EPILOGUE

HAVEN

The junkyard was a magical place, full of life and possibilities, even for an outsider like me. I’d never expected to feel so at ease with Max’s family. The way they interacted with one another, it felt like I’d known them my entire life. The contrast between the senator’s mansion and the junkyard was startling; where one was cold and sterile, the other was warm and inviting. You instantly fell in love with the place and never wanted to leave. It explained so much about the first time Max and I’d met, when right away I knew he was different from the rest of the Lancasters. The man who’d created this nirvana had a great understanding of family and putting down roots; he coveted togetherness and brotherhood, all of which were evident within the boundaries of the junkyard. If Buck were alive, I’d thank him for his keen sense of commitment to his family. Without it, Maxwell O’Neill would have ceased to exist long ago. The Lancasters’ cruelty towards their son was unconscionable. Like my cousin Richard, they’d thought only of their own selfish needs, and it had cost them big time.

My life had changed so much in such a short period of time. It was hard to imagine having lived it any other way. I wasn’t alone anymore, forced to fend for myself by watching every dollar spent, afraid I’d end up on the street, homeless and starving. I had a family now, one who protected its members from anything or anyone who wished to harm them. I hadn’t been a part of a real family in so long I’d forgotten what a thrill it was to be surrounded by crazy, fun-loving, obnoxious people. The junkyard was always noisy; loud screams of “fuck you,” “cocksucker,” and “kiss my ass” could be heard at all hours of the day and night. The best of times were when the boys shared stories about how they grew up and the larger than life man who raised them. They’d certainly been a handful, and each tale was as unique as the individual who told it, yet they all had the same things in common: the love they felt for Buck, the junkyard, and each other was unyielding and would never change as long as they remained a family. Marcus had been noticeably absent since we arrived at the junkyard, and everyone was beginning to worry about his mental state. I didn’t know him well enough to offer an opinion, but Max assured me that if he was in trouble, the family would be there for him when the time came. They thought it best to give him time alone to adjust to life outside of the military before they bombarded him with their concerns. I agreed for the most part, but we kept a close eye out just in case.

Life with Max. It sounded like the title of an old sitcom, but those first few weeks together were anything but. He struggled with his anger and frustration, the scars of the past cutting deep. Who could blame him for taking the time to get his head right? Weeks passed, and we’d finally made it to the place of our dreams, just the two of us, just as we’d planned. We found the perfect spot in a meadow full of wildflowers to share a picnic lunch. I wore a long white dress that made it difficult to run when Max and I played a game of tag, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was the perfect day, filled with smiles and laughter, just the way we’d pictured it. Max held me in his arms while we lay together on the blanket and watched the sun set over the horizon. We found our moment of peace and safety, the dream finally achieved.

“Are you excited to start your new job?” Max asked while he played with my hair and kissed the side of my neck. I was offered a nursing position at the local hospital and accepted it without the slightest hesitation.

“I am, but there’s something else I’m even more excited for. Can you guess what that could be, or do you need me to draw you a map?”

I sat up on my knees and straddled his waist. It wasn’t long before we were both naked and panting with unrestrained passion. We moaned in unison as I lowered my center onto his hardened shaft and waited for my core to adjust to his size. I watched as his eyes danced with pleasure and a silly smile spread across his handsome face.

“What are you laughing at, mister?” I gave him a quick kiss and returned his smirk.

“I know what heaven feels like, and it’s warm and wet.”

He leaned forward and took my nipple into his mouth and tugged it with his teeth. Max had incredible oral skills, and I could do little to stop my hips from rocking back and forth the longer he pleasured my breasts. The solid ground beneath us and my constant movements forced him deeper than he’d ever been. No way would I last much longer. The pending orgasm was building quickly, and Max was right there with me.

“You ready to come, baby? I know you are; your tight pussy is squeezing my cock. You fuck me so good. Come for me, my sweet Heaven.” I was too far gone to give him a reply. My legs had already started to shake as we exploded together seconds later. My bones felt like they were made of jelly, my brain was a scrambled mess, and my heart was about to burst from my chest. Max and I lay chest to chest in silence, neither one of us willing to move or utter a single word in protest. I was in my happy place, where I felt safe and protected the way I did as a child. With Max, I’d found my home.

“I’m going to love you one day, my sweet Heaven,” he whispered

“And I’ll be here to love you right back, Maxwell O’Neill.”

The End