Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 29744 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29744 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
I learned to let go.
"What did you decide, songbird?" I ask, brushing my nose along her crown, breathing her in. I don't think I'll ever stop breathing her in or touching her, just to remind myself that she's still here and that she's safe. Christ, she's safe. Her mother saved her life.
She isn't going to face charges for killing Brother Gibbs, at least Anderson doesn't think so. His fingerprints were on the last letter. Anderson was working on getting an arrest warrant when Riley called him today. He's furious that his unmarked lost track of the bastard and allowed him to get so close to Winter. I am too. But what's done is done. He's not breathing now. He'll never threaten her or anyone else ever again.
I don't know if he truly intended to harm her. I don't want to know. It'll just drive me fucking crazy to know what he planned. So I'm just thanking God that the motherfucker can never hurt or threaten her or anyone else again. She's free, and so is everyone else he's ever hurt.
Her relationship with her mom is fragile, but I think they just might survive. Her mother made shit choices—there's no disputing that—but she loves Winter. Enough to kill to protect her. That's a pretty powerful indicator of just how deep her love runs. It gives me hope that their relationship can be mended.
"Fashion is far too exciting for me," Winter mumbles around a yawn. "From now on, I'm sticking to music."
My lips curve into a smile. "Good plan. I don't think I can handle another fucking day like today, songbird. It shaved years off my life."
"Aww, poor soldier" she croons, instantly solicitous as one hand skates down my body. Her lips land against my throat, gliding up toward my ear. "Maybe I should make it up to you."
"Fuck," I groan, arching into her touch when she wraps her hand around my cock through my jeans. "You keep touching me like that, I'm going to be fucking you on the couch, songbird."
"Oh, you mean this?" She squeezes me, nipping my ear at the same time.
I growl, flipping her over beneath me. She lands on her back, her legs wrapped around my waist, smiling up at me like I hung the moon. Fuck, she's beautiful.
"Hi, handsome."
"Marry me," I breathe.
She blinks those amber eyes at me. "What?"
"Marry me, songbird. Let me put my ring on your finger and spend the rest of my life guarding your back," I murmur, brushing hair out of her face. "Let me spend the rest of my life adoring you."
"Yes."
"I wasn't finished."
"You don't have to finish. My answer is yes, Ronan. In this life and every other, it's yes."
"Jesus," I growl, claiming her mouth in a searing kiss. I pour everything into it—my heart, soul, and devotion. She mewls beneath me, clinging to my shoulders as she kisses me back with just as much passion, just as much need. "I love you, songbird."
"Good because you're stuck with me," she whispers against my lips as I drag her shirt up, eager to get her skin to skin. "I won't ever want this to end."
"Then it never will."
"I like this plan," she breathes, happiness shining in her eyes. "I just have one question."
"What?"
"Can I please have a phone again now?"
I lay my forehead against her chest, laughing quietly. "Fuck. I guess so."
Epilogue
Winter
Five Years Later
"Stop texting my wife," Ronan growls at Memphis, glaring at him across the aisle of the tour bus. "She's sitting right here, jackass."
"I know." Memphis smirks. "But watching that muscle in your jaw tick every time her phone dings is more fun for me."
I sigh, shaking my head as my phone dings again.
Ronan grabs it from the bench seat beside me and types out a response to Memphis before hitting send. Memphis's phone dings a second later and my drummer cracks up.
"Asshole," he mutters without heat.
Ronan just smirks and slides my phone into his pocket.
I swear, the two of them never change. It's been five years and Ronan is still as possessive as ever. Memphis thinks it's hilarious, so he goes out of his way to annoy my husband. Ronan doesn't really mind. He and Memphis are actually really good friends now, but they love to pick at each other, especially when it comes to me.
"If you two don't behave, I'm telling Riley," I say.
Their smiles slide from their faces.
"Don't do that," Memphis complains. "She's evil."
"Memphis!" his wife says, smacking him on the arm. "Riley is not evil."
"Not to you. She loves you," he mutters. "It's the rest of us she terrorizes."
"If you guys knew how to behave, she wouldn't have to terrorize you," I remind him, not in the least sympathetic. Riley only terrorizes them because they cause trouble. They aren't nearly as bad as Kasen and Bentley, but they aren't exactly Boy Scouts, either. Especially Memphis.