Epilogue
HEATH
The nursery smells like lavender and baby powder, the late afternoon sun spilling through the gauzy curtains in golden stripes across the hardwood. Hallie sits in the rocking chair, our daughter, Luna, cradled against her chest, her tiny fingers curled around Hallie's thumb.
The sight of them like this—my wife, my daughter—hits me like a punch to the gut every damn time.
I lean against the doorframe, arms crossed, just watching.
Hallie glances up, her sage green eyes soft. "You're staring again?"
"Can't help it." My voice comes out rougher than I mean it to. "You two are the most beautiful view I've ever seen."
A smile tugs at her lips, but she ducks her head, her cheeks flushing. The movement makes her tits shift under the thin fabric of her nursing tank, the outline of her nipples visible. My cock twitches, remembering how full they are now, how sweet the milk tastes when I?—
Down, boy. Not the time.
The doorbell rings, sharp and sudden, cutting through the quiet.
I push off the frame. "I'll get it."
As soon as I front door, her mother, Fiona, lets herself in, arms laden with bags. She beams at me, her eyes bright. "Heath! Look at you. It's as if you haven't slept for months."
I grunt, taking the bags from her before she drops them. "Hello to you, too."
She laughs, swatting my arm as she breezes past me. "Where's my grandbaby?"
"Nursery." I follow her down the hall, the weight of the gifts in my hands a reminder of how much has changed. A year ago, this house was just walls and silence. Now it's full of noise, laughter, crying, the soft hum of Hallie singing under her breath.
Her mother stops in the doorway, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh, Hallie. She's perfect."
Hallie looks up, her smile warm. "Hey, Mom."
She rushes forward, cooing over Luna, and I set the bags down before stepping back. This is their moment.
But Hallie's eyes find mine over her mother's shoulder, and she mouths, Stay.
So I do.
I lean against the wall, arms crossed, watching as her mother carefully lifts Luna into her arms. The kid's got Hallie's dark hair. Her mother's already crying, of course.
"She's got your eyes and hair," she says, voice thick.
Hallie laughs softly. "She's got Heath's everything else."
I smirk. "I don't think so. She's beautiful because she looks just like you."
Her mother nods. She turns back to Hallie, adjusting Luna's clothes. "You doing okay, sweetheart? You need anything?"
Hallie shakes her head, her fingers brushing over the baby's cheek. "I'm good. Really."
Her mother studies her for a long moment, then nods. "You look happy."
Hallie's gaze flicks to me, just for a second, before she smiles. "I am."
Something tight in my chest loosens.
Fiona hands Luna back to Hallie, then straightens, wiping her eyes. "Alright, I'll let you two get some rest. But I'm coming back tomorrow with more gifts."
Hallie laughs. "Mom, we don't need?—"
"Hush. It's my job." She leans down, pressing a kiss to Hallie's forehead, then Luna's. She turns to me, her expression softening. "Take care of them."
I nod. "Always."
She squeezes my arm before heading out, and I follow her to the door, watching until her car pulls away.
When I step back into the nursery, Hallie's watching me, Luna asleep against her chest. The late sun catches the gold of her engagement ring.
"You good?" I ask, my voice low.
She nods, her fingers tracing slow circles on Luna's back. "Better than good."
I cross the room, crouching in front of her, my hand finding her knee. "Yeah?"
Her lips curve, her eyes warm. "Yeah."
I lean in, pressing a kiss to her mouth, slow and deep. She tastes like mint and something sweeter, something that's just hers.
When I pull back, her gaze drops to my lips, then back up. "You know," she murmurs, "the baby's asleep." My cock stirs, remembering the last time we had a quiet moment like this. "Is it my turn yet?"
She laughs, soft and breathy. "To what?"
I groan, my hand sliding up her thigh. "Fuck, Hallie. You know what. I want to taste."
She bites her lip, her eyes darkening. "Tonight."
I stand, lifting Luna from her arms, careful not to wake her. Hallie watches as I settle our daughter into the crib, tucking the blanket around her.
When I turn back, Hallie's standing, her arms sliding around my waist, her head resting against my chest.
I hold her, breathing her in.
This. This is everything.
The nursery door clicks shut behind me, soft as a whisper. Luna's finally asleep in the bassinet, swaddled tight, her tiny chest rising and falling in slow, even breaths.
Hallie's already in bed. She blinks up at me, slow and heavy-lidded, like she's fighting sleep.
"Tired?" I murmur, crossing the room.
She hums, stretching her arms overhead. The movement pulls her nightgown tight across her chest, the fabric damp in places, clinging to the swell of her. My mouth goes dry.
"Yes," she admits, her voice rough with exhaustion. "I got sleepy reminiscing."
I sit beside her, my hands finding her knees. "About what?"
She smiles, her fingers tangling in the ends of my hair. "I was thinking about our wedding."
A laugh rumbles in my chest. "Which part?"
"The part where I tripped walking down the aisle." Her lips twitch. "Right in front of your friends."
"They helped you, right?"
"They laughed first, but they stopped after seeing you glaring at them."
I grin, remembering. "Damn right I did."
She laughs, the sound warm and tired. "And then there was the cake."
I groan. "Don't remind me."
"You insisted on feeding me a bite. And then you insisted on licking the frosting off my lips." Her fingers tighten in my hair, pulling just enough to make my scalp prickle. "In front of everyone."
"They were jealous."
She snorts. "They were embarrassed."
I lean in, my mouth brushing the shell of her ear. "It was too tempting."
Hallie's eyelids flutter, heavy with the weight of another long day. My fingers trace idle circles over her knee, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin cotton of her nightgown.
"You're falling asleep," I murmur, my voice low.
She hums, a soft, sleepy sound. "Mmm. Maybe."
I shift closer, my hands sliding up her thighs, thumbs pressing into the soft flesh. "Can I?"
She doesn't open her eyes, but her lips curve into a smile. "You never have to ask."
My fingers find the hem of her nightgown, dragging it up until the fabric pools around her waist. Her tits spill free, full and heavy, the areolas dark and swollen. A pearl of milk glistens at the tip of one nipple, trembling before it drips down the curve of her breast. My cock twitches.
I lean in, my mouth closing over the stiff peak. The first pull sends a jolt through me… warm, rich. Hallie gasps, her back arching just enough to press more of herself against my lips. I groan, my tongue swirling around the tight bud, sucking harder, drawing out every drop.
Her fingers tangle in my hair, not pulling, just holding on. "Mmm…"
Her milk coats my throat, thick and sweet, the taste of her flooding my senses. My free hand cups her other breast, squeezing, rolling the nipple between my fingers until another bead of liquid gold wells at the tip. I catch it with my tongue, lapping it up like a man starved.
She whimpers, her hips shifting restlessly. I chuckle against her skin, the vibration making her shiver.
When I finally pull back, her nipple glistens, wet and swollen from my mouth. I kiss the tip, then the curve of her breast, then the hollow of her throat. Her pulse flutters beneath my lips, fast and unsteady.
"No one," I whisper, my voice rough, "understands me the way you do."