Epilogue

NORAH FIDGETS WITH HER dress in the auditorium as celebrities scurry for pictures with their favorite musicians. It’s an odd thing to watch.

One of television’s most notorious and recognizable chefs finishes her picture with the band, and Ryker sits back in the chair beside her, grasping Norah’s hand in his.

“You okay?”

“Sure,” she replies.

She and Ryker have been holed up in Carson for about five months and spent the last few days helping Jameson move his things into the house he had built on the property. The new couple needed space after all.  They also were learning more about each other. Things they liked to do together – like read and cook. And things they disliked – folding clothes and emptying the dishwasher. But those were things Norah could give or take so long as she has Ryker in her life. He is her soul mate through and through.

“I’m surprised Jameson hasn’t called you since we’ve been here,” Ryker states.

“Me too. He’s freaking out over the Secret Service using one of his biometrics for their weapons. But the meeting and testing went great. He has nothing to worry about.”

She had fallen into her new career with ease whether that be from Jameson allowing her to learn at her own pace or for the fact she got to do exactly what she is passionate about. Either way, she loves her job.

“I also left my phone at the hotel. No one needs to disrupt your night. Now, are you nervous?” she asks Ryker as he presses a kiss to the scar behind her ear. It’s ugly and twisted, but Ryker always claims that it’s his favorite part of her. And truthfully it is hers too. It’s a reminder of everything she’s been through, everything they have been through to bring them to this very moment.

And here she is sitting beside the man she loves as he and his band rack up the awards at the Grammys.

“There are only a few more awards, and then we can head to the party the label is throwing.”

“Do we have to stay long?” she innocently whines.

“No. We can leave whenever you’re ready.”

Leaning into his ear, she whispers, “Good because you look sexy as hell in that tux, but I cannot wait to get you out of it.”

His growl reverberates against her lips, and she smiles wickedly as she sits back in her seat watching out of the corner of her eye as he adjusts himself in his pants.

“You’re not a princess at all, you’re a wicked queen,” he says as the next presenter comes onto the stage.

A few more awards are handed out and finally the honor they’ve been waiting for, Album of the Year is presented.

“And the winner is . . . Follow Me by Exoneration,” the celebrity announces.

Ryker and his bandmates sit stunned, none of them expecting to win against some of the great musicians that have released albums last year, but they’ve done it. Norah jumps from her chair and tugs Ryker up, kissing him before she shoos him out to the aisle forcing his bandmates to follow.

Their eyes look dazed as they make it up to the stage and Ryker holds the award in his hand as he steps in front of a microphone.

They take a moment to thank the Lord, their parents, and their fans. Harlan and Ryker each give a special shout out to her and Cassidy who are sitting beside each other in the audience looking on as their men achieve their dreams.

The band is whisked off stage and as the show ends and Norah and Cassidy wait patiently for the band to return. Cassidy and Harlan are skipping the party due to her being very very pregnant.

Ryker startles her as he sweeps her up into his arms, Harlan doing the same to Cassidy, only not lifting her from the ground.

“I’m so proud of you,” Norah says joyfully as she feeds off of Ryker’s energy.

“I can’t believe that we won. It was completely unexpected. I mean, those are some of our idols that we were up against,” he claims with the dazed look still in his eyes.

“You deserve it, babe. That album is amazing.”

“You’re amazing,” he says as he brushes a kiss against her nose before their publicist escorts them to the limo set up to carry them to the party.

 

NORAH KICKS OFF HER shoes the moment she steps into the hotel suite, wasting little time at removing those demons from her feet. She searches around the side of her dress for the zipper and grunts until the pull tugs all the way down her side. She is glad Cassidy designed the gown because as she tosses it on the opposite side of the room, she has little care for the silk material. A pair of spandex shorts that reach up to her waist quickly follow and as she pulls her body free from the tight confines Norah breathes a sigh of relief.

Ryker peeks his head out of the bathroom and looks at her in amusement. “Was it as painful as that sounded?”

“A hundred times worse,” she replies as she sashays toward him in her bra and panties loving the way he looks in his tux with the bow-tie loose.

“You look sexy like this,” she says as she tugs the tie free from his collar and tosses it onto the bathroom counter. Her fingers fly to the buttons on his shirt next, undoing each one at record speed.

With the toothbrush hanging limply in his mouth Ryker stands before her as she works the fastens and yanks his shirt from his pants. Norah slowly moves onto her knees as she unbuttons his pants and pulls the zipper down then jerking his pants and boxer briefs past his hips toward his ankles.

His erection hangs freely, and Norah licks her lips in anticipation of tasting him in her mouth.

“I have a special award for you tonight,” she says saucily as she licks up the length of him the way that he loves.

Ryker groans and tosses the toothbrush from his mouth into the sink as he grips the counter with his free hand.

“As good as that feels I have a better way to celebrate,” he adds as he lets her take a few final strokes of his cock in her mouth. Ryker kicks off his shoes and pants, and then he’s bending forward and lifting her into his arms and carrying her to the bed. He removes her panties in one swift movement and then he plunges deep inside her ready body.

“Being inside you is the best feeling in the world,” he moans as he surges inside her body over and over, worshiping her like the princess he always claims her to be.

 

SWEATY AND SPENT THEY lie naked on the bed sheets letting the cool air of the air conditioner run over their bodies. Ryker’s hand strokes across her back up and down, the softest touch of his fingertips leaving a trail of prickles in their wake.

“I love you,” Ryker says just as Norah closes her eyes and burrows deeper into his chest.

Lifting her gaze to his, she smiles and returns his sentiment. “I love you too. Very much. Thank you for sharing this amazing day with me. I’ve never been so proud than I was watching you walk up on that stage tonight. You deserve it and so much more.”

Ryker stares down at her and seems to take in her speech. Then he surprises her as he rolls her over and leans up onto his elbows above her, framing her face with his arms.

“You know what would make this day better?”

She thinks for a minute not sure where the conversation is headed and then smiles up at him. “Ice cream? We could probably order some.”

“No, not ice cream you crazy woman.”

“Well what would make this day better, rock star?” she asks as she runs her hand through his wavy locks loving how the slick strands sift through her fingers.

“If you would say yes to being my wife,” Ryker says boldly.

Norah’s hand stops in his hair at the back of his neck, and she can feel her eyes widen in surprise.

“What?” she whispers as her lips tremble.

Ryker reaches over to the nightstand beside the bed, opens the drawer, and removes a small navy blue velvet box.

“You deserve a proposal better than this and I had planned to do it in front of the old Chinese Theater tomorrow, but I can’t wait. Norah Blakley, you have been the best things that has ever crashed into my world. I haven’t let a day go by where I haven’t wondered what I ever did to deserve such a beautiful and remarkable woman in my life. You are more to me than my other half, you are my soul mate. You stole my heart, and it will forever be yours. Will you make my day even more amazing by agreeing to be my wife?” he asks as he holds a perfect round diamond ring in between his shaking fingers as he stares down at her. “Norah?” he inquires as his nervousness begins to show.

“Yes. Oh my gosh, yes!” she cries out as she wraps her arms around his neck, her tears spilling down his shoulders.

“Fuck,” he whispers as she feels wetness against her own shoulder.

Ryker pulls back, and she gazes into his wet eyes as he slides the ring onto her finger – a perfect fit.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t do this properly.”

“Ryker,” she commands, drawing his attention back to her and away from the ring on her hand. “I love you, and I couldn’t be more proud to be your wife. This was the perfect proposal. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

“So when do you want to get married?”

“I don’t know. Summer? I don’t want to wait long.”

“Me either. Maybe we’ll just crash someone else’s wedding.”

Norah laughs and nods in agreement. “That sounds perfect.”