Hell (Black Heart Romance)
Epilogue
Rowan
One Year Later
It’s dark out here. Quiet as a graveyard. Only I’m not in a graveyard. I’m in the park, and it’s the middle of the night. I’m walking fast, hands in my pockets, eyes scanning the area. Pretty, old-fashioned lights dot both sides of the path I’m walking down, but between them, the shadows are as dark as ink. There could be anybody hiding in shadows that deep.
I’m counting on it.
My heels click against the concrete, and the sound echoes all around me. It’s chilly, and my breath forms a cloud around my head. I come to a bend in the path and take it, glancing over my shoulder when leaves blow across the ground behind me.
A hand clamps over my mouth before I have the chance to scream, and an arm wraps around my waist. Before I can acknowledge what is happening, I’m being dragged off the path and across the grass. I kick and swing my arms, but it’s no use. I can’t get him off me.
He throws me against a tree and presses himself against me, pinning me against the trunk. His breath is hot in my face, and his hands are everywhere, running up my skirt, tearing open my blouse. “What’s a little girl like you doing walking around the park at this time of night, huh? Wearing these fuck me heels and a skirt so short the whole world can see your ass.”
His mouth skims my throat, teeth nipping my earlobe before he whispers in my ear again. “Like you don’t want this. Teasing everybody who sees you. Practically begging to get fucked like this.”
“Please, don’t do this!” I shove at him, slapping his hands frantically when he starts pulling down my thong. “Don’t! Stop!”
“Don’t stop?” Lucian laughs nastily as he pulls the thong to my ankles, then forces my legs apart with his knee. “Don’t worry. I won’t.”
I fight a little more just for the sake of playing along, but the truth is, I’m soaking wet by the time he shoves his dick into me. He fucks me hard, fast, almost brutally. The way he needs it. The way I like it.
He grunts against my neck. “Fucking slut. Begging to be grabbed. Begging to be fucked hard like this. Showing off those tits.” He buries his face in them, and I have to bite back a moan when he finds my nipple and bites down.
“You like that, huh? You like getting fucked like this?”
“Yes… yes…” I close my eyes and give in, not playing anymore. “Fuck me harder.”
“Come on this cock, baby. Come for me.” He drives himself faster, harder, and we come together in a breathless rush that almost knocks me off my feet. I shudder in his arms, moaning against his shoulder to keep our little secret quiet.
“Oh… Rowan…” He kisses my neck before looking me in the eye. “That was good.”
“That was very good.” I kiss him before bending down to pull up my underwear. “I’m dressed okay?”
“Are you kidding? I might’ve settled for watching you and jerking off. Maybe next time, that’s all I’ll do.” There’s a wicked little gleam in his eye. He likes to keep me guessing.
He takes my face in his hands, smiling. Now he’s just Lucian. Not the powerful business owner. Not the man with connections to just about all kinds of shady, scary people. I can’t even remember why I was so afraid of him at one time. “You’re incredible. Thank you for being so perfect for me.”
“Hey. It’s not like I don’t get anything out of it.” But that’s not completely honest. It doesn’t say anything about what’s going on in my heart. And all of a sudden, saying what’s in my heart seems very important. Why it should seem so crucial after a year of being together, I don’t know. The moment just feels right.
“I love you.”
His eyes widen a little. For a second, I’m afraid I said the wrong thing. I should’ve kept it to myself. This is why I need to keep my mouth shut instead of randomly spouting things off. It must be the whole coming-off-an-orgasm thing. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“I love you, too.” He strokes my cheeks with his thumbs. “Did you think you had to apologize? You took me off guard, is all. But the feeling’s there, Rowan. It’s always been there.”
I’m so relieved, I could cry. “Thank you.” Now I can’t help but laugh. “I’m all mixed up.”