He was the man she wanted, the Dominant she needed. No manipulation. No games. Nothing but love and understanding.
“I have one question, Liss.”
She gulped. “Sir?”
“Why are you still sitting there?”
Immediately, happier than she’d ever been, she pushed back from the table. “Just on my way inside, Sir.”
“The faster the better.”
Laughing, she raced across the living room and dashed up the stairs, with him close behind her.
When he reached the bedroom, he slammed the door, then stripped her before backing her onto the bed and spread her legs wide, devouring her with his masterful tongue even as he slipped his fingers inside her.
If this was a glimpse of what awaited her, she never wanted it to end…
Epilogue
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
Jacob grinned at his beautiful bride-to-be as their driver eased to the curb in front of the Gallery Royale in New Orleans’s French Quarter for Elissa’s first-ever opening. Immediately cars started honking, and a bicyclist darted around them.
“I’ll be standing by, Mr. Walker. With tonight’s traffic, give me a few minutes’ heads-up.”
“Thank you.” After exiting the car, Jacob rounded the hood to offer his hand to Elissa. She stepped out in strappy high-heeled sandals and a formfitting red cocktail dress, alluringly cinched at her waist with a sparkling silver belt. A stylist had done her hair, scooping some of it up and allowing a few long, curly tendrils to tease the sides of her face. Her scent was that of success with an undertone of sweet vanilla. To complete the look, she’d added red lipstick, and the shade had to be Tempting Torment. It took all of his restraint not to suggest that they get back in the vehicle and return to their suite at the Maison Sterling. As it was, he had to be content with the knowledge that she’d be beneath him, surrendering, within a few hours.
Earlier in the day, they’d met Claire Richardson, the gallery’s owner, and walked around to double-check that everything was hung the way Elissa wanted and that the placards were with the correct piece.
And now, the gallery was closed to the public. Fairy lights danced around the windows, and music from a live jazz band beckoned.
A tuxedoed woman opened the door for them. “Good evening, Ms. Conroy. Mr. Walker.”
Once they were inside, Elissa leaned in closer. “Am I supposed to pretend I’m not awestruck?”
He laughed. “You’ll do fine.” He plucked two glasses of champagne from the tray of a passing server. After giving her one, he raised his drink to her. “You deserve every moment.”
“You made it happen.”
“I had nothing to do with it. The talent is yours. And you got the paintings together to do it.” She’d worked her ass off, day and night, to make it happen, and he did his best to be the supportive man she needed in her life. When she forgot to eat, he took food over to her. And he welcomed her to bed when she finally joined him each night.
After their time in Steamboat Springs, they’d taken a trip to Denver so he could meet her parents, and she could inform them of her decision to marry him.
Mr. and Mrs. Conroy had shocked Elissa into silence by announcing they were selling the pub. They no longer wanted to work so hard, and their time in Ireland had shown them they wanted to travel while they still had the energy.
Elissa had been nervous that she would be letting her parents down by moving away, but they reassured her that they had no plans to stay in Denver. In fact, they were planning to sell the business to Joseph.
Then her mother had said they may want to purchase a cabin in Steamboat so they could be near Elissa when she finally decided to have children.
Though Patrick had sipped a whiskey and leaned back to stay out of the conversation, Ann had agreed that four children would be perfect.
Seeing Elissa happy made Jacob’s life complete. Well, almost.
There was the little detail of getting her down the aisle. She wore his engagement ring, and they’d decided to start trying to have a baby after the opening. Which gave him some ideas for the upcoming evening when they returned to their suite. All he had to do was control his ravenous hunger for a few more hours.
Her portraits were hung in the far end, past the final arch. The room was constructed with half-round faux art deco pillars attached to the walls, creating secondary framing for the paintings.
He understood why Julien Bonds had selected this gallery. It was elegant, high-end, and most definitely catered to a clientele with eclectic tastes. “Shall we?” He offered his arm.
“Look at me. All confident and everything.”
Accepting her invitation, he swept his hungry gaze over her. Excitement radiated from her. “Most definitely confident.”
“Right.” She nodded. “Confident. I belong here.”
He laughed. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.”
“Right. Right again.”
The back door was open to a private patio, and that was where the band was playing. A full-service bar was set up near them.
The gallery was large, and the lighting was perfect to bring out the deep, rich colors of her oils.
“I can do this.”
“There’s no doubt.”
They mingled for a few minutes with the crowd that was larger than expected. One woman raved about how much she loved Waiting for Him, and Jacob went to greet a Hawkeye trainer—Torin Carter. The man had met his wife on a mission in the Crescent City and had fond memories of the Big Easy. When Hawkeye mentioned he intended to don a suit and attend the opening, Torin had opted to join him.
“I’m thinking of buying one for Mira. I think it would be a perfect present to give her when the baby’s born. One of the subjects bears a resemblance to her.”
“Excellent choice. I’m sure she’ll love it.” He glanced over at Elissa to be sure she was okay. He’d stayed nearby in case she needed him, but far enough away that she could talk to the invited guests. And as he expected, being in the spotlight made her shine.
The gallery owner walked over to Elissa to shake her hand, and Elissa beckoned Jacob to join them. He immediately excused himself to stand next to her while Torin searched out an assistant to complete his purchase.
“Congratulations. We’ve already sold one of your paintings.”
Elissa’s mouth parted. “I… I don’t know what to say. You mean a print, right?”
“No. An original. His Pleasure.”
“Oh my God, that’s amazing. Surreal. I’m not dreaming, am I? Should I pinch myself?”
He couldn’t be prouder. At Bonds’s urging, she’d priced her paintings considerably higher than she was comfortable with. “I think you’ve just sold another.” He nodded toward Torin, and Elissa clasped the heart-shaped pendant Jacob’d recently bought for her.
“You’re certainly one of the hottest artists around right now, Ms. Conroy. And I’ll do a formal welcome and introduce you in a few minutes, if that’s comfortable for you? We’re waiting for a couple more guests.”
Including Hawkeye. And maybe Bonds would grace them with an appearance.
“Of course.” Elissa nodded. “That’s totally fine.”