Epilogue

EPILOGUE

AVA

ONE MONTH LATER

Life was extraordinary.

While I always knew I had a reason to be grateful to wind up where I had, to have even come into the lives of the Westwoods, something was different now.

Because they really felt like they were mine now. Sure, they hadn't treated me any differently than any other member of the family over the years. I was always included in every family function, and none of them had ever treated me better or worse than anyone else in the family.

But something happened inside me. From the moment things changed between Tate and me, it was like somebody had turned on a light switch. Having been so outgoing and upbeat for most of my life, I hadn't noticed the tiny storm cloud following me around.

It was gone now.

I was the happiest I'd ever been in my life, and it was safe to say I hadn't realized it could feel this good.

I guess that's what happens when you fall in love and that person loves you back. Until I had that from Tate the way I do now, I hadn't understood just how much I needed it.

And I was thrilled it was him. Nobody else would have loved me the way he did, even if we had such a rocky patch for a stretch.

One of the things I loved most was that Tate loved me as I was. He took me as I came. In fact, he seemed to love me more for the things I did that were so opposite of him.

Like what I was doing now.

I was in the kitchen at my place early in the morning, and I was making breakfast for us. Tate didn't typically like when I snuck out of bed in the morning, preferring I stay with him, so he could wake me up in his own way.

But I liked doing this.

And I believed he secretly enjoyed it, too. Because Tate had gotten a speaker for his condo just like the one I had at my apartment that would allow me to cook and dance around the kitchen without the need for headphones.

So, whenever the mood struck, and I was up before him, I put on some music and danced while I cooked.

I was in the middle of it, lost in what I was doing and who I was doing it for, when I felt a hand settle at my hip before it slid around to my abdomen. Tate's warm, solid body pressed in close behind mine. "You left me alone this morning."

Twisting my neck and tipping my chin up, my eyes landed on his handsome face. "I'm working on perfecting my breakfast-making skills. I've gotten so many tips from Jules on fresh-baked goods."

His arm tightened around me, his lips pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. "Mmm. But still not interested in the cleaning as you go, are you?"

I grinned. "Why would I do that when I have you?"

Laughter spilled out of him, the sound making my smile grow. "That's fair. So, what are you making today?"

"Well, I'm not baking any sweet treats this morning. We're going with something heartier. So, I've got some breakfast potatoes baking in the oven. I was going to make some eggs with them, too, but we still have twenty minutes left before the potatoes will be finished."

"That'll be perfect. Plenty of time."

"For what?"

Tate spun me in his arms, so I was facing him. Half his mouth quirked as he used his hands to urge my arms over his shoulders. Then he gripped my hips and began swaying to the music.

"What are you doing?"

"Dancing."

"Dancing?"

"Yep."

I quickly leaned into it, my heart melting at the gesture. "You're really doing this for me?"

"Of course, I am. Why wouldn't I?"

I shrugged. "You told me you liked to watch."

"I do. You have no idea how much of a turn-on it is to watch you dance."

"I feel like you're always turned on, even if I'm not dancing."

He chuckled. "That's fair." Tate's hands slid up my sides to my shoulders before stroking along my arms. He pressed a kiss to my left arm, his lips lingering as he inhaled. "There's only one problem with what we're doing now."

I thought it was fantastic. There wasn't a single thing I would have changed. "What's that?"

His hands dropped from my arms, his eyes focusing on mine. "I haven't completely made it happen."

"Made what happen?"

"Your dream come true."

My brows pulled together. "I don't understand. You're dancing with me."

He nodded his agreement. "Yes, but you said your dream was us being married while you dance around the house, and I walk up to join you."

Was he saying what I thought he was saying? No. No, that wasn't possible. Not yet.

I was too nervous to speak, but it seemed Tate had no problem with it. He lifted a hand between us, and it took me a moment to see that he was holding a gorgeous diamond ring between his fingers. "I think it's time I make things official, Ava. I think it's time we get married."

My heart.

My heart was beating so hard, I was sure it was going to come right out of my chest.

"Are you… are you serious? It's… we've only… isn't it too soon?"

"I've loved you for as long as I can remember. Just because I didn't get my head screwed on straight until recently does not mean that I don't know what I feel for you. I've wasted enough time. You're the one, Ava. You've always been the one. My wild one." Tate dropped down to one knee and held the ring out to me. "Will you marry me?"

When Tate and I worked things out between us, I had moments I believed were the best of my life. But now that he was down on one knee in my kitchen and asking me to marry him, I wasn't quite sure any of those other moments could compare.

"Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes."

He slid the ring on my finger, stood, and kissed me.

I couldn't hold on tight enough to him. It didn't matter that he'd just pledged his whole life to me, I was afraid if I let go, I'd forget this moment.

Tate didn't seem to mind. He was happy to continue kissing me, to keep giving me what I needed, what I always wanted with him.

Eventually, we separated our mouths, but we kept our bodies pressed tight together. "I don't want to impede on Cooper and Skye's wedding, but I want to do it right away. Small and as fast as we can make it happen. You, me, the rest of the family. That's it. That's all I want. Well, and maybe some music so we can dance."

His eyes roamed over his face with the sweetest expression in his. "I'll give you anything you want, Ava. Anything at all. You tell me the day you want, and I'll make it happen."

He would.

I knew he would.

Because he hadn't stopped doing precisely what he promised me when he asked me to give him the chance. He promised he'd never break my heart again. And since he knew how I was, how I just liked to go with what I was feeling and not plan things out, I was confident he'd take whatever date I gave him and would make it happen. Not just because he was a planner. He would do it because he loved me the same way I loved him.

TATE - NINE MONTHS LATER

The movement in the bed, followed by the soft touch against my chest, was all it took. Hiding my reaction would have been feeble. I'd learned a long time ago where that would get me. Or, more importantly, I learned what I stood to lose by trying to suppress my feelings for this woman.

The corners of my mouth tipped up, my pulse racing as my eyes opened.

Ava.

My wife.

We wasted no time in making that our reality, the wedding being exactly as she had wanted—small and fast with our family by our sides. And for the last seven months, I'd had the privilege of calling her my wife.

I tried not to allow myself to think about how much time I'd wasted in getting us to this point. Having Ava the way I did now, the way it was always meant to be, had transformed my life. I still had days when I couldn't quite get over all the things that I'd missed out on for so many years.

Things like this very moment. Waking up to her soft touch in our bed.

It seemed, however, that Ava had gotten out of the bed before she attempted to rouse me. Her face was lit up as she smiled brightly at me, giving me everything I'd wanted to have from the day I met her.

Her body was beside mine, resting on her shins. Pulling her opposite hand out from behind her back, Ava held a wrapped box up between us. "Happy birthday, Tate."

My eyes dropped to the box, an overwhelming sense of appreciation moving through me.

Maybe that was crazy, since I knew what I'd find inside the box. A pen. I knew it'd be in there, and I couldn't wait to see what she'd engraved on it this year.

And considering how things had gone down last year, it was safe to say I'd been looking forward to today for this reason alone.

I still used the pen Ava had gotten me last year—retrieving it from the table where she'd left it at my parents' house before I went home that night.

So you can forgive me.

Every time I looked at it over the last year, I experienced different emotions. Sometimes, I winced, recalling just how horrible I'd been to her that night. Other times, a wave of gratitude washed over me. The two of us had been through so much heartache together, but with forgiveness, work, and a lot of love, we made it through and were now married.

I returned Ava's smile, sat up in the bed, and leaned in for a kiss. "Good morning."

"Morning," she murmured.

Taking the box from her, I asked, "What does it say this year?"

She lifted her shoulders to her ears, tipping her head slightly to one side. "You'll have to open it up to find out."

Although my heart was already beating a little faster just waking up to her, it was safe to say there was another level of excitement. Ava had found a way to take such a simple gift and turn it into something that was beyond special. She gave me that piece of her that nobody else got, and it meant everything to me.

I didn't take my time unwrapping the gift. Where I had always gone slow for fear of what I might find inside, now I was eager to see it. Once the wrapping paper was gone and tossed aside, I tore off the lid to the box and pulled out the case.

Giving Ava one last look, noting the excitement on her face, I flipped open the lid on the case to reveal the pen inside. As always, Ava selected an exquisite pen, but what I saw the second my eyes landed on it wasn't just how nice the pen itself was.

It was her name.

The one thing I hadn't even thought about as I unwrapped this gift had me stopping in my tracks.

Because it didn't say Ava Carson on the pen.

Nope.

Ava Westwood.

On some level, I guess I knew to expect that—I'd seen her sign her name several times now since we'd gotten married. But there was something about seeing her name on this pen that was different for me.

I dragged my thumb over her name, feeling the ridges of it beneath my touch. I'd stroked my finger over her name on every other pen she'd given me before, but none felt like this.

She was mine.

She'd be mine for the rest of our lives.

Despite having known that for months, I was so overcome by it in this moment, it became difficult to breathe.

"I thought that was a nice touch this year," she said softly.

I tore my attention away from the pen and focused my stare on Ava. "I wasn't prepared for that."

"I've been your wife for seven months." There was an edge of disbelief in her tone.

Nodding, I said, "I know, but this feels so different. It's almost like this makes it official. You have my last name now."

"It's the only one that's ever felt right, too," she rasped.

It had to be by some miracle that I'd finally realized how wrong I'd been for years by not pursuing Ava. To think I could have still been avoiding taking that step, that I wouldn't have had this moment. An unwelcome shiver ran down my spine.

"It's yours forever."

When her face transformed, the slightest twinge of sorrow evaporating, I returned my focus to the pen and took in the sight of her name on it one more time. Then I lifted it out of the case and rolled it against my fingertips to display the opposite side.

So you can put me in your mouth.

This woman was going to be the death of me. She knew precisely what to do to get me all riled up.

But I wasn't complaining. After having spent the last year with a pen that begged for forgiveness, there was no doubt the words on this pen would conjure up all sorts of wonderful thoughts throughout my workday. There wouldn't be a negative thought to be found.

My eyes met hers. "You're so much trouble."

"I don't think so."

My brows shot up, questioning her. "Do you think I'm going to be able to get any work done if I spend my entire day thinking about having my mouth on you?"

Ava leaned in, a seductive look washing over her expression. "I thought you liked having your mouth on me."

"I do. I love it. That's the problem."

"Mmm," she hummed, shifting her legs out from beneath her until her body was running the length of my legs, her hands at my abdomen. "I see the issue. Well, what if I come up with a solution?"

I was intrigued. If there was one thing I'd learned over the years with Ava, she wasn't dull. "I'm open to suggestions."

Her eyes left mine and swept down over my naked torso. They continued to drift south until they met her hands. Ava's fingertips were slowly curling around the top edge of my underwear. "What if I offered a reward?"

I swallowed hard, my cock stiffening with her hands so close. "I guess it depends. What's the reward, and what do I have to do to earn it?"

Ava pulled my underwear down just far enough to free me. She curled her fingers around my length, looked up at my face, and stroked. "If you promise to continue working hard and being productive, I'll make sure to use my mouth on you when you get home." She pumped her fist again. Then she swirled her tongue around the tip. "Or, maybe I'll do it in the morning before you even get into the office."

I'd since dropped the pen, both of my hands balling into fists. People always claimed that the Westwood family never missed an opportunity to celebrate. I guess, now that we were married, Ava was a Westwood. Maybe that was why she seemed to know just what to do to make this birthday extra special.

"I think a reward system could definitely help," I admitted, my voice deeper than usual as I attempted to contain my reaction to what she was doing.

Her lips were pressed against the tip of my dick. She smiled, popped the tip in her mouth, and swirled her tongue around. When she pulled back, she shared the best part of her plan. "In a worst-case scenario, if neither of those options is enough, you can always call me. My studio isn't that far away, and I think I could pop in for lunch. It might be fun to see how easily I fit in the space beneath your desk."

After offering up that suggestion, Ava took me deep in her mouth. I wasn't sure if it was thinking about her sucking me off in the office that made it happen or if it was what was happening right now, but I couldn't hold back the groan. "That's only going to work if we can then test out how good you look sitting on top of the desk in front of me with your legs spread."

Ava sucked me in deep and hollowed her cheeks as she pulled back. When she freed me from her mouth again, she smirked. "You know I'm willing to try anything."

I did.

Placing my hand on her forearm, I squeezed. "I know, wild one. I'm the luckiest man in the world."

"I'm glad you feel that way, but if you have any doubt lingering, I want to squash that for you. We can worry about the other stuff later. I've got a day of fun planned for you, and this birthday celebration is starting now."

Ava didn't wait for me to respond.

She barely gave me the opportunity to register the words she'd said before she took me back in her mouth.

Then again, that shouldn't have surprised me.

Ava was a determined woman.

She did what she wanted, acting on what she felt.

My wife, with her huge personality and wild heart, gave me the best birthday of my life, and it was only just the beginning of what was in store for us.