Hunter didn't look surprised. "I figured, but we wanted you to know it's an open invitation, if you ever change your mind."
Mary clutched her envelope. "Well, I'm in. I need a change of pace, a fresh start."
Lucy paused. She hated leaving Sam and Drake and Ana, but she knew where she belonged, and she knew Luke agreed. "We're in."
Hunter beamed and twirled her around, then kissed her on the lips.
She laughed and pulled away. "Just don't get too cocky, mister. I'm not accepting to be with you. I'm accepting because I'm a damn good agent and you need me."
"I'm not going to argue with a woman who can save the world and still look this good when it's done."
He held her close to him, their bodies pressed together and fitting so perfectly. This was their second dance together, and now they had real music, but nothing would ever compare to their first night, their first date.
Her life fell into place, and everything finally felt like it would work out for the best. Sam and Drake looked deliriously happy dancing together, but Luke looked bored, sitting alone. Lucy was about to pull away from Hunter to dance with her twin for a song, when he got up and walked to Mary, who also sat alone, and ushered her to the dance floor. Wow. The one guy she couldn't seduce had asked her to dance. Lucy smiled at that despite her not-so-loving feelings toward Mary.
Even Adam looked happy, swaying to the music. He'd been staying at the mansion, enjoying the quiet life. The world may have known about paranormals, but they weren't quite ready for Adam living amongst them yet. The other Grunts had stayed at the compound and taken it over, content to live their lives in peace.
After a few more dances, lemon-filled cake and food, the limo pulled up for Sam and Drake. Everyone threw rice at them and cheered. Darren used his powers to make the rice hover and dance in the air. He'd handled Sam's wedding well, all things considered, though Lucy hoped he'd find someone who would love him as much as he'd loved Sam.
The evening settled on them quietly, and Hunter pulled her away from the crowds. "Walk with me?"
"I'd love to."
Arm in arm they strolled down a trail, as the sun set over them, drenching them in the hues of another day ending, leaving them with the promise of a new day yet to come.
Chapter 137 - Sam
One more stroke of red and—done! My cramped fingers reluctantly released the paintbrush as I admired my husband on the most beautiful beach in Hawaii. The painting wasn't the masterpiece I'd lost in the fire, but maybe it was better. It had a certain kind of beauty that had been lacking in my old work, a stillness that I hoped to bring to people when they looked at this new work.
Drake walked over and wrapped his arms around me. "It's amazing." He kissed my cheek. "You're amazing."
I turned my body into him. Our new summer home was still being built, so we had chosen to stay in a private beach house for our honeymoon. Already I loved married life, and my husband, though I missed Ana, who had stayed with Robyn and the gang in Washington.
Robyn had cried when I asked her to be the primary care person, showing her that I did, in fact, trust her.
We had plans, wonderful plans—art school in Washington; summers in Hawaii, with Drake teaching the kids to surf; a life of following our dreams and doing what we loved.
Drake nuzzled my neck. "You're happy. I love feeling you so happy."
His new powers were still untapped, unexplored, and it was a lot for him to take in, but I was so proud of how well he'd adapted. "I love you, my husband."
"I love you, my wife."
He lifted me up and I squealed as he carried me into our bedroom and dropped me onto the bed.
"Now, what were our plans today?"
I pulled him closer to me and covered his mouth with mine, as I showed him exactly what our plans were for the day, and for the rest of our lives.
—THE END—
Continue in the adventures of the Forbidden cast in this spin-off series that takes you to new paranormal realms. Meet Derek and Rose, a shifter and a witch caught in an epic battle between good and evil, torn between love and duty, between family and their own passions.
In Book 2, Seduced by Pain, you'll run into many of the Forbidden characters you've grown to love, and in the sequel serial, Seduced by Lies, you'll find out how the story continues for Drake, Sam, their baby and their friends.
Seduced by Innocence, Book 1, is FREE wherever ebooks are sold. This series is suitable for readers 17+ due to explicit sexual content. Get it now on Amazon!
Discussion Guide
FORBIDDEN MIND
1. Forbidden Mind begins with Sam completing a painting for an art contest. All of her hopes and dreams depend on her getting into a great art school, but her plans change when she finds out that the people who run her school have been lying to her. Could you relate to Sam's plight as she fought to discover the truth of her life? Have you ever felt like the life you'd been living was a lie? Did you handle it differently then Sam?