She had no words, so she settled for something simple, but powerful. “I’m glad I surrendered my heart to you, my lord.”
She squealed as once again she was swept into his arms and he swiftly carried her to their bedroom, her back landing on the plush bedding.
“I’ve told you repeatedly not to call me my lord, love. Bad girls don’t go unpunished, you know.” He began undressing her quickly.
“Good. That’s what I was hoping for,” she taunted.
As Dev began a most pleasurable form of punishment, Kate couldn’t stop the tears of joy stinging her eyes. After trying to push away the best thing that had ever sauntered into her life, she now had everything she never knew she wanted and then some. A mate, a baby on the way, a whole new family.
Surrendering her heart to Devon Fallinsworth was the single best decision she’d ever made.
Epilogue
Three months later…
Damian
“I can’t thank you enough for doing this, Damian. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s not all on me. Rom is helping out as well. But no problem, Dev. I’m happy to be of assistance.”
While Damian tended to be more on the selfish side, he actually meant it. Dev and his new mate, Kate, were in desperate need of a vacation. He was happy to keep watch over Dev’s Regent while they took their delayed honeymoon. While there was a distinct separation of duties in their Regents, when Damian became Lord of the East Regent a century ago, the three lords agreed collaboration made them a stronger, more united front. This was the first time a need had risen for one lord to temporarily take over for another, so Damian, Dev, and Rom spent quite a bit of time strategizing to ensure Dev’s absence wouldn’t put any of their Regents in jeopardy.
“Have a great time in Europe, Dev.”
“One more favor to ask, though, if I may.”
“That sounds ominous.”
Dev’s short laugh bellowed through the phone, before he quieted, affirming the seriousness of his request.
“Leave your shit with Giselle at the door. I don’t know what happened between you two and I’m not asking, but she clearly went through something traumatic when Xavier had her and she’s just starting to make a bit of progress. I don’t need you setting her back.”
Damian was actually going to split his time between his Regent and Dev’s, staying at Dev’s new estate when he was in Milwaukee, which meant he would inevitably run into Giselle. For protection, Ren and Manny would accompany the newlyweds, along with several other men.
Thane and Giselle were staying back at the estate and Giselle wasn’t exactly the president of his fan club. She was the only female vampire he had ever fucked and maybe—just perhaps—he took it a little too far with his kink. He’d thought they were having a great time and had been looking forward to Round two when she escaped from her bonds, kicked him, hard, in the balls and took off. She would never discuss it with him, no matter how much he tried, so eventually he gave up. In retrospect, he probably should have probed her hard limits a bit further before they started, but in all fairness to him, she said she was into that shit. Lying bitch.
Okay, he could do this. He could occupy the same space as her and be civil. Or at least he would give it the old college try.
“Done.”
“Good. And you’ll call me if you need me.” Not a question. Damian had repeatedly promised to reach out to him immediately if there were any issues. Since Kate was pregnant, they were going to fly in a private jet, as they didn’t know the repercussions of flashing on her pregnancy, so it would take Dev some time to return if needed. But there wouldn’t be any need. Not under his watch.
“Just go screw your mate’s brains out, Dev. Hell, I might even make some improvements to your Regent in your absence.”
“Fuck off, Damian. You don’t have enough experience. Or gumption.”
“Ouch, that stung.” With only a hundred years as Lord of a Regent under his belt, he was the least experienced of the three and he admitted to prioritizing partying a bit more than putting his nose to the grindstone. He had an uncanny ability to play the stock market very well and had devoted much time to that, as opposed to the business side of governing, as Dev and Rom had. Dev had entrusted him with a great deal by asking for his help and he didn’t intend to fail his friend.
“Truth hurts, my friend. Truth hurts.”
“Okay, I’m ending this conversation. See you in a few weeks.”
“Thanks, D.” They both disconnected without saying goodbye.
Damian didn’t know how Rom felt about finding his mate…they didn’t sit around drinking wine and “discuss their feelings” like a bunch of chicks. And while he was truly happy for Dev, at four hundred ninety-nine years, he was still having a grand time and didn’t care to find his yet. It was clear Dev was pussy-whipped and no female was going to lead Damian around by his dick.