Page 136 of The Ecstasy of Sin

Now I’m here: loved, healing, and learning to love myself too.

A tear slips free, trailing down my cheek. Dominic releases my throat to catch it with his thumb, brushing it away. “Bodies are just vessels, Wren. Beauty changes. But what’s inside—your soft, empathetic heart—that stays.”

“You're a poet, Dominic.”

“And a serial killer,” he reminds me, his voice dropping as his mouth hovers over mine.

My breath catches, and our lips brush against one another.

“I’ll love your body with every inch of mine until my last breath, no matter what you look like.” Then he kisses me. Slow, deep, and consuming, his tongue sweeping over mine, pouring his obsession, and his promise, into every breath we share.

I climb into his lap, cradled in his arms as he devours me.

When he finally pulls away, I offer him a genuine smile. “I love you.”

“I love you too, little lamb.”

He leans in again, but freezes as the front door bursts open.

Voices erupt from inside, and then Ryker barrels out, flying down the front steps in nothing but sweatpants. His mouth is full of what looks suspiciously like Mrs. Caldwell’s fresh baking.

We both sit up, Dominic’s arms tightening around me.

“What the fuck is happening now,” he groans.

Ghost comes running out behind Ryker, his face twisted in fury. “You motherfucker!”

Ryker is howling with laughter while jumping down the steps like his life depends on it, hitting the driveway at full speed, and judging by the look on Ghost’s face, his life is definitely at stake.

“It was just a kiss!” Ryker hollers, nearly face-planting as he stumbles, then recovers and takes off across the lawn.

I can’t help it, I start laughing, the sound spilling out uncontrollably as Ghost lunges after him. My laughter only gets louder when Hunter joins the chaos, barking and hopping around like this is the best game in the whole world.

“Get ‘em, Hunter! Bite Warrick! Protect me!”

Dominic drops his head to my shoulder with a sigh, but there’s a smile tugging at his lips. “I love the sound of your laugh… even if it’s because of these idiots.”

Ryker keeps dodging Ghost like a pro, who can’t help but laugh a little over Hunter’s excited antics, despite his best efforts to hold onto his righteous anger.

“Ryk needs a lesson in consent, Hunter. Take a chunk out of his ass cheek!” Ghost yells before lunging and slamming into Ryker’s midsection. The two of them hit the grass hard, rolling as they wrestle. Ryker is still laughing at Ghost’s reaction to whatever it is he did.

Torin steps out onto the porch next, followed by Mrs. Caldwell—our newly appointed house manager. She was morethan happy to accept the job, and a room in the house, since her husband passed and she has no family nearby.

Dominic told me he has hired her on and off over the years, and Ryker swears by her loyalty. She’s older, kind, loves animals and books… the perfect addition to our household.

Just like Dr. Everly, who moved to Ontario last week and took up residence in a newly renovated cottage about twenty minutes away. She’s become a permanent fixture in the medical facility downstairs, helping me manage my chronic illness with more care than I’ve ever known.

Sometimes I still cry thinking about all of this. Everything Dominic has done for me, and continues to do. He’s completely rewritten my life into something I never dreamed I could have.

Torin sighs as he comes to stand beside us. “Ryker stole Ghost’s croissant… and then kissed him on the mouth.”

“Of course he did,” Dominic mutters, like none of this surprises him.

My smile is so wide it aches.

“Please, boys!” Mrs. Caldwell calls out, waving her hands from the porch. “There’s an entire tray of fresh croissants in the kitchen! No need to fight!”

“It’s about more than the croissants, ma’am,” Ghost calls out, polite as ever. “Ryker needs to learn some fucking manners.”