Epilogue
Allie
Five years later…
“Woahhhh, Pickle! Watch where you’re going!” I say to the loose golden retriever running through the halls of my animal shelter. As much as I love this place, these dogs have gotten a little too comfortable and have started to roam the halls as if they’re members of the staff. I’d be more annoyed if seeing these rescue pups feeling safe enough to intrude didn’t make me so happy.
I spent the year after meeting James working as his assistant, helping him create a thorough business to set up the jewelry store as a legit enterprise. As it turns out, our town was desperate for a jewelry store that sold actual high-quality gems, and the business took off from there.
Jim is another story. After James’ security team dropped him off with the Colombians, they decided that the worst punishment for him would be turning him into the authorities, which they promptly did. This led to a domino effect of his entire financial services company being investigated for fraud and corruption, making Jim’s scheme of extorting my husband seem even dumber. He still has five years left in prison, but from what Katie tells me, he’s working on being a better person. It still blows my mind that someone as perfect and kind as Katie could have such a rat for a brother, but we live and we learn, I guess.
After James proposed to me while we were on vacation in Antarctica—finally crossing off his seventh continent—we decided it was finally time for me to make a career change. I wanted to do something that combined my first love, working with dogs, and all of the business skills I picked up from my perfect partner. He was so supportive and I’ve now been running the non-profit shelter for the last two years. Every day is different and the work we do saves so many pets who would otherwise be out on the streets, or worse.
Six months ago, we got married in our backyard with just a few friends and family members. Grandpa walked me down the aisle with tears in his eyes and told me how glad he was that I met James, how much better he’s made all of our lives.
For our honeymoon, we elected to go on a kind of world tour. We began in Colombia where, in a roundabout way, our relationship kind of began. From there, we hopped on the plane James chartered for our entire journey and went on a safari in Kenya before jetting off to Europe and spending the rest of the month eating our way through Italy, France, and Spain. I still haven’t hit every continent, but I’m close. And we’ll get to redo all of our adventures when our new addition arrives later this year.
Our new addition that I need to tell my husband about tonight. I just found out in the bathroom at lunch, and between running an adoption clinic this afternoon and getting caught up in meetings, I haven’t had a moment to even process the news. That’s how I found myself almost tripping over Pickle on my way to grab my car keys and head home.
As soon as I get home I hear my husband yell “Baby?” from his office down the hall, like he does every day when I get home from work, always so eager to see me.
“In the kitchen!” I shout, placing the gift bag down and waiting for him to join me. I hear his footfalls and smile when he walks into the room, scooping me up in a sweeping hug. It’s amazing how the spark between us hasn’t dimmed at all in the last few years. In fact, I think it’s only grown brighter. I hope it stays that way.
“Hi,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck as he looks down at me.
“Hi, baby, missed you,” he says, nuzzling my neck. I take the opportunity to grab the bag, leaning back from my husband and lifting it to him.
“For you,” I say, suddenly feeling a bit nervous. Our lives are about to change forever, in the best way.
“Oh yeah?” he asks, reaching into the bag. When he pulls out the test wrapped in a bow, his jaw drops to the floor.
“Are you serious?” he asks, beaming at me. I already know he’s going to be the best dad in the whole world.
“Yes! You’re going to be a dad!”
“And you’re going to be the best mom.”
Without wasting another second, he pulls me into his arms and seals his mouth to mine.
“I can’t wait to do this with you,” he says between kisses. “God, this makes me want you even more.”
“Then take me.”
“Gonna take you on the counter,” he says, lifting me up and laying me down on the marble island.
He lifts my skirt, slides down my panties, and has his face buried in my pussy in record time.
“So wet for me already. Taste so sweet,” he says between licks, and I’m already squirming beneath him. I must be extra sensitive today because by the time he slides a finger inside of me, I’m already pulsing around him.
“Oh my god,” I moan as he grumbles against my clit, the vibrations from the sound sending me even further into oblivion. By the time he rises, I feel totally satisfied and yet desperate for more. Desperate for him. I’ll never stop feeling this way.
“Need to be inside of you,” James grumbles from beyond the counter.
I hear his belt unclasp and before I can even open my eyes, he’s sliding inside of me in one easy stroke. I’m letting out moans I didn’t even know were possible as he grips my hips to drive further and further into me. It feels deeper, somehow more intimate than ever and before I know it, I’m tumbling over the edge again.
“That’s it, baby. I think you can give me another,” he says as he changes his pace to pound into me. I’m slipping and sliding around the counter, hanging on for dear life and hoping that this never ends. I explode around him just as I feel him explode in me, both of us totally and completely lost to the ecstasy of each other.
As we come down from our release, breathing each other in, James softly and tenderly kisses my stomach. I thread my hands through his hair and smile, my love for this man growing every second of every day.
I am so glad I picked him up at the airport.
~The End