EPILOGUE
TWO MONTHS LATER
BISHOP
The party storms below me.
A swirl of color, laughter, and music.
From my hawk’s eye view up in the old choir loft of the Marigny Opera House, I can see absolutely everything.
The couple examining the silent auction items and placing bids…
The mayor and his wife chatting with Savage and Gabe near the stage…
The rest of the family spread out at various tables and chatting up other invitees at the biggest fundraiser of the year…
It all feels so familiar, so normal.
Not at all what we should be doing right now.
But of course, my suggestion that we postpone was dismissed without even having to take a vote.
I would have lost anyway.
Tonight is too important to the Hawke Foundation and all of us. This one night will raise enough money to fund not only the free medical clinic, but also dozens of other community outreach projects we always have in the works.
They wouldn’t have cancelled it for anything short of another Category 5 hurricane, and even then, I’m not so sure.
Everyone is enjoying themselves, busy playing their roles, which means I’m not partaking in the festivities.
I’m working.
“I have to say, Hellcat…”—Gage’s voice floats over to me above the din from below, and I glance behind me to the top of the staircase where he leans, his heated gaze raking over me—“I like when you get dressed up for these things.”
I push up from where I was leaning against the railing and turn to face him, and his eyes skim from the coiled twist of my braids at the back of my head, down over the black pant suit that fits me like a glove, lingering on the deep V of nude skin the jacket shows off.
“You’re not disappointed I’m not wearing a gown like everyone else?”
He smirks as he pushes off the wall and makes his way over to me, looking positively sinful in his tux. When he reaches me, he bites his bottom lip in a way that makes my insides go molten. “Hellcat, you could never disappoint me.”
Damn him.
If he keeps saying things like that to me, I might actually wish I weren’t working tonight.
He tugs me into his arms and kisses me deeply, a little groan falling from his lips as he presses his growing cock against me. “What are the chances we could have a quickie up here before anyone notices?”
I grin against his lips. “Pretty slim, considering I’ve never known you to be particularly quick.”
He chuckles and nips at my bottom lip. “I’m going to take that as a tremendous compliment instead of a rejection.”
“You should.”
Our kiss lasts longer than it should, his mouth moving over mine greedily, as if he hasn’t tasted me in years when it’s only been a few hours since we left the condo to come here.
When we finally come up for air, he rests his forehead against mine for a moment before taking an exaggerated breath and retreating a step. “So, how’s everything going?”
I sigh and take up a spot next to him at the railing. “As well as can be expected, I guess.”
