Page 117 of Ascension

“You took a lot tonight,” she said, her tone rich with pride. “Let me take care of you now.”

I closed my eyes, melting under her touch. She moved down my back, then my thighs, even the backs of my knees. Every stroke was laced with care. Every breath between us was trust.

“You’re not just ours in the heat of play,” Amiyah murmured, curling beside me again. “You’re ours in the quiet, too.”

Wrapped in warmth, balm sinking into my skin, breath synced to theirs, I knew the truth of it.

This was more than play.

This was love.

EPILOGUE

The sunlight poured through the tall studio windows, soft and golden, wrapping everything in warmth. I stood still for a moment, one hand on my belly, the other brushing along the flowers stitched into my gown.

My mind wandered easily, drifting back to Curaçao.

Back to the baby moon, the collaring ceremony, the ocean, and the way love had poured over me like sunlight.

Back to the taste of Calla’s kiss, the sound of James' laughter, the way the three of us had fit together in rhythm and breath, as if we had been made to find one another.

That trip had been more than a getaway; it was a rebirth.

Every sunset, every shared meal, every quiet moment of laughter reminded me that healing did not come through perfection; it came through presence.

“Amiyah,” James' deep voice broke through my thoughts, his tone both gentle and amused.

I turned to find him watching me with that same quiet adoration that still made me shy sometimes. “Hmm?”

He smiled, the corners of his mouth curving just enough to make my heart ache. “Where’s that beautiful mind of yours?”

I laughed softly. “Just thinking about how good it feels to be loved back to life.”

He crossed the space between us in slow, sure steps. His fingers brushed my chin, tilting it upward, and then he kissed me, careful not to smudge my makeup or crush my curls. When he pulled away, his eyes swept over me.

“You look stunning,” he said, his voice full of awe.

I smiled, my heart full and trembling. “This journey with you and Calla has shown me how real God is. He knew what I needed was bigger than what I thought I wanted.”

He smiled, his thumb tracing along my jaw. “And He gave you us.”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “He did.”

The gown I wore shimmered under the light, a strapless ivory mermaid design with a tulle skirt made of soft flowers. My feet were bare, reminding me that beauty and strength could live side by side.

I waddled toward the set where Calla and James waited.

Calla’s face lit up the instant she saw me. “You are glowing, my love,” she said, laughing softly as she moved toward me. Her hand slipped gently over my belly, her thumb tracing slow circles. “Our little bean is going strong in there, huh?”

“That’s an understatement,” I said with a grin. “Got a mean kick, too.”

James chuckled, his deep laugh rumbling through the room. He looked incredible in his ivory slacks and matching shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, his hair freshly cut, and his beard perfectly trimmed.

And Calla…

Calla was the embodiment of confidence and grace. Her ivory three-piece suit fit her like a dream, the top buttons of her silk shirt undone just enough to remind me of how effortlessly sensual she was.

The set was breathtaking, flowers in a variety of shades, accented in gold, framing every angle. It looked like something from a dream, full of life and light.