Page 35 of Hiss and Tell (Harmony Glen #2)
Eighteen Months Later
Sebastian
The sun is setting over the Aegean Sea, coloring both the sky and waves in shades of gold and rose that remind me of the magic we shared during our bonding ritual.
I’m stretched out on a lounge chair on our hotel’s private balcony in Santorini, watching Aspen emerge from our room wearing a flowing white sundress that makes her look like a Greek goddess.
“Any word from Thad and Sloane?” she asks, settling into the chair beside mine and immediately reaching for my hand. The casual intimacy of the gesture still makes my heart skip—after everything we’ve been through, being able to touch freely, without barriers or fears, feels like a daily miracle.
“Milo sent approximately seventeen photos of his adventures today.” I scroll through my phone with my free hand, showing her the pictures. “Museum of Science, ice cream for lunch, and apparently Uncle Thad taught him how to whistle using two fingers.”
“Of course he did.” Aspen laughs, her thumb tracing circles on my palm. “I’ll be amazed if Sloane survives a week of both of them.”
“She volunteered for this,” I remind her, lifting our joined hands to press a kiss to her knuckles. “Said something about ‘practice for when we have our own chaotic children.’”
Aspen’s expression grows soft and wondering. “It’s hard to believe how much has changed since last year. Thad went from commitment-phobic enforcer to engaged family man who babysits his nephew for a week so we can have a second honeymoon.”
I set down my phone and turn fully toward her, drinking in the sight of her relaxed and glowing in the Mediterranean light. “What’s your favorite change?”
“You mean besides the obvious?” She gestures between us, and I know she’s referring to the complete healing, the bond that lets us feel each other’s emotions, the way we can be intimate without any shadow of fear or shame.
“Besides the obvious.”
She considers this, absently playing with my fingers. “Watching you embrace your full power. Do you realize that three months ago, the mayor of Harmony Glen personally thanked you in the newspaper for ‘transforming children’s literacy across our entire library system’?”
“It wasn’t just me—”
“Sebastian.” She fixes me with that look that means she won’t tolerate self-deprecation.
“You went from working quietly behind the scenes to running programming for four libraries. You have seventeen families on a waiting list for your special storytime sessions. Mrs. Randall—Mrs. RANDALL—asked if you’d consider expanding the weekend programming schedule. ”
I can’t help but grin at that. “She did seem genuinely apologetic about her previous… opinions.”
“Because you proved that magic makes everything better, not more dangerous.” Aspen lifts my hand to her lips, pressing a soft kiss to my palm. “You’re changing minds and hearts every day.”
The gesture sends warmth spiraling through me, not just physical but emotional—the deep contentment that comes from being completely known and loved. “What about you? Aspenly Yours is booked solid through next spring.”
“Six corporate clients, two small businesses, and that nonprofit that wants me to organize their entire donor management system.” She shakes her head in amazement. “Remember when I was terrified I’d never find stable work?”
“I remember when you thought you had to do everything alone.”
“Turns out accepting help doesn’t make me weak—it makes me stronger.” She shifts in her chair to face me fully, her knees brushing mine. “Speaking of which, did you get confirmation about the December conference?”
“Boston Children’s Literature Association wants me to keynote their winter conference on ‘Magic in Modern Libraries.’” The pride in my voice surprises me. “They’re calling it ‘The Fangborn Method.’”
“The Fangborn Method!” Aspen practically bounces with excitement. “Sebastian, that’s incredible! You’re going to be famous!”
“Notorious, more likely.”
“Beloved,” she corrects, leaning forward to cup my face in her hands. “By children and families who feel safe and welcomed because of what you create.”
Her touch sends awareness dancing along my skin, and through our bond, I feel her own response to our closeness. Even after a year of marriage, the attraction between us burns as bright as ever—maybe brighter, because now it’s completely free.
“Should we order dinner up here?” I suggest, my voice dropping to that intimate register that always makes her pupils dilate.
“Mmm.” Her hands slide down to rest on my chest. “We could. Or we could watch the sunset first and appreciate how perfect this moment is.”
She’s right. The view is spectacular—white buildings cascading down cliff sides toward an impossibly blue sea; the sky turning deeper shades of pink and orange with each passing minute. But I find myself watching her instead, the way the light catches in her hair, the contentment in her expression.
“What are you thinking about?” she asks, settling back against her chair but keeping our hands linked.
“Just… all of it. A little more than a year and a half ago, I was terrified to tell you about the healing ritual. I was sure you’d think I was trying to fix something that wasn’t broken.”
“And now?”
“Now I understand it was never about fixing either of us. It was about choosing to be whole together.” I bring her hand to my chest, over my heart. “Do you ever regret it? The bond, the permanent connection?”
Her answer comes without hesitation. “Never. Do you know what I was thinking about while I was getting dressed?”
I shake my head.
“How earlier, when you were napping, I could feel your contentment through our connection. How peaceful and happy you were, even in sleep. And I realized that I get to feel that every day—your joy when Milo calls you Poppa, your satisfaction when a library program succeeds, your absolute certainty about our love.”
My throat tightens with emotion. “And I get to feel your fierce pride when you land a new client, your determination when you’re solving problems, the way you light up from the inside when Milo laughs.”
“It’s better than anything I imagined.” She squeezes my hand. “Though I have to admit, I never expected the… enhanced benefits.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Enhanced benefits?”
“Sebastian Fangborn, you know exactly what I mean.” Her voice drops to a teasing whisper. “The way our bond amplifies everything. Every touch, every sensation…”
Heat flares between us, immediate and hungry. The healing ritual didn’t just cure her—it created a connection that makes our physical relationship incredibly intense. Every caress carries emotional resonance, every moment of intimacy strengthened by our magical bond.
“We should definitely order room service,” I murmur, already imagining carrying her inside.
“After the sunset,” she insists, but her breathing has changed, and I can feel her own desire building through our connection.
We settle back to watch the sun sink toward the horizon, but the awareness between us continues to build. Her fingers trace patterns on my arm, and I respond by stroking my thumb along her wrist, right over her pulse point.
“You know,” she says conversationally, “I keep thinking about our wedding.”
“What about it?”
“How perfect it was. The conservation area, all our chosen family there, Milo so serious about his ring bearer duties.” She pauses. “But mostly I think about our wedding night.”
The memory sends liquid fire racing through my veins as my cock hardens. Our wedding night, the first time we made love as a married couple, with our bond fully settled and no barriers between us at all.
“Best night of my life,” I admit.
“Mine too. But Sebastian?”
“Yes?”
“I think tonight might be even better.”
The sun finally disappears below the horizon, leaving us in the soft twilight of the Greek islands. I stand and extend my hand to her.
“Room service?” I ask.
“Later,” she breathes, taking my hand and letting me pull her to her feet. “Much later.”
As I sweep her into my arms and carry her toward our bedroom, she laughs with pure joy, the sound carrying across the water like music. Through our bond, I feel her complete happiness, her absolute certainty about our love, her anticipation for whatever comes next.
Some love stories end with happily ever after.
Ours just keeps getting better.