“You’ll be fine,” Archer tells me, his voice somber for once. “I’m pretty sure she loves you too, and if not, you’ll survive.”
I get out of the car and walk up to the door. This is technically my house, so it’s weird to ring the doorbell, but I don’t want to just barge in either. I lift my hand to knock on the smooth white wood. My knuckles only rap over the door twice when the door opens.
And there she is. My Hazel, even more beautiful than she’s been in my mind for the past week. She is wearing sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt, her hair is in a messy bun on top of her head, and I think there is some dried mustard on her chin.
“Myles…” My name falls from her lips like a prayer, and my cock springs to life.
“Can I come in?”
“Of course.” She steps away, looking around a little frazzled. “It’s your place, after all. Do you need me to leave? I can leave. I’ll just get my stuff… and I’ll clean before.” She starts picking up empty wrappers and cartons from next to the couch and tucking them under her arm. “Let me clean up my mess—”
“Hazel, the only reason I would make you leave would be to take you back to my place.”
She stops what she is doing and turns to face me. Her eyes scan my face like she is making sure I’m not joking. “You mean it?”
“Yes. I fucking miss you. I only pushed you away because I wanted to protect you. I can’t change who I am, and I don’t think I want to either. I love my family, and I grew up in the family business. This is all I know, but if you let me, I’ll try my best to make it work.”
The next thing I know, she is in my arms with her face pressed against my chest and her hands grabbing at me like she can’t get close enough. Wrapping my arms around her small form, I hold her to me like I have dreamed of every night.
“I love you,” I murmur, kissing the top of her head.
“I love you too.”
Thank fuck!
“Now, let’s go take a shower together and get that mustard off your face.”
She giggles into my shirt, a sound that feels like a balm on a deep wound. All the pain of the past week is forgotten in the blink of an eye. That’s what she does to me. She has the power to destroy me but also to make me the happiest guy in the world. And that’s how I’m feeling right now.
Epilogue
Hazel
I still can’t believe what my life is like now. I never thought I would ever have a family. I thought I was destined to be alone forever. But now I have a home, a family, and people who love and protect me no matter what.
It took me a while to come to terms with Myles being part of the mob, but the more time I spent with his brothers and their girlfriends, the more normal all of it seems. Sometimes, I even forget it altogether.
I don’t work at the strip club anymore. Instead, I go to college, something else I never even dreamed of doing before. Myles says I don’t have to worry about anything ever again, and I know he’s telling the truth.
“I have a surprise for you when we get home,” Myles tells me, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Yeah? What is it?”
“You’ll see.” He smirks. “It’s kind of for both of us.”
That has my curiosity piqued. Maybe he got me a sex toy, new underwear, or a fancy dress to take me out?
Luckily, I don’t have to wait long because a moment later, we pull into the driveway of our home. I get out of the car, beating Myles to the door. He unlocks it, and I push my way past him inside the house. “Where is it at?” I scanned the living room for some huge package, but everything looks like it did before he took me to class this morning.
“Upstairs in our bedroom.”
I’m so excited I take two steps at a time, then speed walk down the hall to our room. As soon as I enter, I see it.
A shiny new stripper pole mounted to the ceiling and floor, conveniently positioned a few feet away from the bed.
“Do you like it?” Myles comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my stomach. I lean into him. “I told you you’re going to dance for me again. You can give me my own private show now whenever I want.”
“How about I give you a show right now?”
“I like the sound of that.” Myles buries his nose in my hair, tickling my neck as he rubs his face in it. His hands come up to cup my breasts, and even through the bra, my nipples are more sensitive than normal.