Extended Epilogue
TESSA
There was something magical about Portland in the fall. Maybe part of it was because this was the time of year when Oliver and I had fallen in love, but I loved it up here.
“Do you have everything?” I asked Oliver again as he unbuckled Amelia out of her carseat, cradling her against his chest.
She was a month old, and it was her first trip to Portland.
“Yes, honey,” he said, pressing a kiss to our baby girl’s head. “For the seventeenth time, we got everything.”
I let out a breath, knowing it was just the anxiety of traveling with a newborn. One I desperately needed snuggles with, considering it had been a long day of driving. We’d had to stop more times than normal since I was nursing, and it was hard on all of us.
But when I looked up at our house—the one we’d bought here, because we were constantly traveling back and forth—I couldn’t help but smile. We were home.
I was taking an indefinite hiatus from acting. Not because I didn’t love it, but because I loved my little family, and I wanted to spend as much time with them as possible.
Our girls. My husband. And our dog, the little toy poodle that Oliver had surprised me with before we found out I was pregnant with Amelia. Princess, who had the misfortune of being named by our toddler. She looked like a little teddy bear, and I was completely smitten.
“It’s good to be back, isn’t it?” Oliver asked, coming to stand at my side.
“So good,” I agreed. “But I’m exhausted.” I adjusted Avery on my hip so I could lean on him. Our two year old was asleep, and I didn’t have the heart to wake her up. It was late, and I wanted to put the kids to bed so the two of us could have some alone time.
He pressed his lips against my ear. “But hopefully not too exhausted for what I have planned for you.”
Sex was completely off the table right now—we both knew it, but Oliver was the most doting husband I could have ever asked for, taking care of whatever I needed. No matter what my needs were.
I yawned. “Maybe just a hot shower and sleep for tonight, babe.”
“That can be arranged.” He kissed my forehead. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
“Sounds like a plan. Don’t forget, we have plans tomorrow.”
Tomorrow, we’d see our family. I was excited to see my brother, Noelle, and their kids.
Owen was six now, and Penelope was four, and they were the spitting images of their parents.
Adorable. Penelope had Noelle’s red hair and freckles, but Matthew’s blue eyes, while Owen had inherited his blond hair from his dad and brown eyes from his mom.
I couldn’t wait.
“How could I forget?”
He carried Amelia into the nursery—it was the same one we’d used with Avery when she was an infant, though I planned to make changes now that we were in Portland for the indefinite future.
Going back and forth was a lot, but I never regretted it, because I loved being able to spend time with the people I loved.
I put Avery down in her new big girl bed. I’d asked Matthew to set it up before we got back, and though her room definitely still needed to be decorated, it was a start.
“Sleep tight, my baby girl,” I said, tucking her in and kissing her forehead. “Mommy loves you.”
Slipping outside, I found Oliver standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter and scrolling on his phone.
“All good?”
I nodded. “She didn’t even wake up.”
“Poor thing. So exhausted.” My husband took a few steps towards me, pocketing his phone and pulling me in tight. “And now it’s time for me to take care of you, Hollywood.”
He picked me up—just like he always had. Of course, I wasn’t quite as thin as I’d been when we’d met all those years ago, but it didn’t seem to bother Oliver. He loved my curves. Had loved my pregnant belly, too.
“Are you okay with just the two of them?” I asked, running my hand down his cheek. “We could try again if you want a boy.”
He shook his head. “I’m happy. Our family is complete.”
I hummed in agreement. It was. Two perfect girls.
Princess was sleeping in her dog bed, completely content to ignore us as Oliver carried me to our master bathroom, where he’d already started running the shower.
“You’re the best,” I said, kissing him softly after he set me down on my feet. Even after all this time, I still loved that he was only a few inches taller than me. That I only had to tilt my head up the tiniest bit to ask for a kiss.
“Anything for my beautiful wife.” He reached down, tugging the top off my body. “Now let’s get in before the water gets cold.”
I laughed in agreement, letting him undress me before sliding under the spray. “I can’t wait to take a bath again,” I admitted.
Oliver stepped in behind me, his hard cock pressed against my back. “I can’t wait to make love to you again.” He reached around to my front, sinking his fingers inside of me. “But until then, I’m just going to have to keep you satisfied with my fingers and mouth, huh, honey?”
I let out a moan, feeling full of him.
His movements were slow, like somehow he knew the perfect speed to pump into me. I wasn’t sore anymore, but we still had a few weeks before I was cleared for full activities.
“Look at this body,” he praised. “This beautiful body that gave me two beautiful daughters.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder and looked up at him as he brought me closer and closer to the edge.
“Your perfect pussy is clinging to me so tight,” he said against my ear. “So warm and wet and needy.”
I whimpered. He always knew just what to say to drive me crazy. His thumb found my clit, applying pressure just the way he knew I liked.
“Come for me, wife. Come all over my fingers and make a mess.”
With a moan, I let go, my orgasm hitting me hard, my release coating his hand. When he pulled out, he used the same hand to pump his cock, grunting as he jerked himself off.
“Fuck,” he grunted.
I played with my nipples, circling them with my fingers as I watched him, still finding this just as hot as it had been the first time he’d done it. It didn’t take long for him to come, spraying his release on the shower wall.
He pulled me to him, kissing me deeply. It was a slow and unhurried kiss, like we had all the time in the world together.
“I love you,” he murmured.
“Thank you for not giving up on me,” I told him.
“Never,” he promised.
And I knew—no matter what—that he’d keep it.
The End.
Want to read more of the Best Friends Book Club series? Keep reading for a preview of Academically Yours, Matthew & Noelle’s story!