Page 54 of Masked Darling

Gremlin gave Sadie a tight hug, practically swallowing her small frame with his large one as he kissed the top of her head. “I hope you like them, Sadie Sweetwater.”

Sadie pulled back from her friend, her smile widening as she opened her own envelope and pulled out the contents along with everyone else at the bar.

The papers inside were black and glossy with the effect of neon throughout. The invitation was to a wedding and looked like the interior of The Serpent Pit.

“Oh my God,” Madison gasped. “Are these...?”

Sadie nodded, her grin impossibly wide. “Wedding invitations,” she said, her voice full of emotion. “Forourwedding. Next year. Oh, guys,” Sadie beamed at Gremlin and Scales. “These are perfect. I couldn’t love them more.”

“Here?” Kade asked, raising his eyebrows. “At The Serpent Pit?”

“Of course!” Sadie said, as she looked around the room. “If that’s alright with the new owners, of course,” she added, glancing at Camille and Jazlyn.

Jazlyn and Camille exchanged a look, their smiles wide.

“Hell yeah,” Jazlyn said, leaning over to kiss Camille’s cheek. “We’re in. We’re definitely in.”

The room was filled with even more excited chatting and laughter, the group celebrating together because it was important to hang on to the things that made you happy. Even Jagger, usually so composed, couldn’t help but grin ear to ear at his little family.

“You know,” he said, raising his drink with a laugh, “I think this all might work out after all.”

EPILOGUE

“I’m going to miss them.”

Sadie and Jagger had just said their goodbyes, moved out, and handed over the keys to the bar. Their departure clung to the air, bittersweet, but it was clear they were both excited for what was next—New York, their wedding, a fresh start.

Now it was just him and Madison, standing together in the near-darkness, the keys to the bar resting in Kade’s hand. In the morning, they’d give them over to Camille and Jazlyn.

But for tonight? It was theirs.

Kade glanced over at Madison, who was leaning against the counter, her posture slightly tense with tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. He could tell she was feeling the gravity of the moment because they would be the next ones to leave and start their lives.

He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him. She was wearing a white sundress that barely covered her ass to combat the ninety degree August weather although the bar was cool inside.

“You know,” he said with a playful grin, “We’ve got the whole place to ourselves tonight.”

Madison raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a small smile, though she was already leaning in to place a kiss on his neck. “What do you mean by that?” she asked, the playful tone in her voice betraying her curiosity.

Kade’s chuckle caught on a moan when she licked the sensitive skin below his ear. “I mean, the sex room is all ours for the night. We could... make use of it.”

Madison froze for a moment, and Kade immediately drew back to look at her. He knew her well enough now to recognize when her walls went up. She was nervous, that much was clear. But they’d been through so much together, and he understood her triggers—understood the things that made her feel safe and the things that made her uncomfortable. They had slept together several times over the last few weeks and he’d been careful to follow her cues and take it slow.

“We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for,” he said gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I just... thought we could try some new things again if you wanted. But if you’re not feeling it, we don’t have to. I’ll always stop if you say the safe word.”

She looked at him, her eyes searching his face. They’d had several discussions about this part of their sexuality and interest in the BDSM lifestyle. They had gone off of instinct before but after a long talk with Jagger, Kade had come to Madison to tell her that his brother wanted them to be educated on the right ways to do it. It had been an uncomfortable conversation at The Serpent Pit early one morning when Sadie and Jagger spoke candidly with them. The look on Jagger’s face when Madison asked what a safe word was could have killed Kade on the spot. Luckily for Kade, Madison explained he’d never taken anything far enough for her to need him to stop.

And now, after reading lots of literature and talking about it at length, there was comfort in the knowledge of things like safe words, aftercare and knowing their limits.

So, she felt ready to try again.

It wasn’t just about being intimate anymore—it was about reconnecting, about finding that spark again, after everything they’d been through. It was about rediscovering the parts of herself she thought she’d lost, and Kade was determined to help her find them again, one step at a time.

Madison exhaled slowly, then met his gaze. “I don’t want to lose that part of myself,” she said quietly, her voice a little unsteady. “I’ve been careful, you know? With therapy and everything. I just… I want to enjoy it again, too. I liked the feeling of you taking command with me. And I’d like to try again. With you.”

Kade’s heart swelled at her words. He could see the courage it took for her to admit that, to open up to him in this way. It wasn’t easy for her, but she was trying—and that was everything.

He was so damn proud of her.

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