Epilogue
Hudson
“Shan! You about ready?” I call out to my girlfriend who is checking on one last patient before closing her laptop for a week and soaking up the sun at the coast.
Knox was kind enough to give us the keys to his cottage again, and I can’t wait to get our little girl in the ocean.
Serafina has started taking steps and she finds so much joy in sticking her little toes in the sand.
Shannon and I have made it a point to get her to the beach as often as we can, and this time, Monica, Ally, Camden, and Shannon’s parents are coming with us.
Of course, Knox’s house can’t support us all, so Shannon rented the house next door for them so Monica has extra help for the kids. It’s been amazing to watch her parents accept my sister, niece, and nephew into their fold. It’s almost like Monica and Shannon are sisters, and I’m the outsider.
I fucking love it.
“Yeah, Hud! Just wrapping up,” Shannon calls back as she comes down the stairs from the loft—which is now her home office.
We load Serafina and snacks in the car, and then we’re off.
The drive passes quickly and before we know it, we’re pulling up to Knox’s beach house.
“Gosh, I always forget how much I love this place,” Shannon muses, opening her car door.
“Yeah,” I agree. “It’s nice that Knox never wants to come down here. Means we can use it anytime we want.”
“I do wish he’d let us fix it up a little, though. A fresh coat of paint on the walls would really brighten the place up.”
Shannon’s statement forces me to hide a smile. One of my favorite things about being with Shannon are the ample opportunities I have to surprise her and keep her on her toes about what’s coming next.
Sometimes it’s something simple like a picnic in a long-forgotten part of the state park that turns into making love as the sun beats down on our backs. And sometimes it’s something a little bigger, like the opportunity to buy this place from Knox.
I’d approached him about it at the beginning of this summer.
He was hesitant because he’s really good at holding on to the past, but I finally got him to agree it was time for him to move on.
Shan and I buying it would be win-win because he could still use it if he ever had the desire, and he knows Shannon and I will take excellent care of it.
I can’t wait to tell her. Then, if she wants it, it’s ours for a very reasonable price.
I ended up keeping my job which I’m grateful for.
When the news hit that Steve Ellington is pushing for a mistrial and some of Gregor’s misdeeds came to light, my boss called me and told me my job was safe if I still wanted it.
I also ended up getting a decent bonus last quarter for having the highest numbers for things like total deliveries made, on-time deliveries, and customer satisfaction.
I plan to use it as part of the down payment to Knox.
“Mmhmm,” I finally hum noncommittally as I pull the cooler from the back of the SUV while Shannon works on unbuckling Serafina.
I’m coming up the steps behind her when I hear her gasp and I smile again. She’s so easy to make smile, and it makes my heart fucking soar every single time.
“Hud!” she yells with a whine. “How’d you get these in here without me seeing?”
Turning into the kitchen, I set the cooler down and kiss her cheek.
“Knox has a property manager, remember? But I was very specific about the variety I wanted him to get. Made him send me pictures and everything,” I laugh as I add the last part hastily, remembering how Greg never put a single thought into the things he got for her.
“They’re perfect,” she says, staring at the grocery-store variety bouquet on the counter as she adjusts Serafina on her hip.
We get unpacked and immediately head down to the beach. When we reach the sand, we find that my sister and her kids are already down here. Hugs are given and I take Serafina from Shannon so the girls can catch up while I get my toes wet.
“You guys know the rules,” I sternly warn Cam and Ally. “You don’t go in any farther than I do unless I say so, right?”
“Right,” they answer in unison.
I breathe a little easier during the day and at night, I sleep better. I no longer see images of Will’s mangled car when I close my eyes. I think coming back to the beach has really helped me with that. It feels like Will, himself, has helped me with that.
Standing at the water’s edge with Serafina in my arms and Cam and Ally flanking my sides, I feel like the luckiest sonofabitch in the world.
I’m pulled from my thoughts by more voices behind me and turn to see Shannon’s parents embracing everyone with hugs.
“Nanny! Poppy!” Cam and Ally yell as they also turn to see what the commotion is all about.
At the sound of their names, Shannon’s mom and dad drop to their knees in the sand and open their arms wide.
I’m so thankful for all that Hank and Barbara have added to our lives. My own parents are decent people, but as I look around, I notice they’re absent…again. In fact, they haven’t been to see me, Monica, or the kids since Will died.
And that’s a damn shame.
After dinner on the third night, Shannon and I finally have time to ourselves. I don’t know why my palms are so sweaty, but I guess asking her about buying Knox’s house is a proposal of sorts.
“Shan, you want to take a walk on the beach?”
“I’ll never say no to that.” She grins. “Can I wear your hoodie? You know I get cold when the sun goes down and the wind blows off the water.”
I wrap my arms around her waist, unable to stay away. “I do know that and yes, you can have anything of mine you want.”
“Anything, huh?” she asks, wagging her brows.
“Anything,” I confirm, excited for when the time comes to give her my last name.
It’s not terribly late, but the beach is deserted. The moon is reflecting off the ocean and thankfully, the breeze is light.
I’m already holding her hand because being this close to her and not touching her is a hideous idea. I stop under the pier for a little extra cover and gently push her against one of the pylons with a hand at her hip holding her in place.
“I fucking love you,” I tell her right before my hips become magnets, drawn to her pelvis. She grips my ass and pulls me into her harder. She knows what she does to me and she loves it.
“I fucking love you too” She giggles, giving my ass a squeeze.
I mean to tell her about Knox’s house, but our kiss quickly becomes heated and before I know it, she’s in my arms with her legs locked behind my back and her back pressed against the pylon as she ruts against me.
I’m only wearing soft workout shorts so my erection hits her forcefully.
“This reminds me of our first kiss. The day I dry-humped you on the couch outside,” she reminisces.
I huff a laugh. “I appreciate you remembering it as the day you dry-humped me and not the day I came in my pants like an inexperienced teenager.”
She nips at my jaw. “I loved that I did that to you.”
A wicked grin crosses my face even though it’s dark and I know she can’t see me. “I know you did. And I love what I’m about to do to you.”
Setting her on her feet, I push her farther into the shadows. Once I’m satisfied that we’re hidden by the cover of darkness, I strip my hoodie over her head and lay it in the sand before stripping off my shorts and laying them down as well.
“Hud!” Shannon whispers on a laugh. “What are you doing?”
“We’ve never had sex in the sand. I’m remedying that,” I tell her matter-of-factly.
She doesn’t fight me. If anything, she helps by stripping out of her leggings and her top.
“God, you’re beautiful,” I say in awe of the woman before me.
“You’re not so bad yourself.” She’s breathless as she trails her hand down my torso.
Breathless is exactly how I like her.
“Ride me,” I command, pulling her down on top of me. Not only do I know she enjoys this particular position, I’d rather it be me that gets sand in uncomfortable places instead of her. That sounds heroic, but as soon as she starts bouncing on my cock, any semblance of heroism goes out the window.
Who am I kidding? This is the most selfish position for me to watch her tits bounce in the moonlight.
I grip her hips to help grind her on my cock and slide her up and down, but eventually she cries, “More, Hud. I need more.”
Since I can’t control the angle from this position, I need one where I can.
“Get on all fours and face the water,” I tell her.
Climbing to my knees behind her, I pause to take in the beauty of the ocean waves. They seem to continue through the waves in her dark hair until they crash on the shore of her lower back.
I line myself up and push into her pussy, driving deep. I know I’ve hit the spot she likes when she arches her back and whimpers, “Fuck yes, Hud. Just like that.”
“Are you gonna come for me, baby?” I growl in her ear.
“Yes. So hard,” she breathes.
“Are you gonna make me come?” I ask aggressively, getting into character.
“Yes.” As soon as the word leaves her mouth, I feel her bear down on me.
“Fuck, baby. That’s so good,” I praise her. “You’re gripping me so fucking tight.”
When she no longer answers, I know she’s getting close. Too caught up in the sensations to find actual words to respond.
“That’s it,” I encourage. “I’m about to fill you up. This pussy takes my cock so well. Oh, yeah…oh…fuck…”
I lose the word-finding ability myself as I pump into her, releasing my load.
We used to play with a different kind of fire, but now we play with the fire of pregnancy.
She told me no more condoms, though, and I want nothing more than to see her pregnant with my next child—and yes, despite what everyone thinks, Serafina is mine.
As long as Shannon and I are together, that little girl is my daughter and that’s a hill I’m willing to die on—so really, we can’t lose here.
“Hudson, yes!” she screams, making me clamp a hand on her mouth. Playfully, I sink my teeth into her shoulder blade.