Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 41664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Her hand came up to cup my jaw, her lips curved up softly. “Always, Jaxton. Always.”
I kissed her again, slow this time, and eased us onto our sides, still buried deep inside her, the vest framing her body like a vow. My arms locked around her, my cock throbbing inside her even as the aftershocks faded.
And for the first time in years—maybe in my life—I felt peace.
EPILOGUE
LARK
The mirror blurred when I blinked too hard, but it wasn’t nerves that made my vision go hazy. Alanna laughed softly as she adjusted the veil on my hair, her hands steady where mine weren’t.
“You look beautiful.” She grinned before adding, “My brother is going to lose what little composure he pretends to have around you.”
“Good.” My voice wobbled, and I pressed a palm to my belly, willing myself to breathe.
I’d spent two years living under names that didn’t belong to me. But today I was going to become Lark Bishop.
And in eight months, there was going to be another little Bishop running around. Nobody knew yet except for Jaxton and me. We planned to share the good news at our reception tonight.
The doors at the back of the hall cracked open, letting in a wash of sunlight. My father stepped inside, dapper in a dark suit, his proud smile edged with tears he wasn’t trying to hide. The only other time I remembered seeing him cry was when we FaceTimed before Jaxton and I celebrated me leaving WITSEC.
When my parents found out that he had protected me and made sure that it was safe for me to finally reach out to them, he’d earned their undying gratitude. And their unconditional love.
My throat closed as my dad offered me his arm. “Ready, sweetheart?”
I nodded. My heart felt like it was caught in my ribs, too full to beat properly as we left the room where I’d gotten ready with Alanna.
She led the way, and when the music swelled, we stepped forward.
Every face blurred until my gaze locked on Jaxton. He stood at the end of the aisle, black cut over a dark shirt, his broad shoulders squared and his jaw tight. The love shining from his eyes stole the air from my lungs.
Tears stung as my father pressed a kiss to my temple and placed my hand in Jaxton’s. His grip was firm and steady, grounding me like it always did.
“You’re mine,” he murmured low, just for me.
“Always,” I whispered back.
Kane officiated—he’d gotten certified online when Edge married Callie—his deep voice carrying easily through the room.
“I’m not the poetic type,” he began dryly, earning a ripple of laughter. “But when a man finds the one person who steadies him and drives him crazy in equal measure, he doesn’t let go. Jax knows that. Lark knows that. That’s why we’re here.”
The vows weren’t long. They didn’t need to be.
“I never thought I’d ever want anyone like this,” Jaxton murmured, blunt as always, but the rasp in his tone cut straight through me. “Then I found you. Now I can’t picture my life without you. You’re mine, Lark. Always.”
My hands trembled as I spoke, but my voice didn’t break. “Home will never be just a place for me—it’s you. You’re my choice. My forever.”
Kane smirked faintly. “Rings.”
Alanna and Drift pressed them into our palms. The cool band slid onto my finger, followed by the warmth of Jaxton’s hand closing around mine. When Kane gave the nod, Jaxton didn’t hesitate—his mouth claimed mine in a kiss that made the whole room cheer.
When Kane declared us man and wife, there was applause and laughter. He clapped his hand on Jaxton’s back as we turned to face the crowd. My mother dabbed at her eyes in the front row, smiling so brightly I couldn’t stop smiling back.
We hosted the reception at the compound. The smell of barbecue drifting in from outside, music thumping through the speakers, Kylan and Mylo toddling between legs with sticky fingers and wide grins. Savannah laughed until she cried at a story my mom told her. Callie sniffled into a tissue when Edge kissed the side of her head. Everywhere I looked, there was love and loyalty stitched together in a way that felt unbreakable.
And then I caught sight of something surprising from across the room. Alanna was laughing at something Drift said. He leaned down, murmured something against her ear, and the heat that flared in her cheeks had me biting back a grin. Drift didn’t look away, either. His eyes were locked on her like he’d already decided she was his next mission.
Interesting.
Jaxton’s arm banded around my waist from behind, his mouth brushing the shell of my ear. “What are you smiling at, baby?”
“Nothing.” I turned in his arms and kissed him again, just because I could. He was mine now in every way that mattered.