Page 61 of Gilded Kisses

The shield of Luther’s words wraps around my heart and heals old wounds. “Is it over? Is the nightmare really over? Can we be together now?”

Gray, amber, and blue meet my eyes. “Not even God can take us from you now. We are only sorry it took this level of violence and loss.”

I believe God brought us together using my cousin. A point I plan on addressing the next time I get a phone in my hand.

“Me too. But my father chose this ending, not us.” I turn into Viper and close my eyes. I don’t want to see any more death and violence for as long as I live.

“Let’s go and leave the violence behind us.”

All I need are my men and the love we have for each other.

The Gilded Key Society gave us a chance to discover our love and I will forever be grateful for the protective bubble it provided.

But in my world, it takes violence to get what you want. In my case, our desire to be together outweighed the evil in my father’sblack soul. He didn’t care how much he hurt me as long as he got what he wanted. Revenge for the perceived disrespect.

But love won.

I believe with all my heart and soul, we pay our dues in blood and pain before we can move on from this world. I hope my debt is paid after tonight. Deep inside me, I know this isn’t our first time fighting to be together. But I’ll leave my theories of woo-woo magic about twin flames and fated mates for another time. When I’m dry and warm.

The four of us have finally forged our energies and we are whole. That is all that matters. I reach for both Luther and Mirsha, who walk behind us as Viper leads my new family back to the safety of the Society.

“About leaving. The reason we were held up getting to you faster is the owners of this place finally arrived.”

I pull back. “Oh?” I have no idea where this is going.

“What do you think of calling this place home?” Mirsha asks.

“A sex club?”

A mysterious shadow moves over Luther’s expression. “It’s so much more than a sex club. The top floors are just the beginning.”

There’s an entire conversation hidden in those few words. One that needs to happen after a warm shower and a few phone calls back home.

“What he’s saying is we are now owners of the Gilded Key Society and we want you as our partner,” Viper fills in a few more empty spaces of information for his brother. “We weresigning contracts when a burst of fear tore us out of the office and running back to you. We found the bed empty and Joseph bleeding in the grass.”

I clear the emotion clogging my throat. “Thank you for coming back to find me.” My arms tighten around Viper and he does the same. “I didn’t think two dreams could come true in one night,” I whisper with all the love pouring through me.

“We have a life to build,” Luther offers.

“Today is day one of our forever.”

I agree with Mirsha. Our eyes connect. An endless sea of emotions meets mine.

Flares of desire heat my core. Viper’s hands roam as he leads us back to our room. My walls clench at their animalist rumble of need matching the desire building inside me.

Warm lips meet cool skin, and I willingly tumble into the gentleness of Viper’s love.

In the midst of chaos and pleasure, we find our balance in each other’s arms. We could have lost our lives tonight, but instead love won. Gilded kisses are forever and tonight that is more true than ever before.

I’ve headed down the path of ruin and rage, but I’ve learned one thing tonight. Every road I stepped on led me to the Society and the men I love.

“Claim me again and tomorrow you and show me our new home.”

Epilogue

Aster

Istarted out wanting to be someone others saw and respected. I had no idea that would turn into me changing one crown for another. You might not see it, but I can feel the weight of it on my head and the link it holds to my heart. This crown...this one I want to wear. And with pride.

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