I’m in the practice room Ashton created for me in our new apartment. It’s not huge, since the whole apartment is smaller than our old one, but it has a barre and a mirror and works just fine for keeping me on top of my game.

Holding the barre, I lean forward, raising one leg high in the air behind me. I’m still in that position when Ash comes into the room. In the mirror, I meet his eyes and feel a tug deep inside.

By the time I’ve got both feet on the floor, he’s standing behind me. His hands go to my waist; they’re big enough that he can completely encircle me and touch his fingers together. “Lovely,” he says.

The tug turns to a tingle. His voice, his eyes, tell me my man wants to play. I cover his hands with mine and lean back against him, still watching him in the mirror. “How much time do we have before our dinner guests arrive?”

“Enough,” he says with a smile that turns my bones to water. I’m wearing my leotard but no tights; his fingers trace the elastic bands hugging the insides of my thighs. Sensation sparks through my core.

“Ash.”

“Right here,” he says. “In front of the mirror.”

We’ve never done it that way. “Naughty boy,” I tell him with my best sultry smile. He slides one hand over to cup me, and my head goes back against his chest.

I moan as he strokes me through the fabric, making me wetter and wetter. His other hand comes up to toy with my breasts, cupping first one and then the other, his thumb and fingers plucking at my nipples until they’re swollen and aching.

When his fingers finally delve into my slickness, I’m more than ready. “Now,” I say, needing him inside me. As I always do.

He doesn’t answer, instead tugging my leotard down, helping me work my arms out of it, undoing my bra. Now the leotard is down around my waist and all of me above it is naked. Both hands work on my breasts now, his mouth on my neck, kissing and nibbling, biting down gently on the sensitive spot where my neck and shoulder meet. And still we watch each other in the mirror.

“Ash!” I cry when I can’t take it anymore. I’ll die if I can’t have him; that’s how it always feels.

“Bend over,” he says in a low voice. “Brace yourself against the barre.” I suck in a breath and obey, eager to feel him.

I hear his zipper working, and then he tugs aside my leotard, my panties, and he’s nudging at my entrance. “Ohhh,” I moan as he pushes inside me. Even now, after all this time, he’s so big, filling me up completely.

“Look at me,” Ash commands, and I meet his eyes in the mirror. “Keep looking at me.”

So I watch him, my gaze never wavering as he starts to move, slowly at first, then faster and faster, hitting my g-spot with every stroke. My climax barrels down on me with shocking swiftness, building and swelling and bursting, hurling me into ecstasy.

“Tori!” I’d closed my eyes as the force of my orgasm overwhelmed me. I open them again and stare at Ashton, our gazes locked while he powers into me, hard and fast, and I come again as he finds his own release.

“Why haven’t we done that before?” he says when he can speak.

“I don’t know, but we need to do it again.”

“Right now we need to shower.”

I manage to release the barre and stand upright. “You might need to carry me.”

“And here I was hoping you could carry me.”

Laughing, we make our way from the room side by side, arms around each other.

* * *

Tonight is a very special dinner. We’ve got the table set with all our best linens and china and flatware, with fresh flowers in vases. I look around at our guests, my heart full.

Eden’s here with her boyfriend Will. He’s a dancer with the New York Ballet – and now that we’ve graduated from the Barre Institute, so are Eden and I.

It took a little time, but once she was able to see how happy her father and I make each other, she came around, just as Ashton said she would. Now she’s happy for us.

Ashton’s brother Hunter is here too, along with his wife Lily. She and I have hit it off, and I’m glad that my sister-in-law is also a new friend.

Best of all, my parents are here. Ash flew them in from Michigan as a surprise, so they could join in the festivities later tonight. It’s been so wonderful spending time with them, showing them the city I’ve come to love.

And, of course, seeing them get to know Ashton … my truest love.

“A toast,” Hunter says, raising his glass. “To new beginnings.”

“To new beginnings,” we all chorus, and I take a sip of my champagne, smiling at Ash. That first dinner we shared seems like a lifetime ago. I spent it wishing for things I thought I could never have: Ashton, and a life with him.

And now look at me. At us.

* * *

“The caterers did a fabulous job, Ash. Everything looks great.”

He puts his arm around me. “It’s a nice spread. And a nice crowd.”

We’re at the final event of the evening: Ashton’s reception to celebrate the grand opening of his new law firm. It’s focused on family law, with a special emphasis on pro bono and low-income clients.

Our newer, smaller apartment is part of the transition to our more modest lifestyle. Ashton has plenty of savings and investments, so we’re not hurting. I know he loves waking up in the morning with a renewed sense of purpose.

Eden comes up and embraces her father. “Congratulations, Dad. I’m proud of you.” I get a hug too.

“Speech!” someone calls out. The room is filled with friends, clients, and donors, people who believed in Ash’s vision and wanted to support it. Madame Ellis, standing hand in hand with Brad, catches my eye and gives me a warm smile.

Ashton holds up his hands, and the room falls silent. “Thank you all for coming tonight. I had no idea, that day when I went for a walk in Central Park, that my life was about to change.”

Lisa, who’s standing with a group of clients, beams at him. She’s gone back to school, and is training to be a paralegal. When she finishes, she’ll work for Ash.

“I believe the protections of the law are meant for everyone,” he goes on, “not just the rich and powerful. In my own small way, I intend to be a part of making sure that’s true.

“I appreciate, more than I can say, those of you who’ve come alongside to encourage me. You’ve given time, money, and heart to this project, and without all of you it wouldn’t have happened. So thank you.”

Everyone claps. Ashton waits for the applause to die down, then says, “I have one person in particular whom I need to acknowledge.” He turns to me, and I immediately start to choke up.

“Tori, every day, you make my life beautiful. It’s because of you, and the light you brought into my world, that I was willing and able to reach for more, to make myself a better man than I’d been. This journey wouldn’t have happened without you.

“I want to spend the rest of my life trying to give you as much joy as you bring me.” He goes down on one knee, pulling out a velvet box, and opens it to reveal a gorgeous diamond ring. “Will you marry me?”

My eyes are blurred with tears. I drop to my knees, throw my arms around him, and hang on tight. The crowd awwws.

“Does that mean yes?” Ashton asks me. I nod, unable to speak, and hold out my hand. He slides the ring on my finger.

The room bursts into cheers. I look at my parents; my mother’s crying, and my father is smiling like he just won the lottery. Framing Ash’s face in my hands, I kiss him tenderly. “I love you so much,” I whisper to him. “I’m so proud of you.”

“With you at my side, I can do anything. I love you, Tori. I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

And I’m a fairy-tale princess who’s found her prince. I never knew life could be so perfect.