Epilogue - Holly
Ten Months Later
I wake up with butterflies in my stomach. It’s Christmas morning and I can’t wait to give my gifts to Denton and Tabby.
I glance over at Denton who’s still fast asleep. I watch him, unable to tear my eyes away. His face is completely relaxed, those worry lines that sometimes appear between his brows completely smoothed away. His dark lashes rest against his cheeks, and his mouth is slightly parted.
He stirs and opens those gorgeous gray eyes and blinks sleepily. "Are you watching me again while I sleep?"
I smile softly. "I can't help myself."
He smiles lazily and reaches for me, while I shift in the bed so he can spoon me. He pulls me tight against his warm chest. "Mmm, I like it," he murmurs against my hair. "Means I get to wake up to your beautiful face."
I snuggle closer, breathing in his familiar scent. "Merry Christmas, my handsome husband."
"Merry Christmas, my beautiful wife." His voice is rough with sleep as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.
We’ve been married now for three months but I still can’t get enough of him calling me his wife.
“What time is it?” he asks.
I glance at the clock on the nightstand. "Still super early. Not even six yet."
“Do you think we have enough time for…” he asks, pulling me even closer to him. Close enough that I can feel his hardness against my behind.
“Yes, please. Let me lock the door first though.” I slip out of bed, lock the door and climb back in bed next to him.
“She was up so late last night since she was so excited. I can’t imagine she’ll be awake before seven.”
“Plenty of time…” he says, pulling me into him and kissing my neck.
His hands slide beneath my pajama top, skimming up my sides before finding their way to my breasts. I arch into his touch, my body responding instantly as his thumbs circle my nipples. A soft whimper escapes me despite my best efforts to stay quiet.
"Shh," he whispers against my ear, his voice husky. "You don't want to wake her."
I bite my lower lip, nodding as I push back against him, feeling him hard and ready behind me. The friction makes him tighten his grip slightly, his fingers working magic on my sensitive flesh.
"I want you," I whisper, reaching back to pull his body even closer to me.
He turns me in his arms, his mouth finding mine in a deep, hungry kiss. I slide my leg over his hip, pulling him closer as his hands continue their exploration. Every touch ignites heat within me.
"I love how responsive you are," he murmurs against my collarbone, trailing kisses down my neck.
“I can’t help myself with you.”
His hand slides lower, slipping beneath the waistband of my pajama pants. When his fingers find me slick and ready, we both groan softly.
"Inside me," I plead, guiding his hand. "Please."
He obliges, sliding two fingers into me while his thumb circles my clit. I bury my face against his shoulder to muffle my sounds as he works me toward the edge with practiced precision. This man knows my body so well. I’m still amazed how quickly he can make me come.
Denton shifts, scooting down the bed with purpose. My fingers tangle in his hair as he takes my nipple into his mouth, the warm wet sensation making me moan again.
"Oh god," I whisper, my voice a strained hush.
The combined sensations overwhelm me - his hot mouth tugging at my sensitive nipple, his fingers pumping steadily inside me, and his thumb making perfect circles around my clit. The pleasure builds rapidly, heat coiling tight in my belly, spreading through my limbs.
"Yes," I breathe, my hips rocking against his hand. "Don't stop."
He increases the pressure of his thumb slightly, curling his fingers to hit that perfect spot inside me. I clench around him, feeling myself racing toward the edge. My free hand grips his thigh as I try desperately to stay quiet.
When he rapidly flicks his tongue against my nipple while pressing firmly against my clit, I shatter completely. My body convulses and I have to press my mouth into the pillow to muffle my cries.
"That's it," he murmurs against my breast, his voice vibrating against my sensitive skin as he works me through the aftershocks.
He shifts again and guides the head of his cock to my entrance. He quickly pushes in, taking both of our breaths away.
I gasp as he buries himself inside me, feeling every inch of him stretch me. His movements are frantic, desperate, like he can't get deep enough.
"God, Holly," he groans against my ear, his breath hot and ragged. "You always feel so damn good. So tight."
He rocks into me with increasing urgency, one hand gripping my hip hard enough to leave marks while the other braces against the mattress. Each thrust sends waves of pleasure rippling through me, building on the aftershocks of my orgasm.
This position has him hitting that perfect spot inside me, and I have to bite my lip to keep from crying out.
"Oh my god," I whisper, my voice strained. "Keep going. I’m so close.”
His rhythm falters slightly as he adjusts, then resumes with renewed intensity.
"I want to feel you come again," he murmurs, his voice thick with desire.
He slips a hand between us, his fingers finding my clit. It’s exactly what I needed.
I feel my insides clench around his cock as I come hard. I ride the wave and just when it feels likes its over, I feel it return even more intensely.
My orgasm triggers Denton’s. I feel him tense, his breath catching as he follows me over the edge. His entire body shudders against mine. I wrap my arms around him, clinging to his broad shoulders as he pulses inside me.
"Damn that was good. I must have been a very good girl this year."
He chuckles, rolling over and pulling me against his chest.
I nestle into the crook of his arm, my head resting on his shoulder. We lie there for a few minutes, our breathing synchronizing in the quiet morning. The first hint of dawn is just beginning to filter through the curtains.
"Do you think she'll like her presents?" I ask, thinking of all the carefully wrapped packages under the tree with Tabby's name on them.
Denton's fingers draw circles on my bare shoulder. "Are you kidding? She's going to lose her mind over that art kit you got her. And the bicycle... I'm pretty sure we're going to spend the entire day outside while she rides it up and down the sidewalk."
I smile, picturing Tabby's face when she sees the shiny purple bike with streamers. And what will she think about my other present for her? The one Denton doesn’t even know about yet…
We climb out of bed and freshen up in the bathroom before heading out to the kitchen to make coffee.
I'm about to pour my first cup when I hear the telltale sound of Tabby's bedroom door flying open, followed by the rapid patter of bare feet racing down the hallway.
"Santa came! Santa came!" Tabby's voice rings through the apartment.
She skids into the living room, her Christmas-themed pajamas rumpled from sleep, hair sticking up in all directions.
She freezes, her eyes growing impossibly wide as she spots the purple bicycle with silver streamers parked proudly beside the tree.
For a split second, she's completely still—then she erupts.
"A BIKE!" she shrieks, jumping up and down with such force I'm sure the neighbors can hear her. "A PURPLE BIKE! WITH STREAMERS! DADDY! HOLLY! LOOK! SANTA brOUGHT ME A BIKE!"
Her joy is so pure, so unfiltered that my throat tightens. I glance at Denton, who's watching her with a soft smile that melts my heart all over again.
"Wow, Tabby Cat!" Denton says, kneeling down to her level. "Santa must think you've been really good this year."
She nods vigorously as she runs to the bike. Her small hands reverently touch the handlebars, the seat, the shiny bell. "Can I ride it? Can I ride it right now? Please, Daddy?"
Denton chuckles, ruffling her already messy hair. "Not inside the apartment, Tabby Cat. We have to wait until we go outside later."
"But Daddy..." Her lower lip juts out in a pout that would melt even the sternest heart.
"Tell you what," he says, crouching beside her. "We can set it up and adjust the seat height to make sure it fits you perfectly. That way it'll be all ready for when we go outside after breakfast."
She considers this compromise, her small face scrunched in thought. I can see the disappointment battling with the practical solution he's offering.
"Can I at least ring the bell?" she asks hopefully.
"Absolutely," Denton says.
Tabby's fingers immediately find the shiny silver bell, and she gives it an enthusiastic ping that echoes through the apartment. And she does it again. And again.
Her gaze then darts to the pile of wrapped presents under the tree.
"Look at all the other presents!" she gasps, disappointment forgotten as she dives toward the colorful packages. "There's so many!"
I follow her to the tree, coffee mug in hand, and sit cross-legged on the floor. "Should we see what else Santa brought?"
"Yes!" She grabs a rectangular package wrapped in snowman paper. "This one has my name on it!"
Wrapping paper flies in all directions as Tabby tears into her presents with unbridled excitement. Her eyes grow impossibly wider with each gift revealed.
"Look, Daddy! Look, Holly!" She holds up the deluxe art kit, her fingers already working to open the plastic clasps. "It has paints AND markers AND glitter glue!"
I can't help but smile at her enthusiasm as she carefully arranges the art supplies on the floor, organizing them by color before moving on to her next gift.
"A zebra!" she squeals, hugging the plush animal to her chest. "I'm going to name her Stripes!" She nuzzles her face against the soft black and white fur, then carefully introduces the zebra to her other stuffed animals sitting on the couch.
The dress-up clothes are an immediate hit. Tabby wastes no time pulling a sparkly purple princess cape over her pajamas, followed by a glittery tiara that sits crookedly on her messy hair.