38. Evie

Chapter 38

Evie

"I'm gonna eat this belly!" I declared before bringing my lips to Hendrix's tummy and blowing raspberries on his bare skin.

My baby boy's squeals made my heart swell, even when he brought both fists up to tangle in my hair.

"Hold on; don't move. I've got you," Paige's voice called over when she realized my three-month-old son wasn't about to release me, and I was stuck.

Her fingers pried his fists open, and I pulled back, chiding Hendrix playfully, "Naughty boy, pulling Mama's hair."

He gave me a gummy grin in response, not the least bit sorry.

Months of targeted trauma therapy had helped me create a bond with this incredibly sweet baby I was beyond blessed to call my own. He, along with his brother and sister, were my reason for living, and though it was exhausting having three infants, I'd never been happier.

Paige had been hesitant about increasing her role in Hope's life beyond the initial minimum ask of her birthday and Christmas. But over the summer, she'd gotten some much-needed counseling herself, and now that she was back in Indy for the fall semester, she popped over whenever she had a free afternoon.

I loved having her around. Not just for the extra set of hands, which were always welcome, but because she adored all three of our babies. I knew they would grow up viewing her as they would Jenner's teammates and spouses—an extension of our family.

Currently, we were on the living room floor, which had been cleared of the coffee table, so there was more room for the babies to spread out.

The boys were days from rolling over, and Hope was sitting up at six months old. I was afraid to blink most days for fear that time was slipping by too fast. The next thing we knew, they'd be crawling, then walking, then headed off to school.

Hunter whined from where he was lying on his belly, so Paige picked him up for a cuddle. Nuzzling the top of his downy-soft copper hair, she sighed. "Don't tell the others, but you might be my favorite. You're such a little love bug."

Hope took offense, a tiny scowl gracing her beautiful cherub face, and she reached both hands out for her birth mom.

Paige leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek. "I was just kidding, sweet girl. I love all three of you exactly the same."

Hope used the opportunity to grab Paige's free hand and brought it to her mouth. I was about to warn Paige, but I wasn't fast enough.

"Oh!" Widened blue eyes stared at me from across the room. "She bit me!"

Having been a victim of our resident piranha baby, I couldn't stifle a laugh. "Yeah, she does that. Teething toys work best, but she's not picky."

Shaking her head in wonder, first at Hope and then the boys, she remarked, "I don't know how you do it."

I wasn't going to downplay that having three babies so close in age was difficult. "Coffee's pretty much the only thing keeping me going at this point. That, and accepting help when it's offered. We wouldn't be anywhere without our Speed family and Emmy."

Paige squeezed Hunter tighter. "I know I say it all the time, but I'm so happy I picked you guys."

My nose tingled, and my vision grew blurry.

It didn't matter that after years of trying, we'd achieved our goal of conceiving on our own, bringing the twins into our lives. We would have been missing a piece without Hope. She made our family complete.

A tear slipped down my cheek, and I whispered back, "We'll never be able to repay you for the gift you've given us, Paige."

Her eyes grew glassy, and she pushed onto her knees so she could shuffle closer. She threw her free arm around me and hugged me tight, with Hunter squished between us.

"Thank you." Her watery words were right beside my ear.

When she pulled away, a shy smile graced her lips, and her eyes dipped to the floor. "I thought my life was over when I saw those two pink lines. But now I realize that Hope led me to some of the most incredible people I'll ever meet. Watching you and Jenner become parents, seeing your love for each other . . . You guys set the standard in my mind. And I don't want to settle for anything less."

Hendrix whined at being left out, so I scooped him up, bouncing him as I spoke to Paige. "Life isn't without its challenges. For being so young, you've faced more than most. But you remained calm and made a plan. You did what was best for Hope. She's going to grow up knowing you put her before yourself and that you cared enough to continue being a part of her life—even if it isn't as her primary parent. And someday, you're gonna meet a great guy who deserves you, and I'm honored that Jenner can provide you with an example of what a steadfast, supportive partner looks like.

"I didn't feel like I deserved him in my darkest days. He was too good, and I thought I was dragging him down. But even through all our time spent apart, we never stopped loving each other, which is a testament to our bond. He's my person, and I'm his. I've had to take a hard look in the mirror and accept that sometimes I need help because I struggle with inner demons, but I'm able to do so knowing that he'll always have my back, will always put me first, and he's never going to let me run away again."

Paige tangled her free hand with mine and squeezed. "You two have an amazing love story, and I'm so lucky to hold even the tiniest part of it."

"You're stuck with us, kid." I threw her a wink.

Our lives had been messy before the babies, but now they were crazy and loud and so full of love my heart threatened to burst, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

"All three are down for the count." The words were said with a sigh of relief as Jenner latched our bedroom door after stepping inside.

I set the book I was reading—Dakota's latest release—down on the nightstand. Having put Hope to bed while Jenner wrangled the boys, which took a bit longer, I'd been afforded a few precious minutes to read. Time for myself was a thing of the past with three babies under seven months.

Padding across the room on bare feet, Jenner cocked an eyebrow when he saw my choice of reading material. Then, a sexy smirk curved on his lips.

"Anything good?"

"Oh, you know. Guy meets girl, girl won't give him the time of day, but he pursues her anyway. She can't resist his charm, and they fall helplessly in love. Honestly, I don't know why I bother reading romance anymore. Seems like the same story on repeat."

His chuckle warmed my insides as he caged me in with one hand pressed to the headboard. Voice dropping low, he rasped, "Oh, come on, Evie. We both know you skim the storyline and head straight for the spice."

My face flamed because he was absolutely correct.

"I bet"—Jenner's lips ghosted over mine—"if I slipped my hand between your thighs, I'd find you soaking wet. Isn't that right, baby?"

Mouth suddenly dry, I found it hard to swallow as his hand skimmed over my waist, dipping beneath the hem of my sleep shirt. My gasp mixed with his groan as his fingers brushed against my core, which was indeed slick with my arousal.

It had been so long. Since the boys were born. I was fully recovered, but we were just too damn busy. When the chaos settled at night, sleep pulled at us before there was time to have a conscious thought about being intimate.

But I'd missed him—missed the way he made me feel.

"This okay?" Jenner murmured, his fingers sinking deeper through my slit.

My head dropped back on a moan. "God, yes."

Slowly, he pressed two fingers inside me and hissed. "Fuck, Evie."

"More," I begged.

Withdrawing slightly, he shoved back in, setting a slow and steady pace that allowed the heel of his palm to grind against my clit with every pass.

His mouth pressed hot, messy kisses along my exposed neck as he fucked me with his fingers. When he curled those digits, pressing on that magic spot, my back arched, and my thighs began to tremble.

Out of words, I could only moan as pleasure threatened to drag me under, but I would happily drown if it meant Jenner was the one to take me down.

"I know, baby. You're right there, aren't you?"

A whimper flew past my lips.

"Your pussy is gripping me so tight." His breath was hot in my ear. "Let go. I promise to catch you when you fall."

That was all it took. His words didn't just send me over the edge; they threw me over violently. Stars burst behind my eyes, and my lungs seized as all my muscles convulsed in unison. Jenner's hand followed my body's cues, only slowing when he was confident I was coming down from the intense high of my orgasm.

My stuttered breaths sounded in the air, my chest heaving with the effort. "Oh. My. God."

Humming against my skin, Jenner mused, "Not sure it'll ever get old, watching you come. It's beyond breathtaking."

"I need you, Jenner," I breathed out, the pulsing between my thighs still insistent.

"Look at me." The command was firm yet soft as he gripped my chin.

I forced my eyes open as a rush of heat pooled at my core at the sight of his hungry gaze.

"You want my mouth first? Or do you need my cock right now, baby?"

"Uh-huh." I managed a nod.

His husky laugh had my nipples hardening painfully. "Words, sweetheart. I know you have them."

Fuck. I didn't want to think right now; I only wanted to feel. Why was he making this so hard?

Hard.

That thought had my hand snaking down to grip his length tenting his boxers. His resulting groan was music to my ears, and I fought back a satisfied smile.

"This," I said, hoping it was enough to get the message across.

"You always did have good taste." He placed a kiss at the base of my throat before pulling away.

His cock slipped from my grasp as he stood, stripping down until he was naked before me.

My teeth sunk into my lower lip. Holy hell, my husband was hot. If I weren't so desperate for him to be inside me, I would have taken my time to lick across every hard line of muscle on his toned body.

And when he reached down to stroke his shaft, staring at me with hooded eyes, I almost came on the spot. The vision of him working his cock with his hand, the way his forearm tensed with each tug, was better than anything I could ever read in a book.

Closing the gap between us, he fisted the hair at the back of my neck and tugged, making it so I couldn't escape when his lips crashed down onto mine. His tongue swept inside, making my toes curl as he commanded this kiss, reminding me how good it could be between us, how much he desired me.

I felt cool air rush over the heated skin of my upper thighs, but when my shirt was tugged over my belly, I pushed at his chest.

I might have fifty pounds on the man, but he was a wall of solid muscle. Even if I used every ounce of strength I possessed, I knew I wouldn't be able to move him. So, when he drew back, it was only because he allowed it, not because I'd successfully pushed him away.

"No," I whispered.

With that single word, Jenner put more space between us. "You want to stop? Is it too soon?"

Squeezing my eyes shut, I shook my head. "It's not that."

A warm hand caressed my face, the rough pad of his thumb smoothing over my cheekbone. "Talk to me, Evie."

"I—" I swallowed. "I don't want you to see me like this." I tugged the hem of my T-shirt back down for emphasis.

I could hear the confusion in his voice. "Babe. I'm the one who took care of you. I've seen it all."

Blowing out a breath, I forced my eyes open. "That was different."

Jenner cocked his head. "How?"

Insecurity crept in at me from all sides, but I knew better than to hide my feelings from my husband. Therapy, combined with learning from past mistakes, had taught me that communication was vital.

With my heart in my throat, I confessed, "Because it's not sexy. And for as turned on as I am right now, I can't stand the thought of your dick going limp because of what my body looks like now."

His mouth dropped open, and he let out a disbelieving huff. "Not sexy?"

I shook my head. "Not even a little bit."

Blazing eyes bore into mine, seemingly searching my soul as he asked, "Do you trust me?"

Dammit. He was playing dirty. He knew that I did.

Jenner's gaze held mine as he awaited my answer.

I couldn't lie to him. "Yes."

Not saying another word, my husband urged me to sit up against the pillows lining the headboard and tugged the shirt over my head.

My first instinct was to band my arms across my waist, but it wouldn't be enough. I couldn't hide from him.

"Do you know what I see when I look at this body?" Jenner's soft voice had me peeking up at him.

I sucked in a sharp breath when he took a fingertip and traced the purple stretch marks lining the loose skin of my deflated belly. Next, he followed the line of my C-section scar.

Reverently, he said, "I see a fucking warrior. A strong woman who sacrificed her body to bring our sons into this world. More than that, I see a survivor. You fought hard for what you wanted and won. And as far as I'm concerned, I've never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life."

Hot tears burned behind my eyes, and I blinked furiously.

Classic Jenner. Taking what I saw as flaws and flipping them upside down into assets.

I was so goddamn lucky that, one day, he'd taken one look at me and decided that I was his future.

Leaning in to cup my face, he vowed, "I love you, Evie. You're my everything. Always and forever. Got it?"

I nodded, tears spilling over onto my cheeks.

He brushed them away, a tender expression crossing his handsome face. "Now, if it's okay with you, I'd like to make love to my wife—my warrior."

Letting out a watery laugh, I whispered, "Please."

He took my hand and brought it to wrap around his stiff cock. "See? No problems here, baby."

I gave it a firm tug, relishing how his eyes rolled back into his head.

"Fuuuuuck." His moan had me trying to press my thighs together, which was impossible with him kneeling between them.

Swallowing, he shook his head, chiding, "No. No more hiding. I want to be able to see every perfect inch of this incredible body, and that includes your pretty pink pussy."

With that, he spread my legs wider, holding me open as he gazed at where I glistened, so ready for him.

"Put me in, baby."

Jenner moved his hips closer so that I could line him up with my entrance. A shift of my hips, and he sank in the first inch.

Having been cautioned against the risks of having more children, Jenner had taken action and gotten a vasectomy. When I'd told him it wasn't necessary, he'd looked me dead in the eye and declared that nothing was going to come between him and his wife ever again. And that had been that.

So, there wasn't a second thought when he bottomed out inside me bare—skin to skin, the merging of souls.

Jenner's grip tightened on my hips. "Fuck, you feel so good." His eyes remained locked on where our bodies were joined as he began to thrust. "A perfect fit. Like you were made for me."

The way I was positioned, almost sitting up, each pass of his cock rubbed against my clit, and I was panting, reaching for him, trying to draw him closer.

"Look at us," he commanded. "Look at how well you take all of me."

My gaze dropped as instructed. My lower lips were stretched around his cock as it slid in and out, in and out. The erotic sight had my pussy gripping him tighter as a fresh wave of arousal slammed into me.

Jaw hanging slack, my husband looked like a Greek god with his abs tensed, his rhythm increasing with each snap of his hips.

I dug my nails into the tight flesh of his ass, urging him on. "Harder."

He braced one hand on the headboard, his control snapping, and he finally let me have it.

Writhing beneath him, I gasped when he hit the perfect spot. "Right there. Don't stop."

"Never, baby. I'll never stop," he gritted out.

A familiar tingling sensation gathered between my legs, coiling tighter and tighter, getting ready to explode.

"Come with me."

I shattered instantly, moaning as I clawed at him, trying to hang on and extend the feeling of pure bliss coursing through my veins. Jenner dropped his head to the crook of my neck, thrusting twice more before stilling, grunting as he came, filling me.

Sticky with sweat, I held my husband close, stroking his damp hair.

Our love story had been one hell of a rollercoaster, fraught with heartbreak and drama, but I couldn't be sorry if that was how we'd gotten here—with Jenner and me wrapped up in each other, our children sleeping peacefully down the hall, and a beautiful future ahead of us.