Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Then she rolled her hips, and all pretense of restraint vanished. I moved. Hard. Fast. Desperate. The pleasure was too intense, building with every stroke and every sound she made.
“More,” she gasped. “Simon—more—”
I gave her more. Gave her everything. Pounded into her with an intensity that bordered on madness, chasing a release that felt like it might break me apart.
When she came again, her body bowing off the desk, her cry muffled against my shoulder, I followed her over the edge. The orgasm tore through me like lightning, and I buried my face in her neck as I pulsed inside her.
For a long moment, neither of us moved.
We stayed tangled together on my desk, breathing hard, hearts pounding in syncopated rhythm. Her fingers traced lazy patterns on my back. My lips pressed soft kisses to her throat, her jaw, the corner of her mouth.
It was the calm after the storm, and it felt precious. Sacred, even.
Eventually, Raina tilted her head back to look at me. Her eyes were warm, her smile soft and satisfied.
“You know,” she murmured, “I think I’m going to like working here.”
A laugh rumbled through my chest, surprising me with its lightness. I tightened my arms around her, not ready to let go. Not sure I’d ever be ready.
“I love you, Sunshine.”
The words slipped out before I could think better of them—unplanned, unguarded, completely true. I hadn’t meant to say it now, in the aftermath of office sex, but I didn’t want to take it back. Didn’t even consider it.
Raina’s eyes softened, and she cupped my face in her hands. Her thumbs traced my cheekbones with a tenderness that made my chest ache. “I love you too.”
Four words. Simple and honest and world-changing.
I kissed her again. Slower this time, deeper, pouring everything I felt into the press of my lips against hers. She melted into me, and I held her close, and the rest of the world fell away.
I’d spent years building walls, protecting myself from the kind of vulnerability that love required. I’d convinced myself I was better off alone, that trust was a weakness I couldn’t afford.
Raina had proven me wrong about all of it.
She was my sunshine, my second chance, my reason to believe that the future could be brighter than the past. With her by my side—in business, in life, in everything—I finally felt like I had something worth more than any deal or dollar amount.
I had her. And that was all I would ever truly need.
EPILOGUE
Simon
One Year Later
The grand opening of the new Neptune’s Kingdom was everything we’d hoped it would be, and more.
Hundreds of people crowded the entrance, their excited chatter filling the air as they waited for the ribbon cutting that would officially open the doors. Children bounced on their heels, tugging at their parents’ hands. Couples leaned into each other, pointing at the massive water slides visible beyond the glass walls. The energy was electric, infectious, and I found myself smiling in a way that would have felt foreign a year ago.
Alexander stood beside me at the ceremonial ribbon, his weathered face creased with the kind of joy that came from seeing a dream realized. I’d worked closely with him over the past eight months—late nights poring over blueprints, early mornings walking construction sites, countless meetings where we debated everything from tile colors to staffing ratios. I knew how much this moment meant to him.
When he lifted the oversized scissors and made the cut, the crowd erupted in cheers. Confetti rained down, cameras flashed, and Alexander’s grin widened until I thought his face might split in two.
“Look at it, Simon.” His voice was thick with emotion as he surveyed the throng of people streaming through the gates. “They love it here.”
I clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You built something great, Alexander. Quite a legacy.”
The word resonated between us. I’d learned over these months that legacy was the driving force behind everything Alexander did. His careful selectivity about business partners, his meticulous attention to detail, his insistence on doing things right rather than fast, it all stemmed from his desire to build something his children and grandchildren could inherit with pride.
A year ago, I might not have understood that. Business had been about numbers and returns and staying three steps ahead of the competition. But I understood now. I understood the importance of building something that mattered. Of family. Of love.
As if summoned by my thoughts, Raina appeared at my side. She slipped under my arm with the ease of someone who belonged there, which she did.
“Congratulations, honey.” She pressed a kiss to my cheek, her eyes bright as she took in the bustling scene. “I think this might be even better than the original.”
She wasn’t wrong. We’d made several changes to the Neptune’s Kingdom concept while planning this new location. An updated aesthetic that felt fresh without losing the whimsy that made the original special. A childcare facility so parents could enjoy the adult amenities without worry. An outdoor ropes course that had been my personal pet project, something to appeal to guests who wanted adventure beyond the waterpark.