Epilogue

^TWO YEARS LATER^

My head was pounding with a headache.

After hunching over a desk for at least five hours, I was dreading the long night ahead. I had been studying my butt off but had a long way until I finished.

I hated all-nighters.

I needed coffee if I was going to stay awake until the eerie hours of the morning.

I massaged my head.

I was in a dilemma. I wanted to rest for five minutes, but if I didn’t rest, it meant I could finish five minutes earlier.

~Decisions, decisions.~

A yawn escaped from my lips, and I needed to go and prepare coffee.

However, before I could stand up, a mug slid in front of me and a heavy pair of hands landed on my shoulders. The fingers dug into my sore muscles in a massage. I groaned, closing my eyes.

Graham and his spectacular hands.

“Thought you might need it,” he whispered in my ear as he continued massaging my tense muscles.

The fact that he was attuned to my needs made me love him even more.

“You are the best,” I said.

“I know.” He chuckled, pressing a kiss to my forehead once the massage was over.

I canted my neck to look at him. His hair was mussed, and he had bags under his eyes from exhaustion. My heart softened at the sight of him.

“You should go to bed and sleep,” I commented in a soft voice. Knowing Graham, he would stay up until I headed to bed. It was cute, but he needed his rest.

He shook his head. “I can’t. You know I won’t be able to fall asleep without you there.”

“You would if you started drinking lavender tea. I swear by it.”

He scrunched his nose.

He hated the tea. It was funny the first time he tried it and spit it out. Then he rambled and lied, saying it was too hot. However, when he tried to take a second taste, his nose had scrunched in disgust.

“I’m going to finish the book,” he commented.

Though I hadn’t managed to make him drink tea, I attempted to make him read and succeeded. He was hooked on mystery and mythology books. The best plans on cold weekends were to snuggle up and read together.

Graham walked to the sofa on the other side of the room and opened his book. He looked so freaking sexy. There was something about a muscular guy immersed in a book. A combination of physical strength and brains.

I focused back on my books and took a sip of coffee.

My boyfriend was the best.

***

I woke up with someone manhandling me. Strong arms wrapped behind my back and under my knees, as they scooped me up and carried me somewhere.

I moaned, burying my face in a hard chest. I inhaled and it smelled like lemons and pine.

“Come on, love,” Graham’s husky voice muttered over my forehead. “You need to rest. No point in wasting the all-nighters.”

At this point, this was routine. No matter how many times I stayed late studying and ended up falling asleep on the desk, Graham always picked me up and carried me to bed. That way, I could wake up the next morning.

He carried me to bed and put me down softly in the cold covers. I writhed but then, felt him climbing behind me. I grasped him close to me, seeking his warmth. His arms wrapped around my waist, our bodies flush together.

I sighed and fell asleep in his spectacular arms.

“I love you,” he whispered, pecking my lips.

I smiled, utterly happy with my life. “I love you too, St. Claire.”