Epilogue

Four Years Later

I know she's asleep because her lips are parted slightly, and she's snoring quietly, but it takes everything inside of me not to put my hand on her swollen belly.

When she was picking out bathing suits this morning, she almost wore a one-piece, but I convinced her to try on this bikini. And I'm glad she did because she's so fucking cute in it. Her tits are swollen and begging for me to put my face between them, but I refrain from that too.

I talk about loving the warm weather, but when I'm at an actual beach, I don't know what the hell to do. I'm not an expert beachgoer. Briar, on the other hand, is passed out on her blanket, her sunglasses shielding her eyes from the bright sun. I'm glad I reminded her to put an extra layer of sunscreen on an hour ago when she was eating watermelon and drinking bubbly water.

At six months pregnant, she's the most beautiful woman on this beach. She just doesn't realize it.

Two years ago, we traveled to Hawaii and got married on a white sand beach. With no one there besides my mom, sister, Walker, and Poppy, it felt right. Neither one of us cares about big, elaborate things. We just wanted it to be meaningful. I'm not sure if Briar and I will ever reside in one single place. Not yet anyway. When she finished college over a year ago, we knew right away we wanted Boston to be our home zone, but wanted to see many more places than just there. And we're lucky enough that I can work from anywhere, and her art has blown up in such a huge way that we can live the way we want, which means not being bound to one place.

When the baby comes, we plan to spend at least six months back home in Boston to adjust to parenthood, but we want our son to see the world too. We want to experience it with him.

I look out at the turquoise-blue ocean. Aruba has become one of Briar's favorite places because it's laid-back and safe. When we came here last year, we rented one of those corny bikes, just like we'd said we were going to, and we rode it to the beach. I think we both felt like we might die from heatstroke by the time we arrived, but we laughed the entire time.

"Geesh," her sleepy voice rasps as she puts her hands on my abdomen. "Look at you, sculpted and looking like a snack." She pats her belly. "I'm over here, looking like a whole Thanksgiving meal."

My lips turn up, and I lie down next to her, driving my face into the crook of her neck. "Damn right, you do. One I plan to feast on as soon as we get back to the rental."

"I'm hot. Let's go," she blurts out.

Wiggling from under me, she shoves me off her and attempts to get back onto her feet. Amused, I watch for a few seconds before I put my hands on her hips and lift her up.

"Why the rush, Dove?" I smirk, knowing exactly why she's in a hurry.

Ever since she got pregnant, she can't get enough of me. And I'm taking advantage of it too. Because I know once the baby comes, shit will be different.

Keeping my hands planted on her hips, I move them to her belly. "Is someone eager to get their pussy eaten?"

"Y-yes," she growls out shamelessly before stepping back and shoving our shit into her giant rubber bag. She tells me it is a Bogg bag and that all moms have them.

Thrusting my shirt at me, she waves toward my abdomen. "Cover up, will you? Look at all the bitches drooling over my husband."

Laughing, I pull my shirt over myself. "Fuck, I love the way you say that," I utter before leaning down and grabbing her bag and taking her hand in mine.

I'm overly protective of her now more than ever. And maybe that's because the last time I got this close to having it all, the world robbed me of it in an instant. The thought of losing Briar? It's crippling to me. She breathed life into my soul, showing me all I had to live for.

It's been said that when a dove comes into your life, it symbolizes a brighter tomorrow. I'm living proof that no truer words have ever been spoken.

I might have saved Dove's life, but she gave me back mine.

The End