He laughed as she drew back and stared at him, like she was trying to memorize his face. “I rather like you in trousers, my dear.”
“I’ll wear them every day if it makes you happy after this. After I almost lost you,” she said.
As Richard returned to the room, Hux let out a shaky sigh. He set Zara down and she moved to Richard to kiss him. “I can’t believe that worked.”
“He seemed a reasonable man,” Richard said with a shrug. “And so I hoped reason…and a bit of a bribe…would satisfy him.”
“Will it satisfy Varrick?” Hux asked.
“Varrick is a fool,” Richard said. “But he’s a man intent on protecting his reputation. If the watch is back in his possession, I very much doubt he’ll want to revisit the matter. You are safe, Hux. You and Zara are free.”
Hux nodded. “Because of you.”
“And that means that future you promised to consider is right in front of you, my love,” Zara said, taking his hand, lifting it to her lips. “It’s right here.”
He bent his head. “Love is a risk,” he said softly.
“And you like risks.” Zara smiled.
“I meant a risk for you two. A risk to love me.”
Her expression relaxed and she cupped his cheeks. “You are the surest wager I ever made in my life, Huxley. Never a risk. Never.”
He looked at her, looked Richard beside her. He couldn’t help but picture a life with them. One of passion, yes, but also affection. Of friendship and love. Of learning each other, growing together. A life worth living. Worth risking for.
“I love you, Zara,” he whispered. Her smile faltered and tears filled her eyes at that confession. His too, if he were honest with himself. It felt good to say that to her. Right. “I have loved you for so long that I can’t imagine my life without you. How to unbind the parts of us that make us whole together.”
“Luckily you don’t have to know,” Zara said. “Because I love you too.”
Hux looked at Richard then, who was watching them with what seemed to be undiluted pleasure. “And as for you…” he said.
Richard nodded. “As for me.”
“The intensity of what I feel when I’m near you is…intoxicating, overpowering, shocking sometimes. And I've never experienced anything like it. I feel it grow with every moment we’re together. And I know that is love. Love that will blossom and grow with time together.”
“Yes,” Zara agreed. “It’s the same for me, Richard. I would not want to be without you. If you’ll have us.”
Richard laughed, his smile so bright and beautiful that it was almost blinding. And yet Hux stared straight into it because it was his. And hers. And theirs. “I would have you both. For the rest of my days. I would love you both and take care of you both. Joyfully.”
They moved together then, all at once until they were in each other’s arms. Holding each other, kissing each other, declaring with bodies what they had declared with their words and accepted with their hearts.
That love would win. Forever.
EPILOGUE
One year later
Zara
The ballroom was bustling as Zara moved through the crowd, smiling at people she vaguely knew, batting her eyes at gentlemen who would love to get closer. She wasn’t sure who her mark was tonight, but she did know, as she found Richard and Hux across the room, standing close together at the edge of the dancefloor, that whatever happened tonight, it would be enjoyable.
She stopped for a moment, just drinking in the sight of them together. Most people here wouldn’t notice the way they slightly leaned toward each other, wouldn’t recognize the adoration in Hux’s eyes when Richard smiled up at him. They hid in plain sight, something she and Hux had become well-versed at during their years as thieves. A game Richard played just as well now that they were all lovers and loves.
She adored their bond. Hers with both men and also theirs to each other. In the year since Richard had saved Hux and they had pledged themselves to each other, body and soul, Hux had become more open. Happier. She was, too. Being finally settled, complete, would do that to a woman.
As if he sensed her regard, Hux glanced across the room at her and arched a brow before he crooked his finger at his hip and secretly beckoned her to him. She went, as she would always go when he called. His little puppet very happily on his string until she took her dying breath.
As she reached them, she barely resisted the urge to kiss first one then the other. Not here. Not yet. “And here are the two most irresistible men in England,” she said with a smile for them. “Do you have something to tell me?”
