Epilogue
EPILOGUE
COLTER
T wo years ago, if someone had told me this was going to be my life, I would have told them they didn’t know what they were talking about. But here I am, surrounded by all my friends, engaged to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.
Jason, Elias, Kanan, Davis, and Zach are all surrounding me, but I keep looking toward the bathrooms waiting for Poppy to come out. Of course, it may be a while because she went in there with Teresa, so I’m sure they’re talking.
“Congratulations, man. You deserve this.”
Zach holds his beer bottle up. “I’ve never seen you this happy. The woman must be a miracle worker or something.”
I nod, unable to keep my smile contained. “She’s the best.”
Davis nudges him in the ribs. “What about you, man? When are you going to settle down?”
He holds the beer in his hands, and I noticed he’s not drinking. “Haven’t you heard? I’m not tameable.”
We all laugh. Zach has no idea because love comes when you least expect it.
Elias holds his hand out. “Wait, haven’t you guys heard? He is going on his first assignment.”
It’s been two months since we found Zach and four of Walker’s other mercenaries in some jungle across the world, and Zach has been hard at it since he got home. The guys started a private security firm called Stronghold. They haven’t found a building—hell, I don’t think they’ve done most of the things people do before starting a business, but it seems Zach is already taking on clients.
“What’s the assignment?” I ask Zach.
Before he can answer, Elias cuts in. “He can handle it. He’s babysitting some kid.”
Zach looks at Elias. “She’s not a kid. She’s Logan’s little sister.”
Elias points at him, laughing. “Wait, hold up, you’re protecting your best friend’s little sister? Isn’t this the same woman that followed you around and told everyone you were her boyfriend?”
“Stop,” Zach says.
But there’s no stopping Elias once he gets going. “No, seriously, she’s the one that would tell people you were going to marry her someday.” He shakes his head. “Dude, you are in so much trouble, and you don’t even see it.”
Zach looks confused. “What do you mean?”
Davis takes pity on him. “Forget him. It will be fine, I’m sure. Just don’t break any rules and you’ll be good.”
“What rules?” Zach asks.
Davis looks at him. “Like messing around with your best friend’s sister.”
Zach shoves Davis playfully. “Fucker, you’re married to my sister and have kids with her. You broke all the damn rules.”
Davis doesn’t look the least bit ashamed and just shrugs his shoulders.
They keep giving each other shit, and as soon as I see Poppy walking toward me, I hold my hand out to her. “See you later, guys.”
I lead Poppy to the dance floor. “You okay?”
She melts into me. “Well, let’s see, I’m engaged to the man of my dreams, and you’re marrying me in two months. Yeah, I’d say I’m more than okay, Colter.”
I kiss her forehead because I know if I touch her lips right now, I won’t be able to keep it PG. “I wish we were already married.”
She rubs her pelvis against me. “Me too.”
I freeze against her. “Don’t say that to me because I’ll have you at the Justice of the Peace tomorrow.”
She puts her arms around my neck. “I told you I didn’t care where we got married. We can do that if you want to.”
I stop dancing and look into her eyes. “You would do it, too, wouldn’t you? If I asked you to marry me tomorrow, you would?”
She ruffles the hair at my nape. “You know I would.”
“Fuck.” I grunt. “Baby, there’s nothing I want more than to be married to you, but I’m not ruining your dream wedding. We’re going to do this right.”
She tilts her head to the side. She knows me too well, and it’s obvious when she asks, “What’s this about? What’s the rush? Are you leaving again?”
I shake my head. “I told you that was a one-off. It was Zach, I had to go.”
She interrupts me. “I know, I understand too. I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on in that head of yours.”
I let my hands slide down her back, and before I touch her ass, my fingers dig into her lower back. Hell, I can’t wait to get her home tonight. “Because I want to put a baby in you.”
She gasps and pulls back to search my eyes. “A baby?”
I bring my hand up and tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I want us to have a baby. I told you that I want a kid with brown hair and blue eyes like their momma.”
She puts a hand to her mouth, trying to contain her excitement. “Well, let’s go.”
She reaches for my hand, ready to walk out of here, and I laugh as I pull her to a stop. “Poppy, this is our engagement party. We just got here, and there’s no way I’m taking this away from you.”
She measures me with a heated look. “Okay, how about you take me to one of the rooms upstairs? We can be back before anyone notices we’re gone.”
“Honey, I’m yours. You want to sneak away for some love, I’m in.” I put my arm around her and try not to draw any attention to us as we walk through the room. We manage to get through the crowd and into the hallway, and we’re waiting on the elevator as I lean down to whisper, “You know you have to go off birth control if you want to have kids.”
She gives me the biggest smile. “I did. Last week when you said you couldn’t wait for us to have kids.” When I don’t say anything, she puts a hand at my waist. “Don’t be mad. I should have talked to you about it, but I wanted to surprise you and?—”
“Mad?” I push the elevator button again. “Where is this damn elevator?”
When it doesn’t come, I look up and down the hallway. “Come on.”
I pull her along with me and find a closet, pulling Poppy in with me. “I’m not mad, but I want to be inside you, and I can’t wait.”
She kicks off her shoes, slides down her panties, and hands them to me. I stuff them into my jacket pocket as she pulls my already hard cock out of my pants.
I hold her against the door and impale her on me in one quick thrust. “Yes.” She groans.
I push in and out of her, taking her deeper with each thrust. “I love you, Poppy. Take me, baby. Come for me and let me fill you up. I want to breed you.”
I reach between us, and with just a few strokes of her clit, she’s coming undone. I fill her up, claiming her, just because I want to say it again. Hell, I’ll say it every day for the rest of my life. “You’re mine, Poppy. Mine.”
She moans, squeezing my manhood with her tiny aftershocks. “And you’re mine.”