Page 97 of Rebound

I feel exactly the same. Together, we dance in the middle of the room, surrounded by the energetic joy of youth. Surrounded by life and love.

We are in each other’s arms, exactly where we belong.

Epilogue

AMBER—SPRING

The warm waves of the Mediterranean Sea wash against my legs, and my toes sink deeper into the sand. I sigh and look up at the perfect blue sky above me. Not a cloud in sight, only the gentle heat of the early evening sun.

This place is perfect—almost. I smile as I hear him behind me, splashing through the shallow water. Now it’s perfect. He slides his hands around my waist, holding me tight against him. His firm chest, those terrific thighs… The familiar and always-welcome touch of his hard cock. He’s not wearing trunks, which I suppose is fine as this is our private beach. I lean back into him, loving the heat of both the weather and my husband. My brand-new but also pre-loved husband. The only man I have ever truly loved.

“Are you happy, mi amor?” he asks, kissing my shoulder. We’re here on our honeymoon on the coast of Spain, close to his mother’s hometown of Valencia. This is the place the James brothers used to come on vacation as kids, and it holds precious memories for him. I resisted coming here before, but now, I’m at peace. I’m at peace with what happened with his mom, and I’m at peace with his brothers. The past remains there where it belongs, and our focus is locked on the future we are building. This man is one hundred percent mine, just as I am undeniably his, and nothing and nobody will get in our way because we have learned from our past mistakes.

“So happy,” I reply. “The happiest I’ve ever been. Thank you for bringing me here. It truly is a special place.”

I feel him smile against my skin. “It always felt magical when I was a kid. Thank you for agreeing to this, Mrs. James.”

“There’s no need to thank me. It’s beautiful, Mr. James. The perfect spot for us to celebrate our fresh start.”

Elijah and I remarried quickly. It was a small affair in his family home, attended by only his family plus Granny Lucille and Vivienne. I didn’t invite my parents, because they would have brought toxic energy with them.

I was worried that the same might be true for Nathan and Mason, but they were both on their best behavior. I even got a hug from each of them. We’ll probably never be best friends, but we don’t need to be—we just need to let things rest. We all love Elijah, and for his sake, we’re capable of calling a truce.

I know Elijah loved it—especially the small party afterward, with all his loved ones in the same place for the first time in so many years. Luz cooked a feast for us, and a few friends joined us later—including Martha.

As I predicted, Elijah was more than happy to help her out. I haven’t asked too many questions, but Martha seems happy with the divorce settlement that freed her from Freddie’s control. And a funny thing happened not long after she was secure and set up—a large quantity of cocaine was discovered in Freddie’s car. He swears up and down it wasn’t his, and from the smirk on Elijah’s face when the news broke, I suspect he was telling the truth. But it’s no more than the slimy turd deserved.

After the wedding party, we went back to the little house in Brooklyn, and Elijah carried me over the threshold. It was corny but sweet, and I couldn’t have been happier. The Manhattan mansion will never be right for us, not after everything that happened there. We’ve talked about finding something new, but neither of us is any hurry to leave the house that ushered us into this new chapter.

And now, we’re here in the beautiful Spanish sunshine after a day filled with fine food, swimming, and simply enjoying each other’s company. Plus the sex. Oh my. There has been so much sex. It feels like we’ve only just discovered it despite the two plus decades that have passed since we first made love.

His big hands roam my body, and I gasp as he slides them under my bikini top. His fingers play with my nipples, and the kisses on my neck drive me crazy.

“We haven’t made love in the sea yet,” he murmurs, pressing his rock-hard length into me.

I giggle. “I think that’s probably the only place we haven’t.”

He hums his agreement, his lips never leaving my skin. “The balcony. The kitchen island. The sofa. The shower. The Jacuzzi tub. On the sand.” He presses a kiss on my neck after each place he lists. “But not the sea.”

“Well, maybe now’s the time for that. Unless you’re too tired?”

He spins me around and rapidly hoists my legs up and around his waist. “Tired? I’ll show you tired, you cheeky minx.”

I laugh and hold onto his shoulders, loving the way the droplets of salty water glisten on his muscular body. I lean down to kiss him, and he shoves aside the flimsy fabric of my bikini panties. One finger slips inside me, and his thumb is on my clit. He knows exactly how to work my body. He knows all my secrets. But I know his as well. I reach between us and grip the thick base of his shaft. “I want you inside me.”

He twists his finger. “I am inside you, mi amor.” Despite his teasing, he knows exactly what I want, and a few seconds later, he’s sliding me onto his thick cock, filling me so completely that I call out his name. Before long, we’re both crying out in pleasure, the waves gently lapping around us. He buries his head against my neck, and I hold him there. A perfect moment, frozen in time.

“I love you so much,” he murmurs. “Can we stay here forever?”

“No. But we’ll be together forever, and that’s even better.”

We stay entwined and watch the spectacular sunset turn the sky pink. It’s breathtaking. But as long as I’m with Elijah, it doesn’t matter where we are. Brooklyn, Queens, Timbuktu.

Wherever we are, that is home.

Epilogue Two

ELIJAH—DECEMBER

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