Epilogue
Natalie
Four years later
“I don’t see why this is a problem.”
“Ben, I’m not allowing you to dig up the backyard to build a volcano.” Alex’s words are laced with exhaustion as he rubs the bridge of his nose. Now forty-three, my husband has quite the bit of gray in his beard, giving him a distinguished look. When his eyes meet mine, they sparkle with mirth as he deals with his firstborn son.
“I need to determine if my calculations are correct for the scope of my project, Dad. It needs to be larger than the normal science fair size.”
“No.”
“Fine.” Ben’s eyes light up as he comes up with another idea. “Would a space shuttle work? Abbie can drive me to the Wyoming border for some fireworks. Then I could really test the —”
“NO.”
“You didn’t even let me finish.”
“No explosives. No chemical reactions the size of my house. Nothing that could permanently stain any part of the property, and nothing that puts any of us at risk for injury, death, or toxic exposure.”
“Hmm. I can work with that.” Ben gives me a wink as he struts out of the kitchen. I laugh loudly as Alex gives an exasperated scoff.
“Don’t encourage him, Sunflower. You know that’s you coming out of him right now, don’t you?”
“I will neither confirm nor deny that I’ve spoken the phrase ‘I can work with that’ to your sister,” I tell him.
Just then, Aidan bounces into the room. Our sweet four-year-old bounces everywhere. “I heard Ben talking about gas and a coffin.”
“Jesus Christ,” Alex swears, standing up to chase after Ben. “I knew taking the kids to those coffin races in Mountain Springs would end up biting me in the ass.”
“What’s a coffin?” Aidan asks after Alex disappears.
“Well, when a person passes away, or dies, they are buried in a box. That way the people who loved them can still visit them,” I explain.
“Is that what happened to Sara?” he asks, and I nod. We’ve never sugar-coated things with Aidan. He understands that Abbie and Ben have a different mom, and that she died in a car accident. This is the first time he’s connected a coffin and grave to Sara, though.
“Yes, that’s what happened to Sara. That’s why we visit the cemetery before we go see Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Jim.” Sara’s parents welcomed me with open arms, and gleefully accepted Aidan as a third grandchild. Never once have they made me feel like an outsider. Aidan loves them just as equally as his other grandparents.
Alex returns, shaking his head. “I think somehow I just agreed to build the gas-powered coffin with him.”
“We need to sign him up for debate. He’s just too good at turning things around,” I comment as I stretch my arms above my head, making my shirt ride up dangerously.
“And how are two of my favorite girls feeling today?” Alex asks huskily as he places a hand on my very large baby bump.
“About as good as any forty week pregnant woman can feel,” I say, deadpan. We didn’t intend to have any more babies. Alex even got a vasectomy. But after two rechecks, somehow his vasectomy naturally reversed itself. Abbie, now seventeen, is beside herself that she’ll be getting a little sister. Ben doesn’t care, but Aidan is so excited. He can’t wait to teach her all the things about being a Santo.
Alex and I were married in a small ceremony when Aidan was one. Even with only family in attendance, Alex’s massive family meant it was a big party. Hannah and Luca hosted, and it was perfect. My brother and parents were able to attend, and they were welcomed into the Santo fold immediately. Our dads, including Sara’s dad, enjoyed smoking cigars on Luca’s patio, discussing ‘the good old days’ before technology took over. Nancy bonded immediately with my mom over a love of crafts, and soon they were discussing cross stitch and handmade cards over pieces of wedding cake. Everyone was having so much fun that they didn’t even realize Alex and I snuck out.
Around the same time as our wedding, with Alex’s brother Leo finally home, they decided to go into business together. While Alex has never said he truly hated his job with the police department, it’s obvious how much he loves what he does now with Leo. I don’t quite have a gauge on Leo, though, as he’s even more closed-off than Alex ever was. I’m told he’s always been introverted, but anytime I’m in his presence, it’s rare he says more than a dozen words.
“You nervous about tomorrow?” Alex asks quietly, his eyes studying me. I know even if I attempted to lie to this man, he knows me too well. He can gauge my mannerisms and determine what even I sometimes can’t decipher.
“Yeah,” I admit. This baby is breech, and after using every trick under the sun in an attempt to move her into position, I’m having a scheduled c-section tomorrow. As I’ll already be open, my tubes will be tied at the same time, since clearly Alex’s body wants more kids. Mine most certainly does not.
“Have you finalized what name you want yet?” he inquires. True to his word, Alex has made suggestions on names, but says it’s my final choice. I haven’t had any dreams about names, and I’ve decided this girl is going to be as stubborn as both her mother and father, and I may have to see her face before I have a name.
“Not yet,” I tell him.
“No rush,” he teases, making me laugh. “Seriously though. Don’t stress about anything. I’ve got you.”
“I know you do,” I tell him, slipping my arms around his neck. “As soon as Aidan is asleep, I’ll let you have me one more time for the next six weeks. ”
“Fuck,” he chuckles. “I forgot about that part.”
A few hours later, I’m naked and straddling Alex. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he has me turned so we can watch through a floor-to-ceiling mirror we have next to the bathroom door. It’s become one of our favorite positions. I do appreciate switching things up from time to time, including some outdoor sex like Arianna and Kate wax poetic about, but tonight is for us.
“God, you’re so fucking hot like this,” he mutters against my neck as he sucks on my pulse point. “I can feel you milking me.”
I love his dirty talk. He knows just what to say to get me even hotter. A few years ago, I’d have never felt confident or comfortable in this position. I’d have focused on my rolls. Extra flab. Dimples in my thighs. But Alex has shown me how beautiful I am. I can see the love and desire in his gaze. Now I ride him as he slams me down on his cock.
His voice becomes gritty as he cups both of my breasts, pinching each nipple perfectly to send a zing right to my clit. I clench and hear Alex groan. He knows my nipples are so sensitive, and he doesn’t have a problem using that knowledge for his benefit. “You like this, baby girl? You like watching me fuck you? Own you?”
“Fuck, yes,” I pant.
“Which part?”
“All of it, dammit,” I hiss with a laugh. “Now make me come, husband.”
“Fuck, I love when you call me that,” he moans, his speed picking up.
“Do you like me owning you?” I ask breathlessly.
“You know I do, Sunflower.” Alex slides one hand down to push against my clit as he shifts ever so slightly backward, and the new position hits that perfect spot deep inside me, setting off an immediate climax that rattles my entire body. I let out a loud moan, and he covers my mouth with his hand. I hear him chuckle as I continue to moan while riding out the orgasm. His own climax happens only seconds later.
“That was a good one,” I whisper, smiling as I lean my head back onto his shoulder.
“I’m glad, wife.” He knows I also enjoy the ownership. “Let’s get cleaned up so we can at least try to sleep a little.”
“I don’t think I can sleep,” I tell him. “I’m too nervous about tomorrow.”
“I know. We can cuddle then.”
“Your version of cuddling and mine are very different,” I mutter. It’s like Netflix and chill, only it’s Cuddling and Alex. Either way, someone’s having an orgasm.
Alex playfully slaps my ass as I gingerly stand up, my legs somewhat shaky after that great bout of sex. “I swear this time will be actual cuddling.”
It was not.
But that was more my fault than his.
I can’t have sex for at least six weeks, so I need to enjoy him while I can.
Twelve hours later, I’m blissfully drugged out and staring at Alex and our newborn daughter.
“Brielle.”
“Hmm?” Alex responds.
“Brielle. Her name.”
He looks up at me with a smile. “What made you go with that one? You’ve never mentioned Brielle before.”
“I like the name, and I want to call her Bree. But I also like that it’s consistent with everyone else. Abbie and Aidan, and now Ben and Brielle.”
“I like that,” he hums. “Brielle. What middle name were you thinking? ”
“I don’t know,” I murmur. Alex places Brielle in my arms, and I sigh happily.
“I have an idea, but I’m not sure how you might feel about it,” Alex says quietly, leaning over so his face is next to mine. His gorgeous brown eyes twinkle with love as he rests a hand on my cheek. “I’d like to give her your middle name.”
“Mine?”
“Yeah. All of our kids have family connections in their middle names,” he says as he drags a finger down my cheek and onto the bundle in my arms.
“I thought it was just a Santo thing,” I admit with a light laugh.
“It’s an us thing, Sunflower. I want Brielle to have a piece of you with her always.”
“I love that,” I breathe. “And I love you.”
“I love you, too. So we’re going with Brielle Anne. Final?”
“Final.”
“Okay. Little Miss Bree, welcome to the family,” Alex says, giving her forehead a sweet kiss. “Brielle Anne Santo.”
“Bree Santo.”
“They both sound good, Sunflower. You did good,” Alex says with a smile. Leaning down, he gives me a tender kiss. “I love you.”
“Not nearly as much as I love you,” I respond.
“Impossible,” he jokes. As Brielle lets out a mewling cry, he laughs. “I think your daughter would like to be fed.”
As I cuddle Bree up to my breast, I can’t help but send up another round of thanks to Sara. With each passing day, I know she was instrumental in pushing me and Alex together. If it weren’t for her, I might still be alone, living in that tiny studio apartment. Now I get to be a mom to two, bonus mom to two more, and the wife to a man I can’t stop gushing about. If I knew my life would end up like this, I’d do everything the same. Every test. Every trial. Every moment. Alex Santo is worth everything.
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