Page 75 of The Hookup Situation

He holds it out to me and turns and I slide it around his neck, before clasping it in the back. It doesn’t quite have the same appeal with him wearing my pajamas as I know it will when he’s dressed in his regular clothes, but I love the way it looks on him regardless.

After presents we clean up, and then Jackson and I shower separately before heading back downstairs. He's dressed in black skinny jeans with holes in the knees, a gray v-neck T-shirt and a black sweater that’s open in the front. And yeah, the Evenstar necklace looks sexy as hell on him now, his smoky eyeshadow spotless, and his dark hair perfectly styled.

I stand in the archway leading from the living area to the kitchen and pull him to me. “I love you,” I tell him, and I can see my parents watching us out of the corner of my eye, smiling.

“I love you, too,” he says.

“Oh, my heart,” Mom croons.

“You guys have to kiss,” Dad says, then gestures above us. I look up and grin, before my eyes meet Jackson’s again.

He nods and our lips meet under the mistletoe.

EPILOGUE

FIVE YEARS LATER

JACKSON

“Mmmm,” Preston groans as I bottom out inside him. I couldn’t fucking resist, waking up and seeing that perfect ass on display, my cock already hard, his gorgeous body there for the taking. I’d lathered myself up with lube and then slowly pushed inside him as he slept.

I press kisses to his naked back and shoulders as I begin to thrust.

We discovered over the years that there were other kinks we wanted to try, and I when I brought up somnophilia to him, he’d told me he would like nothing more than to have my dick in his ass while he slept, waking up to being fucked. I believe his exact words were, “Hell, yeah, you can do me while I’m asleep, how is that even a question?”

“Oh, fuck, baby,” he groans as his leg moves to grant me better access. He grips the sheets while he lies on his side, letting me fuck him. “Shit, Jax, that’s good.” He still hasn’t opened his eyes, but his dick is hard and oozing precum.

I wrap my arm around him. “Touch yourself,” I order. “Fuck that gorgeous cock with your fist, baby.”

He whimpers and does as I ask. My thrusts pick up their pace as I nibble on his ear, and then suck and bite on his upper back and shoulder. “God, you feel so damn good. Love your ass, baby.”

“Shit, Jax,” he whines. “I’m so close.”

“Kiss me.” He opens his eyes and turns his head. Our lips lock and we’re both moaning loudly as we gyrate, chasing our releases. I feel his hole clenching around my dick as his body spasms and he whimpers into my mouth. It’s so damn hot, and I’m coming inside him seconds later.

“Fuck,” he murmurs as we lie there sweaty and sated. “God, I love that so much.” He grips my left hand that’s still resting on his chest and brings it to his lips, pressing a kiss to my ring finger and the stainless steel band there that has our names engraved on the inside, along with the date of our wedding. “Still can’t believe you’re mine,” he says, and I know he means it. He looks at me every day with the same care, affection and desire that he always has, and I know he loves me.

It hasn’t been easy getting here, but it’s been one hundred percent worth it. I went through a couple of years of therapy, working through all my shit, talking through my fears and insecurities, mostly about my parents. And there were days where I really wanted to stop therapy all together because I would come home feeling worse, not better. But my therapist assured me that was normal, so I stuck with it, and I’m doing a lot better now. Partly because I have an amazing husband who was there for me every single time I came home angry, or in tears, or just feeling lost, and he’d let me feel however I needed to feel. He’d listen if I needed to talk, or hold me if I didn’t. He’d run a bath for me, and bring me chocolate chips, or putDirty Dancingon the TV, or rub my feet, whatever I needed. And Ithink, if it’s possible, I fell even more in love with him during that time.

It took a while, but I eventually cut off all communication with my parents. I was sick about it at first, but I know I’m better off in the long run, and I have been happier since then. I also have the most amazing in-laws in the world, which helps a lot. Their love and support means the world to me, and I’m so grateful for them every single day.

When I told Rory about my relationship with Preston, and about my parents and the struggles I’d been having, he cried and gave me the biggest hug, and then he smacked me for not having told him and Lucy both sooner, and then he hugged me again. Having them both know about us was honestly one of the best things in my life. They were so supportive, and any time I’d start to worry I wasn’t enough, they’d remind me how much Preston loved me, and make sure I was seeing things the way they really were, and not how my anxiety or insecurity made me see them.

I still struggle sometimes, but I’ve grown more and more sure of him, of us, and his love for me, so when he asked me to marry him on Christmas Eve with his family there, I didn’t hesitate to say yes, and the wedding was six months later. It’s been a year now and I couldn’t be happier. And because I had no desire to be a Bardot any longer, I eagerly took his last name.

“Okay, time to get up. We have busy days ahead of us.” He kisses me one more time and I pull out of him.

We eat, shower, and dress for our days. Preston is in his last year of medical school and I’m so fucking proud of him. He’s brilliant and hard working, and even though it’s been so stressful he wanted to quit at times, he didn’t.

He works part time as a coach at the local high school while he takes his classes, and it keeps him busy. His parents were amazing and said they wanted to pay for his schooling becausehe’d done so much for them. He’s still got a ways before he’s officially a doctor, but I know it’ll happen.

I did traveling theater for a couple of years right out of college, but it turns out it wasn’t for me, because I missed my man too much. So now, I work as a stage manager at a regional theater here in Colorado, and volunteer at a nearby community theater as well, teaching acting classes for youth, doing workshops, directing, and yes, occasionally acting.

“See you tonight,” he says, then kisses me on the cheek before he heads out the door.

“Okay, okay, listen up.” I clap my hands and the students cease their chatter and turn to face me. We’re backstage at the community theater and they’re in the process of getting their costumes and makeup on for our opening night ofThe Wizard of Oz.“I’m super excited for you guys to go out there and show your friends and families what you’ve learned, and I know you are excited, too, and probably a bit nervous, but I have so much faith in all of you and I know you’re going to do amazing. I’m very proud of everyone here.”

The young smiling faces beam at me and I can’t believe how lucky I am.

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