Because you all reviewed so nicely and so quickly....I proudly present to you 'The Epilogue'....enjoy!

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It was Friday 4th October, seven twenty-one am, and it was my twenty-fifth birthday. I flung back the covers,

‘Chase!’ I whispered excitedly, peeking around as though my six-foot-something lover would be hiding in the wardrobe.

I’d almost danced naked into the main room when I realised I could hear the murmur of male voices and came to the swift conclusion that I’d not see in my twenty-fifth year by amusing the entire team. I stopped to throw on a dressing gown and burst into the main room,

‘Hey!’

Greg and Saul were sipping coffee and poring over maps. They looked up with mildly irritated expressions,

‘Hey.’

I waited expectantly, beaming,

‘So?’

Greg looked up with a patient smile,

‘You want coffee, sugar?’

‘No,’ I blinked, ‘it’s my birthday.’

‘Your…oh, man, shit. Hey,’ he grinned, ‘happy birthday.’

‘Yeah,’ Saul smiled, ‘happy birthday.’

‘You forgot?’ I felt my good mood disappearing.

They exchanged a look that clearly said ‘women!’

‘We never knew,’ Greg shrugged, ‘you didn’t tell us.’

‘But you remembered,’ I slipped into a seat, ‘last year.’

‘We’re guys,’ Greg looked amused, ‘we don’t pay attention to that sort of thing.’

‘Sorry,’ Saul stood up, ‘so, shall I get you that coffee?’

I nodded unhappily,

‘Sure.’

Vik stepped out of his bedroom, casting me a foul look,

‘Jesus. Couldn’t you keep your voice down?’

‘It’s her birthday,’ Greg said defensively, ‘and it’s almost seven-thirty, you lazy bugger.’

‘Your birthday?’ Vik smiled slowly, sleeping leaving his eyes, ‘oh yeah! Chase was saying something about it a while ago.’

‘He was?’ I sighed with pleasure, ‘like what?’

‘I don’t remember. I wasn’t really paying much attention,’ he kissed the top of my head as he passed, ‘but happy birthday, sugar, how old are you?’

‘Twenty-five.’

He nodded,

‘Good age. Close to thirty though.’

I could feel my smile disappear,

‘Half-way…through the twenties…close to…’

He nodded seriously

‘Yeah. It’s like…a milestone.’

‘Twenty-five? But that’s still young,’ I gulped.

He shrugged.

‘If you say. But like, you know…’

‘Stop being such a bastard,’ Greg snapped, ‘baby,’ he took my hand, ‘don’t stress. You remember that chick, Lisa?’

‘Your date?’

‘She was twenty-eight and she was still attractive, right?’

‘Yeah, she…’

‘And she told me that she’d not bothered with the anti-wrinkle-cream shit until the year before. So you’ve still got two years before you have to worry.’

‘Two years…’ I blinked, ‘oh god…’

Saul set down the coffee,

‘Sweet and black.’

‘Thanks,’ I forced a smile.

‘No problem,’ he sat down, rearranged the maps, ‘so, Greg, do you think…’

‘Sorry,’ I interrupted, ‘is Chase here? Antonio?’

‘I think Antonio’s sleeping. But Chase is out.’

‘Out?’

‘Yeah. He had some case to finish off.’

‘Today?’

‘Yeah,’ Saul caught my expression, ‘you two had plans?’

‘No,’ I shook my head, ‘but I guess I assumed…’

‘Sorry, sugar,’ Greg sighed, ‘how about we order pizza tonight? We can hang out and celebrate your birthday.’

‘Um…’

‘It’ll be great,’ Vik nodded enthusiastically, ‘get out a couple of scary movies…see if there’s a game on…beers and pizza….it’ll be perfect, right?’

I nodded,

‘Right.’

And then they turned back to the maps and I was dismissed.

---

I was given a list of chores and sent packing. As I trailed from one weaponry shop to another, I could feel my good mood slowly becoming a festering, seething pile of frustration. So when my phone rang towards noon, my greeting was vicious,

‘What!’

‘Um…happy birthday?’

‘What do you want Antonio?’

‘What’s the matter?’

‘Nothing.’

‘You sure?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Okay…well, um, I was going to see if you wanted to go for lunch?’

‘Somewhere nice?’

‘I guess,’ he teased, ‘considering my baby sister will only turn twenty-five once!’

‘Great! Where are you?’

‘Elmhurst.’

‘Okay, well, I’ll see you outside Ozer in half an hour.’

Ozer was my favourite restaurant and I cheered up slightly as I ate plates of their Middle-eastern dishes and drank their best wine. Antonio studied me,

‘You having a good birthday?’

My face fell,

‘It’s okay.’

‘Okay?’

‘I mean, better now than it was earlier.’

‘Why?’

I shrugged,

‘The guys forgot.’

His eyes widened,

‘Chase?’

‘Yeah,’ I muttered, toying with the tacky leather bangle he’d won for me a year ago at Cuban street-festival, ‘it doesn’t matter.’

‘It does,’ he frowned, ‘the idiot.’

‘Don’t say anything,’ I sighed, ‘he’ll feel bad. I’ll remind him later.’

‘I’ll remind with a…’

I arched a brow, Antonio resorted to angry mutterings,

‘Well, he wants you to pick him from his job.’

I sighed,

‘When?’

‘Later. He’ll call when he’s ready.’

Antonio studied my face,

‘He makes you happy?’

‘Yes,’ I smiled, ‘he does.’

And I wasn’t lying. Perhaps our relationship wasn’t conventional but there wasn’t a single aspect of Chase that I’d change.

‘Yeah, well,’ Antonio grumbled, ‘I still think you can do better than a mercenary….’

I laughed and kissed his cheek,

‘You’re my big brother. No one’s good enough. You don’t even like knowing that I’ve had sex…’

‘Don’t say it!’ Antonio clamped his hands over his ears, ‘don’t say it!’

‘Antonio, I just…’

‘Don’t,’ he shuddered, ‘all you and Chase do is hold hands…I know that…I do…don’t I?’

‘Yeah,’ I laughed, signalling for the bill, ‘that’s what we do.’

Chase didn’t even call. I got a text at half-five that said, rather charmingly, ‘Hpy Bday. In G.H, WC1 in one hr. Lv U. X.’

---

I stepped into the hotel and looked around hopefully. The Garrett Hotel was ridiculously exclusive and I flushed as my heels clicked on the marble, people turning to look at me in my torn jeans and shrunken T-shirt. I stopped in irritated frustration when I failed to see Chase in the lobby or seated at the bar.

‘Idiot,’ I muttered, rifling through my purse for my phone, ‘if he coluld…’

There was the faintest sound of movement and then a strong hand skimmed down my hair,

‘Etta.’

I closed my eyes as he brushed my hair aside and kissed the nape of my neck,

‘Chase,’ I sighed.

He moved to stand in front of me and I actually felt my heart stop. He was in a elegantly tailored suit, fit to emphasise the body beneath and simple enough to prevent a woman ignoring the beautiful face above. His green eyes were as hot and dangerous as a flame,

‘You’re beautiful,’ he said quietly, ‘incredibly beautiful.’

‘Chase,’ I swallowed, terrified that if I looked any longer I’d drool, ‘what are you doing?’

‘It is your birthday, vrai?’

I nodded slowly,

‘Yes. But…’

‘And it is customary, is it not, for a man to do something special for his woman’s birthday?’

‘But you had work…a job…’

‘Oui. Seducing you.’

Oh wow…

‘Um…that’s not necessary.’

He smiled in amusement,

‘Oh, I know it’s not necessary. But this will, I hope, make you happy.’

‘I don’t doubt it.’

He grinned with male smugness,

‘I don’t intend to disappoint. Close your eyes.’

‘Huh…’

‘Etta.’

I closed my eyes obediently,

‘I don’t see…’

He laid a strong, rough finger against my lips,

‘Shh-shh.’

I felt the whisper of silk against my skin, the feel of it against my temples and my lashes when I blinked.

‘Good girl,’ he kissed me softly, ‘you will come?’

As usual, the question was more of a demand and I found myself being led across the floor with one of his hands holding both of mine and his other firmly settled on the small of my back. Suddenly I felt the floor shudder-an elevator. I turned my head towards his presence,

‘Chase, where…’

‘Etta,’ my name was a warning this time, breathed against my mouth, ‘remember? Shh.’

God, I shook my head to clear a lust-induced fog, since when had I found the caveman routine so ridiculously sexy? Oh yeah, since Chase sauntered his way into my life.

I almost screamed when he stepped out of the lift, slinging me over his shoulder. It was even harder not to sigh though when he held me still with a hand on my butt.

‘Cute,’ he patted it, ‘stop wriggling.’

A few seconds of walking, the click of a door and then I was set down on my feet and after a brief kiss, turned around.

‘All done. Look,’ he said, untying the scarf.

I stared in disbelief, a hotel room. An enormous one. Sumptuous and sexy with a four-poster before a blazing fire, the red velvet drapes catching the firelight. A discreet door leading to what I imagined was a bathroom. An enormous window had a door leading to a balcony with sumptuous views over the river and ancient buildings. But most of all, I saw that the room was lit with scattered candles, that on the centre pillow of the bed was a blood-red rose and that music played softly ,

‘Oh…’ I breathed, ‘oh…’

He stepped behind me,

‘The most beautiful woman in the world deserves to be made love to in a most beautiful setting.’

‘Chase,’ I swallowed hard as he tugged off my coat, tossed into a chair, ‘I don’t deserve…’

‘Etta,’ his hand tightened in my hair, ‘no one insults that woman I love. Not even herself.’

‘But…’

‘Every day,’ he murmured, ‘I make love to you, I wake up wrapped around you and fall asleep to the sound of your breathing. And I forget,’ he tugged at the slim scarf and threw it towards the coat, ‘how beautiful you are. How lucky I am. But sometimes I remember, how much you have sacrificed, how you gave up everything you knew.’

‘Chase…’ the flames blurred with tears.

‘I have taken you from your friends and your family. I keep you in a secret building with no female company. And when I remember all this,’ he unfastened the first hook on my dress, kissed the skin it revealed, ‘I want to tell you, thank you.’

And then he thanked me properly; in the way I liked best.

‘Chase,’ I turned to look at him, sprawled beside me on the bed, ‘Chase?’

He opened his eyes, stifling a yawn,

‘Hmm.’

‘You know what you said before? About what I’ve given up?’

He nodded slowly, warily,

‘Yes.’

I shifted closer,

‘Do you really believe that?’

He looked utterly puzzled now,

‘Do I usually say things I don’t mean?’

‘No, but….You’re not usually stupid either.’

Puzzled turned to insult,

‘What does that mean?’

I brushed his hair off his face,

‘I’ve given up nothing, Chase.’

‘Baby,’ he kissed my forehead, ‘when you were a schoolgirl, did you think this is how your life would be at twenty-five? Loving a man who doesn’t exist legally, living in a secret building surrounded by men who’d take a life without blinking, rarely going out with friends and…’

‘Chase,’ I silenced him with a soft kiss, ‘is that what you really think?’ I sprawled over his chest, regarding him seriously, ‘is it?’

‘Do we have to talk about this now?’ he trailed his hands down my back, kissed me hungrily, ‘come on, Etta…babe…’

‘No,’ I said firmly, ‘listen. Chase, I love you. I don’t care whether you’re legally here or there. What matters is that you’re with me. And the guys? They’re ruthless because their job requires it of them, I’ve never had reason to fear any of them. I’m not stupid,’ I said quietly, ‘I know that when we play and wrestle-I know that you all hold back.’

‘Busted,’ he smiled.

I sighed and arched an eyebrow,

‘Were you listening to me?’

‘Mm-hmm. Bottom line is-you’re okay with everything.’

‘Yeah,’ I nodded, ‘I’m okay.’

‘Good thing,’ he rolled abruptly, trapping me beneath him, ‘but you wouldn’t refuse being spoilt rotten occasionally?’

‘Of course not,’ I purred beneath his hot, caressing hands, ‘Chase…’

‘Then lie still,’ he held my arms above my head, brushed kisses down my front, ‘and let me spoil you.’

I fell asleep hours later with one final thought, that perhaps being twenty-five wasn’t so bad after all.

I opened my eyes with a sleepy smile as I felt a rough fingertip trail up my spine slowly, then with equal precision, trail back down. I barely suppressed a shiver, not wanting the caress to end, but I knew I’d been caught out when he kissed the nape of my neck lightly,

‘Morning, sugar.’

I groaned,

‘That was so nice.’

‘I can do nicer.’

‘I know,’ I turned to smile at him, ‘every inch of me would testify to that.’

He gave me an arrogant smile,

‘If you remember clearly, I did promise you that I’d make it worth your while.’

‘You’ve certainly achieved your aim,’ I nestled closer, sighing as his arms wrapped around me, ‘I love you.’

‘I know,’ he brushed my hair back from my face, ‘love you too.’

‘This has been the most wonderful birthday,’ I murmured, ‘thank you. I was going to kill the guys…and you.’

He smiled,

‘They didn’t really forget. I promised that we would do something as a group tomorrow. But I wanted one night alone, just us two.’

‘And it’s been wonderful.’

He shifted back slightly,

‘I haven’t even given you your present yet.’

‘My present?’ I pulled a face, ‘I thought this was the present.’

He laughed and shook his head,

‘No. Sit up a minute, babe.’

I sat up obediently, leaning against the headboard,

‘Done.’

He grinned and kissed my neck,

‘Though you could always wait until this morning.’

‘I could…’ I said sweetly, ‘but I’d rather not.’

He kissed the hollow between my breasts,

‘I suppose this means I ought to bring it for you.’

‘That would be nice.’

He slipped from the bed,

‘I don’t know that you’ll like it.’

‘I’m sure its wonderful,’ I smiled as he crossed the room-naked.

He caught my gaze,

‘What are you smirking at?’

‘You,’ I purred, ‘it’s a wonderful view.’

‘You’re not such a bad eyeful yourself,’ he smiled.

He picked up a small parcel and returned to the bed,

‘Happy Birthday, beautiful.’

I kissed him softly,

‘Thank you.’

‘Open it first,’ he sat back.

I sat up slightly, holding the blankets around her. I untied the ribbon carefully, aware of his eyes on my face. I unfolded the delicate paper slowly and froze. The firelight caught the cut of the diamonds and they sparkled against the burgundy velvet.

‘Chase,’ I gulped.

He studied me,

‘Well, put it on.’

I touched it reverently,

‘Oh Chase…it’s…Chase…’

‘I know my name, sweetheart. Let’s see how it looks.’

I looked at him, my eyes bright with tears,

‘It’s beautiful.’

He smiled at my expression,

‘It’s a necklace, babe, don’t cry.’

‘I’m not crying,’ I said, sniffing.

He picked it up with a sigh and clasped it behind my neck. He smoothed down the diamond and moved back to look at me. I touched it cautiously,

‘What do you think?’

‘It was made for you,’ he indicated the mirror, ‘look.’

I sat up and saw the sparkle against my skin. I turned to him,

‘It’s lovely.’

‘I saw it,’ he said quietly, ‘and knew it was for you. Priceless, unique and breathtaking.’

I leant over and kissed him,

‘Thank you, Chase.’

He tugged me down to lie against him,

‘I wasn’t sure that you’d like it. You never wear jewellery.’

‘This is so…’ I sighed, ‘Chase, you shouldn’t have,’ my face broke into a smile, ‘but I’m glad you did. Thank you.’

‘You’re lying naked, but for a scrap of jewellery, in my bed and you’re thanking me?’

I giggled,

‘I lie naked in your bed most days.’

His expression changed suddenly, darkened.

‘Chase?’ I frowned, ‘Chase, what’s…’

He held me still,

‘Every day.’

‘Huh?’

‘I want you in my bed everyday.’

‘Okay,’ I said, baffled, ‘I do anyway.’

‘No,’ his grip on my arms tightened and I saw that it was not anger but fear that filled him, ‘promise me.’

‘I promise,’ I freed one arm and touched his cheek, ‘Chase, I love you.’

He leant his forehead against my own,

‘Etta,’ he swallowed, ‘will you marry me?’

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A/N: hehehe...hope you liked it! Thanks for being the most incredible reviewers ever and helping me develop so much as a writer. I hope I have kept you suitably entertained and look forward to reading YOUR FICS this summer! Thank you and love you xxx