It’s the love for my wife, the hope and prayers I have for our unborn child.
For a couple who were about to ‘pop’ as the doctor put it, it’s not until dawn, and when Rhys finally arrives that we all hear the most welcome sound in the world.
The shrill screaming of two healthy, happy, and very much loved baby girls.
“You took your time,” I joke to Rhys, grateful when Clara’s iron grip is on his hand and not mine.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” he tells me, a tear threatening to spill over as he holds his baby daughter for the first time.
Piper clutching ours, offering her up to me as I gently snuggle with the two of them.
“Look what you did to me,” she says, her eyes filled with tears only a mother will know.
“Look what you gave us,” I remind her, kissing her on the lips, then pressing a kiss to our daughter’s head for the first but by no means the last time.
The first kiss of ten million, I pledge to her silently.
Hoping like hell the man she marries is a Marine.
The only man I’d ever let step out with my daughter.
Extended Epilogue
One Year Later
Reeve
“I just don’t think it’s any place for you right now,” I snap.
Not meaning to sound so harsh.
“And with Samantha too, as well as two more on the way?” I reason.
Sounding more like a worried husband and dad than a Marine.
Ex-Marine.
I’ve slowly let it become my past.
My future as well as my present is sitting three feet away from me.
“But she’s so cute in her little builder’s outfit,” Piper coos, ignoring my concerns and focusing on baby Samantha, shifting to make sure she’s comfortable as well.
I watch her clothes shift, her dress moving just enough to show me what I love seeing the most.
Those little flashes. Tiny glimpses of my woman as she moves, breathes, or just sits nursing our child.
All the silent, snapshot moments that I store away in my memory forever.
It’s also the one thing that always leads to another, especially when I’m trying to work.
And I let Piper know it too.
“Why do you do this?” I ask in mock frustration, dropping my tool belt and dusting myself down before crouching down in front of her and our little Samantha, kissing both of them tenderly.
“Do what?” Piper asks innocently, cocking a brow. Letting me know with her eyes she’s been getting plenty to see herself with me working out on the hot deck with nothing but my shorts and a tool belt on.
And my boots, of course.
“Turning up here, when you know I’m trying to build your house. Flashing that hot body of yours,” I pretend to groan, already feeling the pulse in my shorts quicken as my baby maker springs to life.
“I thought you were just a stickler for our safety,” Piper grins, opening her legs just enough for me to lean between, resting Samantha on one knee.
“She’s had her feeding and should be asleep any minute,” Pier whispers.
Making me survey my work for the day so far. The piles of sawdust. The tools spread here and there.
No real plans either.
Just doing what I’ve always done.
Build stuff.
But this is different. I’m building us a home.
Not just for our family today, but for their family and the family after them.
For tomorrow,
Our forever house.
“Well… I could take a short break,” I confess, thumbing my three-day stubble, pretending like I need to think about making love to my sweet wife.
“I just worry about the dust and all, I don’t want little Samantha getting—”
“Getting what?” Piper chimes. “A little dirty? Or getting ideas about how she could do it better than her old man?” she teases me.
I’m not even bothered by her comment, because I know it’s true.
I fuss over Samantha more than anything, worrying myself sick sometimes over the slightest thing.
It’s Piper who knows what’s best for our daughter, and she never sweats the small stuff but always asks me for input when it’s something serious or long-term plans.
“I could just finish this row of decking,” I tell her, noticing Samantha’s sleepy eyes closing.
“I’ll go set her down in the bedroom. I’ll be waiting,” she coos again.
“It’s a playroom now,” I call out from behind, watching her fine ass and swiveling hips as my engorged cock aches for her already.
My lips stretch into a smile as I realize that she’s mine.
All of this is ours and we have every day for the rest of our days.
Exactly like this.