Chapter 42
Three Years Later
Taylor
Michael Keaton trotted beside Wyatt, as well-behaved as always. His brother, Alfred, on the other hand, grew more and more excited the closer we drew to the growing crowd in the park. The air was alive with the shared revelry of the day–a kaleidoscope of color and fun.
“Told you we were late,” Wyatt chided with a sideways glance at me as we approached the table.
The others were already settled in and well on their way to partying it up for the 4th of July celebration.
“How about we dial back the ‘I told you so’s’ and we increase the level of help we give the loves of our lives?”
Wyatt narrowed her eyes at me but quickly caved, taking some of the party stuff from my overburdened arms.
She shook her head with a chuckle. “Love of my life, you say… That’s presumptuous.”
“I don’t think so,” I replied without missing a beat. “You’re an open book, Wyatt Green. I see it every time you gaze at me with those loving green eyes of yours.”
“Give me a break,” she scoffed, which wasn’t a denial, and I kind of liked that.
The scent of grilled delicacies wafted over to us, and Alfred let out an exuberant bark. Gracie was the first to spot us, her eyes growing wide with excitement as she slid off the bench and bolted over.
“Here we go.” Wyatt took a breath and plastered a huge smile on her face.
Hayden had arrived first and scored a cozy spot beneath a huge oak tree. Its sprawling branches gave us the shade we needed, while allowing enough sun to play through the leaves.
“Nice job.” I winked at her as I set down our things.
“Nice of you to finally get here,” she deadpanned. “We’re starving.”
“You shouldn’t have waited,” Wyatt offered. She was setting out water bowls for Michael Keaton and Alfred. “It was a task getting out of the house this morning, sorry.”
I slid onto the bench beside Alex and nudged her with my elbow. “Yeah, Wyatt wouldn’t let me get out of bed until I finished what I started last night.”
Wyatt’s head shot up, a look of alarm on her face. “Taylor!”
But the others broke into belly-rolling laughter, her shock making it even funnier. Wyatt’s cheeks a light shade of pink, she shook her head slowly.
“What?” I shrugged innocently. “It’s true, isn’t it?”
Wyatt dropped down beside me in a huff, but a small smile teased her lips. “Doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. There are kids in the company.”
“Where?” I glanced around, and Wyatt started to point at the spot where Gracie had just been standing, only to find it empty.
Without waiting for permission, she’d absconded into the bustling park grounds with Michael Keaton and Alfred. They were only too happy to play her favorite game of chaotic leapfrog that she’d invented.
“As much as I live for pillow talk,” Reid said from across the table, “can we please tuck in now that everyone’s here? This spread looks amazing.”
She was reaching for a burger when I slapped her hand away. “Not everyone.”
Confused looks flickered around the table, each of them doing a mental tally of attendance. I bit back my laughter as I watched them try to figure out what I was talking about. Thankfully, I didn’t have to explain myself.
“Sorry we’re late.” Gary came up behind Wyatt. “Had a bit of car trouble on the way over, but everything’s fixed now.”
She spun round, eyes wide with delighted surprise. She didn’t know who to hug first and stood there stammering and stuttering for what felt like forever. Hazel, Gary’s daughter, put her out of her misery and threw her arms around Wyatt’s waist.
“Daddy said I could have two ice-creams today.” Her words were muffled in Wyatt’s shirt.
Wyatt gazed down at me, her eyes misted over. I hadn’t told her I’d invited them, but knew she’d love the surprise.
“Who’s this little guy?” Wyatt noticed the energetic yapping at Hazel’s feet and crouched down.
“His name’s Buddy,” the girl said proudly. “He’s only a little dog, not like yours. But Daddy said we could only get a little one, and I love him more than the world. He can do tricks, and he can play ball, and-”
“Is that your dog?” Gracie was out of breath from the run over. She peered curiously at Hazel, who was around the same age.
“His name’s Buddy.” Hazel nodded. She’d grown suddenly shy.
“Does he want to play with my dogs?”
Alex and Devon both rolled their eyes, but Wyatt got a kick out of Gracie’s forthright friendliness. The girls sprinted off with the dogs in tow, leaving our table eerily quiet.
“Everyone, this is Gary.” I took the lead in introductions and motioned for him to grab a seat. “That was Hazel, his little girl.”
A round of ‘Hi, Gary’ floated around, and the women took turns exchanging names and light conversation while he got settled.
Reid held up her plate with a lone burger perched at the center of it. “Now?”
I chuckled softly and nodded. It was the sign everyone was waiting for, and several arms reached out over the table as they loaded their plates.
“Look!” Gary nodded up toward the sky, and we all turned to follow his gaze.
It was still bathed in twilight, but the promise of the grand finale was thick in the air. We had a brilliantly clear day, which meant the fireworks display was going to be a sight to behold in a few hours.
“Thank you,” Wyatt whispered when she sat back down again. She looked deep into my eyes, hers still damp with tears that hadn’t fallen, and added, “Love of my life.”
I grinned stupidly, feeling warmed by the festivities unfolding around us, but also by the surge of love I had for the woman beside me.
Wyatt
“Is it over?” Taylor asked hopefully as I padded into our bedroom.
I held a finger to my lips in a shushing motion, and clicked the door closed with careful quietness. Only once I’d slid into bed beside her did I dare breathe out.
“It’s over.” I sighed. “Two baby girls fast asleep to the sounds of Elsa and Anna, and two happy Labs snuggled up with them.”
Taylor closed her book and set it down on the nightstand. “Next time, let’s save the babysitting generosity for a day that doesn’t include hours-long park picnics.”
“It’s not so bad.” I flopped onto my pillows, every muscle in my body overcome with a dull ache.
It had been a long day, that was for sure. But I couldn’t say no when Gracie and Hazel looked at us with sad eyes, begging for a sleepover.
“You’re such a pushover.” Taylor chuckled, turning onto her side to look at me.
“Yeah, well… You know I love it when Gracie stays over. And two of them is even better.”
She brought her hand up to brush a strand of hair from my face, a soft smile on her lips. “I know, baby. I love it too.”
“You do?” I searched her gaze. “Because sometimes- Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to wait for sleepovers.”
I swallowed, afraid to look at her but afraid to look away.
“I don’t think Alex and Devon would be up for giving us their kid.” Taylor laughed.
But I didn’t.
I didn’t say anything. Just continued looking at her. A slight crease formed on her brow, and her smile turned to puzzlement. Then, slowly, realization dawned.
“You mean…”
I nodded. “Yes. Would that be something you’d be open to, or-?”
“I’d do anything with you, Wyatt, you know that,” Taylor replied instantly. “Follow you anywhere. Have countless dogs and babies… But-”
There it was. I knew there would be a catch.
Taylor moved closer to me, the warmth of her naked body radiating through my pajamas. She dipped her head and placed the softest of kisses to my lips.
“You’d have to make an honest woman out of me first,” she said with a cheeky smile.
“Okay,” I agreed in a heartbeat.
Our eyes locked.
“Did we just-?”
“Get engaged?” I finished her question, and immediately answered it. “Yes, I think that’s exactly what happened.”
My pajamas were discarded in a hurry, and I barely had time to get my hair out of my face when Taylor pushed me back into the pillows. I watched her inch her way down my body with searing hot kisses, her lips devouring the soft skin of my belly, my hips, my mound…
She glanced up at me right before she lowered her mouth to my clit, and both my hands shot into her hair. I moved my hips against the delicious pressure of her tongue, teasing me, coaxing quiet gasps of pleasure from my lips.
Taylor’s tongue started a tantalizing dance between my folds, pushing inside me then pulling out and ghosting back up my center. She circled my clit, then flicked over it repeatedly until I was a squirming mess under her, my legs trembling.
“Taylor… Please…” Heart pounding, breathing ragged.
Taylor lifted her head to look at me, my arousal glistening around her mouth in the dim lamplight. She was a sight looking up at me from between my thighs like that, and the hunger in her eyes was enough to cut me down.
Her tongue came out to wet her lips. She always said she loved the way I tasted.
“I don’t want to rush this,” she moaned, her breath prickling my throbbing clit. “Let me play, and I’ll make it worth your while.”
I groaned out loud and flopped back onto my pillow. “Fine.”
A deep, throaty laugh spilled from Taylor’s lips as she pressed a kiss to my mound. She then dragged her tongue in a slow, deliberate line from my belly button up my abdomen, between my breasts, and along my neck.
“You taste like more,” Taylor said, and sucked my tender flesh between her teeth.
I sucked in a small breath, letting it shudder out of me when she lapped her tongue over the sensitive area. I blinked away the haze from my eyes and saw her smiling down at me. Just as her hand found its way between my legs.
Taylor placed wet kisses all along my jaw as she worked her way to my parted lips. The kiss was deep from the start, coinciding with the thumb she grazed over my clit. My whole body quivered without warning, and Taylor smiled against my lips.
“You like that?”
I lifted my hips, offering myself to her. “More.”
She ran her tongue along my lower lip, and the moment she took my mouth with hers was the same moment she plunged into me with two fingers. My pussy walls clenched around her instantly, pulsing deliciously with the sensuous rhythm of her thrusts.
I rode her hand hard, rocking my hips to match the pace she set.
A quiet whimper escaped me as she added her thumb to rub my clit.
A million lights burst behind my eyes and although I couldn’t hear anything, I felt my heart hammering in my ears.
The pressure in my core was building quickly, desperately seeking the point of no return.
And Taylor played it like the back of her hand, dragging me over the edge with nothing more than a curl of her finger.
My head shot up then, claiming her mouth as I kissed her roughly, urgently, my body finally succumbing to the sweet bliss of unraveling by her hand. I came hard, my climax quaking through me in jerks and shudders that left me clinging to Taylor with everything I had.
“I love you.” The words spilled out of me. “I love you so much.”
She was still inside me, slow strokes guiding me back down. “I love you too, Wyatt. And I can’t wait to have a baby with you.”