Epilogue
Caleb
Two years later
His name is Kayden Somner-Morgan, and he’s my husband, my best friend, my heart.
The name Kayden means fighter, it means strength, but above all, Kayden means love.
Before him, I always saw commitment as something restrictive, something that would limit my freedom, but now I know it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Kayden’s love has set me free in more ways than I can count.
My love for him has given me purpose and indescribable happiness.
The home we’ve built together is my small piece of heaven, a place where I can just rest and know I’m loved.
My husband is fucking striking, and I still get an acute case of hard-on whenever he’s close.
Like right now, when he’s gesturing excitedly, chatting away with one of the food vendors.
It’s the second year we’re turning the shipyard at Barnacle Cove Boatworks into the Barnacle Cove Market.
It started out as a summer event, every Saturday in July, but this year we decided to branch out and do a music and food festival during the entire last week of the month.
It’s not just local businesses and vendors from Barnacle Cove; it’s people from all over Massachusetts, a few even from Boston, who Emily recruited for us.
The festival ends with a concert by Kayden’s favorite band, The Emberline, who’ve also become close friends of ours, especially Silas and Jonah, who stay with us when they come.
During the tourist season, the festival takes up most of our free time, but it doesn’t really matter because it’s something Kayden and I do together that we’re passionate about.
Sal and Vivian help out, and a handful of our employees lend a hand, too.
Emily usually comes down a few weekends over the summer, bringing Derek with her, who has now been upgraded from lacrosse guy to boyfriend.
What started out as a passion project has become a small success in its own right, and it’s all thanks to my husband, who never stops dreaming or wanting things from life.
Kayden looks up, his eyes locking onto mine, a broad smile plastered across his face, his blond curls tucked under his light blue cap, the color clashing with his eyes.
As always, when Kayden looks at me like that, my stomach does this weird swoopy thing, and warmth pools in my chest. It’s his ‘my husband is my entire world’ look, and I’ll never get tired of it.
I love him so fucking much. He’s the brightest, most positive, and genuine person I know.
He’s so generous with his love and his smiles, and I still have to pinch myself sometimes, making sure I’m not in a coma somewhere, dreaming this amazing life up.
Kayden waves me over, and I move past the various food vendors and arts-and-crafts stands, greeting people on the way, shaking a few hands, and introducing myself to unfamiliar faces. “Hi, good to meet you. Welcome to Barnacle Cove. I’m Caleb Somner-Morgan. Yeah, that’s right, Kayden’s husband.”
Pride swells in my chest whenever I refer to myself as Kayden’s husband or to him as mine.
We were married last December in Yelapa.
When Camila and Santiago found out I’d proposed to Kayden, they insisted on throwing us a real Mexican wedding, and how could we say no?
At that point, Camila had pretty much adopted Kayden, fondly referring to him as mi hijo, a wet glimmer in her eyes.
The phrase it takes a village got an entirely new meaning because the entire town of Yelapa pretty much attended our wedding.
Sal gave Kayden away while Vivian, Camila, and Emily bawled their eyes out, and Santiago took his place next to me at the end of the aisle on the beach as my proud padrino. It was the best day of my life.
When I reach Kayden, he’s deeply engulfed in a conversation about music with two guys I haven’t seen before.
He wraps his arm around my waist and gives my cheek a soft peck.
He’s wearing one of my hoodies; his slender body almost drowning in it.
Immediately, the caveman in me comes out as the urge to throw him over my shoulder and take him somewhere private and do dirty, dirty things to him overwhelms me.
Looking into Kayden’s eyes, I see the same heat lingering, and his hand scoots a little further down my back, a silent promise of later in his touch.
Goosebumps scatter down my back as remnants of last night invade my mind.
Kayden underneath me, shaking, his lips shaped into a silent O as he came on my cock.
Kayden behind me, stroking my length while he took my ass.
While I’m usually on top, doing the fucking, we do sometimes shake things up a little, and Kayden fucks me with one of his strap-ons.
I’ve never bottomed for anyone else, but with Kayden, it feels right.
There isn’t a single way I won’t give myself to him.
He owns me entirely, just like I own him.
Kayden bounces with excitement as he introduces me.
“This is my husband, Caleb. He owns the shipyard with my dad. Babe, this is Avery and his husband, Ethan.” He gestures at the young couple in front of us.
“They came down from Boston. They heard about our small market at a café in Boston, can you believe that, babe? The owner visited us last year and hung up one of our flyers in his cafe.”
I shake hands with the couple, and then we proceed to show them around, Kayden and Avery in the front, striking up a conversation about Mexico, while I take Ethan into the workshop to show him our current building projects.
“Wow, this is amazing,” Ethan beams, his fingers trailing along the side of the boat, the wood still raw and paintless. “Your husband mentioned that you sell your boats in Canada, too.”
I nod, pride swelling in my chest. “We do.”
“That’s so cool.” There’s a barely noticeable twang to the younger man’s voice, a Southern note.
“Where are you from?” I ask, leading Ethan past the sanding machine and down to a larger sailboat. “Originally, I mean.”
“Texas,” he smiles. “Met Avery on a road trip a few years ago. He’s from Boston.” His eyes soften as he takes in the boat. “One day, he came to Eden, Texas, to get me, and that was it.” Ethan shrugs, then turns to look at me. “Never looked back.”
“Yeah, I know that feeling,” I say, looking back toward the market, my eyes searching the crowded space for Kayden until I find him with his dad and Avery in front of a wine tasting stand.
As if he can feel my eyes on him, he looks up, his gaze connecting with mine.
Digging his hand into his jeans pocket, he pulls out his phone, a cute frown between his eyebrows as he taps away on it, and seconds later, my phone pings in my pocket with a notification.
I pull it out and see it’s not a text, but a new message on Pulse.
My chest tightens, heat licking through my body.
We kept our profiles, but they’re set to private, and we only use them together.
I quickly look over my shoulder, but Ethan is preoccupied on the other side of the boat.
I open the app, and Kayden’s obscene message jumps in my face.
dicKmedown: I forgot to measure your cock with my tongue last night. I’m such a bad husband. I think you need to punish me later.
Fuck! That little shit. He does this all the time, riling me up in public, getting me all worked up when it’s hours until I can be inside him again. Come inside him again.
I quickly type back, my fingers shaking.
BigOnBacks: Baby, what do you think you’re doing?
My warning tone is all part of our game. Kayden looks up from his phone, tipping his chin in quiet challenge.
dicKmedown: Nothing. I just thought we’d have some fun later, but if you’re not into it… I guess I’ll just head over to Mom and Dad’s instead
BigOnBacks: The hell you are!
Kayden smirks at me, then laughs exaggeratedly at something Avery said, twirling the strings of my hoodie around and around his index finger, mirroring the way he twirled his tongue around my cockhead last night, edging me to the point of insanity.
Warmth pools in my core, and my dick hardens.
Kayden’s in for the spanking of a lifetime once I get my hands on him.
“I wish we could afford a boat,” Ethan says behind me, and I nearly drop my phone. “Maybe one day,” he sighs longingly.
“Yeah, maybe. I’ll give you guys a good deal.”
“Yeah? That’d be amazing. Thanks.”
My phone pings again, but I wait until Ethan heads back into the food hall to open it. I nearly swallow my tongue reading Kayden’s message.
dicKmedown: He’s cute, isn’t he? They both are
I groan because Kayden will often comment on other guys when we’re out together.
Right now, it’s foreplay, but sometimes it’s his insecurities coming into play.
It’s gotten better with time, especially after we got married, but I know he still compares himself to cishet men occasionally.
He’s not wrong, though. Ethan and Avery are a very attractive couple.
Especially the older guy, Avery. He’s someone who stands out with his shoulder-length blond hair and the almost ethereal look about him.
But they clearly only have eyes for each other.
Just like I only have eyes for Kayden. I type back, then start walking back to the food hall.
BigOnBacks: Are they? I didn’t notice
I look up in Kayden’s direction, noticing the small frown between his eyebrows as he reads my message. Before he can reply, I shoot him another.
BigOnBacks: Besides, I’m married to the most gorgeous man in the world
Kayden blushes, a slow smile spreading across his face. A few seconds go by, then my phone pings again.
dicKmedown: How gorgeous?
My heart soars in my chest. I love when he gets all fucking needy.
BigOnBacks: So fucking gorgeous he takes my breath away every goddamn second of every goddamn day. So fucking gorgeous, my dick only answers to his command and no one else’s
dicKmedown: Can we close down early?
BigOnBacks: Not a chance, sweetheart
dicKmedown: Pleeeaaase
BigOnBacks: Nope
dicKmedown: I hate you
I laugh, and a few people turn and look my way.
BigOnBacks: You started it, brat. I’ll decide when we finish it
dicKmedown: Ugh
“I love my life,” Kayden slurs, his sweaty body wrapped around mine.
“I love my life too,” I whisper against his ear, and he squirms, his cum soaked hole clenching around my thumb.
I just fucked him good and hard, and when I pulled out, he complained so loudly I plugged him with my thumb.
I do that sometimes when Kayden gets extra needy.
I love this version of him, all pliant and drowsy.
Speaking of needy, Maybell scratches against our bedroom door, a pitiful, muffled whimper seeping into our room.
Kayden yawns, snuggling up closer against me. “We should let her back in if we want to get any sleep.”
“You’re probably right, sweetheart.”
When I agreed to get a dog, Kayden assured me she’d sleep in the hallway and that ‘you won’t even know she’s here, babe.
’ Cut to eight months later, and the now fully grown Newfoundlander plants her massive body at the foot of our bed every chance she gets.
Our bed might be king-size, but it’s definitely not bear-size, and our girl Maybell is a bear of a dog.
“Maybell!” I yell. “Get your fluffy tush in here, girl!”
Kayden laughs against my chest, mumbling, “You’re such a softie. Such a good doggy daddy.”
There’s a heavy thump against the door before it swings open, and a discontented drama queen walks in.
“Hey, baby girl,” Kayden coos, patting the bed.
“Baby,” I huff, then groan when one hundred pounds of baby lands on my feet.
Perfect, just perfect. I’ve got one needy husband attached to my thumb and my feet immobilized by a soon-snoring Maybell.
Now I’ll sleep for shit, and we have to be up early tomorrow morning to take down the stands at the shipyard.
“You still sure about this?” I murmur against Kayden’s neck, his soft curls tickling my nose.
“I’m sure.” He wiggles his butt before he turns in my arms, his breath minty and warm against my face. “I’ve never been more sure about anything aside from when I gave you my yes in Mexico.”
My heart expands at the memory of that night, when I asked him to marry me. I was so fucking nervous; I was afraid I was going to faint.
Kayden cradles my chin in his hand. “Are you still sure?”
I ghost my lips against his. “Yeah, I’m sure. I can’t wait to start a family with you.”
“Me neither,” he sighs, burying his face against my neck, his fingers playing with my chest hair.
“I know it’ll probably be a while before they have a little girl or a little boy for us, but even if they call tomorrow or right now, I’m ready.
” He pauses. “Because we are good people, Caleb, and we’ll be great parents too. I just know it.”
“We will.” Kayden will be amazing; there’s no doubt about it. “It’s still a little scary, though,” I admit.
“It is, but we’ve got the most important thing.”
“What?”
“Love in abundance. We’re gonna love that kid so hard, Caleb, aren’t we? Just like our parents loved us.”
“We are, sweetheart. Now sleep. It’s late.”
I’m choking up because the truth is I wait for that call every day, too. I can’t wait to see the look on Kayden’s face when they call and tell him he’s going to be a dad.
“Okay,” Kayden yawns, then scoots even closer. “Love you, Caleb Somner-Morgan.” He says that every night, just before he drifts off to sleep, his warm body pressed against mine.
“Love you, Kayden Somner-Morgan.” I tell him that every night, too.
I never thought I’d have any of this: a husband in my arms, a dog in a coma in my bed, and my name on a waiting list at an adoption agency.
I never knew I wanted a family, kids, the whole shebang until I had Kayden.
He makes me want it all because he reminds me every day that we deserve it.
It’s like Kayden says, we’re good people.
We deserve good things. He had to go through so much to get to where he is today.
He’s a true fighter, relentless in his belief in us.
I know being a dad is just another thing he’ll put his whole heart into and excel at, and I can’t wait to be there, right by his side, every step of the way.
The End