The elevator doors slid open, and Acheron was already there.

Oh.

For several moments all she could do was stare—-

"Are you just going to stand there like an idiot?"

The familiar words made her laugh even as her eyes stung. With her heart on her sleeve, she gazed up at him, a smile wobbling to her lips as she murmured, "I'm sorry for the unseemly reaction, Mr. Simonides."

The words were more than he had allowed himself to hope, and hearing them made Acheron drew his breath sharply. If she had wanted to, she could have made him bleed first, and she would have had every right to do so.

But she hadn't.

Because she loved him.

Even after having a taste of what kind of hardships she'd face just for choosing to be with him - she loved him still.

She loved him.

Acheron slowly went down on one knee. "Take this one last risk with me, and I promise to dedicate the rest of my life to bringing you happiness. Will you marry me, Pippilotta Jones?"

––––––––

HE COMES FORWARD. TAKEthis one last risk with me, and i promise I'll dedicate the rest of my life to making you happy. He goes down on one knee. Will you marry me, Pippilotta Jones?










Epilogue

IT WAS A CHARMINGLYsimple wedding, with only the closest friends of the bride and groom in attendance - along with almost every family making up the local population. Damen Leventis stood as Acheron's best man and his daughter Nala made the loveliest flower girl as she walked down the aisle and tossed out rose petals from her tiny basket.

The luncheon that followed was decidedly rustic, with picnic tables spread out by the beach and the food consisting of homemade dishes instead of catered gourmet treats. It was not how most people would imagine a billionaire's wedding to be, but for Acheron and Pippi it was perfect.

And besides, getting married was wonderful and all, but what they were really looking forward to was what happenedafterwards.

"I'm so damn hungry for you, Mrs. Simonides."

"So am I." Her smile was an enthralling mixture of shyness and mischief, something that only Pippi could do, andTheo,how it turned him on.