42. Epilogue Miles
One year later…
I stood back and admired the Christmas tree. This year, it was tall and properly proportioned to fill the lobby. Unlike last year’s scrawny, meager little tree, this one was grand and covered in shining glass ornaments and twinkling lights.
“Oh, it’s beautiful,” Lydia cooed as she stepped into the lobby.
She had Nick on her hip, and he was chewing on his fist. He gazed up at the lights.
If I could tell what he was thinking, I would have said he wanted to eat it. That child explored the world by putting everything in his mouth. It was a challenge to keep ahead of him and baby proof for his safety. Especially when we lived in a practical construction zone.
Large areas of the inn had been stripped down to the lathe and plaster sub walls so that we could remodel and reconfigure our living quarters, just as Lydia had wanted. She was getting a modern kitchen and a full ensuite bathroom with a walk-in closet for her new master bedroom.
As soon as our home within the Sweet Mountain Inn was completed, I’d have a crew out and start working on upgrading the commercial kitchen and start looking for someone to outsource running a cafe for the inn.
“How was the site today?” Lydia asked as she stepped up to me and leaned in against my shoulder.
“Everything’s going well.” I wrapped my arm around her and tickled Nick on the chin. He was a little drooly. I ended up wiping my fingers on the back of his pajamas.
“They should finish the roof on the main building before it gets too cold, and then we can start all the interior work. Lake Lodge is on target for having a soft open in the late spring. And all the investors are happy.”
“Good news for Christmas,” she said. “Still planning the big grand opening for the Fourth of July?”
“Absolutely.”
Nick let out a big yawn.
I slid my hands around his tiny little ribs and lifted him from his mother’s arms.
“Let me go put this guy down for bed. He’s got a big day tomorrow.” I kissed him on top of his head. “He had a big day today,” Lydia said as she grabbed his little feet and moved them back and forth. “He had his first birthday. Merry Christmas Eve, baby.” She talked baby talk at him.
“And tomorrow, he gets his second Christmas,” I pointed out.
“You did a wonderful job of making sure he had another beautiful Christmas tree,” she said wistfully. She followed me back to our rooms and watched as I wiped up our son’s little face and rocked him until he cracked another big yawn.
I didn’t set him down in his crib until I was certain he was almost fully asleep. He made some snuffling noises and settled in as soon as I put him down. I stood there and watched him sleep for a bit.
That was my boy. He had changed everything about my life. I lived in a small town, and I loved it here.
I looked up at Lydia. She was the other reason I loved it here.
“Hey,” she said.
She reached her hand out to me, and I took it, allowing her to drag me away and into our room.
“I have something for you,” she said with a smirk on her face.
“Oh, really?” I knew what that smirk meant, and I was looking forward to the presents she was willing to give me. “I have something for you too.”
I reached deep into my pocket and pulled out a small silk drawstring bag.
“What’s this?” Lydia asked.
I held her hand and sank down onto one knee.
“Miles?” she asked. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized what I was doing.
I opened the bag, and a two-carat diamond solitaire engagement ring fell into my palm. I held the ring up to her.
“This has been far too long overdue,” I admitted. “Would you?—”
“Yes!”
“You’re supposed to let me finish,” I teased.
“Sorry, finish,” she directed.
“Will you marry me?”
“Can I say yes now?” she asked.
I took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit. With a muffled squeal, she threw her arms around me. I had to brace or I would have fallen over onto the floor. She peppered my face with kisses.
“I thought about waiting until tomorrow morning. I realized, with everybody coming over, I wouldn’t have a moment alone with you to do this properly. I hope you don’t mind that I didn’t propose with a full audience.”
“I don’t mind at all,” she said. “Besides, if you had waited until tomorrow, then I wouldn’t have been able to thank you properly and show you how wonderful I think you are. I thought I would surprise you with… this.”
She unbuttoned the front of her blouse and let it fall away. Under her clothes she wore a sheer red lace thing. It had a bra that did amazing things to her breasts and switched my brain completely off. There was a filmy drape that covered her soft middle, and when she kicked out of her lounge pants, there was a tiny matching pair of panties that really exposed more of her glorious ass than it covered. Then again, that was the point of a garment like this one.
I made a noise in the back of my throat. It didn’t come out as planned, and I sounded more desperate than I had meant to. This woman knew exactly how to remove all logical thought and command from me. And she was going to be my wife.
With a proper growl, I lifted her and placed her on the center of the bed. I pulled my shirt off, ignoring buttons or that I wore layers against the chill. I needed her skin pressed against mine.
“You like?” She giggled.
“Damn, woman, you have outdone yourself. Have I told you today how amazing and beautiful you are?”
“I think so, but I could stand hearing it again.”
“I love you, Lydia. Last year, you gave me a son. This year, I get to unwrap you.”
“I thought you might want to give me a present,” she said as she reached low and cupped my cock.
I may have been a little rough as I pulled the lace of the push up bra aside, exposing her dusky nipple to my view. I closed my eyes and took that beautiful peak into my mouth. Her nipples were a delicate treat. I would not have full access until she stopped breastfeeding, but I could not resist sneaking in a quick taste.
She gasped and clutched my head against her.
With reluctance, I released her nipple and began tasting and kissing the rest of the soft skin of her breasts.
She was panting and making small mewling noises. God, the sounds she made drove me mad. She dragged her nails over the backs of my arms and over my shoulders. She could mark me all she wanted. I was hers, completely.
I slipped my hand between us, finding that sweet spot between her legs. Her fancy lace panties were wet, and in my way. I hooked my fingers into the thin straps over her hip and dragged them down her legs.
In the moments that our bodies were apart I shed my pants. When I returned to her, I skimmed up the length of her. I brushed the flimsy red veil part of her outfit away from her middle so that I could place small love bites and kiss against her skin.
I let out a disappointed groan as I took in her fancy bra covered breasts, but I understood her reasoning so I didn’t force my preference on her.
She reached up and threaded her fingers through my hair. “What are you looking at? I thought you were going to give me a present,” she teased in a low, sexy voice.
She skimmed her leg up mine. Her skin was like the softest silk.
I rolled us so that she perched over my hips.
“Take what you want,” I said.
I ran my hands over her skin and watched as she slid down my length. She closed her eyes. We both sucked in breaths as she took me into her. She braced against my chest and began rocking her hips.
She was a goddess the way her hair spread out around her. I couldn’t help but wrap my hands over her breasts. They were too tempting as they bounced above me.
She grabbed her hands over mine and pressed my palms against her. She was lost to her actions as she rocked and pulsed against me.
I thrust into her to match her pace. She needed to go soon, or I would explode. I was so close to spilling everything into her when she began moving frantically. She released my hands as she fell forward and braced against my chest.
I grabbed her hips and continued to drive into her as she was lost to an orgasm. I followed close behind. Her inner walls grabbed my cock and milked the orgasm out of me. She was everything in my world, and I could have stayed in this brief moment of perfect, extreme bliss indefinitely.
Lydia let out a whimper and shuddered as she collapsed against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close. I never wanted to let her go.
“I love you, Lydia Walsh,” I said as I traced my fingers over her soft skin.
“Lydia Carlisle,” she corrected me.
“I really like the sound of that,” I admitted.
“I also think I’m gonna like the sound of Mrs. Carlisle.”
“How do you feel about Wife ?” I asked.
“As long as I get to call you Husband ,” she replied.
“I couldn’t imagine your calling me anything else.”