Chapter 33 Sadie #2
When we finally break apart, I'm half in his lap, both of us breathing hard. I rest my forehead against his, overwhelmed by the certainty that I've found my place in the world, not a hiding spot, not a temporary shelter, but a real home.
"We should tell Poppy," I whisper, glancing toward the lake where Aiden is still pointing out ducks to my daughter.
Axel nods, helping me to my feet. His arm wraps around my waist as we walk toward them, and I lean into his solid warmth.
Poppy spots us and immediately reaches for me, babbling excitedly. "Mama! Duck!"
"That's right, baby," I say, taking her from Aiden. "Ducks!"
Aiden's eyes immediately drop to my hand, spotting the ring. His face breaks into a wide grin. "I take it she said yes?"
"She did," Axel confirms, his voice thick with emotion.
"Congratulations," Aiden says, pulling his brother into a quick, fierce hug before turning to me. "Welcome to the family, Sadie. Though it feels like you've been part of it all along."
"Thank you," I manage, touched by his immediate acceptance. "For everything."
Poppy, sensing the emotional atmosphere, pats my cheeks with her tiny hands. "Mama?"
I kiss her forehead, breathing in her sweet baby scent. "Guess what, Poppy? Axel is going to be your daddy. We're going to be a family."
She doesn't understand the words, of course, but she seems to grasp the importance of the moment. She reaches for Axel, who takes her with practiced ease, settling her on his hip like she's always belonged there.
"What do you say, Bug? Ready for a lifetime of adventures with us?" he asks her, using the nickname he gave her weeks ago.
Poppy responds by patting his face the same way she patted mine, then laying her head on his shoulder with complete trust. The sight brings fresh tears to my eyes.
"Come home with me," Axel says, looking at me over Poppy's dark curls. The way he says it so confidently, like it's already our home, like the future is already decided. I like that.
"Yes," I say simply, reaching for his free hand.
Aiden helps us pack up the picnic, the four of us working together as the sun begins to set over the lake. The fairy lights come on automatically, casting a warm glow over the clearing.
"I've got this," Aiden says, taking the picnic basket. "You three go on ahead."
The drive to Axel's house is quiet, comfortable. Poppy falls asleep in her car seat, worn out from the excitement. I keep looking at the ring on my finger, still not quite believing this is real.
When we arrive, Axel carries the sleeping Poppy inside while I follow with the diaper bag. It's not my first time in his house, we've spent countless evenings here over the past two months, but tonight feels different. Tonight, it's not just his house. It's our future home.
"There's something I want to show you," he says softly, careful not to wake Poppy. "Upstairs."
I follow him up the staircase, past his bedroom to the door at the end of the hall, a room I've never entered. He pushes it open, and I gasp.
It's a nursery. A fully furnished, beautifully decorated nursery for Poppy.
The walls are a soft sage green, adorned with hand-painted woodland creatures.
A white crib stands against one wall, a comfortable rocking chair in the corner.
There's a changing table, a small bookshelf already filled with children's books, a dresser with tiny clothes folded neatly inside the open drawers.
"When did you do this?" I whisper, taking in every detail, the stuffed bunny sitting in the crib, the baby monitor on the nightstand, the soft rug that matches the one in my apartment.
"Been working on it for weeks," Axel admits, gently laying Poppy in the crib. She stirs but doesn't wake, clutching the bunny he tucks beside her. "I wanted it to be ready, whenever you were ready."
I'm overwhelmed by the realization that he didn't just want me, he wanted both of us. He built this space for my daughter, planned for her comfort, thought about the details that would make this feel like home for her.
"It's perfect," I manage, tears threatening again. "She's going to love it."
Axel adjusts the blanket over Poppy with a natural gentleness. He switches on the nightlight, casting a soft glow of stars across the ceiling, then turns on the baby monitor.
"I'll be right back," he says, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Just going to grab her water cup in case she wakes up."
I nod, watching as he slips quietly from the room. Alone for a moment, I look down at the ring on my hand, the diamonds catching the starlight from the ceiling. The weight of it feels right, like it belongs there.
I'm done being halfway in, I realize with sudden clarity. Done keeping one foot out the door, always ready to run. Done bracing for disaster.
This is my life now, this man, this home, this family we're building. And for the first time, I'm not afraid of wanting it all.
I hear Axel's footsteps in the hallway. This is it. The moment to stop holding back, to fully embrace what we're building together.
I take one last look at Poppy sleeping peacefully in the crib Axel built for her, my fingers trace the detailed woodwork, the care he put into creating this space for my daughter. Our daughter, now.
I slip out of the nursery and hurry to his bedroom, our bedroom soon, and quickly change into the black lace lingerie I'd hidden in my purse earlier. I hadn't planned on using it tonight, but after his proposal, after seeing the nursery, I know exactly what I want.
I sit on the edge of his bed, my pulse thudding in my ears as I hear him coming up the stairs. The ring catches the light from the bedside lamp, reminding me that this is real. This is happening. We're going to be a family.
The door opens, and Axel freezes mid-step, water cup forgotten in his hand. His eyes widen, then darken as he takes me in.
"Jesus Christ," he whispers, setting the cup down without looking, his gaze never leaving my body.
"Surprise," I say, my voice steadier than I feel.
He moves toward me slowly, like he's afraid I might disappear. "What's this?"
"This is me saying yes," I tell him, rising to my feet. "To everything. The proposal. The ring." I take a deep breath. "Moving in."
His breath catches. "You mean it?"
"I'm done being halfway in, Axel. I want all of it. You, this house, our future. I want it all."
He crosses the room in two strides, his hands cupping my face with reverent intensity. "Say it again."
"I want to move in. Me and Poppy. I want to wake up with you every morning. I want this to be our home."
A sound escapes him, half groan, half sigh, and then his mouth is on mine. The kiss is different from all the ones before, hungrier, deeper, like he's trying to consume me. I match his intensity, my fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer.
"Do you have any idea," he says against my lips, "how long I've been waiting to hear that?"
"I'm sorry it took me so long," I whisper.
He pulls back just enough to look at me, his thumbs tracing my cheekbones. "Don't apologize. You needed time. I would have waited forever for you."
The sincerity in his voice makes my chest ache. This man, this strong, patient, loving man, has never pushed me, never rushed me, never made me feel like my fears weren't valid.
"Well, you don't have to wait anymore," I say, reaching for the buttons of his shirt.
He lets me undress him, his eyes never leaving mine as I push the fabric from his shoulders. My hands explore the planes of his chest, the ridges of muscle, the warmth of his skin beneath my palms.
"You're so beautiful," he murmurs, his fingers trailing along the lace at my hips.
I feel beautiful when he looks at me like this, like I'm precious, desired, worthy of worship. The lingerie was a good choice, but the hunger in his eyes tells me he'd look at me the same way no matter what I was wearing.
"I need you," I tell him, my hands moving to his belt. "I need to feel you."
He groans as my fingers brush against him through the denim. "Baby, if you keep touching me like that, this is going to be over before it starts."
I smile, feeling powerful and wanted. "We have all night."
"Yes, we do." His expression turns serious, intense. "We have every night. For the rest of our lives."
The promise in those words sends heat flooding through me. I tug his belt free, unbutton his jeans, and push them down his legs along with his boxers. He kicks them away, standing before me completely naked, unashamed, magnificent.
"My turn," he says, reaching for me.
His hands are gentle as he slides the straps of my lingerie down my shoulders, his lips following the path they create. The lace catches on my nipples as he pulls it lower, and I gasp at the sensation.
"Sensitive," he murmurs, a smile in his voice. "I like that."
The lingerie pools at my feet, leaving me naked except for the tiny lace panties. Axel drops to his knees before me, his hands gripping my hips, his mouth pressing hot, open kisses to my stomach.
"I love every inch of you," he says against my skin. "Every mark, every curve. All mine now."
"Yours," I agree, my fingers threading through his hair.
He hooks his fingers in the waistband of my panties, looking up at me with a question in his eyes. I nod, and he slowly draws them down my legs, his breath hot against my center.
"So beautiful," he whispers, pressing a kiss to the inside of my thigh. "So perfect."
I tremble as his mouth moves higher, my legs nearly giving out when his tongue finds me. He steadies me with his hands on my hips, guiding me backward until my knees hit the edge of the bed.
"Lie back," he instructs, his voice husky with desire.
I obey, watching as he settles between my thighs, his eyes dark with hunger. The first touch of his tongue makes me arch off the bed, a cry escaping my lips before I can stop it.
"That's it," he encourages, his hands spreading my thighs wider. "Let me hear you. No one to wake up. Just us."