The Hotel Room: His Broken Vows

Bonus Epilogue

The house was quiet, the kind of silence that only came in the deep hours of the night. Kate stirred slightly in bed, her hand brushing over the empty space beside her where James had been. She blinked groggily, her ears picking up the faint hum of the baby monitor on the nightstand.

Then, a soft voice drifted through the speaker.

“Shh, it’s okay, little one. Daddy’s here.”

Kate’s eyes opened fully, her heart tugging at the sound of James’s soothing tone. She reached for the monitor, holding it closer as she settled back into the pillows. The faint creak of the rocking chair filtered through the speaker, followed by the soft cooing of their newborn daughter.

“You were pretty hungry, huh?” James murmured, the faint sound of a bottle being adjusted audible. “Just like your big sister Lily. She used to eat like a champ too. When she was your size, she had this thing where she’d refuse to nap unless I sang to her. And let me tell you, sweetheart, I’m not a good singer.”

Kate smiled faintly in the dark, her eyes fluttering closed as she listened. She could picture him there, cradling their daughter in the rocking chair, his broad shoulders hunched protectively around her tiny form.

“And Noah—your big brother—he used to stay up way past his bedtime when he was little. I’d read him the same dinosaur book every night for months until I had it memorized. He’s a teenager now, but don’t let him fool you. He’s got the biggest heart.”

There was a pause, the faint sound of James chuckling softly. “They’re going to love you so much. Lily’s already been making cards for you, drawing our whole family with her crayons. She always puts you in this little bubble next to your mom. And Noah, well, he’s acting all cool about it, but I caught him googling how to hold a baby the other day.”

Kate’s chest ached, her heart swelling as she listened to the warmth in his voice. The man who had once been so lost, so unsure of himself, had grown into this—someone who embraced the role of husband and father with everything he had.

“And then there’s your mom,” James continued, his voice softening. “She’s...she’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met. You don’t know it yet, but you hit the jackpot with her. She’s strong and kind and so, so beautiful. And she loves you so much already. You’re so lucky to have her.”

Kate swallowed hard, blinking against the sting of tears. She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the warmth of his words settle there, steady and comforting.

“I’ll tell you a secret,” James went on, his voice dipping lower as if sharing something sacred. “Your mom’s the reason I’m the man I am today. I don’t deserve her, not really, but I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to.”

Kate couldn’t hold back the tears anymore, letting them spill quietly as she clutched the monitor. She heard the soft creak of the chair again and imagined James rocking gently, his large hands cradling their daughter with infinite care.

“You’ve got a big world waiting for you, little one,” he whispered. “But you don’t have to worry. I’ll be here. Always. Just like I’ll be here for your mom and your siblings. That’s my job—to protect all of you. To love you with everything I’ve got.”

Kate wiped at her cheeks, a bittersweet ache blooming in her chest. She didn’t move, didn’t interrupt the quiet moment between James and their daughter. She just lay there, listening to the man she loved pour his heart out to the newest member of their family, feeling more anchored, held, and embraced than she ever thought possible.

**

James slipped back into the bedroom, careful to ease the door closed behind him. The soft creak of the hinge made him wince, but the room remained still, bathed in the faint glow of the moonlight spilling through the curtains. He glanced at the bed.

Kate’s form was there, curled beneath the blanket. He moved toward his side of the bed, hoping to slip in without waking her.

The day—and night—had worn on him. Between work, the baby’s nighttime feeding, and the relentless stretch of parenting a newborn alongside two older kids, he was bone tired. But as he slid under the blanket, her voice stopped him in his tracks.

“James,” she murmured softly, tenderly.

His heart clenched. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” he whispered, his voice rough and low.

“You didn’t,” she said quietly. Her hand reached out, brushing against his arm, and he froze, caught between exhaustion and the unmistakable spark of her touch.

Her fingers slid down his forearm, and then lower, brushing over his stomach, her intent clear. James swallowed hard, his body immediately coming alive despite the deep fatigue weighing him down.

“Kate,” he murmured, his voice catching. “You should be resting.”

She moved closer, her warmth pressing against his side. “So should you,” she whispered, her breath warm against his neck.

His breath hitched, and whatever remnants of exhaustion had lingered evaporated instantly. He turned toward her, his hands finding her waist, pulling her closer. The curve of her body fit perfectly against his, and the soft press of her lips against his jaw sent a shiver racing down his spine.

“You sure?” he asked, his voice barely audible, almost reverent.

“Always,” she whispered, her lips brushing his ear.

James groaned softly, his arms tightening around her as he shifted to hover over her. He was tired—God, he was tired—but never too tired for this. Never too tired to feel the woman he loved, the woman who had given him everything, beneath him like this.

Her hands slid into his hair, her touch grounding him, centering him. The feel of her body under his, the familiar press of her curves, the way she arched toward him—it was everything.

Their mouths met, the kiss deep and consuming, as if they were trying to pour every unspoken word into the connection. James’s hands moved over her body, his fingertips brushing along the curve of her waist, sliding up her back, tangling in her hair.

Kate clutched at his shoulders, pulling him closer, her nails grazing his skin just enough to make him shiver. Their breaths mingled, warm and ragged, as their kisses turned slower, deeper, more deliberate. His lips trailed down her neck, lingering against her pulse, while her hands explored the solid planes of his chest and back, memorizing the warmth and strength of him.

The intimacy of their touch carried an electric charge, each caress building on the last, leaving them both breathless and hungry for more. They melted into each other, their movements instinctive and unguarded, losing themselves in the depth of their connection.

“I love you,” she whispered, her voice breaking slightly.

The words sent a rush of emotion through him, his heart swelling so much it almost hurt. He kissed her again, his lips moving against hers with a hunger that felt bottomless, endless.

“I love you,” he whispered back, his voice hoarse with the weight of everything he felt. He reached down, lining himself up, and as he pushed inside her, he let out a low, guttural groan.

This—this was where he belonged. In her arms, in her bed, in her body. Her warmth surrounded him, and he felt it in every fiber of his being—not just the physical pleasure but the emotional connection that had been reforged between them.

She held him tightly, her legs wrapping around his waist, her hands grasping his shoulders. He kissed her again, his movements slow and deliberate, savoring every moment, every sensation.

She whispered his name, her voice full of emotion, and he pressed his forehead to hers, his rhythm steady and unhurried. He wasn’t just making love to her. He was anchoring himself, grounding himself in the life they had rebuilt together.

“You’re my everything,” he murmured against her lips. “My everything, Kate.”