It amazes me that even fifteen years on, Amelia still wants me so much. Not a day passes where we don’t make passionate love in some form, fucking hard and fast or slow and sensually. I know the spark dies for a lot of couples after a while, and I guess I was worried that me being older and fully gray haired now, she might not feel the same way that she used to. But she still gets her hands on me whenever she can, and I’m incredibly lucky that my beautiful, young wife has only improved with age. It feels like she gets more and more beautiful every day.
“I’d like that,” Amelia purrs. “But first, we have a children’s party to host.”
I laugh. It’s certainly harder to get time alone now that we have a house full of kids. There’s Gigi, our eldest, then Chris, Alicia, and Rachel. They’re all such precious kids that it’s hard to picture having enough love for them all, but somehow, we manage it. Our hearts are fit to burst with so many beautiful kids to spoil and love. Gigi is our little dancer, Chris our little soccer star, and the other two are still figuring out their place in the world, dabbling in hobbies all the time and finding their own passions. It’s hard keeping up with them all, and we spend most of our time now trying to please them. There’s always a party to ferry them to, or a new hobby to explore, or some school event to attend. It doesn’t leave much time for anything else.
That’s why I retired a few years ago. I loved my job and my company, but I love my family so much more. Now that I’ve saved enough to give them the life they deserve, to send them to college if they want to go, to make sure they’re always cared for, I know that leaving the company behind was important. Time is precious, and I don’t want to spend it all in an office.
So once I retired, I threw myself entirely into family life. I’ve made sure to always be around. I’m there when Gigi needs someone to watch her new dance routine, or when Chris scrapes his knee at soccer and needs a bandage. I’m there when Alicia has another squabble with her friends, or when Rachel needs help with her homework. That’s what being a dad is all about, and I wouldn’t miss any of it for the world.
Of course, Amelia is there every step of the way as well. Now that the kids are a little older and she has me by her side, she doesn’t have so much pressure on her shoulders. When she’s not spending time with me or the kids, she sometimes escapes into her art, painting beautiful vistas which decorate the halls of our mansion. It keeps our home looking amazing, and gives guests something to marvel over when they visit. But really, she’s the only work of art in this place. She’s so beautiful that anything she creates, incredible as it is, pales in comparison. And now, as she adds the finishing touches to her makeup, I’m reminded of that fact. I’m the luckiest man in the world to have landed a woman like her.
“Shall we go and join the party?” she asks. I grab her hips, pulling her toward me. I wish I had the time to make love to her right now, especially when she’s in such a sexy dress. But since we have duties to attend to, I’ll settle for a kiss.
“In a minute,” I growl. I kiss her, tasting the lipstick on her lips. She giggles, leaning into the kiss for a long, blissful moment. When we pull apart, she smiles.
“I think you’re wearing more lipstick than I am now. We might have to sort that out…”
It’s another ten minutes before we make it downstairs. Gigi is swanning around the kitchen in her white ballerina outfit. This whole party was really a chance for her to remind everyone she knows that she was selected to be Odette in Swan Lake this year, the most coveted role in her dance class. She pirouettes on the spot, showing off even with no one looking. Amelia and I exchange a glance. She really is our little prima donna.
“Mom,” Gigi cries as she spots us. She runs to hug Amelia. Even after all these years, their bond has remained strong. I know she loves me too, but Amelia is her favorite person in the world, and I can’t even bring myself to be jealous. It’s sweet how much she cares. Amelia kisses the top of our daughter’s head.
“Happy Birthday, darling. Are you excited for your party later?”
“Duh,” Gigi grins, standing on her tiptoes to show that she can go en pointe perfectly. “Everyone is coming. Thanks for throwing me a big party, especially you, Dad. I know you don’t like dressing up.”