Angelo reared back, his eyes widening in fear. “Y-Your eyes just glowed. What thefuck—”
“Hopefully, for your sake, that’s as close as you get to seeing my bear again,” Murphy threatened.
Colter sighed, pushing to his feet. “Well, I guess the douche can stay under house arrest in my cabin. I have an extra room.”
“You’d do that?” Nessa asked, perking up in her seat. “That’s really sweet of you, Colter. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said, sending her a soft smile. “I’m just hoping he tries to run.” He turned toward Angelo then. “You won’t make it far, and when I catch you, you’llreallywish I hadn’t.”
“Jesus Christ,” Angelo whispered faintly.
“Now that we’ve got that settled,” Murphy said, beyond exhausted. “Please take ourguestback to your place. And let me know if you run into any issues. We can figure everything else out in the morning.”
“Will do,” Colter answered.
He plucked Angelo up from his seat, steering him from the dining room and out of Murphy’s cabin.
Then it was just Nessa and Murphy, alone at last.
Unable to stand another second without her in his arms, Murphy picked Nessa up from the chair, carrying her toward his bedroom. “How are you holding up, sweetheart?”
Nessa shrugged. “I just want to shut my brain off until tomorrow. Can we take a bath and then go to bed?”
Murphy nodded. That sounded perfect.
Epilogue
One week later…
“Come on,” Nessa whined playfully, pouting when Murphy sighed. “You promised me, Murphy. Now get naked and let’s do this.”
She’d been thinking about this moment for days, and she knew, despite his hesitancy, Murphy was excited.
Now was the perfect time. The weather had finally started heating up. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and they had a few hours to kill before her first official family dinner was underway.
Nessa was anxious about tonight, but she knew with Hunny and Tabitha by her side, it would go off without a hitch.
There was the small issue of Angelo being present—it wasn’t fair to exclude Colter just because he’d agreed to jail her brother, so her brother had to tag along—but Nessa didn’t feel the same unease toward her brother as she had before.
Instead, she felt … an overall peace and acceptance of the past. And happiness toward the future without a dark cloud hanging over the emotion, just waiting to turn her joy into turmoil.
It was kind of funny how someone’s death could make her feel so hopeful.
She’d thought she’d be plagued with nightmares and trauma after Tony had kidnapped her. Instead, she’d slept more soundly than she had in years.
Then again, it was easy to sleep so contentedly when she was cradled in her mate’s arms every night.
Speaking of …
Nessa narrowed her eyes. “I’m serious, Murphy. Take your clothes off.”
Her mate chuckled. He tugged his sweater up and over his head, revealing his muscular chest and arms to her gaze. She drank him in, appreciating the view. Every inch of him was like a piece of art she could study for hours.
He’s so sexy.
Murphy tossed his shirt carelessly onto the grass before reaching for the button of his jeans. Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he slowly unbuttoned the denim, sliding the material down his hips and thighs, and then finally shoving them from his bare feet.
Her mouth watered, her core spasming as she took in her fill of him.
