EPILOGUE
LILA
MANY YEARS LATER
I runmy fingers through Hunter’s short hair as he sleeps. He’s all tuckered out from his birthday party today. He went and turned three on me. Time flies. I swear it was only yesterday that Drix was in full panic mode as he rushed me to the hospital to give birth.
Hunter ended up being a week overdue, but the second he was ready to finally come out and labor hit me, he made his entrance into the world only a few hours later. He really is just like his father. Took him a bit to come around to the idea of coming out, but once he made up his mind, it was all or nothing.
That’s how Drix has been since we both confessed how we felt about each other. I’d gone from thinking he wanted nothing to do with me to wondering if he was a stage ten clinger. Not that I minded. I love how obsessed he is with me. He could cling away. He did then, and he still does now. We were married before I even knew it happened. Drix barely let me out of his sight for a while after that. The whole ordeal with Mari really put him on edge.
I felt kind of bad for the woman. She ended up in a mental hospital where she received the help she needed. Drix wasn’t as understanding as I was. I guess I could just relate to the idea of going crazy over Drix. But Drix wasn’t satisfied with the outcome and wanted her to spend some time in prison. We’d all compromised, even the authorities, and Mari was sent back home to England and permanently banned from coming back to the States.
I lean down and kiss Hunter’s head before I creep from his room. Now that the house is empty, I have plans to see how much birthday cake is left. I run my hand down my baby bump. Drix had been on the fence about me getting pregnant again. As much as he loved seeing me waddle around, he did not love seeing me in labor.
Too bad for him he’d already promised me long ago that we’d be having a herd of little ones. It was something we’d both agreed on. But we waited until after I went to college. Something that I thought I didn’t want to do. For so long I’d been so focused on getting back home to Beau and Drix.
I didn’t want to go away to college because I’d already missed so much in Beau’s life. I didn’t let myself think I could have it all. It wasn’t until Drix was at my side telling me we’d have our family that I knew I could have both. So in true Drix fashion, we made a plan. I would go to college, graduate, and then we would have all the babies I wanted.
It was nine months after I graduated that I had Hunter. I hadn’t wanted to rush into the next baby. I wanted to find my footing with Beau and Hunter first. To enjoy my time with them. As Drix taught me, there is no rush. It all will come in time. This time, however, we’re having twin boys. I’m going to be surrounded by men for the rest of my life.
I make my way into the kitchen, stealing a peek out into the backyard. Everything from the party already looks to be packed up.
“Mrs. Mason, I think we’re all done here.” I turn to see one of the event workers that had put together a few of the rides.
“I’m sorry. I missed your name.” Drix had been the one that set all of that up while I worked on the decorations and cake.
“Turner.”
“Thank you so much, Turner. You guys did a wonderful job. My son loved it all,” I tell him. “Is there anything else you need?” I ask, not sure where Drix is. When I left to take Hunter up to his room, he and Beau had been pulling toys and floaties out of the pool.
“Nope, I think it was all covered.” He walks toward me, pulling out a card and pen. “I wanted to give you this.” He scribbles something onto the back of the card before handing it to me. I take it thinking maybe it’s a discount for the next party or something, but there is just a number. I flip the card to the front where the company information is, and there is a number already there.
“Your number change?”
“No, his fucking number didn’t change.” The card is picked from between my fingers by Drix. Like magic, he appeared out of nowhere. Turner stumbles back a few feet, holding his hands up. “She’s clearly married and pregnant,” Drix growls through clenched teeth.
“I’m not that big yet,” I huff. The dress I have on is flowy, and sometimes it hides the small bump.
“I specifically pointed out to all his men when they got here to put their shit together, that they all were to stay away from you.” Of course, he did. I bite the inside of my cheek so that I don’t laugh. So not the time. I need to make sure that I’m not spending the next twenty years only having conjugal visits with my husband.
“Dude, she asked for my name. I thought that maybe—”
“Hey.” Beau cuts Turner off as I grab a hold of Drix’s arm and practically wrap myself around it before he can lunge for the man. I don’t know where Beau came from either. “Run before he kills you.” Beau gives the guy a small shove to the center of his chest. Beau might still be a kid, but he’s not built like one anymore. Thankfully, the man turns and gets the hell out of here.
“Is there any cake left?” I ask once I hear a door shut. Drix turns his head to glare down at me.
“You asked his name?” I roll my eyes.
“Yes, because I have manners. Unlike some people around here.” I let go of Drix’s arm to go in search of my cake.
“I’m out.” I hear Beau say a second before my feet leave the floor and I’m swung up into Drix’s arms. Beau knows how Drix can get when he gets all possessive of me. I’m sure he’s going up to check on Hunter, who he has declared his nephew. Our family dynamic is a bit different, but it works for us.
“Angel,” Drix growls from behind me. My nipples harden, and I feel myself grow wet because I know what’s about to come…. Me.
“But is there cake?”
“You think I didn’t box up the extra cake and put it away for my pregnant wife?”
“You’re always saving the day for me.” The man is always coming to my rescue.
“Let’s see if you’re still thinking that after I spank your little ass.” He carries me over to the kitchen island, sitting me down on it. “After you have your cake, of course.”
A giant smile breaks across my face as I watch my husband get a fork out before retrieving my cake. I open my mouth when he brings a bite to it that has more icing than cake on it. The man really does love me. Always has, and I know he always will.
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