Epilogue #2
Marius smiles. “She was never better than you at anything.”
“Well, I didn’t stop with that little slam on her. As we were leaving, I told her to eat her heart out because she had two of you Kings and still didn’t get the brass ring.”
His eyes fill with love, and he hugs me tightly against him. “I love you for saying that. Thank you, Eden.”
I stroke the back of his neck thinking he needs a haircut. “I wasn’t going to let her get away with saying anything about you, baby. It’s been over a decade, but it was time for her to know she messed up when it came to you.”
He leans back and sighs, smiling at me. “You’re one of a kind, Duck. I love you. Don’t ever doubt that.”
“And I love you, Marius. I’m very protective of the people I love. There was no way I was going to let her say anything about you, especially in front of our daughter. Let her go back to her husband and be miserable because she knows she could have had you.”
Marius shakes his head as his expression turns serious. “I thought I loved her when all that happened with her and Theo. From the moment you and I got together, I realized whatever I felt for her wasn’t love. Not love like I feel for you. You and I were meant for one another.”
“I made sure to mention that Ava married Matthias, so we’re one big happy family. Trust me. She’s eating her heart out right now.”
He cradles my face in his strong hands and softly kisses me. “Duck, how did I get so lucky?”
Pretending to think about that question, I look up at the ceiling and answer, “Hmmm. Well, I was with a jackass who thought it would be good to pull my hair and punch me in the eye. The rest, as they say, is history.”
“I’m just glad I was there that day. I hate the idea of another man being the person to help you.”
He sounds genuinely concerned, like I would have just gone with any old guy who showed up in that hotel lobby. “Marius, I don’t know if it was meant to be or a happy circumstance, but I’d wanted you for years. Why do you think Ava tried to set us up all that time?”
“Really?”
I nod, smiling as I think back to the first time I told Ava I was interested in him. “Oh, yeah. In fact, you could say we have Maia to thank for us getting together.”
“How’s that?” he asks, clearly not believing she could have any part in our happiness, other than today, of course.
I look around to see if anyone is nearby and then slide my hand down the front of his shorts. Palming his already hard cock, I answer, “I didn’t lie when I told you Maia always said she walked funny after she was with you. That was too tempting for me not to find out if she was telling the truth.”
His eyelids slowly flutter shut as I slowly stroke him up and down. “Well, thank you to my ex-girlfriend.”
When I stop, his eyes open and he looks disappointed. “You know, I have to go out to the pool like this now.”
“You better go somewhere and handle this situation because that’s nothing short of creepy with little kids around.”
Suddenly, he gets a twinkle in his eye. “I’ve got an idea. We can go to the powder room off the living room. I’m game if you are.”
I roll my eyes at his suggestion. “The kids use that bathroom when they come in from swimming. Do you really want to risk any of them, including our daughter, walking in on us?”
His shoulders sag, and he sighs heavily. “Well, when you put it like that, I guess not. Too bad Ava and Matthias gave my old room to Matty.”
“Yeah, too bad.” I hesitate for a moment before confessing something that’s been on my mind for a while. “Marius, I was thinking that I’d like to have another baby.”
I watch his eyes grow big in utter shock. “Really? I thought having Lily put that thought right out of your head. You said it was pretty bad.”
“It wasn’t bad. That was just me talking in the moment.”
“Morning sickness for the first three months, back pain, high blood pressure brought on by pregnancy. Am I forgetting anything?” he asks.
I know what he’s trying to do. I haven’t forgotten how being pregnant made me feel. I just think I can handle it again.
“Yes, you forgot my ankles swelling up so I had to walk around with cankles for the last trimester.”
He levels his gaze on me and nods. “Yeah. That too. Are you sure you want to go through all of that again?”
“Honey, I know how hard it was with Lily, but maybe it won’t be with a second baby. Or if it’s worse, then I guess we’ll stop at two. I’m just thinking I’d like to have another child. What do you think?”
Marius smiles and kisses me. “I am always the man for that job, Duck. We can start right now. I’ll run out and tell Matthias and Ava they’re watching Lily for the day.
They’ll be fine with it. We can be back at the house in less than five minutes, assuming I drive fast, ten if I get stuck behind some slowpoke. ”
“We can wait for tonight. I think that would be okay, right?”
He pouts and lets out a heavy sigh. “I guess that would work too. Are you sure you don’t want to get freaky in the powder room?”
I take his hand and start to lead him toward the kitchen door. “I think we shouldn’t, but since you’re already raring to go, maybe we should take the long way out to the pool. That’ll give you time to get yourself in order.”
“You have this effect on me, Duck. I can’t help it. This is what happens when a man is crazy in love with his wife.”
I look back at him and smile. I know how lucky I am to have a man like Marius King.
Look for Forever King (King Brothers #5 coming soon!