Epilogue
MASON
“How’s the decorations coming, Squirt?” I ask Kaylie who is currently concentrating on accordion heart-shaped tissue paper decorations.
Her little tongue is sticking out between her lips as she focuses on connecting them with paperclips to form the shape.
I’m hanging up the heart-shaped garland she insisted we needed to put in the hallway entrance.
“I almost got it,” she says, drawing the words out as she goes.
“Do you need help?”
“No.” A few more seconds of silence, then she shouts, “I did it!”
“Great job, Squirt! How many is that?” I ask, knowing she had a bag of twelve to do.
“Um, three.” She sounds a little deflated.
“It’s okay, baby. We don’t have to use all of them.
We still have the spiral hearts to hang from the ceiling and the stickers to put on the bathroom mirror.
I’m sure we will have plenty of decorations.
” We bought way too many, but I didn’t have the heart to tell her no.
When I told her I was planning a special night for her Sissy and I needed her help, she was so excited she put almost everything she saw in the basket.
“You got the flowers, right?” she asks me, and I nod.
“I sent some to her at work today and there’s more over there on the counter. I just need to put them in the vase with water. You can help me with that when you’re done with what you have in your hand.”
“Okay.” She giggles excitedly. “What about a present? Did you get Sissy a present? Boys are supposeda get girls presents for Valtine’s Day.
It’s in the rules.” The way she says that with her little hand on her hip makes me think she’s been listening to the women at the clubhouse.
I heard a few of them coaching Carter through his first Valentine’s Day crush and what he should do to impress the girl.
All of them adamantly telling him to “not ask the guys they don’t know shit about romance. ”
“I have her present right here in my pocket.”
“Can I see it?” She looks up at me, batting those little lashes, and I almost cave, almost. But I know better. As excited as she is, my little accomplice will let slip what I bought, and it’ll ruin the surprise.
“How about we let Ever see it first, since it’s for her? You can see it after she opens it, okay? You wouldn’t want Ever to open your presents before you did on your special day, would you?” Her little face scrunches up in disgust.
“Noooo.” She giggles.
“Okay, then. Let’s get this finished up before Miss Liz comes to take you to the farm for the night. I hear Caleb is waiting for you to brush and feed the horses today.”
“Yeah!” she squeals, jumping up and down. “Do you think I could get my own horse? Mr. Caleb said I could keep it at his farm with his horses so it won’t gets lonely.”
Oh, he did, did he?
“How about we see about a new house first with more room and a big fenced-in backyard you can play in? What do you think?”
“Does it have a playhouse and a swing set? Every backyard needs a playhouse and a swing set.”
“Oh, it does, huh?” I tease.
“Uh-huh. It’s in the rules.” She says with such conviction.
“We’ll have to see about that.”
Little shit.
The doorbell rings, and Kaylie takes off running to answer it. “No running in the house!” I shout, but there’s no real force behind my words. When she opens the door, Liz and Caleb are both standing there. Liz opens her arms and Kaylie runs right into them for a hug.
“You ready to go, sweet girl? Do you have your bags and Winston?” Liz asks, brushing Kaylie’s hair back off her face.
“Yes!” Kaylie pulls out of her embrace and runs down the hall to her room where her things are packed and ready on her bed.
“No running!” All three adults shout at the same time.
“Sorry!” Kaylie calls back.
“She’s been bouncing off the walls all day waiting to go see the horses,” I explain.
“Looks like a party store threw up in here.” Caleb laughs. “Kaylie helped with the decorations, I see.” They’re both smiling as they take in the scene before them.
I rub the back of my neck with my hand and shrug. “She wanted to be a part of Everly’s special night, and since she wasn’t going to be here to see any of it, I let her help set the scene. She seems very pleased with her choices.”
“Well, I’m sure Everly will love it,” Liz says, smiling.
“I’m ready.” Kaylie comes to a screeching halt in front of us, almost running into Caleb’s legs. His hands reach out to grab her shoulders to steady her.
“Whoa there. Slow down, Little Bit. You’re gonna hurt yourself if you’re not more careful.”
“Sorry. Can we go see the horses now, please?” Kaylie begs, swinging her body from side to side, bouncing her backpack off her little legs. “Please.”
“I guess that’s our cue,” Caleb laughs. “You two have fun and uh … nah, I’m not gonna say that. You just have fun.” He wiggles his brows. “We got the kid for as long as you need.”
“Appreciate it. You have a good time, Squirt, and don’t give Miss Liz or Caleb a hard time. You hear?” I squat down so Kaylie can hug my neck.
“She’s a good girl. Kaylie would never give anyone a hard time.”
“Except maybe Hawk,” Kaylie says, smiling. She shrugs her shoulders. “He swears a lot and I need a new helmet for Winston for when he rides in the basket on my bike.” We all laugh at that.
“Smart thinking, kid,” Liz says proudly. “Let’s see if we can’t get Sadie to help you earn some of that money for your swear jar.”
I bark out a laugh.
“Yes!” Kaylie pumps her fist in the air.
“You’re evil.” I tell Liz, who just smiles and shrugs like she couldn’t give two shits.
A short while later, I hear the door lock click and the handle rattle as Ever makes her way into the house. I don’t say anything, just wait by the hallway and watch her take everything in.
Candles are lit on the kitchen table with rose petals spread over the tablecloth.
Kaylie’s accordion hearts stand lopsided in the center.
Ever chuckles when she sees them. Silver spiral decorations hang from the ceiling with cardboard-colored conversation hearts with little sayings dangling from the ends.
Ever sets the bouquet of roses I sent to her at work on the table, looking around the room at all the little details. She’s smiling when her eyes finally land on me, leaning against the doorway.
“What is all of this?” She looks so happy and carefree. It’s a look I’m going to strive to keep on her face for the foreseeable future.
I shrug, stalking toward her. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Wife.” Taking her face in my hands, her hands come to rest on my hips, I kiss the soft skin of her neck. Ever moans. Her sweet scent fills my lungs, and I know I’ll never let her walk away.
When I pull back, it’s to find her smiling, looking at me through those long lashes. “I didn’t get you anything for Valentine’s Day,” she says, sounding apologetic.
I sweep a loose strand of hair from her face and tell her, “It’s okay. I have it on good authority that the boy is supposed to buy the girl a gift. It’s in the rules.”
Ever giggles. “I see. Well, if you have it on good authority, it must be true.”
“Mm-hmm.” I kiss her slowly, tasting her. My kiss is hungry, animalistic, and urgent. I want Everly. Right here, right now.
She reacts with a whimpering plea. I turn her, moving us toward the couch, lifting her by her ass as her legs wrap around me. Ever’s body begins rubbing against mine, seeking friction and release. Her nipples are tight under her thin cotton shirt, and the heat of her pussy rests against my stomach.
“Mason, please.” I love it when she begs. When she loses herself and her inhibitions, Everly is the most exquisite creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.
“Please, what?” I lower her to the couch, tugging her top off over her head as she goes down. Her lace bra does nothing to hide her stiff peaks. I lean down, capturing one in my lips through the lace, and bite down. Ever arches up, her back rising off the couch as she cries out.
Reaching for my back pocket, I find my knife and flick it open. Everly’s eyes widen at the sight of my blade, but I’d never hurt her. She knows I’d never hurt her.
With a devilish grin, I cut her bra, allowing her breasts to spill free.
Her breath catches, and her chest, neck, and cheeks are flushed pink with her arousal.
I dive back in and suckle each breast, giving them ample attention, ratcheting up Ever’s arousal.
Her hips thrust and thrash, but my weight on her thighs keep her pinned in place.
With one hand gripping her wrists, I hold her where I want her, not letting her touch me as I explore her beautiful body.
I rub my nose from her temple to her cheek, then lightly ghost hers with mine, lightly licking them with the tip of my tongue.
Ever gasps, and I take her mouth with mine, kissing her deeply, devouring every moan she gives me.
I kiss her until she’s breathless, pulling back only when I see her eyes have glazed over.
“God, you’re good at that,” she mumbles.
“You think that was good?” I put one hand between us and push past the waistband of her skirt and panties until I reach the small bundle of nerves.
I circle it slowly, with just the right amount of pressure, and watch as she squirms, fighting to free her hands.
I kiss her mouth, sliding my fingers further until they’re seated inside her and begin pumping them in and out in a rhythm I know will set her off.
Ever gasps and moans, her hips lifting just enough to ride my hand and chase her release. When the first orgasm hits, I bite her lip, causing her to cry out. Her eyes snap to mine, her heated glare one that promises retribution.
Bring it on, baby.