Epilogue

Ten years later

Grady

I settle into the hard folding chair to watch Faye take the podium, ready to give the keynote speech at this wildlife conservation conference. My wild, beautiful wife finally found her calling, and now spreads her love of art and nature through the charity she set up to raise support for indigenous artists all over the world. I’m not at all surprised that she rose to the top of her field and I quite enjoy tagging along and listening to her inspire people wherever we go.

She holds up a basket made in Peru, explaining how important keeping ancient practices alive is to the environment. The message is worth hearing, but I lose concentration while watching her move. Her slender arms tug at the prim and proper dress she’s wearing, drawing the fabric tight across her breasts.

There’s just something about seeing her shine, as passionate as ever, that gets me going. Oh hell, everything about her gets me going. I still love watching her. That hasn’t changed a bit in the past ten years.

I, however, have changed a lot in the past ten years. I gave up teaching for Faye, and that made me realize my true passion was in writing. For the two years before Nessa was born, I wrote furiously. I completed my first series (without spoiling a thing for Faye, somehow), and began my second. As soon as Nessa came along, I slowed way down so I could care for her while Faye follows her dreams, but I still write when I can. My fans are loyal enough that they are willing to wait for me to deliver while I let my brilliant girl shine.

As soon as she’s done with her presentation, I duck out before the next person takes the stage, to collect our kids from the hotel daycare. We decided to combine this conference with a family vacation and spend some time together.

Our eight-year-old daughter Nessa is supremely offended that we made her stay with a room full of babies, but I praise her for watching over her toddler sister Maisie and her mood turns sunny again.

“Mom’s going to meet us for lunch,” I say. “But we can wait for her by the pool.”

They cheer and I find a spot near the shallow end, sticking my feet in while Nessa pulls Maisie around in her puppy float. The sound of my children’s shouts of laughter warms me even more than the blazing sun.

Seeming to sense her, I turn to see Faye hurrying out of the hotel, her smile lighting up my life. I beam back at her, continuously amazed at how lucky I am. As soon as the girls see her, they scramble out of the pool, famished for the hot dogs I promised they could have since it’s vacation.

We order and settle in under a big umbrella and the girls dig in as soon as it arrives.

“Are we taking the tram tour or shopping?” I ask, reaching over to wipe a glob of ketchup off of Maisie’s chin.

We plan to spend the hour until Faye’s next speech doing touristy things with the kids, and Maisie rambles on about all the pictures she’s going to take, already showing the artistic side she inherited from her mom.

But Faye keeps giving me meaningful looks over the tops of our kids’ heads. Looks I know all too well. And she’s playing footsie with me under the table. I nod and her lips curl into a slow smile that has my heart racing and my cock rising.

“Sorry girls,” she says. “But my schedule got rearranged. We’ll have to push back the shopping spree until tomorrow.”

“Not back to daycare,” Nessa wails, making Maisie start to whimper.

“We can swim after dinner and get that giant ice cream sundae with the sparklers we saw last night,” I promise before a full blown war between grownups and children erupts.

Faye rolls her eyes at me and I know I should have taken a more stern approach, but I can’t deny my daughters anything. But, I need to be alone with my wife. Once we sign them back into the daycare center, we lock hands and run for the elevators, giggling the whole way up.

In our suite, she drags me to the bed, already shrugging out of her dress. As soon as it’s over her head, she pulls up my t-shirt.

“I love it when you’re dressed like a beach bum,” she says, sliding her palms up my bare chest. “I couldn’t take my eyes off of you at the conference.”

“Liar,” I say. “I know because I couldn’t take my eyes off you. Do you know how hot you are when you’re talking about ancient dye methods?”

She pulls away and yanks the button clean off my shorts, tugging them down around my ankles along with my boxers. With a laugh, I step out of them, more than happy to oblige her in a midday quickie.

“Tell me I have enough time to lick you,” I say, easing my hand between her thighs. Even through her panties, I can feel how ready she is for me.

But it’s just when she’s so wet that I need to taste her.

“There’s always time for that,” she tells me.

We tumble onto the bed and I kiss my way down her body, popping open her bra to free those tits I’ll never get tired of. I bring each rosy nipple to a tight peak, my cock throbbing at the sound of her sighs. At her panties, I work them down her smooth legs, meaning to slowly kiss my way back up again and really drive her wild.

But I’m too impatient, and the way she looks down at me with such need in her eyes makes me plunge my face between her legs. I lap her up, making her cry out and reach for my hair. She shoves my face deeper into her slippery folds and I force my tongue inside her, then pull out to work her clit in slow circles.

Her shouts nearly rattle the pictures off of the walls and with shaking legs, I rise up, pulling her to meet my cock. Her ankles lock behind my hips and I thrust deep. Her nails rake down my chest as her head thrashes back and forth. I can still feel the pulses of her orgasm gripping my shaft and I move faster and harder.

I let my gaze travel up her body, still so perfect— more perfect since she’s given me two amazing children. Our eyes lock and hers are full of everything I feel. Everything we’ve been through, all our experiences. The little squabbles that brought us closer together. All the joy and desire and meaning she’s given me.

I roar and spill my seed inside her, collapsing with a harsh gasp into her waiting arms.

“God,” I mutter, finding my breath. “Our quickies are always great but I didn’t expect that to be a near religious experience.”

I can feel her nodding, her chin bumping against the top of my head. With an effort, I roll off of her and hurry to bring her back into my arms.

“What was this all about,” I ask, “What got you so worked up?”

She leans back and searches my face with a secretive smile. “I saw you in the audience and just got such a rush of happiness. I love you so much, Grady.”

“Well then, you know I’ll be in the audience again for your next speech if this is what happens after.”

She keeps smiling at me in a way I’ve seen before. Twice before to be exact. My breath hitches and I ask her if there’s more. “Something’s making you really happy,” I say, squeezing her hand. “And if it’s what I think it is, I’m going to be really happy too.”

“Yes,” she whispers, her smile so huge it takes over her pretty face. “I’m pregnant again. I took a test this morning because I’ve been feeling so run down and sick lately.”

“I couldn’t tell,” I say, kissing her forehead. “You seem full of energy to me.”

“Well, I can’t exactly take time to rest with those rowdy girls and all these speeches,” she says, not a hint of complaint in her voice despite the words. “But since it feels so different than with Nessa and Maisie, I think it might be a boy this time.”

“I’d love a little dude to do manly things with, but I’m just as happy with another little princess,” I tell her. “I just wish we had more time to celebrate.”

“We can make time later,” she assures me. “I can’t wait to see you in the next presentation. That is if it isn’t getting too boring hearing me say the same thing over and over again.”

I pull her close and kiss her before she can get up to get dressed. “Oh, my love, I never get tired of watching you.”

~The End