Page 117 of Phoenix

Epilogue

Four Months Later

Nora

“Oh. My. God,” I groan against his hand as he thrusts into me from behind.

“Shh,” he whispers. “They’ll hear us.” He slides a hand over my mouth.

We are standing in a coat closet, his front to my back, while the New Year’s Eve party Grayson and Amelia are throwing at their home moves on without us. The hand not on my mouth is roaming my body, caressing my sides, legs, stomach, and the space between my thighs.

“I don’t care who hears us at this point, Case. Just fuck me,” I beg, planting my hands on the wall for support.

“Someone is eager,” he says, slowly pumping in and out, clearly teasing me.

“Someone hasn’t been touched by their boyfriend in four days—because he’s worked four overnights in a row—while she works during the day. Now remedy that and make me come.” I look over my shoulder at him with a smile. “Please.”

The last four months haven’t been as smooth as some love stories would like to make you think. The move from California to Georgia was stressful. Getting started at my new job at a pediatrician’s office was a challenge. Finding our routines around one another was taxing. Learning to get over each other’s flaws was work, but at the end of the day, we always curled up together in bed, knowing even with all the growing pains, we were exactly where we wanted to be.

“I suppose I can do that since you asked so nicely.” He begins to move at a deep, sharp, even pace.

We are both still half-dressed, him in gray button-down and jeans shoved to his thighs, and me with my jeans only on one leg, still in my heels, and my sequined tank top shoved down to expose my breasts for his taking.

I reach my hand around to grip the back of his head, digging my nails in to keep from screaming in pleasure, causing a sharp groan to vibrate against my ear from his lips.

Our breathy sighs begin to build with each push of his body into mine, and we hear the countdown to a new year happening right outside the door.

“Come with me into the new year, Phoenix. Literally.” I feel his lips turn up in a smile and I would laugh, but he hits that spot deep inside of me, so all I can do is cry out in pleasure.

“5...” he whispers.

“4...” I sigh.

“3...” he grunts.

“2...” I moan.

“1...” he growls and with a flick of his hips, my body detonates around him in a flutter of contractions.

“Happy New Year,” I moan as the sound behind the door muffles all noise we could be making. “Fuuuuck.”

Goosebumps erupt over my skin and tears form in the corners of my eyes. It’s all too much. It’s too many feelings at once. My heart can’t keep up with my mind and my body.

I can feel him still slowly pumping out his release before laying a kiss to my head and dropping his forehead on my shoulder.

“Christ, I’m going to marry you one day,” he says, so nonchalantly, like it wasn’t the most important sentence he’s ever said to me.

I freeze, turning me to head slightly to look at him. “What?”

“I’m going to marry you one day.” He gives me a soft peck on the lips and then leaves my body, readjusting his pants.

“That’s all you have to say? You’re not going to ask or anything?” I tease, righting my own clothes.

“Oh, you don’t have an option. My dog claimed you, so animal kingdom rules apply. You’re mine.” He helps me adjust my breasts back into my top.

“So essentially, you peed on me and that’s that?” I tip my head with a smile.

“I was going to go with a penguin that gives a stone to his lifelong mate, but...”

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