Page 98 of Unleashed

I glanced around, nerves fluttering beneath my calm exterior. Our engagement party was in full swing at The Wyatt, in a private room filled with two hundred of our closest friends and family. The wedding would be even grander, the guest list swelling to over four hundred. The ceremony was set for September at Keaton and Leslie Abbott’s summer home in Southampton, a sprawling estate perfect for our plans. It felt surreal.

He nuzzled my cheek, his voice low and intimate. "Are your parents here yet?"

“They should be,” I said, stealing a glance toward the entrance. "The limo picked them up this morning. You really didn’t have to get them a suite, you know."

"It’s no trouble," he said, brushing a kiss on my temple. "I want them to be comfortable. They deserve it."

I smiled, squeezing his hand in appreciation before waving to Oliver and Ryleigh Fox as we stepped through the grand double doors. Oliver, a business acquaintance of Keaton’s, was a familiar face, while Ryleigh had become a fast friend. She was my age, vibrant and effortlessly charming. Oliver was older but carried himself with the energy of a man years younger.

As we made our way through the crowd, Slade’s hand rested protectively on the small of my back. Every step felt like a dance, moving in sync with him, until we reached the head table where our closest family sat—my parents, the Abbotts, Slade’s brother, Levi, and Erika.

Erika, always radiant, flashed a smile, catching my eye as she sat beside Levi. Despite being involved with Lincoln Elliott, she still managed to charm Levi effortlessly. I couldn’t help but chuckle, watching Levi fall under her spell like so many others. He was a younger version of Slade, though with a wilder edge, his longer hair giving him a rebellious flair.

I paused to hug everyone at the table, my mother looking stunning with her chic bob and floral dress. At seventy-two, she still turned heads with her grace and beauty. My father looked healthier than the last time I’d seen him, the medication Slade had financed working wonders. He’d even gained a bit of weight, the color returning to his face. In his light blue seersucker suit, he looked dapper, a far cry from the frail man he’d been last year.

Slade pulled out my chair, and I sat down amidst the rising hum of laughter, clinking glasses, and silverware. Throughout the party, his hand never strayed far from me—resting on my arm, brushing against my knee, a constant reminder of his presence, his affection. Even when he leaned over to chat with his brother or father, he made sure I knew he was there, connected, committed.

I watched him, my heart swelling with a mix of love and bittersweet regret. If only this had happened sooner.

Slade leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, “You okay?”

I nodded, glancing around at the room full of people gathered to celebrate us. "More than okay," I said, my hand covering his, savoring the warmth of his touch. "I’m happy."

He smiled, his eyes softening in a way that always made me feel like the only woman in the room. "Good. You deserve it."

As the party buzzed around us, I couldn’t shake the feeling of gratitude and wonder. This life we were building, the future ahead—it was everything I’d ever dreamed of.

Hours later,I dozed in Slade’s bed, utterly exhausted from the whirlwind of the day. My parents were comfortably settled in their Manhattan suite, enjoying a few days in the city, and I was relieved knowing they were doing well. Their health had improved so much, and I clung to the hope it would last.

Slade’s hand, warm and deliberate, slid over my thigh, and his thumb found my clit in slow, steady strokes.

“I have no energy left,” I murmured, my eyes still closed.

His voice was low, teasing. “I’m not asking you to do anything.”

“Then why are you...?” My breath hitched as he shifted the rhythm, rubbing gentle circles that sent a shiver down my spine.

“I want to make you come. I love making you come.”

A weak protest left my lips. “I don’t think I have energy even for that.”

But my body betrayed me, arching involuntarily as the sensation built. I gripped the sheets tighter, my breathquickening as waves of pleasure rose, overwhelming me until I shattered beneath his touch. My body trembled, powerless against the release that tore through me.

“Mmm, thank you,” I whispered, still catching my breath.

“I told you there was energy to be found,” he said with a smug smile, leaning in to kiss my shoulder.

I turned my head to meet his gaze, feeling the warmth of his affection wash over me. “I love you, Slade.”

“And I love you,” he replied, his eyes softening. He shifted, pulling something from the nightstand. “I have a gift for you.”

I frowned, confused. “Why?”

His eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”

“Why did you buy me a gift?”

“Because I love you,” he said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You deserve it, and more. Plus, you did a fantastic job on the McGregor project. We’ve already gotten two referrals because of it.”

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