‘Tis the season of Wicked Deeds (A Holiday romance Book 1)
‘Tis the season of Wicked Deeds: Epilogue

(Two Years Later)

New York is every bit as amazing as they say in the books and movies.

Everyone is chasing a dream, hurrying down the streets in a variety of outfits, addicted to the hustle and bustle of the city.

Just a mini stroll on the sidewalks invigorates me.

However, none of it would be as amazing or exciting if it weren’t for the man I built a life with after uprooting myself to be here a year ago.

Kingston Bucher.

My rugged hunk of an obsessed stalker who stole my heart like it was his to claim.

Ever since I fell head over heels for him, I’ve been the happiest I’ve ever been. He adores the ground I walk on. Loves me unconditionally. Encourages me to chase my dreams. Showers me with countless orgasms every night. Owns my body like it’s a treasure.

Kingston is the other half of my soul.

He taught me that love really makes people brave because otherwise, I never would’ve decided to move to another country. Much less for a man.

Figures Kingston would be the one to prove me wrong.

After spending another week in Switzerland, it was time for us to enter the real world and burst our romantic bubble. We both had to fly back to our respective homes. It devastated me and I cried when I said bye to him at the airport.

The first six months of our relationship were hard as we juggled the highs and lows of a long-distance relationship. Kingston flew to meet me once a month but his hectic work schedule always took him back to New York.

We video-chatted, texted, and called each other daily, but the time difference made it difficult.

I hated the lonely nights. My days were spent distracted with my business, which was growing amazingly, but the lonesome evenings were the worst. Thankfully, I wasn’t completely alone throughout the whole ordeal. Another great thing that happened was being able to repair my relationship with my parents.

I also told Tina everything as soon as we met up after she returned from New York. Her reaction was pure ecstatic and she cried hearing about me falling in love. Although she was pissed that Julian pulled the same trick as her, it turned out to be lucky for me.

Meanwhile, Kingston’s company’s plan for a merger was still in the talking and strategizing phase and wouldn’t happen for a while.

When he told me that, I was crushed.

A fear grew in my chest that we wouldn’t work out. That the distance would kill our love and we’d grow apart. It felt like we were at an impasse. While my business was great, I couldn’t afford to fly to New York often, nor could I allow Kingston to always be the one to visit me.

I thought I was hiding my fears from him, but he knew my moods. Even through a video call, he knew I was panicking inside and imagining the worst-case scenario:

Him replaceing a girl who wasn’t so much trouble.

Except, I forgot the depth of his love for me because the same weekend, he showed up on my doorstep and declared he was moving to India, going as far as to leave his company and take a prestigious sports coach job just to be with me.

All to be with me.

Any lingering doubt I harbored that our love would fizzle out or we’d break up evaporated into dust.

There was no way I was going to let him walk away from the company he poured his blood, sweat, and tears into and made it what it is today.

I also knew with clarity that I didn’t want to be apart from him for even a second.

Until that point, he was making all the grand gestures.

It was my turn to show him I believed in us.

So, I told him I wanted to move to New York with him.

He didn’t say yes right away because his first concern was me leaving behind my business and my family. He couldn’t allow me to do that. I became even more sure of my decision and refused to change my mind.

It took a week until he realized I wasn’t being hasty and it was what I truly wanted. The rest is history.

Not once have I regretted that decision.

Of course, living in New York had its own challenges. Building my bakery business from scratch, dealing with the culture shock, and mainly accepting the fact that my man was a big deal here was challenging.

To me, he was my handsome boyfriend.

But to the rest of the world, he was a famous retired NBA player turned most sought-after sports agent, and I was the girl who tamed him and made him into a family man.

It was surreal and took me a while to get used to the paps following us around, wanting to know everything about our dating story and private life.

A year later, we’ve overcome every obstacle and have never been happier.

“Where’s my plate, darling?”

I shiver at Kingston’s husky voice in my ear and his body heat behind my back as he cages me against the front counter of my little café.

Yes, I finally have my own café now, just like I dreamt.

And it wouldn’t have been possible without Kingston’s support and unwavering belief that I’ll achieve it.

“What plate?” I feign confusion.

With a hand on my swollen belly—oh yeah, I’m five months pregnant—he slowly turns me around until I’m facing him. Holding my stomach protectively, he tilts my chin with his free hand and narrows his gaze. “You know we have a deal, Star. Either you leave a plate of goodies just for me or I’ll have to resort to stealing.”

“Oh that.” I act surprised. “Oops… I must’ve forgotten to leave you some today.”

I never do.

He knows it too, and sighs impatiently. “Where is it? I had a long day at work and I’ve been looking forward to eating those brownies, woman.”

“What happened?” I ask, caressing his tie. Kingston’s suit isn’t helping my hormones. I want to jump him and fuck his brains out, which is difficult to do when I’m pregnant.

“Just some drama with an arrogant player.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing you can’t handle, King,” I tell him and take his hand. “Come. I kept your brownies in the kitchen.”

He stops me. “You take a seat. I’ll go grab it.”

“Walking isn’t going to hurt the baby.” I roll my eyes.

“Sit down.” His tone is bossy. “I know your feet hurt if you don’t rest, which you never do while working.”

I don’t have a comeback because it’s true.

“I hate it when you’re right,” I grumble.

He smirks and goes to the back before returning with his goodies. It’s a miracle how he’s still in shape after eating my sweets every day.

Sitting in the empty chair beside me, he gives me a bite first before eating the brownie himself. I hit the jackpot with him.

I notice that he’s eating slowly when usually in a matter of minutes, he’d polish them all off. The reason hits me and I hold back my laughter.

“I know you’re stalling, King,” I tease.

He groans. “Let’s just go to a hotel tonight.”

I burst out in laughter, no longer being able to contain it. “We have to get it over with. Unlike you, I don’t see my best friend every day.”

We’ve invited Tina, who is in town, and Julian to our place tonight to announce something important.

The reason Kingston is making a fuss.

Our best friends hate each other with a fiery passion.

If they’re in the same room, well… It’s a recipe for disaster.

“I’m just saving us from being a witness to murder.”

“Tina isn’t going to hurt him,” I reply, shaking my head.

Kingston wipes his mouth and stares at me pointedly. “I’ve seen her with a knife one too many times around Julian.”

“We’ll survive tonight without any catastrophe.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Straightening to his full height, he helps me to my feet and bundles my body in a trench coat before guiding me outside to his Mercedes.

Once I’m tucked safely in the passenger seat with the seat belt on, he jogs around the hood and settles behind the wheel. Playing my favorite song, he pulls into the rush hour traffic while I glance out the window at the beautiful city lights.

My hand is lifted and placed on Kingston’s lap where he laces our fingers together.

An hour later, we reach our bungalow and ride down the driveway.

“Fuck!” Kingston mutters under his breath.

I see two cars parked side by side and shake my head. Our guests are already here. God only knows what state our house will be in.

“Should I call 911?” he suggests seriously as I slip out of the car.

“Shut up.”

The baby has made my pace as slow as a turtle. Apparently, the presence of our friends has slowed down Kingston’s.

Unlocking the front door with a key, we cross the threshold.

Immediately, we’re greeted by angry, loud voices.

“I didn’t lie in that article.”

“My client didn’t sleep with his boss’s daughter.”

“Of course you’d defend him,” Tina huffs. “Chances are you both probably fucked her together. You’ll get your dick wet in anyone.”

“Anyone but you.” Julian’s tone becomes smug. “Does that bother you?”

Kingston and I round the foyer, entering the living space. Everything is fine except the two figures at each other’s throats.

Yep—Tina is, in fact, holding a butcher knife, even though there’s not a piece of food around.

They pull apart when Kingston clears his throat.

The anger vanishes from my best friend’s face while Julian still glares down at her, dressed impeccably in a suit like my man.

“Tink!” Tina happily shouts and closes the gap. Kingston’s arm snakes out to catch the knife from her hand before she can put her arms around me. He puts it away while pointedly staring at me over Tina’s shoulder, while she wraps me in a bear hug. My belly is no obstacle. Bending down, she whispers to it, “And how’s my future niece?”

“We don’t know the sex yet,” I retort.

“It’s a girl, I know it.”

“Since when did you moonlight as a pediatrician?” taunts Julian from behind.

Tina shuts her eyes and breathes through her nose to calm herself down. When they open, she arches an eyebrow at me. “Did you really have to invite that sex-disease-ridden scum?”

“He’s Kingston’s best friend, Boo,” I remind her.

“Right!” Turning to Kingston, she suggests, “What will it take for you to replace him or, better yet, get rid of him?”

“I’m afraid that’s not an option,” he replies, amused by her proposition.

Her expression falls before she perks up again. “Then what was so important that you had to invite us together?”

“Why don’t you sit first?” I suggest.

“We both want you and Julian to be godparents to our kid,” blurts out Kingston unceremoniously.

All three of us gasp simultaneously.

“Kingston!” I hiss.

They both shout.

“Not him!”

“Why her?”

Kingston takes my elbow and pulls me toward the staircase while saying over his shoulder, “Think it over and let us know your answer by tomorrow.”

“King,” I protest. “We can’t leave.”

Stopping, he turns and gives me his puppy dog look that never fails to work. “Darling, I told you I had a bad day at work. A taste of your sweet pussy will make it better.”

“I can’t with you,” I say, hiding my smile.

“I love you too.” He teases, pinching my blushing cheeks.

I let him tug me to our bedroom because between his option and being the referee between our best friends, there’s no competition.

Kingston will win every time.