Six Months Later
Piper
The music is loud, the drinks are cheap, and Maddox Blake is the most handsome man in the club. If you’d asked me six months ago where I saw my life going, it certainly wouldn’t be here. It certainly wouldn’t be dancing at my wedding reception on a decommissioned mini cruise ship that’s been turned into a secret sex club.
I mean, really, who could dream that up?
Yet here I am, and here he is, and here all of our friends are.
It’s been a wild ride, these last few months, but I wouldn’t change my life for anything. Tad is locked away, and rightly so. The chances of him seeing freedom again are slim, but even if he does, I’m not scared. Not anymore. Now I know that I can defeat him. Now I know just how strong I truly am.
Maddox makes me feel brave. He gives me this courage that is completely unmatched, and I think it’s because he really, truly believes in me. He thinks I can do anything, and that inspires me to try.
“You make a beautiful bride, Piper Blake,” he says, pulling me into his arms. Maddox guides me to the center of the room, which has been turned into a dance floor. For just one night, June has carefully tucked away all of the spanking benches and poles and handcuffs, and she’s somehow managed to transform the entire cruise ship into a family-friendly reception venue.
I don’t know how she did it, but I’m eternally thankful that our families and friends could come celebrate with us at the place where it all started.
Six months ago, I was terrified for my life. Scared. Cowardly. I was afraid of everything and everyone, and trust didn’t come easily, but then Maddox Blake came striding into my life, acting like he knew it was where he belonged, and he stayed.
And he won me over.
And I can’t imagine my life without him.
I don’t want to imagine my life without him.
“You make a beautiful groom, Maddox Queen,” I tease him, and he laughs.
“Baby, for you, I’ll be whoever you want me to be.”
“I just want you,” I whisper.
“I know, sweetie, I know.”
He kisses me, and my entire world feels right. Our guests fade from my mind as wrap my arms tighter around his neck, kiss him even more sweetly. Our song plays over the speakers and Maddox and I dance like the night has no end because our journey together is only just beginning.
June
I’ve never seen Piper look so happy. She’s smiling and laughing, and Maddox is staring at her like she’s the most beautiful creature he’s ever laid eyes on. Something tells me it’s true. Something tells me that these two are going to last forever: an eternity. They have their entire futures together, and for them, it’s going to be something beautiful.
They were both lost, both searching, but fate brought them together, and it’s been incredible to see. Oh, their road is going to have its ups and downs, but that’s just life. That’s part of being a couple. The question is whether two people are willing to work through those hard times, and something tells me that Maddox and Piper are. They’re not going to give up.
Those two are forever.
Now that Maddox is back on the police force, he’s much happier. He’s excited to talk about his job, and although he still works security for me at the club from time to time, he’s been busy with his position at the force. He even managed to get paired up with his old partner, so life is looking up for Maddox.
And Piper, beautiful Piper.
She’s still the incredible tech girl I first met years ago, but she’s different now. She’s determined and brave like she always was, but now she has the peace of a woman who knows she is truly loved and cared for. She is truly, totally protected, and Piper is at peace.
It’s beautiful.
I manage to pull my eyes from the happy couple. They decided to have their wedding reception on the ship, which is a huge honor. Yeah, we had to put away a lot of the whips and chains and floggers to make it family-friendly enough for their grandmothers to come in, but somehow, we’ve made it work. Somehow, this entire night just feels right.
Grabbing a cloth, I start wiping down the bar. There have been a few spills throughout the night, and I like to keep things neat and orderly as much as possible. While it feels different to be standing back here in my bridesmaid dress instead of a corset and booty shorts, being behind the bar still feels right to me. It’s still where I belong.
I’m not going to give myself a chance to feel proud of everything I’ve accomplished with Anchored. Not right now. Now, my only goal is to make sure everything goes smoothly on Piper and Maddox’s big day. This is it: their wedding day. This is the day they’ve been waiting for, hoping for. This is the day they celebrate everything they’ve been waiting for.
Has it been a short engagement?
Absolutely.
Does that matter?
Not really.
There’s no such thing as a short engagement when you’re in love. After all, why should you wait? Why should you wait to get married? Why should you hold back? Most of us only get one shot. There’s no need to keep the other person waiting, dangling on a thread. Not when you’re ready. Not when you’re in love.
Everyone is dancing and laughing. Most people are drinking. A couple of them are well on their way to drunk, but I’m keeping an eye on them. Me and my security team have got things covered.
And then I do a double take.
Ryder is here.
Ryder: the new guy.
Ryder: the self-proclaimed businessman.
Ryder: the man who lies to my face and doesn’t bat an eye.
That Ryder.
Why is he here? He blends into the crowd like he’s not even there, and no one seems to notice him but me. I can’t help but wonder what that sneaky man is up to. I watch as his eyes wander over the crowd, searching for something, someone. I can’t figure out who he’s trying to watch, who he’s trying to investigate. He acts like he’s just here for the party, like he’s just having fun with his old friends from Anchored, but I know better.
I know a businessman when I see one, and Ryder? He’s no corporate drone.
No, Ryder is something else entirely.
He can trick anyone else, lie to anyone else, twist his story for anyone else, but not me. I’ve been in this business far too long to fall for lies. And Ryder? He’s a spy if I ever saw one.
THE END