Bonus Epilogue #3
Just as I’m getting lost in my head, Hayes begins to kiss me, sucking my bottom lip into his mouth and biting gently.
His hands are wandering my body, rolling my nipples between his fingers and stoking the flames of desire in me again.
Seems like it will be one of those nights where we can’t get enough of each other.
His hands grow rough and more insistent, teasing my tender sex and playing with my clit until I’m gasping with need.
He rolls me to my back and slips back inside me, once again hard and ready to make me come apart below him.
This is what I need most right now, to be anchored to the present by the connection of our bodies, flesh slapping, lewd, wet noises coming from our joining, a sheen of sweat coating us both until we’re our most primal, needy selves, and we give into those needs with insistence.
While he’s kind and sweet, he’s still my dark prince, drawing out the carnal, wanton side of me as well. And he is my protector, ensuring that I’m safe, cared for, and wanting for nothing. He’s my everything.
Hayes
Ten years later
“Breakfast in bed? What did I do to deserve this?” Paige asks when Maddie, Zach, and I troop into the room with a tray of breakfast items.
“It’s your birthday!” Zach says, excitement lighting up his face, a miniature version of mine.
“Dad said we needed to make sure your day was special,” Maddie adds, handing Paige a mug of coffee and crawling into bed to snuggle beside her.
At thirteen, she’s starting to distance herself from us, more preoccupied with her friends and activities than family time, but even she was on board with our birthday tradition and wanted to help make breakfast.
Paige kisses her dark hair and smiles. “It will always be special if I get to spend the day with my favorite people.”
Zach hands her the red rose he cut from the flower garden Paige put in and loves so much.
“Are you old now?” he asks as he flops on the end of the bed and lays his head on Paige’s legs.
Our kids are cuddly because we have been free with our affection.
Seeing them still cling to their mother and wanting her attention is beautiful.
“That’s not a polite question to ask anyone, especially a woman,” I say patiently.
Zach is still working on what he can and can’t say to people.
He’s very forward and doesn’t understand that sometimes the thoughts in your head need to stay there because they can hurt people’s feelings without him meaning to.
He’s a lot like Payton was as a kid, and has the brain to match.
If Payton was able to figure out social cues and is a functional and polite member of society, I have hope for Zach, too.
Paige laughs and shakes her head. “Your dad is right, but I’ll say I’m not even close to old.
I’m thirty-six, which is still very young.
If you want to know who’s really old, ask your dad his age.
” Her teasing tone helps soften the blow, though it still hurts to think she considers me old.
It’s the truth, even if I’d like to pretend otherwise.
“Fifty is the new forty. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say nonchalantly as I set the tray over Paige’s legs and walk around the bed to sit on Maddie’s other side.
Nyx, our Cane Corso, follows at my heels and stands silently at the end of the bed watching over my little family.
She’s the granddaughter of one of the dogs from Cerberus’s litter and has been with us for two years since we lost our boy.
My heart still aches from that loss, no matter how long it’s been.
Cerberus was with us for thirteen years, his lifespan longer than most of his breed.
He was as much my best friend as my guard dog, and the many years of memories we have with him, from watching him fall in love with my beautiful wife, to the instant bond he created with each of our kids, will stick with me forever.
Having Nyx helps, though, as she is even more loving and cuddly with the kids and Paige, and still as protective.
I never have to worry about them being home without me while Nyx is nearby.
“Come here my beautiful girl,” Paige calls.
Nyx jumps on the bed and crawls next to Zach, her big head settling on his side.
Zach pets her silky black head until she chuffs out a contented sigh.
She’s just as smart, loving, defensive, and well-trained as Cerberus.
I made sure of it by sending her to the same trainers who taught Cerberus everything he knew.
She’s also just as spoiled, being invited onto beds when she knows her place is on the many dog beds we have throughout the house.
“Now I have my whole family with me. This is the best way to start a birthday,” Paige says, smiling at each of us in turn.