And I do. Shattering around him as he groans, and tips his head back, and I feel him pulsing inside me. His head comes down and his eyes meet mine. He brushes his mouth against my cheek, still breathing hard, looking at me—open, hopeful—like I’m the only person left in the world. Maybe I am.
Epilogue
Sadie - Three Months Later
“Look at you!” Des says, appearing suddenly by my desk, and my head snaps around to take in his grinning face. “Shorter hair and everything,” he adds.
“Des! You’re back!”
“Just landed. It’s going to be a ten-day whirlwind! Are you ready?”
I stand up and step forward and pull him into a hug. I feel like I owe him so much: this job, the apartment, the way he persuaded me into looking after James when we were both struggling. I owe him our whole relationship. I’ll always be quiet, but now I’m quietly confident. James is sodedicated… and work … the whole thing is so goddamn good.
He tips back and his eyes roam over my face. “We’re into hugging now, I see.”
I feel my face heat. Blushing is one thing that hasn’t changed. “Only with special people,” I say, and he laughs.
“I deeply approve of the hugging,” he whispers, leaning forward. “And I love the hair.”
I run my hand over my sleek bob. “James didn’t speak to me for a whole day.”
Des’s eyes go theatrically wide. “Really? The rat.” He leans back. “You look beautiful.”
I grin. “Thank you.”
James looms behind Des, a smile twisting his lips. “Did I see you making a move on my woman, Des?”
Des spins on his heel and circles his finger around James’s face. “Is this the new, possessive James Royce I’ve heard so much about?” He winks at me. “I hear you don’t like Sadie’s hair.”
James’s eyes go wide. “That’s not true at all!” His eyes go soft as they meet mine. “She’d look beautiful if she had no hair at all.”
Des lets out a snort. “You have such a way with words, Jimmy-boy. Remind me not to put you in charge of our marketing communications.” He hums. “Oh shit, I think we already have.”
I tilt my head. “You weren’t exactly overenthusiastic,” I say.
He holds up his hands. “It took me a while to get used to it and I was a bit grumpy, because I loved your long hair.” His eyes roam over my head. “But I like this, too.”
Des claps his hands. “Enough bickering, you two.” He leans forward. “I think I’m in love!”
“What?” James says.
“When I dropped my bags off, I was greeted by a very cute black cat.” He winks at me.
Des and Alex are staying with us while he’s here and my mom’s gone to Aunt CeCe’s. There was no stopping her once she knew Des was coming back for a few days, saying she was just going to disappear if we didn’t use her bedroom. James has finally persuaded her to do some admin jobs for the company by bringing them home and asking her opinion, so now she’s now doing ten hours a week for Williams Security. She keeps refusing to take a full-time role, but I know he’ll persuade her eventually.
“He had lots of cuddles and purred in my ear and then got in the shower with me!”
“No he didn’t,” I say at the same time as James’s says, “He didwhat?”
“Not right under the water but he was next to it getting sprayed. He got pretty wet. He kept shaking his head like it was getting in his ears. I had to dry him with a hairdryer. Hereallyloved that.”
I roll my lips together as James’s eyes dance. Perhaps Mr. Karen is just athrill seeker? I guess being stuck in an apartment must be pretty boring for a cat. He’s been quite disgusted with the battery toys we’ve bought him.
“Fuck, he’s a nut,” James says.
Des punches his arm. “All the best people are nuts, James, as you well know.”
My eyes meet James’s, and I know we’re both thinking the same thing.Jane.
