Epilogue
Don’t see that word on the calendar.
Ben
Four months later…
Annie’s head digs into the pillows, and I watch her tremble as it washes over her, until I can’t take it anymore. I snatch the toy out of her hand and flip her to her stomach, pulling her hips up before sliding my cock deep inside. “Fuck, your pussy’s so tight.”
I bend over and cup her breasts, toying with her nipples and loving that she clamps tight every time I pinch them. “Ben, God. Harder.”
Making her come is addicting, and she trusts me to always make it good for her, so she comes a variety of ways.
She gets off on me talking dirty and even more when I’m bossy, but her favorite thing is watching me stroke my cock as I watch her play with herself.
I love it, too, and not just because she gets soaking wet, but because she loses her mind when I fuck her after she makes herself come.
Which is what she’s doing now. She pushes up on her hands and rears back into my thrusts, but I pull her up so she’s on her knees, her legs splayed wide, her wrists in my hand against her chest. “More, Benny, please. I need more…touch me.”
“What do you need, baby?” I bring my free hand around and press a finger right above her clit. “Touch you here?” She shakes her head but doesn’t answer. “Here?” I barely tap her clit and she gasps.
“Yes, yes, baby, yes. Right there.”
I toy with her, barely grazing that sweet spot, but when I feel my balls tighten, I finally give her what she needs and press hard. She comes immediately, and I feel a rush of wetness as she clenches tight and starts rolling her hips, grinding down. “Fuck yeah, Annie. Work that pussy.”
My eyes roll back in my head, and I shoot my release as my body shudders. “Damn, girl.” I drop my forehead to her back and catch my breath. “You good?”
“I’m fantastic.”
“Love you, Blue.”
“I love you, too Benny.” She turns her head and I lift mine so I can kiss her. “Are you ever going to tell me why you call me that?”
I pretend to think about it. “Probably not.”
“Whatever, I don’t want to know anyway.”
“Your attempt at reverse psychology is cute…and effective.”
“Really?”
I tuck some hair behind her ear. “It broke my heart how sad you were, how blue. But the first time I said it was the first time you really smiled at me.”
“How is it possible I can love you even more?” She smiles. Beautiful. “Even when you’re going make us late again.”
“Then don’t wear shit that makes me want to rip it off you before we go anywhere.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s a sundress, with sleeves.”
“A tight dress.”
“It is not, you’re—” She stops herself. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter. You say the same thing no matter what I wear. Now let’s go.”
I kiss her once more, then let her go so we can both get ready. We’re out the door five minutes after we were supposed to be at my parents’. Luckily it isn’t too far a drive, and by the time we pull up, we’re less than half an hour late.
We walk in and Annie gives a quick wave to the guys who are in the den watching a game. Drew and my dad wave back, but Parker’s grinning. “Why were you guys late?”
“Shut up, Park. Anyone need a refill?”
When I get to the kitchen, Mazie runs up to me and I give her a hug. “How’s the princess?”
“Good. We’re making cookies.”
I set her down and see the dough on the counter. My mom mashes potatoes while Charlie slides a batch into the oven, and Annie’s rolling the dough into balls for the next batch. “I see. They smell great.”
“They are great.” She runs to her stool and joins Annie.
I give my mom and sister a hug, then get some beers and go back to the den to give my dad his. When I plop down on the couch next to Drew, I ask, “Where’s Josie?”
He shakes his head and I decide not to press him more, because the vein by his temple pops out. I don’t want to be the one to make him lose his shit at family dinner.
“Have you talked to Kit recently?” my dad asks me.
“Yeah, why?”
“Just wondering if she told you she was having a stage built for entertainment.”
I grimace, glad she waited until she bought me out to do that. “Yeah, I knew about it.”
He glances at Parker. “She mention who’s going to be the debut singer?”
“I’m gonna see if the cookies are done.” Parker mutters, stomping away without answering.
That could only mean one thing, Cassandra’s coming back.
“Shit, really?”
“Afraid so,” Dad confirms.
“I can talk to Kit about it and—”
“Nonsense. Cassandra and Kit are cousins.” He cuts me off. “This day was going to happen eventually, he’s gonna have to get over it.”
We go to the table when my mom calls, and I take my place next to Annie. She seamlessly fits in with my family, and I’m glad that her and Charlie have become really close over the past few months.
Parker clears his plate and grabs a cookie, then says goodbye because he has to head into work. He blows a kiss at Annie, and I grab it out of the air and throw it on the ground, then stomp on it.
He flips me off and Annie laughs, “You’re mean.”
“He’s an ass.”
“We should get going, too.” Drew gets to his feet and he and Mazie make their round of goodbyes.
It isn’t long after that Annie and I take off as well, but when I turn off down a different street, she looks confused. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
She’s smiling, looking around as she tries to guess. But when I pull into the parking lot of a veterinary office, she’s clueless. “Um, why are we here?”
“You’ll see.” I repeat. I hold her hand as we walk inside. “Hi. Thanks for meeting me.” I shake hands with the veterinarian.
“Not a problem.”
“This is Annie. Annie, Dr. Sullivan, and yes, she’s Sully’s wife.” I add.
They exchange hellos and then Dr. Sullivan takes us to the back and leads us to a kennel where Annie’s surprise is waiting.
“Aww, that cat looks just like Joan Wick.” She gleams at me. “Right?”
“Yeah.”
Dr. Sullivan quietly leaves us.
“Look, his name is John. That’s funny.” She giggles and then finally gets it. “Wait. What’s going on, Ben? Is this him?” She sucks in a ragged breath.
“It is.”
“You found him?”
For four months, I’ve been searching for the cat Poe abused to lure Annie.
She’s been struggling with that more than anything and I knew she wouldn’t be okay until she knew the cat was okay, too.
“I found him about a month ago. He was in bad shape, sweetheart, and he still has a couple more weeks of healing to do. But according to Dr. Sullivan, he still has eight more lives.”
She has her finger in the cage and scratches his nose. “He’s beautiful.”
“Do you want him?”
“Wait, what?” Her eyes spill over with tears. “Are you serious?”
“Of course, I am. There is one problem though.”
She looks so scared. “What?”
“We don’t have room in the apartment, so…I think it’s time we start looking for a house.”
Her eyes widen. “Really?”
“Do you want to?” I ask gruffly.
“Definitely!”
I smirk. “Good, because we’re meeting a real estate agent in half an hour.”
Her jaw drops and she struggles with words. “Ben…I honestly don’t know what to say.” She sits dabs under her eyes with her sleeves.
“Say yes.”
“What?”
I take the ring out of my pocket, and before I have a chance to ask her to marry me, she tells me what I want to hear. “Yes, Ben. Yes, yes, yes!”
She throws her arms around me and kisses me, soft and quick, and before I can kiss her how I want, she wiggles her fingers. “Put it on, put it on.” She’s bouncing on her feet, and I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen her so happy.
I’ve never been so happy. I love this woman so much it’s indescribable. I’m a better man because of her, and I can’t imagine my life without her in it. Now I don’t have to.
“I was going to get down on my knee and recite a whole speech.”
“I don’t need a speech, all I need…all I want is you and—”
“No way.” I slide the princess cut ring on her finger to get her to stop talking. “You’re not gonna out-speech me.”
She holds her hand out to revel at the precious stone, and I revel at how beautiful she is.
Without taking her eyes off the diamonds, she asks. “You’ve made me more than happy.” She puts her hand down and turns to face me. “You made me gravid,” she murmurs.
“Didn’t see that word on the calendar.”
She licks her lips and reaches for my hand, then gives me the definition. “Gravid. G R A V I D. As in pregnant, containing unborn—”
I cut her off and kiss her like I wanted, then tear my mouth away. “That your way of telling me you’re carrying my baby, Blue?”
Her eyes sparkle, her pink lips twitch, and she makes me the happiest man alive when she whispers, “Yes, Benny.”