Rue’s Epilogue
Six Months Later
“I need to know what we can and can’t do in the bedroom,” Rocky said to Dr. Whittaker.
“What do you mean?” She looked a bit confused.
“Well, Rue is kinda freaky. She likes to be tied up, spanked, and gagged. She’s been afraid to bring it up to you.”
“Oh?” She looked at me with her brow raised, and I shrugged.
“Yeah. I told her if it’s not safe for the baby, we have to stop.”
I was three months pregnant before I realized it, so we’d continued to do the freaky things I’d grown to love. However, as soon as Rocky found out I was carrying his child, our sex became very vanilla in comparison. It was still great, but it was nothing compared to when he used his toys.
“Dr. Whittaker, I see you looking at me sideways. Yes, I’m a freak, but it’s his fault. He helped me find my freaky side, and now, he won’t let her come outside to play.”
Dr. Whittaker got a good laugh from our conversation, but by the time we left her office, she assured Rocky that it was okay for us to resume our previous sex life. There were a few things she told us to avoid and warned that now wouldn’t be the time to introduce things we hadn’t done before. Other than that, we were good to go.
“I knew you were being too cautious,” I told him once we were in his truck.
“Nah. I can never be too cautious when it comes to you and my seed.”
“Whatever! I expect business as usual tonight, and I don’t want to hear excuses.”
He shook his head. “I think I’ve created a monster.”
“Don’t call me a monster. I’m pregnant and horny all the time. This is all your fault, Mister ‘I want to feel all of you with no barriers between us.’”
“You got me, and I knew exactly what I was doing.”
“Me too, and I walked right into your trap. No pun intended.”
“I fell in love with you the first time you cussed me out. After the second time, I started plotting. By the third time?—”
“Okay. You’re exaggerating. You trapped me. End of story. We need to figure out our living arrangements.”
Since we both had such unique living arrangements, it had been hard for us to decide what to do. Leaving my sisters would be hard, and I never expected to be considering it so soon.
Rocky spent most nights with me because I refused to sleep in the same bed with him while under his grandparents’ roof. His grandmother swore she wasn’t that old-fashioned, but I still wouldn’t do it.
“I figured it out already,” he said.
“Is it a secret, or did you plan to tell me?”
“I have a better idea…I’ll show you.”
We drove for about thirty minutes and ended up in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Onyx City in a small wealthy town called Onyx Springs. The gated community was lined with mansions occupied by professional athletes and other wealthy families.
“What are we doing here?”
He stopped outside one of the gates, cut the engine, then retrieved his phone from the console. After swiping the screen a few times, he gave it to me. I studied the screen, reading the description and swiping through the pictures.
“That’s this house, and I put an offer in on it.”
“Rock, this house is?—”
“I know how much it costs, but I think it’s perfect for thirteen people.”
“Thirt—thirteen people? You mean you want all of us to live together?”
“Baby, I know you don’t want to leave your sisters. Sage and Violet are still minors, and even though Daisy and Blossom are adults, they’re still trying to figure it out.”
“What about Rose?”
“She’s giving Russell a hard time, but I have faith they’ll end up together. This is unorthodox, but that’s okay. This is what will make us all happy.”
“How does your family feel about it?”
“They love the idea and have been waiting for me to talk to you about it.”
“Are there enough bedrooms for everyone?”
“The basement is set up like an apartment. It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a living space. I was thinking Rose, Daisy, and Blossom could have that area. There are three bedrooms on the main floor, four upstairs, and an in-law suite in the back that has two bedrooms. Russell already claimed it. There’s even a place for me and Russell to store our bikes during the cooler months. We’ll have plenty of room.”
“You’ve really thought this out.”
“I have, but I know you need time to process and talk to your sisters. The house has been on the market for almost a year, and the price has dropped several times.”
“I wonder why it hasn’t sold.”
“Because God was saving it for us.”
He started his truck and drove away from what might be our new home. Although I hadn’t seen the inside yet, I was sold, and I hoped my sisters were on board.
After being abused by Deacon for years and losing my parents, I didn’t plan to ever give another man the opportunity to hurt me. I didn't think I needed anything else as long as I had my son, my sisters, and the flower shop.
However, Rocky entered my life and changed my whole perspective. He made me realize that not all men were like Deacon. His willingness to protect me without knowing who or what he was protecting me from spoke volumes about the type of man he was.
Our relationship was still new, and we learned something new about each other every day. I was grateful for the man Rocky was, not only to me but also to my son. Their relationship was so genuine that watching them together often brought tears to my eyes.
If I haven’t learned anything else, I learned never to judge a book by its cover. Sometimes, the rough exterior that might make you turn up your nose is protecting a heart of gold.