Emilia

Aiden orders me through a note, I smile as I rip off my robe and rush out of the condo's back door. My bare feet happily dig into the sand, still warm from the Grecian sun pounding on it all day.

The bright moon illuminates Aiden's floating silhouette in the ocean, his muscular back disappears as he turns to look my way. A dimpled smile tilts on his face.

As I make my way to him, my feet dipping into the warm ocean water I think about how different life was for us four months ago. We've been blessed with four blissful months of no guards, no fear, and no distractions. But we've mourned the death of Dean, someone I wished I would have known longer. His sacrifice will never be forgotten.

My mom is under the impression that my father's job still brought lingering danger to us. The thought didn't bother me, he wouldn't have wanted her to know the truth. Leo met her after he recovered, and she knows now that dad was a detective. She adores Leo, and they talk regularly.

Aiden wraps me in his strong arms when I arrive to him, my legs wrap around his waist as the ocean water laps against our skin. We are finally on our vacation that I gifted him for Christmas. We've spent two weeks so far in Greece, experiencing things I never thought I would with him.

We're outside of our private condo on the outskirts of Greece. No one around for miles. Aiden's long fingers trail my skin, "I'm glad you followed my orders." He purrs, nuzzling his face into my neck. Planting kisses on my damp skin as his hands squeeze my breast.

"Happy Birthday." I tell him, kissing his damp cheek. He grins, his hands roaming my body.

I bite my lip as his hands caress my body, the ache for him grows as his length hardens against me. In a frenzy of passion, we dive into each other. Our lips colliding and our bodies melting into one another.

"You're mine." I moan, pushing my fingers through his hair as the water laps across my shoulders.

"As you're mine." He growls, shoving himself inside of me as the water cascades our skin. He makes love to me, underneath the bright moon.

***

We step out of the water; Aiden has a blanket laid out for us. He flicks his lighter, igniting his cigarette and a few candles he's set out. "Here." He hands me his shirt; I pull it over my body as he slips a pair of pants on.

With a devilish smirk, he hands me a glass of champagne.

The stars stare back at us as we gaze into each others eyes. I have to look away, even after all this time, his intensity for me makes me blush.

"Emilia, sweetheart." Aiden cups my chin, making me look at him. His sharp edges defined by the flickering candlelight. "I've never been able to look past the next investment, the next big deal, anything to make me the most successful man in the world."

His eyes bore into mine. "But I would give it all up, for you."

"Aww, Aiden." I smile, bringing my lips to his.

He runs a hand down my face gently, "Why? I don't understand after all the danger I've put into your life, you still stay." I don't understand his insecurities, I never will. I love him, it's simple.

I place my hand on his cheek, "We were together, I forget the rest." I quote, leaning my face into his warm hand.

"Whitman." He nods approvingly, the quote perfectly describes us. "I'm about to say a bunch of really cheesy stuff." He warns with a grin.

The water gently laps the shore in front of us as we sit on the blanket. His warm baritone fills my ears, "You found me, baby. When I didn't want to be found, you found me and made my life have meaning. Before I saw you, I saw nothing."

Tears roll down my cheeks, "Emilia Banks, when I look at you... I see forever."

He pulls the same velvet box from his pocket, my heart burst. I'll finally get to be his fiancée, and I'll get to see the ring he chose for me.

"I want." He shakes his head, "No, I need you to officially be mine." He smiles, full dimples invite me in for a kiss.

He stands and gets down on one knee, "Would you do me the absolute fucking honor of becoming my wife?"

"Yes!" I scream before he even opens the box.

With a chuckle, he lifts the top of the velvet box, I examine it looking for a ring but all I see is a key. An intricate key, small and iron.

Without saying a word, Aiden takes the key from it's box and brings it to the locks opening.

He repeats the words from when he gifted me the necklace He gives me a crooked grin, "I may have lied about the always part. I didn't want you to get any ideas."

The lock clicks and the bottom drops out, the contents drop into his open hand.

I examine his palm as he takes the ring from the clasp it was set in. With a wink, he turns it to me.

The most beautiful perfect ring. "How long?" I ask, admiring it in his hand. I've had this locket for a year around my neck.

"That's my secret." He bites his lip, twirling the ring in his finger. Showcasing the symbol of his love as he reaches for my hand.

I gasp at the sight of its beauty. A solitary diamond sits atop a thin rose gold band. It shimmers against the moonlight, stunningly perfect for me. His voice breaks me from my trance, "I may not be a perfect man, but I will love you unconditionally every second of every single day."

I'm speechless from his loving words, all I can do is watch him in awe.

"Marry me, Emilia. Be mine, always and make me the happiest fucking man on earth. You're my future. My solace at the end of every day." He slides the ring onto my finger, locking in our perfect destiny.

I cup his face, "Aiden, I don't see how you could ever be anything but mine." My lips linger against his, "Forever."

Here is the FINAL authors note on the emden series 🥺♥️ and of course, it wouldn't be me if it wasn't ridiculously long 😂

Wow, there are SO many things I want to say. First, thank you for your trust, kind messages, and endless support during the Emden Series!

I never imagined that within ten months of joining WattPad, I would be where I am now. With two published books!

I know I'm not an English major who has perfect grammar, but I have a passion for writing and I still can't fully comprehend the fandom that's been created by something I've written. I know it may sound dramatic and I understand that these stories have millions and millions of views, but I truly thought I may sell like twenty books lol. We were able to announce the sequel being published SEVEN days after the first book hit the shelves of amazon and kindle because of your insane love for emden and support of the first book. I was speechless for the first time in my life, and humbled by your love.

If you're like, wait Swan what about the wedding and Ash and Ricky and Howard and Pamela? All of those stories are concluded in the epilogue. I've mentioned this throughout the book so it's not a surprise, just like with Aiden the epilogues in my books are saved for the published versions. Months are spent editing and polishing these books, and that's where I believe the epilogues belong. I've loved the feedback on the published books and thank you so much for supporting me and the series! I really hope you check them out, Emilia's epilogue is SIXTEEN pages long lol You can get The Emden Series on Amazon, Kindle, and Barnes & Noble! 🤗

And I want to say to those who write, don't get discouraged when you send out your work to publishers and get no return call. Also don't get discouraged if a publisher finds you, but it doesn't work out. (ie in my experience they wanted me to remove the story from WattPad) I didn't because this is Emden's home, and that's why self publishing was the way to go for me. I've never felt more accomplished, joyful, and downright proud of myself for choosing the road I did. I would be HONORED if a traditional publishing company came to me and said "hey, we want you and we want you to keep your book on WattPad." But I am also HONORED to have self published, it's a win win for me either way. The stigma around self publishing is vanishing and that is a wonderful thing when the author has taken the proper steps like getting a professional editor, polishing the storyline, etc. You do not have to have a name on the spine of your book to be an author. That doesn't define you or your work whatsoever, so write to your hearts content and enjoy what you do.

I know I do.

I love you all,

Thank you

Gracias

Merci

Mahalo

Grazie

ありがとう

do jeh

Toda

Danke sehr

Khop Khun Mak Kha

Spasiba

감사합니다

Takk

Efharisto

With love,

H.L. Swan

I'll see you soon ♥️