It’s exactly like a real-life fairy-tale. We even have wicked stepmothers and ugly sidekicks.
My eyes dart to Kai, who appears to be filming the whole thing on his phone. Face painter girl has stopped what she’s doing and is staring at us with her mouth open, and Malia is chatting to anyone that wants to listen about the butterfly tattoo she’s gonna get when she turns twelve.
“Marry me, Essex. Let’s take a chance, go crazy, and marry the fuck out of each other?”
“Koa,” I say his name on a whispered sob before I nod. “Yes. So much yes. Yes all the yeses. I’ll marry you.”
Koa climbs back to his feet in one swift move, grabs my hand, and holds it up. “She said yes, people. She said yes.”
That earns us a cheer from our growing crowd, and then Koa steps in and kisses me senseless.
KOA: NINE MONTHS LATER…
IWAKE TO AN EMPTYbed, something that I hate. I can smell Gracie on my sheets and all around me and listen for a sound that might give me a clue as to where she’s at.
I hear Kai’s deep voice travelling from downstairs and Malia’s giggle at whatever he might be saying. My chest tightens, it always does when I think about my kids. There’s nothing better than going to bed at night knowing that we’re all together, even if it’s not quite all under the one roof.
A tap runs in the bathroom, and I still expect to hear the sound of the old pipes rattle and hiss, but that doesn’t happen anymore.
The entire cabin has been renovated, an extension added and the old barn converted into a studio apartment for Kai. It means he gets to come and go as he pleases, Gracie and I get our privacy, and I get to keep my eye on the people I love most in the world.
I climb out of bed and make my way to our bathroom.
I lean in the doorway and watch her. Gracie, my life, my love, my wife.
I move in behind her as she cleans her teeth at the sink and when she straightens, her eyes land on mine through the mirror.
“You doing okay Essex?”
“Backache,” she replies. Her hands going to her waist as she arches her back and rolls her shoulders.
My hands slide around her hips, and I kiss the curve of her neck as it meets her shoulder.
“That feels nice,” she sighs, tilting her head to the side, granting me better access to her silky smooth skin.
I grind into her.
“As much as it turns me on seeing you in my clothes, I think that t-shirt is too heavy, and that’s why your back aches. I’m damn sure it needs to come off and that I should take care of that ache,” I suggest between neck and shoulder kisses.
“I’ve got nothing on underneath and me getting naked and you taking care of my aches is what caused me to get the backache in the first place.” She narrows her eyes as she speaks, still watching me through the mirror.
I lift her t-shirt, that is in fact mine, and which I do, very much, love seeing her in, and step back a little so that I can see her bare ass.
“Lift your arms,” I order. Her narrowed eyes are now wide open and filled with heat as she looks at my reflection.
She does as she’s told, raises her arms and I lift the t-shirt over her head and off, throwing it over my shoulder to the floor.
“I never it possible, but you’re even more beautiful with my baby in your belly.”
Gracie’s head falls back and rests on my shoulder, the rest of her body leans into me as I stroke up and down her arms with the very tips of my fingers. Her eyes flutter then close as her nipples harden.
She’s due any day, and both her belly and her breasts are large and round, and I can’t keep my fucking eyes or hands off her.
She’s been insatiable during this entire pregnancy, even calling me at work to tell me she was gonna cheat on me with Vance if I didn’t get my ass home to her soon.
I obliged. I always obliged.
I’d give this woman anything, especially orgasms.