Epilogue

 

Aven- One year later

 

It didn’t get much better than having a naked Finnley Hollins underneath me, moonlight shimmering off his sweat-slickened skin, and waves crashing on the beach less than twenty feet away.

“These beach loungers are really not as comfortable as they look,” Finn panted as he fought to catch his breath.

I buried my face in his neck and inhaled the sweet scent of beach and man, my man, my husband. My muscles were still trembling from our recent activities as I tried to remain hovered above him and not crush him under my weight.

“They aren’t really intended for this purpose, I don’t think.”

Finn scooted over and pulled me down beside him, his hands still tracing over my body, lips still exploring my neck. “I highly doubt we are the first newlyweds to fuck on the beach in the lounge chairs.”

I chuckled and nuzzled against him, squeezing him tight in my arms. It was peaceful enough, I could fall asleep and spend the night there easily. When we’d wandered down for a midnight walk along the shore, there’d been no one else around.

Like I’d promised Finn a year back—mere hours before his impromptu proposal—we’d flown to Jamaica and got married. The past three days since our beachside wedding ceremony had been spent in a tangle of naked limbs. Only when our stomach screamed for nourishment did we find our way to nice restaurants to fulfill their needs.

The late night walks along Seven Mile Beach were Finnley’s favorite. Each one had ended us at the same strip of vacated beach loungers where we made love to the soft lull of the ocean, under a blanket of stars.

“Can we stay here forever?” he mumbled, his lips grazing my neck as he sighed. “I like it here.”

“We still have ten more days to enjoy it.”

“Mmm.”

Finn’s body relaxed, and the hand caressing my skin slowed its journey. “Am I losing you, Owl?”

We knew having a vacation would tamper with Finnley’s rigid routine, but he was far enough along in his therapy, his doctor wasn’t concerned about setbacks. Finnley was secure enough with his phobia to speak up if things shifted for the worse.

It hadn’t gone away. But we knew the likelihood was slim. However, Finnley managed his phobia with a lot more resilience than he ever had before.

“I’m just relaxed.”

Stepping back at work had seemed to help significantly. Finnley had taken my advice and decided to manage the funeral home from a more removed position. He’d hired a young woman fresh out of college to help Margret with the hands-on part of the job. She’d been thrilled to rent the apartment above the home since she’d recently graduated and needed someplace to settle.

Finn still dealt directly with the people requiring the home’s services, except, he worked the business end and finances. His therapy was ongoing, and there were days his panic attacks surfaced with a vengeance, but it was nothing like before. He’d regained a certain element of control over his life, and his true self shone through more brilliant than ever.

“Want to head to the room?” I asked. “I was thinking jacuzzi tub and wine.”

“I like that.”

He still wasn’t quick to move, but I didn’t complain.

When we finally pulled ourselves up and found our discarded clothes, a soft breeze had picked up and felt good on my overheated skin.

Finn looked sufficiently bedraggled, and I laughed as he pulled his shirt over his mussed-up hair, the stubborn strands sticking up all amuck. I approached him and attempted putting them in order while he helped fasten my shorts.

“You look well fucked,” I said, dropping my arms in defeat. “It’s beyond help.”

He chuckled and ran his fingers through the mop before grabbing my hand, his doe eyes carrying a look of satiation. “I look exactly how I feel.”

We wandered up the beach and headed back to our suite. Our room had a huge balcony facing the ocean, and as I filled the jacuzzi, Finn hovered against the railing and peered off into the darkness.

While he was lost in thought, I filled two wine glasses and carried them over. Once I’d placed our drinks on the railing, I wrapped my arms around his waist, linking our fingers, and rested my head on his shoulder, following his gaze into the distance.

“What are you thinking, Mr. Hollins-Woods?”

He lifted my hands and kissed the ring he’d placed on my finger just three short days before. “How lucky I am to have found you.”

“I’m the lucky one,” I said, kissing along his neck to his ear. “I love you, Finn.”

He leaned back against my body and rested his head against mine. “I love you, Aven. I don’t think I realized how badly I was spiraling until you came along. I think I spent most of my life unable to think clearly because I wasn’t sleeping. I didn’t even know what normal was or that I was capable of some variation of it.”

“We all have demons, baby. But you shouldn’t have to fight them alone.”

I squeezed him tighter, taking pleasure in the feel of him in my arms. “I should check the tub.”

Before I could move from his embrace, he turned his head and kissed me. “I know it’s hot outside, but can we sleep with the window open tonight? I want to fall asleep listening to the ocean.”

There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in his words, nor did I think he realized the ease at which the statement had fallen from his mouth. One year ago, those words would have never left his lips. The mere idea of sleeping was enough to send him over the edge. It had been his living nightmare. No more.

I smiled and kissed him back with all the love in my heart. “You’ve come a long way, Owl. Of course, we can sleep with the window open, so long as you’re in my arms.”

 

The End