King (Maine Silver Foxes #1)

Epilogue

Mia

Six months later...

Mia was standing at the stove, scrambling eggs mixed with cheese and diced bacon, humming Faith Hill’s “This Kiss,” There was a smile on her face, and she may have been dancing in place, too, shifting her hips from side to side beneath one of King’s flannel shirts. She loved slipping into one of his shirts in the morning, because they still smelled of him from the day before.

So much had changed since she’d come back home to live, and she couldn’t complain about any of it. Her boys were doing well in college and had come for a visit during a break. Sammy and Ben had gotten engaged. She’d met Scarlett—who was expecting baby number two—and her beautiful family. The money she’d gotten from her divorce meant that she didn’t have to work, but Mia had gotten a part-time job at the local bakery anyway. And the biggest change was that she’d moved in with King.

Everything about their relationship seemed to move at record speed, and yet life had never felt so right.

A sound from the bedroom indicated that her man must be getting up. Mia’s suspicions were confirmed when a muscular arm curled around her waist as she was scooping the finished eggs onto their plates. The next thing Mia knew, she was being pulled back against a hard, half-naked body, and she squealed when King rubbed his whiskered jaw against her.

“Mornin,’ baby.” He wrapped a hand around the front of her neck and pulled her head back for a kiss. The mint on his breath told her that he’d already brushed his teeth, and she was thankful that she’d had enough coffee to camouflage her morning breath.

It wasn’t a short peck. It never was with King. Mia shivered deliciously as his other hand traveled down to the opening of her shirt, smoothing beneath the material to cover her breast. Moaning, she opened her mouth to his tongue, welcoming the pleasant warmth that spread through her. The passion between them continued to be solid and steady, their feelings growing stronger every day.

King growled against Mia’s mouth. “No better way to start my day, darlin,’ other than having my dick buried inside your sweet pussy.”

His filthy comment caused a full-bodied shiver to run down Mia. She was always up for morning sex, and they often ate a cold breakfast. “You don’t play fair. Now sit down. Breakfast is ready.”

“Love a bossy woman.” King stepped back as she grabbed their plates and headed toward the table. “What have you got going on today?”

Mia had poured their coffees earlier, and the first thing King did when he sat down was take a sip. She’d also poured them each a small glass of orange juice. A sigh escaped her as she thought about King’s question before meeting his eyes. “I work at the bakery this morning, but the afternoon will be spent trying on wedding gowns.”

He paused from taking a bite of eggs, his fork halfway to his mouth. The stunned look in his eyes caused Mia to burst out laughing. They hadn’t even discussed marriage. After a moment, realization replaced the confusion on King’s face, and he released a heavy breath of relief. “Whew! Scared me for a second.”

Really? Mia’s brow shot up. She wasn’t sure if she liked his reaction. “Relax, big boy.” Suddenly the joke she’d been going for wasn’t so funny.

“I forgot that you’re helping Sammy plan her wedding,” he grinned, watching her closely while slipping the fork into his mouth.

“I didn’t know the thought of marrying me was so horrible to you.” Mia tried to keep the hurt from her voice and rose from her seat to go to the coffee maker. She set her cup down, slipped in a pod, and hit the brew button, keeping her back to King so she could pull herself together. She’d hoped that their relationship might be leading in the direction of marriage, but marriage was obviously not on his mind. The fact that he didn’t respond to her comment only made it worse.

She removed her cup and poured in the cream before turning around carefully so not to spill it. Her gaze went to King and a startled gasp escaped her, causing her to stop. He was on his knee, facing her, holding out a beautiful diamond in a vintage-style setting. Mia’s gaze darted from the ring to his eyes. She felt her bottom lip quiver and her eyes water at the love in his eyes. She set her cup down on the counter next to her and covered her mouth with her hand.

“Baby,” he began, holding her eyes captive, “I know we haven’t talked about marriage, but I can’t see a future without you in it as my wife. We don’t have to rush into anything, but I want my ring on your finger, so I know you’re mine.” He swallowed, and Mia had never seen him look so uncertain. Was he worried she’d say no? “Will you marry me someday, darlin’?”

A sob broke from her as she took a step in his direction.

“I had planned to ask you this weekend when we’re in Bar Harbor.”

Mia knelt down on the floor in front of King, tears streaming down her cheeks now. She nodded excitedly. “Yes!” She slipped between his arms and planted her mouth on his. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you someday!” After another kiss she held her hand out for him to slip the ring on. “It’s beautiful, King.”

“For a beautiful woman,” he countered. He stared deeply into Mia’s watery eyes. “Fuck, baby.” His hands tucked her hair behind her ears. “Wish when I’d seen you that first time all those years ago I’d made my move then.”

“We can’t go back, but we can go forward.”

He laughed. “You’re a wise woman.” He moved to get up, grunting with the effort. “Christ. I don’t have too many proposals left in me,” he joked.

Mia hit him playfully on the arm. He was playing her. King was in great shape, and he knew it. The grin on his handsome face revealed that he knew he hadn’t fooled her.

“Let’s finish breakfast so I can take you back to bed and get my morning workout. Think I’ll do a lot of thrusts this morning.”

Mia laughed, almost spitting out her coffee.

That sounded good to her.

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The End