Epilogue
Rex (Three Months Later)
I chuckled at the trail of shoes leading from Kitty's front door and down the hall.
Trainers, sandals, a pair of heels, and what I was certain were Cane's boots sitting two feet away from one another.
I added mine to the pile, and then added my coat to the rack, nearly tripping over Charlie's Velcro-strapped shoes in the process.
But what really brought a smile to my face was all the noise. It was thunderous. Music fought with voices. There was a clatter of dishes from the kitchen. And over it all, Charlie's voice cut clear through the whole mess. Though I didn't quite catch the question she asked.
I found Deepa and Kitty in the kitchen. They'd covered the island in bowls and boards, full of food at various stages of being assembled.
Kitty held a wooden spoon and was making a compelling case about the correct order of additions.
Deepa stood beside, reaching for a jar of tamarind chutney, seemingly oblivious to Kitty's argument.
Both of them were talking at the same time and neither was listening, and they both looked quite happy for it.
And then there was Rahat.
God, she looked fucking amazing in her yellow summer dress. It was my favourite color on her, and she knew it. She flung a tea towel over her shoulder and laughed at something Deepa said. She poked her tongue at me when she saw me.
I crossed the room, pulled her in for a hug, and kissed the top of her forehead, wanting to keep things PG in front of her Auntie, even if my cock did twitch more than a little at the sight of her.
"It's good to see you too," she said.
Lucky sat at the breakfast stool at the island. He was staring at the plate in front of him like a man terrified the food was about to eat him and not the other way around. He picked up a fork and put it down twice before asking, "What's this one again?"
"Bhel puri," I said, earning myself a smile from Deepa in the process.
He pushed it with the fork before taking the smallest bite known to mankind. "Why's it got sweet and spicy at the same time? Like, pick a lane, man?"
"Eat it," Kitty said.
His eyes flashed to mine with a look that said, help me! I only raised my hands in response. It's not my fight. Besides that stuff was delicious.
Rahat watched him over the rim of a glass, her lips pressed tight as she stifled a laugh.
I couldn't have been happier for her. She'd been waiting for this for months, and now her family were finally here with her in Colorado, even if it was only for a few weeks.
The face Lucky pulled when he tried a full fork-full though broke her restraints and she had to bury her face in my shoulder to muffle the cackle that escaped. After which, I slipped my hand in hers and we made the rounds.
Toni had found a gap between Bono's legs and decided it was a tunnel.
She toddled in one side and out the other, giggling in the process.
Bono lifted her upside down, which only made her giggle even more.
Cane sat a few feet away, and almost jumped from his seat to catch Toni when Bono swung her around.
There was no surprise he was protective as fuck over his little munchkin.
Rahat squeezed my hand and waved at Priya who was with Thea near the dining table.
Charlie was coming at them with what appeared to be a three part question on how babies learn to walk, why they can't walk as babies, and why Toni fell over as much as she did.
Rahat released my hand and made a beeline for them.
"You have to watch out," Caleb said to me from the arm of the sofa. "It looks like Rahat's getting baby fever. Amber nodded next to him. "Trust him," she said, and patted her growing belly. "He knows the look."
Caleb dived at her neck and nipped at her ear before whispering something in it. Amber laughed in response. I decided that was a good time to make my way across the room to Jameson and Carina.
"Where's Ashraf?" Carina asked as soon as I approached.
"Outside," I said. "I couldn't drag him away from my bike."
It was half-nine when the evening started winding down.
I knew how much it meant to Rahat to have everyone under the same roof.
It happened too infrequently these days, wrangling everyone together was often a momentous task.
But as we left the house, the night air hit my face, and Rahat took my hand, and I knew I couldn't get her home and out of that dress fast enough.
As soon as the front door closed behind us, I spun her around, backed her up against the door, and bunched the yellow fabric of her dress in my fists. "Nice dress," I said.
"I knew you'd like it." She bit her bottom lip and then leaned her head forward and bit mine.
I growled, pushed her tighter against the door, and claimed her mouth with mine, my tongue demanding everything she had to give.
Rahat groaned into my mouth and dug her fingers into the muscles of my shoulders, pulling me closer still.
I hiked the hem of her dress up and slid my hand over the curve of her thigh until I found the lace of her panties. I hooked my thumb in the waistband and shucked them down, letting them fall to the floor.
"Wrap your legs around me."
She leaped up so I could catch her and locked her long legs around my waist. I carried her through the dark house, but didn't make it to the bedroom. Instead, I lay her down on the sturdy oak dining table.
Her head fell back as I ran a trail of biting kisses down her throat, lingering over the spot where the faint, silver memory of a scar remained.
Months ago, I’d watched that skin turn purple under a pulley.
Now, it was flushed pink with heat. I pressed my lips there, and felt the frantic thud of her pulse against my mouth.
It was the most beautiful fucking things I’d ever felt.
It meant she was alive and safe. With me.
"Here?" she asked, but there was mischief in her voice.
"I've been waiting all fucking night," I muttered against her skin. "I'm not waiting another thirty feet."
I parted her thighs and pressed my lips to the heat of her core.
She tasted like fucking honey. Wanting to take my time, I started slowly with even strokes of my tongue, sweeping up her core and circling her clit.
I wanted to feel every millimetre of her, every fucking squirm she made beneath my tongue.
I blew air against her skin and teased her inner thighs with light nibbles before diving back in.
"Rex, please," she begged as her fingers dug into my hair, pulling me closer.
I didn't let up. I increased the pressure, and swirled my tongue around her clit while sliding two fingers inside.
Her grip on my hair grew tighter. I used a firm 'come hither' motion, stimulating her G-spot in sync with the suction of my mouth, holding her tight with my other hand as a reminder that I wasn't about to let her go.
She was soaking wet. Her body trembled as she reached the edge. I kept going, sucking harder and faster as her climax finally hit. She screamed my name as her walls pulsed around my fingers.
I withdrew and looked in those perfect fucking eyes while fumbling with my belt.
Rahat leaned forward to help. "I've been waiting all night too," she said. "Now, get the fuck inside me."
I didn't need to be told twice. I was fucking throbbing for it. As soon as my cock was free, I guided it to her entrance and pushed all the way to the hilt inside. The sound she made nearly ended me there and then.
"You're so fucking perfect," I said for the millionth time. Because it was true. "And you're mine."
"You'd better believe it," Rahat said.