Page 156 of Sunrise

Vault arches his brow. “Pizza?”

“What? I told you I wasn’t cooking!”

Sophie lifts the lid and inhales. “Mmm, that smells good.”

We inhale the whole thing as if we haven’t seen food in days. Popping the top off three cold beers, we raise them up.

“To Sunrise,” Sophie announces.

“To Sunrise,” Vault and I echo.

It will always chase away the darkest night because it has no choice. That’s its nature. Its reason for existing. To keep life going for another day. It’s not something you see, it’s something youare. For yourself… and for those you love.

After we finish lunch, I look around. “What time is it?”

Vault huffs. “You’ve got a watch.”

“It’s broken. Which you very well know since you gave it to me.”

“Well, you’re the one who broke it by stomping on it.”

Sophie laughs at us and I’m now three-for-oh and feeling like a fucking king. Her giggles are such a drug. I’m addicted, guys. Surprise, surprise.

“It’s two-thirty,” he says, glancing at his cell. “Why?”

“I was just curious.”

“You got a hot date?” Sophie teases me.

“As a matter of fact, I do. Withyou.” I poke her arm. “But that’s not why I want to know the time.”

Her brow pinches together in confusion.

“I like to know the exact moment when my life is perfect. Today, it’s at two-thirty.”

Sophie rests her chin on her hand and looks at me all dreamy eyed. “Do you record all the perfect moments in your life, pup?”

“Just the ones that feel like a happily ever after.”

And as far as this one goes, it’s just as legendary as I knew it would be.

Epilogue

Three months later…

Sophie

“Good evening, Mr. Hudson.”

“Evening, Mistress.”

Ryker and I pass each other in the hall, both of us walking like we own the place.

He’s given me more of the club’s profit in exchange for me running Domme classes to empower other women. I also agreed to handle inventory, hiring, and daily housekeeping checks, which is what I’ve been doing for years anyway, because I like it.

My paycheck is double what it used to be, and what it used to be was huge.

Carrying a whiteboard through the Monarch, I hold my head high and saunter my sweet ass past every drooling, panting member until I reach my destination.

---