Chapter 10

10

Aurora

I can feel my heart pound, my palms sweat as I grip my red roses.

Theo has his arm around my waist, and my little girl in a puffy white dress is in his other arm as he walks us toward the judge's chambers.

We're getting married, flipping married, and it's only been five months.

It's official, we're insane— I'm insane.

Theo squeezes my waist, and I look at him. He grins at me, causing my stomach to flip and my heart to race at the intense gaze in his dark brown eyes.

God, he looks amazing, really amazing.

I never knew seeing a man in a suit would be such a turn-on, but it is. He doesn't have a tie on, and the buttons are undone four from his neck, showing parts of his tattoos.

My mouth is literally watering right now.

Okay, maybe getting married is a good thing, if it means I get to wake up to this beautiful creature every day.

He doesn't know the truth; your marriage will be a lie, a voice whispers, and I will it away when we stop near the door. I lay my head against Theo's muscular chest, allowing his earthy, woodsy scent to center me with him, his protective hold rooting me.

He will be disgusted when he finds out ….the voice continues, his voice.

I squeeze my eyes shut, the words getting to me, and I whisper, "I love you, Theo, but are you sure you want to marry me?"

I feel him move his arm from around my waist before his hand cup my cheek, and I open my eyes, making eye contact with the one I love. He shows nothing but love toward me, and I relax in his hold.

"Why wouldn't I be sure, Firecracker?" he asks sincerely.

I shrug a little and admit a little of my fears, "I'm a single mom…."

He smirks. "You're not anymore, Rory. You haven't been for five months, because the day that girl of ours threw her milkshake on my face was the day you both stole my heart." My eyes tear up. He leans forward, whispering, "I couldn't imagine my life without you, Firecracker," before he presses his lips against mine.

I melt into his lips, Autumn's little giggle echoing around us.

I feel Theo smile into the kiss as a throat clears, and someone announces, "I'm pretty sure you're supposed to do that after the I do, T…."

We break apart and turn to see a man in a sheriff's uniform smiling wide at us. His piercing blue eyes look over us, going to Autumn, making me tense slightly until Theo chuckles.

He presses another quick peck against my lips before stepping back a little. He kisses Autumns forehead, who instantly places her head on his shoulder, her favorite place, and the man in the uniform walks our way.

"If your momma finds out I'm witnessing your marriage when she's not here, she's going to fucking skin me alive, and I grew up with her T. I may be her older brother, but she's fucking fierce," the man states, and Theo chuckles before Autumn repeats, "Fucking," causing the sheriff's eyes to widen, and Theo to groan.

"Ah crap," the man says, Autumn repeating, making him step back and blurt, "Fuck, T, help…."

My body shakes with silent laughter as Theo shakes his head. "And this is why Liam's first words were curses."

The sheriff winces but nods, and admits, "Your Aunt Lisa forced me to sleep on the couch for a week when he said ‘shit' for the first time."

"Shit," Autumn repeats with a grin, and both men look at her wide-eyed.

"Holy…. She's like a parrot…" the man remarks, and my laughter comes out, causing Theo to groan again.

"Firecracker, it's not funny. It took me a week to get her to stop when she copied me last time."

I laugh even harder at his words as the sheriff grins.

Taking a big breath to control my laughter, not wanting to ruin my makeup from the tears I know will form, I rasp, "It'll be fine, Theo…."

Theo shakes his head, mock glaring, and asks, "Was it you who had the sit-down talk with the daycare director, when Autumn repeated the words and got the other kids to say them?" I bite my cheek as the sheriff chuckles.

I shrug. "You answered my phone when I was in the kitchen; not my fault."

His fa?ade fails him, a smile cracking through on his beautiful face, and he pulls on my arm. I go willingly as he wraps it around my waist, and we look back at the man whose grin fills his face, nodding at the three of us.

"Uncle Donald, I'd like for you to meet my soon-to-be wife, Aurora, and my soon-to-be adopted daughter, Autumn, who, yes, is a parrot and copies everything you say," Theo proudly states, and I giggle at his words.

The man, Donald, grins, "It's nice to meet you both, and I'm sorry about, you know, the cursing. Just do me a favor and don't tell my wife when you meet her, because I really like my bed."

I laugh but nod, before he looks at Autumn. "And you, little princess, my soon-to-be great niece, look beautiful."

Autumn grins, and then holds her arms out to him, making him grin wider. He takes her in his arms, making me smile.

This is the thing about Autumn; if she thinks you're good people, she'll go to you. That's why he only held her once a few days after she was born. She screamed, being near him, and he never held her again.

She knows true evil.

Donald looks back at me, and Theo and asks, "Are you two ready to get hitched?"

I smile as Theo holds me tighter, rasping, "More than ready."

My eyes tear up, knowing this man loves me and my daughter. I know he's not aware of my past, but honestly, right now, I don't care. If he loves me as much as I can feel right now, I think he'd understand why I didn't tell him, why I couldn't tell him. If he treats Autumn any differently, then maybe he isn't the man I thought he was.

I'm leaping with him, something I never thought I'd do.

Hopefully, he doesn't break me….

An hour later, Autumn is sitting on Donald's lap, eating her French fry, while he talks to Theo about the garage I have yet to go to.

Believe me, I've wanted to, but when I think to visit him, most times, he's had to come and save me when my car breaks down. He has offered to get me a new one, but I just can't. I gave in about the job at the motel, especially now that I'm working at Summer's Vets, but I won't give in with this one. I'm not with him for his money, I'm with him for him, even if he's now my husband.

Husband…. Wow.

I don't know how I'm going to get used to that.

We're at the local diner, which I haven't been to since being in Huntersville. Theo asked Autumn what she wanted to eat to celebrate him now being her daddy, and she wanted burgers.

Donald suggested this place.

His not wanting to be on the birth certificate back then, not wanting anyone to know he fathered a child until he was ready, was probably the best decision he ever made.

I clear my throat, pick up my burger, and ask, "So, whose place are we staying at now we're married?" I take a bite of my burger, chew, and swallow before adding, "Though, I don't mind staying at the apartment, Autumn has her own room and space."

Even if that means I'm on the couch, I don't care. As long as she's happy and comfortable, that's all that matters to me.

Both men freeze as I'm mid-bite, confusing me, before Theo clears his throat and rasps, "I'm currently redecorating my place, getting ready for you and Autumn. She'll still have her own room, but so will we." My eyes widen at his words as I try to swallow down the burger, grabbing my drink to wash it down. He smirks at my reaction like the jackass he is. He states, "Firecracker, I only allowed you to stay in your apartment because one, you're headstrong, we both know it, so don't deny; if you weren't, you wouldn't still have the shit box car." I nod, not one bit denying his words, causing Donald to chuckle.

Theo continues, "And two, I want it perfect for my girls. It's a beautiful log house with a big backyard. I'm installing a mini playground for her and everything. The whole house should be ready in the next few months, and we can move in."

He locks eyes with Donald, something passing between them, making me furrow my brows. When he looks back toward me, he adds, "And once we move in, we can then discuss getting rid of the shit box."

I raise a brow at his tone, but he's not one bit intimidated, which kind of makes me think I need to work on my pissed-off momma look for when Autumn gets older.

"Shit," Autumn copies, and Theo groans, while Donald laughs along with me. Theo tries to tell her off in the nicest way possible, but fails when she leans forward and smacks a ketchup kiss on his cheek, making me laugh louder.

I don't think I've ever been so happy.

I smile, looking at Theo, who grins at me, his left hand cupping the back of my neck, and bringing my lips to his.

Later that night, with Autumn staying with Uncle Donald, Theo and I finally have time alone as husband and wife.

I moan as he pushes his tongue into my mouth, tangling it with my own, and I sink down on his member.

"Fuck, you always feel so amazing wrapped around me," he rasps against my lips, and I run my fingers into his hair, gripping it.

Our mouths mesh again as I move my hips up and down, back and forth, slowly, as his hand runs up my naked back, tangling in my hair, his other going between us.

His thumb finds my clit, moving it in tight circles, making me moan.

My hips move faster, pleasure taking over me.

"I love you, my wife," he groans against my lips, his hand cupping my jaw.

I smile, replying, "I love you, too, husband," before kissing him again, our heavy breaths mixing together.

My belly starts to tighten, my orgasm coming, but instead of squealing in pleasure, I squeal in surprise as he moves us quickly, placing my back on the couch, and he chuckles, "I'm not ready for you to come yet, Firecracker."

He kisses me hard before pulling back, and states, "Remind me to thank my aunt and uncle for having our girl tonight." I raise a brow at him, and he rasps, "I get to make you fucking scream, Firecracker…."

My heart pounds, a grin taking over, before he slams back inside me over and over again, making me scream at least four times before we pass out.