Huntsman by Cambria Hebert
Epilogue
Virginia
Vibrantly coloredflowers spilled from the windows and out of the flower shop door, trickling onto the sidewalk.
Autumn had a complete grip on the city, and it was positively magical. The air was crisp and sweet, the sun shone golden rays over the buildings, and there was an underlying excitement of renewal swirling in the wind.
The city sounds were secondary because, inside, K-pop played through the small speakers on the counter. I listened to it more and more these days because Earth liked it.
He’d never admit it, though. Don’t tell him I told you.
My chair was tucked under a low marble counter. A freshly prepared vase of long-stemmed yellow roses sat off to the side as I worked on a sample arrangement of the seasonally classic chrysanthemums, which would be presented in hollowed-out pumpkins. Ivory was hosting a dinner for her fashion line and had hired Tangled Stems, my little shop, to do the centerpieces.
A gust of chilly air rushed in through the open double doors, ruffling the strands of rapidly growing hair falling around my shoulders. Goose bumps rose along my arms beneath my sweater, but I didn’t mind. It was so nice to be able to feel the outside air.
“What the hell is this door doing open?” a loud voice bellowed.
I glanced up, forgetting the bunch of golden blooms clutched in my hand, to smile at Earth’s scowling, grumpy face. “You know I like to let in the fresh air.”
He frowned, already pulling off his leather jacket. “It’s too cold for that. You’re gonna freeze.”
His boots were heavy over the smooth tile, but his movements were gentle when he draped the jacket around my shoulders, the weight of the leather settling against me with familiarity. He still smelled faintly of bread and stale cigarette smoke, but now there was also a hint of flowers.
“I won’t freeze. You’ll keep me warm,” I replied, absolutely certain.
Grasping my face between his palms, he pulled me around, penetrating my eyes with his enigmatic stare. “Always,” he murmured, pressing our foreheads together before caressing my nose with his.
A little shiver prickled my scalp, and I tilted up my chin. The brief kiss wasn’t enough, though. It never was. I always wanted more, more, more of Earth. I always would.
With a gruff sound, he lifted me out of the wheelchair and sat down on the counter with me in his lap.
Squealing, I smacked his shoulder. “Earth! My flowers! You’ll crush them!”
“I’ll buy you more,” he murmured, dipping his head once more.
I melted into his chest, his mouth, parting my lips wider to invite him in. Our tongues tangled together, brushing softly before his pulled back to swipe over my lower lip. I whimpered a bit as he nipped the sensitive flesh while the pads of his fingers massaged my scalp.
As I arched into him, my arms wound tighter around his neck so he would go deeper. Before I knew it, my lungs were on fire, and the world around us was blurry with only the feel of him around me and the scent of flowers mingling in the air.
“Are you done here?” His voice was husky, and the promise of it made butterflies take flight beneath my ribs.
“Almost.”
He groaned. “Give me another, then, to hold me over.”
I giggled but lifted my face.
We kissed again, this time his tongue delving deeper, more aggressively, as if he really was trying to take his fill until we got home. I never thought anyone would crave me the way he did. I never thought someone would ever be powerful enough to make me burn.
I was breathless when he pulled back, his eyes glittering with promise and his lips slick from mine. “What do you need me to do?”
I told him, and he reluctantly put me back in my chair, then helped put the flowers and arrangements into the cooler at the back of the shop.
“The baker came in today and got a small arrangement for the bakery down the block,” I told him.
He grunted.
“And a nice lady who lives one block over stopped in to get a bouquet for her kitchen.”
“Your flowers are making the Grimms look pretty, sweetheart.”
“I made an arrangement for the bar!” I said excitedly.
Turning from the cooler, he crossed his arms and glared. “I told you flowers don’t belong in a bar.”
“But I made it for you.” I stuck out my lip in a pout.
He sighed. “Fine. Where is it?”
Beaming, I rolled to the other side of the cooler to reach into the lower shelf and pull out the arrangement. “Ta-da!” I exclaimed, holding it out.
Earth’s lips twitched. “What the hell is that?”
I grinned mischievously, holding out the empty (and washed) beer bottle with a single daisy sticking out the top. “Do you like it?”
Giving up, Earth chuckled. The warm sound made my insides feel like jelly. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
“You’ll put it on the bar?”
“No.” He was back to being grumpy.
“Why not?”
“Because every drunk idiot who comes in will try and drink it, and then I’ll have to smash their heads.”
I made a face.
“I’ll put it in my office instead, where it’ll be safe.”
Squealing, I made a grabby motion at him with my hands, and he came over, slipping between them easily. His lips brushed in my hair, then kissed across my temple.
“Come on. I’ll take you back to Ivory and Neo’s, then come back to the bar.”
I sighed. “I wish our apartment was done.”
“Soon.” He promised, glancing at the elevator shaft at the back of the shop.
The three floors above this shop were almost finished but weren’t quite ready. Earth basically gutted the entire building and started from scratch. The only thing that looked the same was the outside and the small garage in the back off the alley.
Everything was updated and brand new. Everything was state-of-the-art and handicap-friendly. All the finishes were white and bright. Big windows overlooked the street.
It was honestly more than I ever hoped for, more than I needed, but everything Earth said I deserved.
“Earth?”
He turned.
“Can’t I just come to the bar with you tonight?”
“You know I don’t like you being there around all those drunk assholes.”
“But I want to stay with you.”
His eyes glinted stubbornly.
I added, “I missed you today.”
“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, and I suppressed a grin.
Stalking forward, he reached into the chair to haul me up. Over the past few months, Earth had become an expert at maneuvering my body, knowing where to hold and how to pick me up. After a moment, he was between my thighs, his arms under my butt, and it was like I’d wrapped my legs around his waist. I wished I could lock my ankles at his back and squeeze his body with my thighs, but I couldn’t and that was okay.
Instead, I looped my arms around his neck and leaned in, pressing our chests together.
“I don’t want to go home without you,” I whispered.
He made a rude sound, then hitched me up a little. “Fine. But if anyone looks at you cross-eyed, I’ll punch them.”
I considered it progress that he didn’t say he’d kill them.
When we entered the bar, music was already playing (not K-pop; I told you he doesn’t tell people it’s his favorite), and there was already a crowd. The neon lights on the wall were glowing, colorful Christmas lights draped around, and my brother’s graffiti covered the brick.
“Hey, Virginia!” a bunch of men called out the second I rolled over the threshold.
I felt Earth grumble and glare, but I ignored him.
“Hi, everyone!” I called out. “Thank you so much for the welcome. And thank you for supporting my flower shop!”
When Tangled Stems first opened, I wasn’t sure if people would like having a cheerful little flower bar in the middle of the Grimms. I didn’t really expect many visitors, but people came. At first, I thought maybe Earth intimidated them all to show up. But then I realized it was out of curiosity. The woman who “tamed” Earth (as if there were such a thing) was quite a draw.
I gave out free flowers to everyone who even stepped in the door. Some people tried to refuse; some people looked at the beautiful buds as though they were foreign. It made me a little sad but even more determined to bring some pretty here. Everyone deserved beauty and kind words. It didn’t matter where you lived, how much money you had, or even if you could walk.
And some people had already come back. A few simple bouquets here and there gave me hope. Some came in and didn’t buy anything at all, but that was okay too. Everyone was welcome in my flower shop. Smiles and kindness were free.
I would admit, though, having Ivory and Ethan using my shop for their business needs definitely would help me on the financial side. It also made me extremely proud that my beautiful creations were being fashioned in the Grimms and sent into the Upper East Side. Perhaps that would also help bridge the massive gap between the two worlds.
It was a long shot… but hey, it was my dream.
“Come over here, little one, and play poker with us!” One of the men waved me over. He was sitting at a table off to the side that was filled with other men.
“Okay, but don’t be upset when I beat you all.”
They all laughed and hooted.
Earth grabbed the back of my chair, stopping it from rolling. “Her name is Virginia,” he announced. “And she’s not playing.”
The men at the table all muttered and glanced away.
I smacked Earth’s hand. “I am too!”
He growled.
I growled back.
His lips twitched, and I gave him a sweet smile.
“You’re lucky you’re so cute,” he muttered.
I tugged the hem of his shirt, and he leaned down to kiss me.
Catcalls filled the bar.
He stiffened, and I kissed him again.
“Go work,” I said, heading toward the poker table.
All the men shuffled their chairs around to make room and deal me in.
Snort barked, bounding into the room, my chair jolting under his front paws when he leaped up. “Hey, boy!” I said, scratching behind his ear.
He licked my arm, and I patted my lap. He jumped up, settling on top of me like he belonged.
I showed him my cards, and we got to playing.
A while later, I had a massive pile of money in front of me, and all the men at the table were groaning.
“You little hustler!” one of the men yelled.
“You should have told us you were an expert,” another said.
I giggled. “Now, gentlemen, I did warn you.”
“Earth, your woman is robbing us blind!”
“I can assure you I play fair.”
“Double or nothing,” the man beside me slurred. He really shouldn’t play drunk.
“You’ll just lose again,” I told him.
He leaned over the table, laying a hand on my arm. “Teach me your secrets.” His breath was hot and smelled like beer.
Did I mention I never developed a taste for it? I still thought it was gross.
“I play sober,” I told him, glancing at the bottle of Perrier at my elbow.
“You’re pretty.” The man giggled.
I’d never seen a grown man giggle before.
A hand slapped onto his shoulder, and he was wrenched back. “Hey!” he bellowed, dropping his handful of cards. “What the—”
Earth stood over him, eyes black, face like stone.
Drunk poker guy gulped. “Earth.”
“You touching my girl?” His dark eyes slipped to my arm where the man was still clutching.
“Oh, Earth, it didn’t mean nothing. I was trying to learn how to win.”
Clutching the back of his neck, Earth ripped him up by his hair and dragged him to the door. The bell overhead rang when someone scrambled ahead to hold it open for him.
The man was tossed out onto the sidewalk.
The door shut behind him.
Everyone in the place stood quietly, staring at Earth, who literally commanded the room.
“Do not touch,” he barked.
I giggled.
A few people sucked in a breath, looking at me like they were scared of what Earth might do.
Stomping across the room, he leaned over me, his glittering eyes intent on my face.
I pecked a kiss on his cheek. “That was unnecessary.”
He grunted. “No one touches you.”
“Whatever you say, my villain.”
His eyes darkened, and hunger washed over his face. My tongue darted out to wet my lips, and beneath his breath, he groaned.
Leaning so close his lips brushed my ear, he murmured. “I’m gonna be in you so deep tonight you won’t be able to not feel me.”
Tingles raced over my scalp, and I shivered lightly. “Can’t wait,” I whispered.
He straightened. “We’re closing early! Last call!”
There were a bunch of groans and protests from the crowd. Earth ignored them all to move behind the bar.
I smiled. It didn’t matter how many times I told him he wasn’t a villain; he believed he was. I stopped arguing long ago. It didn’t matter to me anyway. I loved him regardless.
But it seemed to mean something to him when I would acknowledge the antihero inside him, claim even that piece of him too.
I’d come to realize that was all he really wanted. Acceptance for he who he was. What he’d done. He wanted to be loved in spite of it all.
Isn’t that what we all wanted?
Everyone deserves a fairy tale, no matter who you are. They can be found in the most unexpected places.
When I looked up, he was already staring. Love made me feel light.
A girl doesn’t need legs to fly.
I blew him a kiss, and he rolled his eyes, but his lips curved into a smile.
Don’t be afraid to reach for your dream. You might find it just like I did. And just like me, you too can live…
Happily Ever After