Chapter 25 - The Eve of Forever
That night, the city of Boston fell into a deep, hushed slumber as a fresh dusting of snow began to fall, blanketing the piers and warehouses in a clean, quiet white.
Inside the penthouse suite, the fire in the hearth had burned down to a bed of glowing red embers, casting a soft, pulsing warmth across the bedroom.
Tessa lay awake for a long moment, listening to the gentle, rhythmic sound of the snow hitting the windowpanes. She turned her head on the pillow, looking at the man sleeping beside her. In sleep, the hard, unyielding lines of the syndicate boss vanished completely, leaving only the peaceful, handsome face of the man who had laid his entire empire at her feet.
Rafe stirred, his strong arm instinctively reaching out to pull her closer against his chest, ensuring not a single inch of cold air could touch her.
"You're awake," he murmured, his eyes still closed, his voice thick with sleep.
"Just thinking," she whispered, her fingers resting lightly over his heart.
"About tomorrow?"
"About everything."
Rafe opened his eyes, the gray depths shining in the dim firelight. He smiled, pulling her up slightly so he could press a long, tender kiss to her lips.
"Tomorrow, the world stops," Rafe whispered against her mouth. "Just you and me."
May you like
"Just us," Tessa agreed softly.
As the snow continued to fall outside, blanketing the historic harbor in a veil of absolute purity, the last ghosts of their turbulent pasts were finally laid to rest, leaving only the bright, unbreakable promise of a new dawn.
