Extended Epilogue

extended epilogue

Teddy

several years later…

L ittle squeaks echoed through the house, followed by giggles.

Ivy and I were curled up on the couch, the only light in the living room coming from the enormous tree.

“Looks like someone’s awake,” I murmured in her ear.

“Mmm,” my wife said, snuggling against my chest. “They’re just excited.”

Christmas was tomorrow.

The season had been busy, but it was surprising how much better my work/life balance was these days now that I had someone to come home to. Multiple someones, in fact.

While I loved the cabin I’d called home—the small house where Ivy and I had spent our first days as a couple, and then as husband and wife—we’d started building a new house shortly after our wedding. After we’d found out she was expecting our first baby. That one-bedroom cottage might have been cozy, but it wasn’t conducive to a family.

“Of course they’re excited,” I said, keeping my voice low. “They want to see what Santa brought them.”

“He’s made monsters out of them.”

I laughed. “I think my mom might have had a hand in that. Who knew how much Santa and Mrs. Claus would spoil their own grandkids?” Though Ivy’s grandma had also had a hand in that, wanting to spoil her granddaughter and her great-grandkids alike.

“Oh, I definitely did.”

“You did, huh?”

“Mhm. As soon as I met them, I could tell how much they loved you. They’re like the biggest set of green flags I know.” Ivy grinned, patting my chest.

“Even if my dad was the reason I brought you here?” He’d meddled, even if I hadn’t known it at the time. Everything he’d done had been to ensure Ivy and I had met. Though falling in love—that had been all us.

“You mean when you knocked me out, kidnapped me, and effectively trapped me in the North Pole with you and only one bed?”

I hummed in response. “Yeah, that.”

“Just a technicality.” Ivy leaned over, brushing her lips against mine. “Thanks for finding me.”

Palming her neck, I eliminated the space between us, kissing her deeply. Nipping at her bottom lip, she opened up for me, and I swept my tongue inside, groaning at her taste.

Grabbing her hips, I dragged her onto my lap, pressing my erection against her core. No matter how long we’d been together, it only took the smallest thing for me to be hard for her.

Especially when I got to see her like this. The Christmas tree illuminated her face, and I ran one of my hands through her strawberry blonde strands as the other kept hold of her hips .

“Teddy,” she whispered, a needy whimper coming out of her throat.

“I know, baby,” I groaned, rocking against her again. I was five seconds from ripping off her pajama bottoms—ones that matched mine, even after all these years—and burying myself inside of her when the sound of a creak upstairs made us freeze.

“Daddy?” That was Charlie’s voice. We sprung apart, like we were teenagers who’d just gotten caught making out instead of parents who didn’t get enough alone time.

Little patters of footsteps came down the stairs, and then our five-year-old son was standing in front of us, rubbing his eyes and wearing a pair of reindeer footie pajamas. Technically, the kids had matching pajamas to ours, too, though Charlie couldn’t be separated from his reindeer pajamas. He was obsessed with them, wanting to spend almost every moment out at the stables with Buddy and Clarice.

“Hey, buddy. Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?”

“I couldn’t sleep.” He climbed between Ivy and me on the couch, his little head of strawberry blonde hair—just like his mom—settling on my chest.

Ivy ran her fingers over his hair, brushing the strands over his slightly pointed ears. They weren’t quite as elf-like as Ivy’s, though he didn’t get my human-like ones either. “Are you too excited about tomorrow, bud?”

He nodded, his deep green eyes looking up at her. “Grandpa Santa is gonna come and bring us presents, right, Mommy?”

“Yeah, buddy.” She kissed his forehead. “But only if you’re a good little boy and go back to sleep.”

“Aww.” He snuggled deeper into our sides, and I didn’t have the heart to make him move.

Another little pitter of footsteps came, and then Holly was there, dressed in her pink pajamas that were covered in gingerbread men.

“There’s my little angel,” Ivy said, opening her arms for our little girl. If Charlie was Ivy’s mini-me, then Holly was mine, with my dark brown hair and my nose. Though her eyes were all Ivy’s.

“Hi, Mommy.”

My wife gave a little happy sigh as our three-year-old climbed up onto her lap, like she was the most content just like this, surrounded by our little family. Our daughter laid her head against Ivy’s belly. “You couldn’t sleep either, sweetie?”

“No. Presents yet?” she asked, her big blue eyes looking up into Holly’s.

“Not yet,” my wife said, rubbing her back. “You have to wait till the morning.”

“Oh.” She pouted. “Why not now?”

“Because Santa hasn’t come yet, Holly,” I said, still cuddled up with Charlie, whose eyelids were already drooping shut.

“Granpa?” She asked, her little face looking up at me in awe. Holly loved her Grandpa. She had him wrapped around her tiny little finger, and had since the day she was born.

“Yes, baby. Grandpa won’t be by till later though, so you have to go to sleep.”

“Okay, Mommy.” Holly nuzzled her face against Ivy’s tummy.

“Will Grandpa bring the baby presents too?” Charlie asked, his eyes peeking open as he turned his head towards the girls.

Ivy rubbed her pregnant belly. “Not this year, bud. She’s still got a few months left in here before she gets any presents.”

“Oh.” He made a noise before curling back up on my lap .

Ivy and I made eye contact, and I did my best not to laugh. We’d been cockblocked by our two sleepy kids, who were too excited about presents to sleep, but also couldn’t seem to keep their eyes open.

Even though we lived in the North Pole and they got to see Grandpa Santa almost every day of the year, they still loved it. Their eyes lit up with happiness when the Christmas decorations went up.

Four stockings hung on the mantle, though I knew Ivy had already started embroidering the fifth one. Another tradition we’d kept up with.

I leaned over, pressing a kiss to my wife’s forehead before whispering in her ear, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she murmured, pressing a soft kiss against my lips.

“What do you say we get these kiddos to bed so I can unwrap my present?”

She looked down at the sleeping form on her lap. “I think that’s the best idea you’ve had all night.”

ivy

I kneeled in front of him, unzipping his pants to free his generous length. The kids were finally in bed, asleep this time, which meant we had some alone time. I intended to make good use of every moment.

Wrapping my hand around his length, I pumped him once, twice, and then leaned down to lick him when he stopped me. “What are you doing?” He asked, sliding his fingers into my hair to tilt my chin up towards him .

“Tasting you,” I replied. “It’s your present.”

Teddy groaned. “I’m supposed to be the one taking care of you, Ivy. I was going to do something nice, like rub your feet.”

Reaching out, I swiped my tongue over his cock. “You can do that afterwards. It’s been too long since I’ve had you like this.”

“You’re pregnant,” he grunted in opposition, even as I took him into my mouth. “You shouldn’t be on the floor.”

Humming instead of acknowledging him, I focused on his dick, sucking him like a lollipop, running my tongue over the crown. I knew he wouldn’t give me too much, or let me go too far, but I liked it when he let me take charge for once. The man was all alpha male, but he still liked to make me happy.

Fighting or flirting, it was all the same to me.

“Ivy, sweetheart,” he groaned as I took him further into my mouth, squeezing his shaft with my hand as I focused on him. “It’s too much.”

I shook my head, not stopping. Teddy buried his hands into my hair, helping guide me back and forth over him, being careful not to go too deep or to make me choke. With my free hand, I rubbed my clit, already feeling wet and needy.

When he finally pulled me off, I knew he was close. I swiped my tongue over my lips. “I wanted to taste you,” I whined.

“Not tonight, baby,” he murmured, untying my robe and exposing my naked body to him. “I want to come inside this pretty pink pussy.”

“You already got me pregnant again,” I mumbled. “Not much more you can do there.”

There was a glint of amusement in his eyes, and he gave me a light smack against my ass. “Talk like that, and I’m gonna put another one inside of you as soon as this one is born.”

“Okay,” I agreed, surprised at how much I wanted that.

He blinked, as if surprised. “You want a fourth baby?”

I nodded. “I’ve always wanted a big family. I think it makes sense. Besides, Charlie keeps asking for a little brother, and Clara doesn’t quite meet that quota…” I trailed a finger up my belly.

“Fuck, I love you,” he muttered, pulling me up so our lips would meet. His hands palmed my breasts—bigger and fuller now, during pregnancy—and I let out a low moan as he rubbed his thumbs over my nipples. “I can’t wait to fill you up again. Stuff you so full that you’ll be leaking my cum for days.”

A moan slipped from my lips as he ran his fingers over my entrance. I wasn’t wearing any panties, and he could feel how wet I was. “Damn, baby. So ready for me.”

“I need you inside,” I begged. “Please.”

He laid down on the bed, pulling me on top of him so I straddled him. His cock was pressed between us, and I rubbed against it, the sensations as my clit ground down against him sending shockwaves through my body. But as much as I could come just like this, I wanted him inside of me. Wanted to be connected in every possible way.

His hands cupped either side of my belly as I lifted myself up, guiding him to my needy cunt that begged for his length. Putting him in, I sank down, enjoying the feel of him stretching me. The fullness was incredible, and all my sensations were heightened during pregnancy.

“God, you’re so big.” My eyes fluttered shut as I took him in fully into my body.

“I do love it when you stroke my ego, baby.”

“Shut up,” I groaned, rocking against him. Each time my clit ground down against the root, I saw stars .

I opened my eyes to glare at him, and he grinned. “You like it. Don’t try to deny it.”

“You’re the most ridiculous man I’ve ever met.”

“Says the woman riding my cock like she can’t get enough.”

“ Fuck me ,” I groaned, needing him.

“With pleasure,” he said, taking over as he thrust up into me.

After that, I was lost to it. To the pleasure, to Teddy, driving me higher and higher, all these years together meaning he knew exactly how to drive me wild and make me come, and to all of the love I felt for my husband. When we’d both come down from our orgasms, I was nestled against his body, falling asleep with his hands cradling my belly, feeling loved—and completely sated.

teddy

“Merry Christmas Daddy!” Holly pounced on me. The other side of the bed was already empty, which I assumed meant Ivy had already trudged downstairs.

Giggles erupted from my daughter’s mouth as I picked her up, throwing her up into the air.

“Merry Christmas, baby girl.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Should we go see the presents?”

“Yeah!” I settled her at my hip, heading downstairs to the large living room and the tree that was overflowing with presents. Courtesy of two parents and grandparents who loved to spoil them. They didn’t know how lucky they were. I knew for Ivy, she was making up for all the Christmases she never got as a child, being in foster care and never knowing her family.

She had one now though. One big, noisy, happy family, and an entire town that loved her. A dog that still slept at her feet, even all these years later.

Coco was currently licking Charlie’s face, like she thought she’d find leftover food there.

As soon as we’d reached the rug, Holly squirmed in my arms. I put her down, and she shot off like a rocket, joining Charlie in inspecting the presents under the tree.

My wife had one hand resting over her large belly, the other holding a brand new stocking for the mantle.

“Finished it this morning,” she said, hanging it on the empty hook. Clara was embroidered in elegant, cursive letters—the name we’d picked for our new baby girl, even though Ivy wasn’t due until early spring. “I couldn’t sleep. The baby was kicking like crazy.” She rubbed her side.

It was crazy to think that this was our eighth Christmas together, and we’d officially been married for seven years today. Eight months after that, we’d welcomed Charlie into the world.

“You could have woken me up,” I murmured, wrapping my arms around her middle. “I’d have kept you company.”

She shook her head, even as I buried my nose in her hair. She smelled the way she always did—like cookies, faintly of peppermint, and like home.

Like mine.

“You looked like you needed the rest,” she said, turning her head to whisper directly into my ear. “Especially after last night. Even if you weren’t on the clock, you’ve been busy all season. I know how hard you’ve been working.”

I cleared my throat, feeling tightness in my chest. “Well, Dad’s getting older, and it’s my legacy too.”

She stood up on tiptoes and brushed her lips against my cheek. “Still, I didn’t want to interrupt a few precious hours of sleep.”

“Can we open presents now, Mommy?” Charlie’s voice called out, interrupting our quiet moment together.

“Of course, baby. Let’s see what Santa brought you, huh?” My wife smiled, taking my hand. “Shall we?”

We gathered around the fireplace, all four of us now in our matching Christmas pajamas, watching as our kids opened their presents.

Sighing happily, I kissed the crown of Ivy’s head.

“What was that for?”

“Because I love you,” I answered honestly. “Because I’m so grateful I found you.”

“Me too,” she whispered. Ivy snuggled into me, and we both rested our hands over her belly, our baby girl choosing that moment to kick, before both of our kids came over. They joined our snuggle pile, and my heart was so full of love.

Coco came over to my wife, curling up in her lap and pressing her nose against Ivy’s belly, just like she had during each of her pregnancies.

I love you, she mouthed.

Life was perfect.

It was better then, somehow. I had a mate I adored—a family I cherished. I was the luckiest man in the world, because I had the best job in the world. A job that gave me time to soak up all of these cherished memories with the people I loved.

That was what made every Christmas together the best Christmas yet.