Epilogue
Jenson
Two Months Later…
Leah moved in the day we got back from the hospital with Amelia. It was obvious that I’d jumped to conclusions about what was going on with the guy I found her with when I returned from Paris, but what I hadn’t appreciated was the impact he had on Leah.
I didn’t think anything of it when she first asked me to go next door with her to grab some of her stuff, but as she lifted her arm to slide the key into the lock, her hand was trembling.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Of course.” Her eyes darted into each room as we walked towards the stairs.
“Leah, what’s wrong?”
“That guy, the one you saw. It’s crazy, I know, but I just got the idea he’d come back and…” a shudder ran through her body.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Reaching out I pulled her trembling body against mine. “It’ll be sorted in a few weeks, but in the meantime, you don’t need to come back in here. I’ll get everything you need and you’ll be safe next door with us.”
Glancing up, she stared into my eyes. In that moment I knew that what we were doing was right. The two of us were meant to be.
* * *
As promised, Leah didn’t step foot back in that house until it was in my name and the loan shark had been paid off. But even then, it wasn’t until Carl and his mate smashed through the wall to connect the two houses ready to create the kind of kitchen I’ve only been able to dream of that gave it closure.
It’s by far taking the biggest chunk of our renovation budget but Leah refused to have it any other way. She insisted we needed plenty of space so I could continue attempting to teach her how to cook, but more importantly, we needed a huge, sturdy kitchen table in the centre for other activities we like to take part in in the middle of the kitchen.
“Hey, what are you thinking about?” A delicate pair of hands slip around my sides and find their way under my t-shirt so she can trace the lines of my abs with her fingertips.
“Just imagining all the surfaces I can fuck you on when this room’s finished.”
“Hmmm.” Reaching up on her tiptoes, her lips find the exposed skin of my neck and she trails kisses along the hem of my shirt. “Anything would be better than the concrete floor we've got at the moment.”
“You know for a fact that wouldn’t stop me.”
Her cheeks heat as memories hit her. Seeing as we live with a nosy six-year-old, getting some alone time can be somewhat of a challenge, but we’ve been creative when needs be and have christened every room in my house. Now we’ve opened up into next door we’ve got a whole lot of new rooms to experiment in.
“It’s so weird school being back and not having Amelia here.”
“I know but you know what that means?” Leah’s eyebrow quirks up in question. “We can paint naked.”
Pulling her around to my front, I take in her paint covered vest and tiny shorts that I always loved so much.
“Hmmm, I could get on board with naked painting.” Her eyes roam over my body as if I’m already naked and my cock swells. It might have only been hours since I had her last but it’s never enough. I’m obsessed with my girl and I can’t see that changing anytime soon.
Stalking towards her, she has no choice but to back up to exactly where I want her.
“Do you know where we’re standing?”
She glances around, her brows drawing together. “Uh... in the kitchen?”
“Yeah, that much is kinda obvious, but no, I mean here. This exact spot.”
“You’re being weird.”
My heart begins to race knowing that my well-planned moment is about to happen. I can only hope it plays out exactly as I’ve imagined a million times over.
Taking her hand in mine, I lift it to my lips and kiss her knuckles.
“Jenson, what are you doing?”
“This spot right here is exactly where you sat the morning we met. You were perched right here on a chair wearing those exact damn shorts and a vest that barely covered your tits much like you are now.” My eyes flick down briefly to her paint speckled breasts and I lick my lips before continuing. “This spot is where I put my hands on you for the first time and experienced the shock that still shoots around my body now when I touch you.”
Leah sucks her bottom lip into her mouth and chews as she listens to what I’ve got to say, desperate to know where the hell I’m going with this.
“It’s something I want to feel for the rest of my life.” Squeezing her hand a little tighter, I drop to my knee, her gasp breaking through the sounds of my blood racing past my ears. “Leah Ward, will you allow me to feel that way for the rest of my life and agree to be my wife?”
“Jenson,” she whispers from behind the hand covering her gaping mouth. “Are you serious?”
Digging my hand into my pocket, I pull out the box that I realise I probably should have had in my hand a few minutes ago.
Flipping the lid open, I hold out the simple platinum solitaire diamond out for her to see. “Deadly serious. Will you be my wife, Leah?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” she squeals dropping down to her knees with me.
Pulling the ring from its cushion, I take her trembling hand in mine and slide her new piece of jewellery up her finger.
“Oh my god,” she whispers as she wiggles her fingers, making the diamond sparkle in the spotlights shining down on us. “I’m going to be Mrs Hale.”
Leaning over her, I force her to lay back onto the dusty concrete floor. Settling between her legs, I take her cheeks in my hands. “Leah Hale has a good ring to it, don’t you think?”
Her response is just a moan as her heels dig into my arse, pressing my length against her core. “I think we need some more practice if you’re going to make an honest woman out of me.”
“My pleasure, baby. My pleasure.”
Leah
One year later
The make-up artist has finished my make-up (and put some gloss on Amelia’s lips at her insistence), the hair stylist has done both mine and Amelia’s hair in soft waves, and we stand in mine and Jenson’s bedroom looking at our reflections.
“We look like the prettiest princesses that there ever were.” Amelia grins, touching her tiara. “Now come on and marry my daddy so I can give you my wedding present because I’m BURSTING.”
I laugh and we make our way carefully downstairs where I’m greeted in the doorway by Carl. It seems crazy to think that the man who will take my father’s place walking me down the aisle is the giant bear of a man who came to my door a little over a year ago to help renovate my parents’ old house. He’s become such a good friend to me and to Jenson and the daft sod cried when I asked him. He’s looking a little teary now.
“Do not start, because if you ruin my make-up I will end you.” I warn him.
“You both look so beautiful. It’s an honour to escort you to the service.”
There is ice sparkling on the ground like a dazzling white carpet, and a crispness to the air, but it has stayed rain free with clear skies and that’s all I could ask for. The limo takes me to the hotel where my groom awaits.
As I walk towards Jenson, sweet music playing, he stares at me and mouths, “I love you.”
We stand side by side making our vows and then the officiant announces the moment I’ve been desperate for. Jenson’s kiss holds everything in it, with promises for the future, but I already have everything I need and more.
We have a meal with Jenson’s family and with our close friends. His parents are fabulous though they live so far away we don’t see them that often. I hope that when my children have children, I’m close enough to be a huge part of their lives.
Yes, my children. Plural. I am adopting Amelia and neither of them know it but there’s another little person growing in my tummy right now.
We arrive home and Amelia grabs my hand. “Can I do it now, Daddy, please? I waited all the damn day.”
I snigger as Jenson’s eyes roll. “What is it, cupcake?” I ask her.
“Well, I know you’re gonna adopt me to be my mummy, but I want you to know that you already are. I’m not calling you Leah anymore. Nuh-uh. I love you, Mummy.”
Tears roll down my face as I clutch this sweet girl. “I love you too, Amelia. And guess what?” I look from Amelia to my husband. “So does the baby brother or sister I have growing inside my tummy.”
“Whaaaattt?” she screams. “Oh my god, oh my god. I’m gonna be a big sister.” Then she bursts into tears. Jenson sweeps me into his arms and kisses me hard, placing his hand on my tummy.
“Really? Our baby is growing in there?”
“Really.” I nod.
We gather Amelia in a hug and ask if she’s okay. She rubs her eyes and says. “I’m just so bloody happy.”
“I’ll be talking to you about your language later, young lady.” Jenson scolds. “But on this occasion I’d just like to say I’m just so bloody happy too.”
We stand in a family hug in our family home and I just know that somewhere my parents also have a tear of happiness in their eyes.
Because I came home and found home.
THE END