Page 74 of Anton

“Special,” I offered, my voice low, almost a question.

“More than that,” she whispered. “I don’t know if I ever thought I’d deserve something like this. It’s the kind of thing I’ve helped plan for other people, but I never expected anyone to plan something like this for me.”

I leaned forward, feeling the words come from a deeper place as I caught her gaze. “You deserve everything, Marcie. I want to give you everything.”

Her throat worked as she swallowed hard, her eyes shimmering in the dim light. For a moment, I thought she might say something—maybe confess something of her own—but she didn’t. Instead, she reached across the table, her fingers closing around mine, warm and steady. She knew what I was offering without me needing to say more.

Dinner came, and we fell into easy conversation. We joked, laughed, and talked about everything and nothing. The connection between us felt effortless, and with each word, I found myself falling deeper under her spell.

After the main course, the pianist shifted to a more familiar melody. Her eyes flickered with recognition, and I could see the way her body relaxed, all tension slipping away. She loved music, loved how it could capture emotions in ways words couldn’t.

“Dance with me?” I asked quietly, my voice rough with the emotions I’d been holding back all night.

Her lips curved upward into a smile that I’d swear could light up the whole damn room. “I’d love to.”

I stood, offering my hand, and without hesitation, she took it. The second our bodies met, everything else faded away. We moved together, perfectly in sync, as if we’d been dancing together our whole lives. The soft slide of our bodies, the shared breath, the quiet rhythm between us—it was effortless.

And in that moment, my whole life fell into place and everything was right.

EPILOGUE

ANTON

LONDON - A FEW WEEKS LATER

In the weeks that followed, it felt like we’d stepped into a new chapter, one brimming with possibility. Life wasn’t just about getting through each day anymore—it was about sharing it. Marcie and I slipped into each other’s worlds so naturally, it was as if we’d been meant to fit together all along. She wasn’t just the reason I woke up each morning; she was the reason I finally saw a life worth living. Not defined by shadows or regrets, but full of hope and promise. A life where love wasn’t fleeting or fragile, but steady, beautiful, and the foundation of everything.

But I wanted more. Alternating nights between her place and mine wasn’t enough. I needed her with me, fully and completely. So, yesterday, I asked her to move in. When she said yes, joy filled me, lifting a weight I hadn’t even realised I was carrying. It was the kind of joy that demanded action—I called the movers immediately.

Little Miss Sassy teased me for it, of course, laughing at how I couldn’t wait even a day. That sound—her laugh—it did thingsto me I couldn’t explain. Knowing I was the reason for her happiness only deepened the pull I felt toward her.

Watching her pack her things, I was struck by a sense of peace I hadn’t known was possible. For so long, guilt had been my constant companion, a chain I thought I’d never break. But now, I could see those memories differently. The past would always be with me—the people I’d lost, the mistakes I’d made—but it didn’t have to define me. Louisa and Elaine had been incredible women, full of life and strength. Remembering them for the joy they brought instead of the pain of their absence felt like a step toward healing. Marcie had shown me that. She’d pulled me out of the darkness, giving me a reason to move forward.

Now, as she stood directing the movers with that mischievous glint in her eye, I felt it again—that certainty. Everything I’d been through had led me to this moment, to her.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this, honey?” I asked, stepping behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist. Her scent heady and familiar filling my senses.

She leaned into me, her smile teasing but her tone steady. “I’ve never been more ready. The real question is—are you?”

I pressed a kiss to her neck. “For you? Always.”

With her, I had everything I needed. She wasn’t just my future; she was my home. Fear of losing her would always linger, but it didn’t scare me anymore—not enough to hold me back. For the first time, I wasn’t just surviving; I was living. With Marcie by my side, I wasn’t just ready for the future—I was racing toward it, ready to build something even better than I’d ever dreamed.

MARCIE

“Are you sure you’re ready for this, honey?” Anton asked, wrapping his arms around me and pressing his erection against my bum.

I leaned into him, fighting the urge to laugh. Oh, I was definitely ready—so ready, in fact, that if he didn’t stop teasing me, I’d be dragging him into the bedroom in front of the removal men. But I wasn’t quite that bold—yet.

“I’ve never been more ready. The real question is—are you?”

It had been Anton who’d fought against us for so long. It was only my refusal to back down that had made him finally give in to the pull we’d both felt from the start.

My Mr. Sexy Soldier smiled, pressing a kiss to my neck that made me shiver with delight. “For you? Always.”

His words made my heart sing, filling me with a contentment I’d never thought possible.

The time since our ordeal had gone by in a blur of quiet days filled with lovemaking, laughter, and learning about each other and how we fit together. I’d finally told Anton everything—the truth about my father, the abuse that had scarred me, how things had got worse after my mum passed away.

I’d told him about the frightened seventeen-year-old girl who’d run away from home, with nothing but a backpack and a dream. How lucky I’d been to meet a guy who ran the local homeless shelter, who took me there, kept me safe, and gave me the start I needed to turn my life around. Without his kindness, who knew where I’d have ended up?

Since then, I’d kept in touch, volunteering at the shelter when I could and sending leftover food from my events. It was my small way of giving back, repaying the help I received.

For the last twelve years, I’d fought to carve out a life of purpose, success, and friendship—never imagining I’d find the love I secretly craved. My Mr Sexy Soldier had changed that.

Every day, our love grew deeper. He saw me, really saw me, like no one else ever had. He wasn’t just the man who loved me—he was the man who helped me heal. And every time he looked at me, I knew he felt the same.

Moving in with him was the next step, but it was more than that. It was a promise—a promise that no matter what came next, we’d tackle it together, as a team. And I couldn’t wait to see what the future held.

Because with Anton, I wasn’t just looking forward to tomorrow. I was ready to grab it with both hands and make it ours. In his arms, I knew I was finally exactly where I was meant to be—no longer running from the past, but running toward the future, side by side with the man who’d become my home.