Chapter 18
“Hands on the wall. Keep them steady. Don’t slip.”
“That’s a tall order for the shower with no rubber duckies on the floor to keep us safe.”
My lips twitched as I slid my hands over her hips, feeling every curve, every touch. She was so damn soft, so perfect. And I was in trouble.
“We can invest in rubber duckies at our next house. Or maybe tomorrow here. I don’t care. Can’t really think with your naked ass pressed against my cock. As you well know.”
She laughed, then wiggled her hips so she rubbed against my dick, and I closed my eyes, trying to count to ten so I wouldn’t spurt all over her back.
“Minx.”
“You know me. We’re trying to save the environment here by showering together, and look at us, wasting all this water.”
“Then I better be quick about it.”
I slid my hands between her folds, and she moaned as she arched back into me.
“Lift your leg onto the edge right there. It’s non-skid. I’ll keep you safe.”
“You know, shower sex always looks better in movies than it is in real life.” Then she let out a large gasp as I slid balls deep into her in one thrust, and her knees began to shake. I kept her steady, and turned the water down a bit so we wouldn’t drown ourselves.
“What were you saying?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all. Do continue.”
I bit down on her shoulder gently before I began to move, my free hand sliding up and down her hips to cup her breasts. I pinched her nipples between my forefinger and thumb, and she sighed, pressing back into my hips.
“I feel so full.”
“Good. Now hold on tight. We’re not done.”
And then I really began to move, both of us arching into one another, the water sliding in between us. When my own knees began to shake, I turned off the water completely and dropped us both onto the plush rug in front of the open shower. I was really appreciative that this was one of the showers without a door or a curtain, and yet somehow didn’t get water everywhere.
I kissed her again and tapped her hips.
“Ride me.”
“On the bathroom floor? Aren’t I going to hurt your back?”
“The potential bruises would be worth it.”
Her eyes darkened at that, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. The bruises had healed but we still remembered the other ones that had been there and how they’d gotten there.
She moved, pulling me out of the past, and I held on, both of us arching into one another. When she finally came, I followed, bringing her down so I could capture her lips with mine. I pinched the side of her hip, loving the way she moaned into my mouth, that slight bit of pain increasing her orgasm.
“I love you.”
She smiled against my lips as she moved back so we could look into each other’s eyes.
“I love you too. And I’ll never get over hearing you say that.” She pushed my hair back from my face, then slid her fingers through my beard. “And I really love feeling you deep inside me. I never used to dirty talk before. I guess it’s just the Wilder way.” She winked as she said it, and I arched my hips, loving the way that her eyes nearly rolled back at that. “Okay. I have cakes to bake and cookies to make. I really can’t do that with you deep inside me.”
“I don’t know. I’m sure we could make it a thing.”
“Maybe we’ll play baker and the taster one day, but for now, I really do need to shower. Alone.” She slapped my chest as I tried to sit up, and we both groaned when she slid off me.
Thankfully, I got to watch her shower, and I was pretty sure she took her time on her breasts and between her thighs. So I stroked myself off again, and laughed when she stepped over me, clucking her tongue.
“That recovery time. I’m very blessed.”
She began to get ready, blow drying her hair and putting on clothes, and I quickly showered, marveling at the fact that we were getting ready together, and this was going to be our life. Things would change, where we lived and how we mixed our schedules, but this was it. This was the happy ever after I had never let myself have before.
I had never thought I would fall in love again, that I would be able to fall in love at all. But Aurora had proved that you could have second chances.
And I hoped to hell I proved the same to her.
We headed into work, and I was happy to be back on regular duty. The graze on my shoulder had healed quickly and would leave a scar next to the other one. I didn’t want to take a chance on the third times a charm gambit where that was concerned, however. I still had PT, but because it was only a graze and hadn’t gone through bone or muscle, that meant I had time to focus on getting everything set up at the property and making sure that I was in top shape.
“Running late, are you?”
I looked at Trace who just smirked.
“Is that a hickey on your neck? I’m pretty sure you just got here too.”
Trace flipped me off, and we looked over at the schedule boards.
“We’ve got a shit ton to do this week, so I’m glad you’re back up on the schedule.”
“Well, I’ll try not to get shot again.”
Trace glared at me. “You better not. I never want to see you bandaged and pale like that again. Scared the shit out of all of us.”
“I promise, boss. I won’t.”
“Stop calling me boss. We both know that we share this position. You’re a fucking Wilder, just like me.”
I smirked. “Look at you. Being assimilated into the family.”
“It’s called being married in the family. But hell, I’m glad you’re back full-time. Are you coming to the dinner?”
I shuddered. “Yes. Though I don’t know how we’re all going to fit in one house.”
“That’s why we’re having it here. Don’t worry, we have it all figured out. And make sure you bring Aurora.”
“Of course I’m going to bring Aurora. Why wouldn’t I?”
“That’s what we like to hear. I’m really fucking glad someone stole that wedding dress.”
I laughed outright, though we both looked over our shoulders just in case Alexis showed up.
“You’re really glad that she didn’t hear you say that.”
“Tell me about it. She’d kill us both.”
“And we’d deserve it.”
Trace and I got to work, and then we headed out on a normal day. We had a small afternoon wedding, a high tea, a retirement party, and a few drunk tourists at the winery. The distillery was up and running, with Wyatt’s assistant manager handling it, and everyone else moved about like a well-oiled machine.
It was odd to think that the Wilders had started out spread all over the world, trying to find a way to call themselves family. And now here we all were, making this place our own.
By the time we got off shift and I headed towards the restaurant to meet up with everyone, I was tired, but still exhilarated. Apparently morning sex was the way to start off the day. That was something I was going to put on the agenda, and hopefully Aurora would be on board with it.
As soon as I thought her name, she came through the door, and I smiled, opening my arms for her. She ran into them, and I laughed when she let out a shocked gasp and moved back.
“Did I hurt your shoulder?”
“I’m all healed, babe. Plus I think what we did this morning and last night would probably have hurt my shoulder more.” She blushed as Gabriel laughed from behind her, and I flipped my brother off before I kissed Aurora hard on the mouth, then making our way into the dining area.
Kendall and her team had done all of the cooking, and I could spot Aurora’s desserts everywhere. But everything was set up for family style, meaning we would feed ourselves, enjoy ourselves, and it would just be casual. Though, we did take up most of the space now.
Eli and Alexis were in the corner, laughing with Kylie as she giggled and ran around with Reese and Cassie, her cousins. Alexis looked a little green at the gills yet, and I knew soon there would be a new Wilder baby, probably with more following soon.
Evan and Kendall were over by the food, both of them laughing at each other, and then growling a bit. I loved their dynamic, and figured if it worked for them it could work for anyone.
Bethany and Lark sat at a small table, wine in hand as they laughed at something as Maddie walked up to them. When their men, Everett, East, and Elijah, came forward, the three men took their seats and everybody talked with and over one another, with wine being poured and cheese laid out for everyone.
Elliot moved around, as if he wanted to organize everybody, but it was his wife, Sidney, who pulled him down to sit, while Trace glared at him as if he’d beat Elliot’s ass if the guy got up again. And from the way Elliot blushed, he’d probably like that. And that was something I really didn’t want to know about my cousin.
They were all happily settled, everybody married, ready to start the next phase of their lives. And when I had first moved here, I had felt almost on the outside looking in, watching a life I could have had that had slipped through my fingers.
But now it was mine as well. I didn’t have to beg and ask any longer.
It could be mine.
Aurora slid her fingers into mine, as Wyatt and Gabriel came through, a guitar in Gabriel’s hand, and a case of booze in Wyatt’s.
“Excuse me, this is wine country,” Elijah said so primly that I had to snort.
“Well, we also have liquor. Imagine that.”
“I’m here for the liquor,” Elliot said, and Trace murmured something in his ear that I knew had to be a dirty joke when Sidney blushed and slapped Trace on the shoulder, and everybody laughed.
Brooks came in last, looking around at everyone quietly before smiling softly, and taking a seat next to Eli and Alexis. Aurora and I found seats by Lark, and then we were all eating and laughing, and I honestly couldn’t believe that this was my life.
Everything had started with a lost dress, and the loss of something more. But we had found our way out of the darkness, and I had to remember that every moment was precious. Every moment meant something.
You had to hold on to those moments. Hold on to those pieces. And then someday you could puzzle them together to figure out who you were and what you craved.
With Aurora at my side, blending in with my family like she had always been there, I knew that final puzzle piece had made its way in. There might be a few more along the way—in fact I knew there probably would be, but this was where we could settle. Where we could build our foundation.
And I would be forever grateful for that lost dress, and for the strength it took for the woman that I loved to give hers up.
The memories we made in this room and on this retreat would be forever ingrained on my soul. And I knew I was one lucky bastard.
Wyatt tilted his wine glass at me, I did the same with my mixed drink that he had made, and I smiled, knowing that this was a beginning, not an ending.
This was a moment. And I couldn’t wait for the next.