with a soft smile on his lips, he places a gentle kiss on my knuckles.
“Oh, I have something for you,” he says. “I had it made for you and thought you might wear it tonight. I think it would look wonderful with the gown you picked out.”
He pulls a long, black velvet case out of his desk drawer and hands it to me. My heart leaps into my throat and a smile crosses my face. Bastian is always doing thoughtful things like that for me. I take it from him and open it and squeal with delight.
“It’s beautiful, Bastian,” I say.
I take the black silk choker out of the case and admire the gold heart pendant that hangs from the silver curio that sits at the throat.
