Page 11 of Haunted By the Highwayman (Halloween Temptation #9)

Epilogue

S IX MONTHS LATER

My face is pressed into the pine of the kitchen table. Rick is bent over me, half on top of me, his hot bare skin all over mine, and I’m writhing in agonized ecstasy as he takes me hard.

“Look at us,” he says into my ear. “Going at it like animals in the kitchen.”

I love it when he talks dirty. I shiver as he sucks my earlobe, then licks all the way down my jaw, a hot wet slick of pure lust. He hits my prostate again and again until I’m squirming and moaning and pressing my face into the hard kitchen table like a shameless slut.

“Should I let you come?” he says. “I drew the fuck card so I guess it’s up to me.”

Yep, we’re still playing the dare game after six months and still loving it. But our relationship is so much deeper than that now. We share real dates, weekend trips, walks on the beach… all the Hallmark stuff. Cuddling on the sofa watching TV. It’s bliss.

“It’s up to you,” I whisper, knowing that he loves to be in control. As much as he loves crawling for me.

“Maybe I won’t,” he says. “After all, the highwayman isn’t here to save you now.”

“Please?” I say, barely above a breath.

He kisses the back of my neck. After a moment, his hand slinks around me and takes my throbbing dick and then I’m soaring right here in our dingy kitchen. I feel Rick’s devotion in every touch. I feel his own convulsions, and the wetness deep inside me as he joins me in ecstasy.

Sliding his dick out of me, he looks at me and smiles.

“I love you, Arden,” he says.

“I love you too.”

Like every time we say those words, we stare at each other with goofy grins for a few moments. Just drinking it in. I savor Rick’s flushed, satisfied smile, the tenderness in his eyes. I’m never going to get tired of this. The last six months have been perfect.

The only flaw in my happiness is the fact that I haven’t seen Jack at all. I’ve looked out for him in the bathroom mirror, but nothing. It seems cruel to be so happy while I have no idea if he’s still lonely. I wish I knew if he ever found the courage to try to find Robert.

“Do you want to draw another card?” Rick says.

I fan my face dramatically. “Too exhausted.”

His face takes on a sly grin. Just like he used to look when he pulled a prank on me. I’m surprised to see it; true to his word, he hasn’t pranked me once since his promise at Gossmer Hall.

“I think you’ll want to see this one,” he says.

Curious, I reach out and take a card. This one is handwritten. Rick’s handwriting.

“ MARRY ME ?” the card says.

My chest gets tight. The height of emotion turns to almost panic. I’ve never been so happy. It scares me.

“What?” Rick says, looking equally panicked. “Are you saying no? Please tell me you’re not saying no.”

“It’s yes. Yes,” I squeak out.

He crushes me in his arms, laughing with pure relief and joy.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have done that right after you fucked my brains out,” I say. “I was already exhausted. You almost gave me a heart attack.”

“And I should’ve gotten down on one knee, too,” he says, looking mad at himself. He drops to the floor and holds up his empty hands like he’s displaying something. “Imagine I have a ring here. We’ll pick one together. I didn’t want to get something you wouldn’t like.”

I laugh, overcome with love for him. His strength, his goofiness, his charm, his vulnerability… all of him.

“Oh Rick, stand up.” I pull him up and into my chest, our naked skin hot and sweaty as we cling to each other. “It’s the perfect proposal. It’s just so… you.” I kiss his collarbone and peek up at him. “Why are you so fucking amazing?”

I shake my head, overcome. But he looks unsure. He’s even frowning a little. Am I worshipping too openly? It doesn’t usually bother him. And he worships me plenty, too.

Then he says, “Speaking of how amazing I supposedly am, hold that thought for a minute. I have a small confession to make.”

“Oh?”

“Those dare cards you found in the cupboard all those months ago?” he says in a guilty rush.

“Yeah?”

“I may have planted them there.”

“Why? For a prank?”

“No. Because I was too shy to ask you out.” He gives me a sheepish grin. “You know, be serious like a rational adult. So I figured we could start small with dares.”

I smack his arm, not mad at all. More like thrilled that he cared long before I realized, and even had a plan to win me.

“Rick, that’s so sneaky,” I scold, insincerely.

He looks pleased with himself. “Thanks. I’m not just a pretty face.”

“Apparently not.”

I need a moment to gather myself. Because now I’m crying with joy, that I’m engaged to this ridiculous, dopey, loving, amazing man. My life will never be dull.

I go into the bathroom and clean up after our lovemaking.

Then I pull on a bathrobe and look in the mirror at my blotchy, tear-stained face.

Trust me to look like I’ve been stung with poison ivy on the night of my proposal.

As I look into the glass, two figures materialize.

I jump, but soon realize what’s happening.

It’s Jack. Beside him stands a stout blond man, slightly taller than him, also dressed in 18 th century style. Robert ?

“You found him?” I whisper, stunned.

They both smile at me, but neither speaks.

Robert has a beautiful smile, more open and less guarded than Jack’s.

He takes Jack’s hand. And then they both raise their other hand in hello, or perhaps farewell.

As I watch, they fade away until I see nothing in the mirror but the reflection of my own bathroom.

Jack found him. He finally found the courage. And he wanted to let me know on the night of my engagement. A feeling of peace steals over me as I go back out to the kitchen to Rick. To the rest of my life.

THE END

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