Epilogue
Lexi
Eight months later …
Ryan had invited a bunch of people over for a surprise birthday party. After all, it was my thirty-first birthday. I’d woken up feeling depressed about being old, but Ryan took my mind off any negativity right away. He’d brought me breakfast in bed, we went jogging on the beach together, and when we got back, everyone was waiting.
Plus, my parents had finally accepted Ryan. Dad would often comment on how laid-back Ryan was, his easygoing personality suiting my alpha female ways. By contrast, Rowena praised Ryan’s initiative. After working a couple months at Sports Life, my man was promoted from writer’s assistant to a staff writer, and he was kicking a lot of ass with no signs of slowing down.
As for me, I still worked as the editor-in-chief at Chic-Wise. Thankfully, my mom never brought up replacing me after that fateful day when we confronted her. Plus, the longer we stayed together, the less my co-workers seemed to gossip about me. Many of them seemed genuinely happy for me, seeing that I used to be depressed before. Some of them were even invited to today’s party.
In the middle of the festivities, Ryan stood in front of everyone and called the crowd to attention. The whole room became silent as he swung penetrating blue eyes my way.
“Lexi,” he said. “First, I want to say thank you. I’m so glad that you were born.”
The room clapped. He nodded, a grin on that handsome face.
“Please hold your applause,” he rumbled. “I guess most of that credit should actually go to Mom and Dad. So, thank you, Rowena and Jim for having such a beautiful daughter.”
Jim lifted his glass in a toast, but Ryan wasn’t done yet.
“I have a confession to make,” my man growled. “I didn’t just invite all our friends and your parents over for your birthday. I wanted my dad to be here too, but… Well, he’d be here if he could. He sends his love, and you’ll be getting a birthday card soon.”
Where’s he going with this? I thought to myself.
“Lexi, ever since we met, you’ve been there for me in more ways than you can possibly imagine,” Ryan said. “When I was running late with writing projects, you were always there to help me get them done. Whenever I’ve been sick, you took care of me. When I’m well, you make me feel like the luckiest man alive.”
My heart skipped so many beats that I was forgetting how to breathe.
“Our story has only just begun,” he continued. “As far as I’m concerned, we’ve barely even gotten started. You’ve been with me on every part of our journey, and I fall more in love with you by the day. Now I want to ask you to come with me again.”
He got down on one knee, sending gasps all around the room. I bit my lip, knowing full well what his question was going to be.
“I’d like to ask you to be my wife.”
He took out a jewelry box from his back pocket and opened it up to reveal a sparkling diamond ring. It was one that I’d told him I loved on a day we were out shopping together in the city. I knew how much it cost, and it was expensive. Tears filled my eyes.
“Lexi, will you marry me?”
I couldn’t even speak. I nodded silently, tears of joy slipping down my cheeks at this extraordinary birthday gift.
My handsome alpha slid the ring on my finger, and then stood to press a kiss against my eager lips. He picked me up off the floor, and the crowd went wild. Everyone clapped and cheered as triumphant music began to play.
“I asked your dad for permission almost two months ago,” Ryan whispered in my ear. “I wanted to wait until I’d saved up enough to get you the diamond. And I wanted to wait for the right moment.”
“It’s perfect,” I whispered back. “I’ll be your wife, Ryan Payne.”
Everyone was rushing up to congratulate us. Through the hugs, I could hear Ryan talking to my parents. My friend Piper literally jumped up and down, thrilled for me.
“I’m glad you didn’t take my advice about Tinder,” she chortled. “If you’d stopped messing around with guys on that app, you would never have found Ryan!”
“I’m glad I didn’t listen to you too,” was my laugh. “Who knew that this could happen?”
“He’s a great guy, Lex,” Piper burbled, agreeing. “Set a date, and let’s start looking for dresses right away!”
* * *
That night, after the party had ended and the room was officially clear of loved ones and other guests, Ryan and I walked slowly to the master bedroom.
At the moment, I felt submissive to this handsome, dominant male. I was turned on by his assertion, and delighted to call myself his.
But instead of our usual items, he used his belt as a makeshift binding device for my hands, tying them together tightly. Then he kissed me all over my nude body, biting me in some places to leave tantalizing red marks.
But my man wanted to take things slowly and sensually. Ooh, it felt so good. His thrusts were slow and sweet while those clever fingers applied the proper pressure to my throbbing clit.
I wanted to touch him. I wanted to hold onto him. I began to fight against the belt, trying to break my restraint. But the alpha only laughed pushing deep again.
“Try as you might,” he growled, sliding that hard length into my softness. “But you won’t get away, pretty girl.”
I mewled helplessly, twisting against the restraints. Normally, one or both of us would have had an orgasm by now, but we were both fighting the urge. He wanted to stay inside of me as long as possible, and I wanted to experience the intensity as best I could.
He kissed me. “I love you, Lexi.”
I kissed him back. “I love you more,” was my breathless pant.
He chuckled. “I never thought I was going to find serious love on Tinder.”
“I wouldn’t have believed it back then,” was my helpless mewl.
“I didn’t pressure you because I proposed in front of everyone we know, right?”
I desperately wanted to rip the belt apart so that I could caress that handsome face even as he pumped inside.
“I was hoping you were going to propose one of these days, Ryan,” was my soft admission.
Our bodies never stopped their dance. I was still so wet for him, and he was so hard.
But Ryan wasn’t done yet.
“This is incredible,” he groaned, pushing deep once again as that big shaft made me cry out. I could tell he was close. “You mean everything to me.”
I could only say what was in my heart.
“You mean everything to me as well, Ryan Payne. I love you.”
And with that, we both burst, soaring into the clouds. His cock twitched once before erupting, lashes of hot seed painting my insides. And I cried out, again and again, the only name that made a difference.
“Ryan, Ryan!” was my heartfelt mewl. “I love you.”
And his answering kiss told me everything. Because the alpha loved me too … and now we would be joined together, forever, in love.
THE END