EPILOGUE
CHASE
Nine months later
I stand in the middle of the nursery, the late fall sunshine glowing against the soft yellow walls. Harry is warm and heavy in my arms, his tiny mouth slack with milk-drunk sleep, his sister already sleeping in the crib. And I wonder how I ever thought, even for a second, that I wasn’t built for this. That I’d ever walk away. As I kiss the top of my son’s head, breathing in the smell of baby lotion and fresh laundry, my heart feels like it might burst. I would crawl through fire every single hour of every day for this family.
I lower him carefully, laying him beside his sister, whispering the same words I tell them every day. “I love you. I’ll always be here for you.”
When I straighten, Serena is in the doorway, watching me. And for a second, it hits me so hard I can barely breathe. I came so close to screwing everything up. Her eyes shine like she knows exactly what I’m thinking, and a grin splits across my face. Two strides and I’ve got her hand in mine, tugging her gently into the hall and closing the nursery door behind us.
“You think we’ve got time for a shower before one of them wakes up?” she asks, tugging at the hem of the old tee of mine hanging off her frame.
I brush a strand of hair behind her ear, feeling myself harden as my hand lingers against her cheek. “I like the sound of that.”
She laughs, and the sound lights me up inside. “Chase, look at me. I’m exhausted; I’ve got milk stains on my shirt. You can’t possibly want?—”
I cut her off with a kiss that is deep and filled with how much I want her, how I’ll never get enough of her.
“You’ve never looked more beautiful,” I whisper against her lips.
Before she can argue, I sweep her into my arms. Her laughter mixes with mine as I carry her into the bathroom, setting her down only long enough to twist on the faucet. Steam rolls around us.
Then I lean against the wall, letting my voice drop low and rough. “Take off your clothes.”
Her smile is teasing as she peels the tee over her head, then her bra, and fuck, my knees nearly give out at the sight of her breasts, fuller now, her body more gorgeous than ever.
She strips the rest away, long legs and soft curves making me ache. She steps under the spray, water running in rivulets over her skin, and I’m naked and joining her in seconds, pulling her back against me, kissing her like I can’t get enough. I break away, just for a second, just to whisper against her mouth, “I love you.”
I feel her lips tug into a smile. “I love you, too.” Her words end in a gasp of pleasure as my hand slips between her thighs. A moan escapes her as I trail my mouth down her neck.
“I’m going to spend the rest of my life taking care of you, princess,” I growl against her skin. “You, and our family. Forever.”
And with the water pounding around us, and Serena unraveling in my arms, I’ve never meant anything more. Every word. Every touch.
Forever.
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