Epilogue

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER: LEAH

" A re there any one-year-olds in this house?" my grandpa playfully asks.

Before anyone can answer, he hustles into the living room, bypassing me to get to the triplets.

Maverick, Mason, and Scarlett all giggle with glee. Bending down, he showers them with kisses and hugs.

"Hello to you, too, Grandpa," I chuckle.

He looks over his shoulder at me. "Sorry, kid."

Grandma comes into the house beaming. "Hi, honey."

"Hi, Grandma." I kiss her cheek.

"It's a madhouse out there. Is this a birthday party or the state fair?"

"Jack wanted to go all out," I explain. "He says you only have one first birthday party."

Grandpa stands up, still holding a giggling Scarlett. "And he's right. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event."

"I can't believe it's already been a year," I say, taking in the chaos around us.

"It goes by fast," Grandma says, "but every moment is worth it. Where is Jack?"

"I don't know. I'll go find him." Leaving my grandparents with the babies, I walk through the house and into the backyard.

The home that Jack bought me a little over a year ago has been transformed for today's birthday party. Several bouncy houses stand tall and proud, their vibrant colors matching the party decor. There's a pony for rides and a magician as the entertainment. Plus, a DJ and several tables of catered food.

I tried telling Jack none of this was necessary, but the man likes to go big when it comes to everything. And it's not like I hate it. He's so completely devoted to the triplets; it melts my heart every time he insists on doing something like this for them.

The party has only just started, and friends and coworkers mill around the yard. Taylor stands by the drink table, a familiar-looking man next to her.

I grin to myself. I've only seen pictures of Brett, the guy she's been dating for the last few months, and I'm excited to meet him today. First, though, I need to find my own boyfriend.

Even a few minutes apart from him are painful. I would have thought both living and working together would mean I'd want some space every once in a while, but the opposite has turned out to be true.

Whenever we have some time away from the triplets, I always want to spend it with him. Over the last year, our appetites for each other have only grown.

Walking past the bouncy houses, I catch a glimpse of Jack talking with some of our coworkers. He looks up and sees me, a wide smile spreading across his face. Excusing himself from the group, he walks over to me, pulling me into a warm embrace.

"Hey beautiful," he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "How are you holding up with all of this chaos?"

"I'm good," I reply, looking up at him. "Just trying to keep track of the triplets and make sure everything's going smoothly. My grandparents are with them now."

"You're doing an amazing job." His hand rests on my lower back, sending a tingle of desire through me. "I couldn't ask for a better partner in this crazy adventure."

I smile at him, my heart swelling with love for this man. Despite all of the challenges that come with raising triplets, I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else.

Life with three babies hasn't been easy, but it's been worth it. Every sleepless night, every dirty diaper, every moment spent rocking a crying baby — it's all been worth it.

"Do you have a minute?" His thumb rubs circles across my back.

"Sure. What's up?"

"I want to show you something." Taking my hand in his, he leads me across the yard and into the house through the side door.

Avoiding everyone else, we take the side stairs and descend to the second floor.

"What's going on?" I ask, but he doesn't say a thing.

In our bedroom, he closes and locks the door, then pulls me into his arms. "You look so fucking sexy in that dress that I just had to get you alone for a few minutes."

I giggle and wrap my arms around his neck. "Well, you have me all to yourself now. What did you want to show me?"

He leans in and kisses me deeply, his hands roaming over my body. "I want to show you how much I love you," he whispers against my lips. "Ten minutes?"

I grin as heat begins to pool between my thighs. Stolen moments like this are worth their weight in gold, and since the triplets are safe with my grandparents, I'm more than happy to disappear from the party for a short while.

My heart flutters with desire as his hands glide down to the hem of my dress, lifting it up to reveal my lacy panties. He kneels down in front of me, trailing kisses along my inner thighs before pulling my panties down. His tongue flicks over my clit, sending a jolt of pleasure through my core.

I grip his hair, moaning his name as he pleasures me with his tongue and fingers. He feels so freaking amazing; I'm sparking like a live wire under his touch.

"I want to come with you inside me," I whisper, breathless.

"As you wish." Jack stands and takes off his shirt, kicking off his shoes. I grab the waistband of his pants and yank, smiling as he helps me get them off.

I pull my dress over my head and toss it on the floor.

Naked in front of each other, we gaze into each other's eyes, taking in the love pulsing between us. It's times like this when I think I must have fallen through a portal and landed in some sort of heaven. I still have trouble believing that this is my life, that I get to spend every day with the sexiest man alive.

Reaching out, I run my hands over his toned chest, dragging my nails lightly over his skin.

A groan escapes his lips. He loves it when I tease him like this, but if I needed evidence, it's in his rock-hard cock, ready for me and bobbing in front of him.

I drop to my knees on the carpet, enjoying the close-up view of his member. Taking his shaft in my hand, I run my tongue from the base of his cock to the tip. I swirl my tongue over the sensitive head, and his hands slide into my hair.

"Fuck, Leah."

His hands tighten in my hair as I take him deeper into my mouth, sucking hard. I swirl my tongue around his shaft and bob my head up and down a few times, savoring the taste of him.

"That's it, baby," he groans softly. "Suck my cock."

I take him even deeper so that I'm choking on his length. I love it, though, having him fill me up like this. I crave it.

Suddenly, he pulls out of my mouth with a pop.

"You're so fucking sexy. I need to have you right now." He wraps his arms around me and lifts me up, pinning my back against the wall.

My legs wrap around his waist as he pushes his cock against my slick folds and slides easily inside. With one slick move, his every inch is buried deep within me.

"Yes," I gasp, his cock stretching me to my limits. "Yes."

He grips my ass in his broad palms and holds me still while he slowly thrusts in and out. He's teasing me, trying to drive me crazy.

"Damn, you feel so fucking good." He kisses me hungrily, his tongue invading my mouth as he thrusts faster. Apparently, he couldn't keep up the teasing for long.

And I'm glad for it. I feel like I'm about to fly to pieces. I need him to wreck me.

"Fuck me, Jack," I plead. "I want you to fuck me hard."

"You like it when I fuck you hard?" He slides out of me and uses the head of his cock to torture my clit. "Then I'll fuck you hard, baby. But be careful what you wish for."

I shiver with anticipation. Oh, I know exactly what I'm getting into, and he won't be hearing any complaints from me.

I close my eyes and hang onto him, whimpering as he thrusts into me hard and fast.

"You like that?" he grunts.

I can't respond. I'm mute from the overwhelming pleasure. My fingers dig into his back as he pounds into me, filling me up, and I'm lost to everything else in the world. All I know is this moment. All I know is him.

"I want you to come." He sucks on my earlobe and nibbles on my neck. "I want you to come all over my cock."

The words are like a trigger. Fireworks pop behind my eyelids as my body tenses, pleasure exploding from my pussy.

I drop my head back and cry out as I succumb to the ecstasy. Jack grunts and thrusts into me faster, and we come together in a beautiful tornado of bliss.

With a gasp, he slows to a stop, his cock still twitching inside of me. "You are so goddamn hot, baby."

His lips brush against my neck, and my pussy tightens around him again. I could go for round two, but we've been away from the party for long enough.

"We should go," I whisper.

"I know," he whispers back.

He pulls out, and I slide down the wall so that I'm standing on the floor.

Our eyes lock, and I'm nearly blown away by all the love and admiration on his face. This man and our children are my everything; even a year in and it still seems too good to be true.

"I love you," he says softly.

"I love you too." Grinning big, I pull my dress back on and smooth my hair.

Jack kisses me tenderly, twists his fingers in mine, and leads me back down the stairs and to the backyard.

Even more guests have joined, and the triplets are playing in the inflatable ball pit, my grandparents watching them like hawks.

Bending down, I scoop Scarlett up in my arms and kiss her cheek. "Happy first birthday, pumpkin."

She giggles and waves her pudgy arms. "Dat!"

"What thing?" I look where she points and see the cake on a big table.

With three tiers and covered in plastic farm animals, the cake is something to behold. I'm not surprised that my baby girl is fixated on it.

"Maybe it's time to light the candles and sing Happy Birthday." Jack already has both boys in his arms.

"Sure." I grin at him, and he winks back, making heat flood through me.

I know we're both still thinking about the stolen moment we just shared upstairs. My body is already aching for more, but it will have to wait.

Luckily, it won't be disappointed. Jack's appetite for me is nearly insatiable, and I'm not far behind him. The moment the triplets are in bed tonight, we'll be having our own party.

We carry the triplets over to the cake, and Taylor does the honors of lighting the three candles — one for each of them.

"Happy Birthday…." Jack starts singing in his deep voice, and one by one everyone joins in.

Mason claps his hands with excitement while Scarlett wiggles in my arms, trying to get at the cake. Maverick, poor buddy, looks like he might cry at any moment.

He makes it through, though, thanks to his great grandma tickling his cheek and making him giggle. The song ends, and everyone claps.

"Blow them out! Like this!" I purse my lips and lean into the cake in an exaggerated motion.

The babies have no clue what to do, but it doesn't matter. All three of them are excited now, and there's lots of fun and laughter as we cut them each a slice to go crazy with.

"Cake!" Scarlett yells, slamming her pudgy fist into her slice.

I gasp. "Yes! That's right. Cake!"

Cake turns into music and dancing, which turns into cornhole and pony rides. The afternoon is the best one I've probably had in my whole life, and I don't know how it could get better.

As the party winds down and people start to show signs of leaving, Jack slips his arm around me and raises his voice.

"I'd like to thank everyone for coming today," he says. "It means a lot to us that you all are here to celebrate our triplets first big day."

His hold on me tightens, and I snuggle closer to his chest. If I could, I would melt right into him.

"The last year," Jack continues, "has been the most wonderful one of my life. It used to be, I thought I knew what success was. I thought I knew what happiness was."

His soft gaze finds mine, and my throat clogs with emotion.

"I was wrong," he says, our eyes locked.

Someone whoops — probably Owen — and I laugh.

"Before everyone leaves," Jack says, "I would love it if you would honor us by being witness to one more special event."

I feel my eyebrows furrow. What is he talking about?

Turning back to me, he gets down on one knee.

I freeze.

Is he…?

From his pocket, Jack pulls out a small jewelry box. As my pulse pounds in my ears, he opens it up, revealing a sparkling pink diamond ring.

"Leah," he says, "you've seen me at my worst and at my best. You've shown me what true passion looks like, both at home and at work."

I press my fingers against my lips, tears seeping from my eyes.

"You've shown me what true love is," he says, "and you've given me a gift that's greater than any I could have ever imagined. That of three beautiful children. That of a family."

He takes my hand in his, and I suddenly feel so giddy that I want to sing. At the same time, I'm frozen by shock and happiness.

Of course I've imagined what it would be like to marry Jack. How could I not? I love him and we have three children together.

But the last year has been so crazy, I assumed that would be a "one day" event.

But now here we are. Today has become one day.

His fingers smooth over mine, and as he gazes into my eyes, I see my future. I see my greatest joy. I see meaning.

"Will you marry me?" he asks.

Speechless, I nod, the tears streaming quickly down my face.

Grinning big, Jack slides the ring onto my finger. He stands, and we kiss tenderly. Behind us, the crowd breaks out in applause.

Jack breaks the kiss, but he doesn't go far. His lips hover inches from mine, and his soft eyes drink me in.

"Mom!" Mason cries, reaching for me.

I take him from Taylor's arms and give him a kiss. "I'm right here. Did you see what just happened? Daddy gave Mom a ring."

I show it to him, and he tries unsuccessfully to get it off my finger.

Maverick and Scarlett have already toddled over, eager to be a part of whatever their brother is doing.

"Mommy and Daddy are getting married." Jack bends down so that he's closer to their level. "What do you think of that?"

Scarlett blinks her big hazel eyes that look so much like Jack's, then looks at me, then looks at him. "Cake."

Jack chuckles. "I agree, Scarlett." He turns to me, his face full of love and adoration. "I really am the luckiest man alive."

The End