Epilogue

Dalton

O ne Year Later

"Goddamn, boy," Gramps growls, rearing back as I practically launch myself through the front door directly into him. "You know you're too damn old to have to be told not to run in my house."

"Yeah, yeah." I grin, pushing the door closed behind me. "Where's my wife?"

"Where do you think?" He cuts his eyes at the stairs.

Of course. She's in the nursery. Ever since our baby girl was born two months ago, she has spent every free moment she has in the nursery. Truth be told, so do I. That tiny little girl is fucking perfect, exactly like her mama. She has my goddamn heart wrapped up in a vise so tight. I don't understand how it's possible to love something so small this much. And yet...I do. Christ, I do.

I turn toward the stairs, only to pause when Gramps opens the front door like he's going somewhere. "Where are you going?"

"Out, boy," he growls impatiently, already sailing out the door. "Isn't it your anniversary? Worry about your own shit, not mine."

I shake my head, smiling as it clicks closed behind him. He's probably off to harass Lena and Carver. The stroke didn't slow the old man down at all. He's a stubborn pain in the ass and always will be. But fuck, I love his cranky old ass anyway.

Things between us are a lot better. Don't get me wrong—we still argue all the fucking time. But there's no heat behind it anymore. We understand each other. For once, we're on the same goddamn page.

I take the stairs two at a time, eager to see my wife and daughter. To hold them. That's the best part of my day. Every damn day.

I stop short in the doorway of the nursery, my heart pulsing as I see Tempest cuddled up in the rocking chair, Tamara on her chest, a soft smile on her face as she hums sweetly.

Fuck, they're so beautiful it hurts to breathe. And they're mine. All mine. My wife, my baby. My whole goddamn world.

She's so fucking happy. Not even the fact that Triton is still in jail dims the lights in her eyes. Nothing does.

And every goddamn day, I see that smile, and I know peace. Every day, I fall deeper in love with her. And every day, the idea that I could somehow lose her or that perfect little girl in her arms seems more impossible. I'm not afraid anymore. Of anything. I'd fight through hell, sacrifice my last breath, to keep them safe and happy.

They are my reason for existing. And I'll never let them go.

She glances up as if sensing me there, and her amber eyes lock with mine. Pure joy sparks in those gorgeous depths, and my fucking heart rolls over in my chest.

"Hey, handsome," she murmurs, smiling sweetly.

I'm across the room in two steps, one hand curling around her jaw as I crush my mouth to hers. The other cradles our daughter's tiny head. My entire body hums, lighting up like fucking lightning surges through my veins as soon as my lips are on my wife. Fucking hell. I'll never get enough of her.

I pull back from her with a groan and bend to place a gentle kiss on Tamara's perfect little head.

"How are my girls?" I rumble, inhaling that sweet baby scent.

"Perfect," my wife whispers, eyes dazed as I carefully scoop the baby into my arms, nestling her tiny body against my chest. Her little mouth parts on a sigh as she snuggles right in.

"Yeah?" I grin down at Tempest, my heart so fucking full it could burst. "That's what I like to hear."

"How was your day?" she asks as I turn to place Tamara in her crib.

"Perfect, now that I'm home." I lay her down carefully and then run my hand across her head again before crossing back to Tempest. She's in my arms in two seconds, her curvy body pressed to mine as I claim her mouth again, this kiss deeper, hungrier. My fucking cock throbs, as desperate for her as always.

"You know what today is?" she breathes against my lips.

"The day I get you pregnant again?" My hands roam across her perfect ass, squeezing as my cock throbs, begging to sink between her perfect thighs.

She laughs softly, but she can't hide the way she arches into me. "She's only two months old, Dalton."

"Mmhmm. Which means she'll be a year old before she has a sibling."

She shakes her head, beaming up at me. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"

"I'm allowed," I growl, my lips against her ear. "It's our anniversary." We both know she'll be pregnant again soon, anyway. We've been fucking like rabbits since the doctor released her—and I don't ever wear a condom when I'm in my wife. The one time I suggested it, not sure if she wanted another baby yet, she had me on my back in two seconds, riding my bare fucking cock like she had something to prove. I came like a goddamn freight train. Message received, baby.

She pulls back, her eyes lighting up. "You remembered."

As if I could ever forget the day she made my life complete. We've officially met the terms of our original contract—our marriage had to last a year. But this? This shit was built to last. It's forever. I'm never letting her go. Not today, not ever.

"Nah, Gramps reminded me," I tease, just to see that sexy pout on her lips.

"No, he did not."

"You're right." I boost her up into my arms, making her squeal softly as I carry her out of the nursery and into our adjoining bedroom. "He didn't. The old man doesn't even remember his own name."

"Dalton!" She smacks my chest, a laugh burbling from her lips.

Fuck, I love that goddamn sound. I love her smiles. I love everything about this woman. And every inch of her—every perfect piece—is all mine.

"I love you," I murmur, brushing my lips across her temple.

Her expression softens as she melts into me. "I love you, Dalton."

"Good because you're stuck with me forever."

"Poor me."

I smirk, shaking my head as I kick the bedroom door closed behind us. "Are you ready for your present now, baby?"

She loops her arms around my neck, her tits pressed against my chest as she gazes up at me through her lashes. "Depends. Is it your cock?"

Fuck, I love the way she thinks.

"No, smart ass." I set her on the bed, trailing a fingertip along her collarbone. "You riding my cock is my present."

Her breath hitches, pupils dilating with lust. I could get drunk on that look. I do get drunk on it. Every fucking day.

I turn to the nightstand and grab the box I hid there before dropping it in her lap. "This is your present."

"What is it?" she asks, looking up at me.

"You're supposed to open it to find out," I chuckle.

She eyes me suspiciously before ripping into the gift wrap. Popping open the lid, she frowns. "A key? Dalton, I don't..."

"That's the key to your new office."

She blinks up at me, confusion in her eyes.

I kneel in front of her, sliding my hands up her thighs. "You fucking hate flying back and forth. I fucking hate flying back and forth. It's not feasible anymore with the baby, Tempest. We can't spend half the time here and half the time there. So we're not doing that shit anymore. You're moving into my building."

"You want to merge?" Her brow furrows, but there's a hopeful note in her voice that tells me I'm on the right track.

"That's your decision, baby. But you don't have to be in Los Angeles to oversee Evernight. You have the right people in place. The framework is there. You can oversee everything from here."

We'll have to fly back occasionally. There's no avoiding that. But it doesn't have to be the constant back and forth that's defined the last year. We don't have to split our time between Nashville and LA anymore. And I know she'd rather be here than there full time. She's told me as much a dozen times over the last year. She loves it here. She loves Gramps and Lena and the life we've built here. Nashville is home to her now, pulsing in her blood just like it does in mine.

"Say yes, wife," I breathe, inching my hands higher up her perfect thighs.

She bites her lip, thoughts visibly racing behind her eyes. "Okay," she says slowly. "On one condition."

"What? Name it." Anything she wants, I'll give her. Literally fucking anything. I'd walk through fire for this woman.

"We share an office."

A slow grin spreads across my face as I nudge her legs apart. "You want to be in the same office with me all day, every day? For the rest of your life?"

"Yes," she moans, arching beneath my hands.

"Oh, fuck yeah." I surge up to claim her mouth, swallowing her gasp.

What I don't mention is that I've already moved my shit into the new office. She'll figure that part out later.

Much, much later, if I have anything to say about it.

I have other plans for my wife right now. The kind that involves her naked, saying my favorite fucking word until she's screaming my name…