Guarding Autumn (Crimson Point Security #3)

Epilogue

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Gavin suppressed a groan of pure contentment when he woke to the feel of Autumn curled up against him, warm and naked, the curve of her ass nestled snugly against his rapidly tightening groin. “Mornin’.”

“Mmm, mornin’.” She sighed and stretched in a catlike motion, stroking her soft, silken skin against his aroused flesh.

Soft, dawn light came through the partially open window above the headboard as they lay cuddled up in their king-size bed in the main bedroom of their small, two-story house on a hill north of town overlooking the sea. Birdsong filtered in from the backyard, along with the faint hush of the restless waves at the base of the cliff.

They’d lucked out on finding out about the listing while Autumn and Carly were packing up everything back in Kentucky. A brand new, upgraded heritage house that had been completely renovated by a local company run by a veteran named Beckett Hollister. It had been a case of love at first sight, so they’d jumped on it.

Three weeks later the deal had closed. Ten days ago, they had moved in. And six days after that...

A deep rumble vibrated in his chest as Autumn turned in his arms and began nuzzling the side of his neck. His fingers sifted through her hair while she began a trail of kisses over his bare chest, pausing to flick her tongue over his nipples before moving south.

He rolled onto his back when her hands moved up his thighs, his whole body tightening in anticipation as her fingers curled around the length of his erect cock and squeezed tight.

She rubbed her cheek against it. Darted her tongue out to glide a wet path around the underside of the head. He inhaled, fingers contracting in her hair as her lips parted and slid down to envelop him, her tongue doing naughty, wicked things to the ultrasensitive spot.

He drifted in a haze of pleasure, letting her enjoy sucking and teasing him, pushing him closer to the edge of his limit.

As good as it was, it got even better when she shoved the covers back to expose her head. With her blond hair all tousled around her face, she looked up at him with hungry green eyes and gave him a long, slow pull with her sexy mouth.

His muscles locked, pleasure rocketing up his spine. Just before he reached the point of no return she sat up and threw a thigh across his to straddle him. She shook her hair back and rose on her knees, one hand wrapped around him to hold him in position, the other stroking her rosy clit with her slender fingers.

He couldn’t speak, could barely breathe as she held his gaze and slowly, torturously sank down on him, taking him inch by inch into her slick heat. Christ. His hands tightened on her hips, fingers squeezing her soft flesh as she closed her eyes and rode him, moaning softly.

Slowly. Smoothly. Erotic as fuck while her fingers played between her legs and her tight pink nipples peaked out between locks of her hair, the strands turned into liquid flame by the rosy sunlight coming through the window above them.

He reached up to play with one of her nipples, gently squeezing and twisting the tip between his fingers, his dark titanium wedding band catching the light. Their wedding had been a simple one on the beach beneath the lighthouse, with his family, her parents, and the CPS crew there to celebrate. Carly had been the flower girl and maid of honor. Tris had been his best man.

Autumn’s expression tightened above him. She planted her free hand on his chest to give her leverage, and rocked a little faster.

Gavin stared up at her and let incredible sensations flood through him, drinking in the sight of her riding him like a fucking goddess as she took her pleasure from his cock, the slick sound of each glide making him insane.

Her features tightened more, her breathing coming shorter and faster as she neared the peak. He knew exactly when she got there. The tiny hitch in her breathing, the way her lips parted a split second before the gorgeous, throaty moan spilled out.

He felt her core contract around him, the ripples flowing up and down his swollen, bursting cock. He grabbed hold of her hips, pulled her down hard as he thrust up into her again and again.

His throttled shout mixed with her cry of release. It washed through him in wave after decadent wave, left him sinking into the bedding as Autumn’s weight came down to blanket him in satiny warmth.

He groaned and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight.

“Goddammit, I love you,” he murmured when he could remember how to speak again. She’d been on the pill for a few months now, eliminating the need for condoms.

She laughed softly against his chest. “I know.”

Smiling, he ran his fingers through her hair. He didn’t know how he’d gone all those years without her. He’d been fucking starving for her and hadn’t realized it.

“Now I’m all sticky,” she muttered.

“I’ll help clean you up in the shower,” he promised. With the shower head adjusted to the perfect setting and aimed right at the exact spot that made her quiver and beg. He’d never spent so much time in the shower in his life as he had these past few weeks with her.

A faint scratching at the door caught their attention. “Did you fill her food and water bowls before bed last night?” he asked.

“Yes, and I gave her extra so she’d let us sleep in,” Autumn said without lifting her head. “There’s no way she emptied it yet.”

A plaintive meow and more scratching said otherwise.

“Such a diva,” Autumn muttered.

He kissed the top of her head. “You stay. I’ll go give her a refill.” He rolled her to her side and got up, pausing a moment to stare down at his wife’s naked curves displayed against the white cotton sheets. She looked like a naughty fallen angel, all sated and tousled in their bed. His angel.

“Pervert,” she accused, and snatched the comforter over her.

Chuckling, he grabbed a pair of sweats from the dresser, tugged them on and went to open the bedroom door. Big yellow eyes stared up at him from within a mass of long black fur that needed to be brushed at least a couple times a week to keep from getting matted or giving her hairballs. Not his job, however.

Carly had been thrilled when they’d told her she could adopt a cat and dragged them to a local shelter that same afternoon. There they’d met Bella, who was connected to the CPS crew. After listening to Bella’s spiel about which cats had the hardest time being adopted, Carly had insisted on this black five-year-old female that was currently gazing up at Gavin with a pathetic expression as if she was on the brink of starvation.

“Hello, Meowy Pawpins.” He felt stupid saying it, but unfortunately that was the name Carly had chosen.

The spoiled creature meowed and wound back and forth through his ankles, trying to manipulate him into going down and filling up her dish. He shook his head. He’d never had a cat, didn’t consider himself a cat person, but she was pretty neat as far as felines went, and she made Carly ridiculously happy.

If only she’d just let them sleep in on the weekends. “Come on.”

She stayed right underfoot, doing her best to trip and kill him on the way down the stairs to the kitchen. When he rounded the corner, he saw her food and water dishes were still full and glared at her.

“Are you serious right now? You dragged me out of bed for nothing?” He could be asleep right now with Autumn draped over him like a naked blanket. But no, he was standing here in the kitchen watching the cat eat her breakfast while she purred, all because she’d wanted company while she ate.

He waited until she paused to sit back on her haunches and lick her lips, then scooped her up and carried her up the stairs. “You’re gonna stay with your girl for a while now.” He had another hour’s sleep curled up with Autumn, and then a long, intimate shower afterward that he was very much looking forward to.

Carly’s door was partly open from Meowy Pawpins’ earlier exit. She was curled up on her side facing the door, her sweet little profile bathed in soft morning light, a perfect blend of his and Autumn’s features. He still couldn’t believe neither he nor Autumn hadn’t ever put it together before.

He set the cat down on the bed next to Carly’s face. Carly opened her eyes, smiled sleepily and reached out a hand to stroke the cat’s back. “Hi, Pawpins,” she murmured sleepily.

The cat arched her back and held up her tail for Carly to stroke, purring and making little biscuits on Carly’s quilt. Gavin stroked his fingers over Carly’s hair. “Morning, squirt.”

“Morning, Dad.”

He stilled, his chest squeezing tight. It was the first time she’d called him that, and he didn’t care that the only reason she might have done it just now was because she was still half asleep.

He pressed his lips together for a moment, swallowed. “Go back to sleep,” he whispered, bending to kiss the top of her head. “It’s still early.”

“‘kay,” she murmured and closed her eyes, one hand tucking Pawpins closer to her.

Gavin left them and eased the door closed until it just rested against the jamb in case Pawpins wanted back out. In the hall, he closed his eyes and pulled in a deep, steadying breath, his heart suddenly too big for his ribcage.

Autumn was asleep when he went back into their room a minute later, sprawled on her stomach. Her eyes blinked open when he slid in beside her. Automatically, she edged closer to snuggle into him, draping one thigh across his as she nestled her cheek in the curve of his shoulder.

“Everything good?” she murmured drowsily.

“Yeah, perfect,” he whispered, gathering her close.

More perfect than he would ever have dared let himself dream up until a few months ago.

It was incredible to think that that day so many years before when she had shared her lunch with him and asked if he wanted to be friends had changed the trajectory of both their lives without either of them realizing it.

But that was Autumn. It had always been Autumn.

And now she and Carly were his to love and cherish forever.

—The End—

*TJ and Bristol’s story is next in Guarding Bristol*