Chapter Thirty-One

Sawyer

Three months later

She’s mine.

That’s all I keep thinking as I move her stuff into my house.

Our home.

Her entire family is helping, some more than others. The guys have been a huge asset, helping with the heavy lifting, while the girls seem more interested in snooping through every drawer and closet in the place, pretending to be looking for a hammer or some other needless object. I know what they’re looking for; I’m on to their game, but they won’t find it. Not unless one of them checks my pants.

Jeezus, I sound like Grandma. In fact, I better make sure that nugget of info doesn’t get out or the crazy ol’ woman will have her hands down my pants so fast, I won’t know what hit me.

The ring.

It’s in my pants. My pocket, to be exact, because I knew her nosy sisters would be all over this place and probably find it too.

“Where are we headed with this desk?” Ryan asks, carrying the other end of the desk AJ had in her home office.

“The room off the living room,” I say, walking backward in the direction of the room. Honestly, she probably doesn’t even need the desk since she does most of her paper grading on the couch next to me, but I insisted she have her own space, right along with mine. That’s why I gave up half of my own unused office for her stuff. Now we can have a fully unused office, complete with his and hers desks and other crap we’ll probably rarely need.

Ryan and I set the desk down and Dean follows us into the room with her chair. “There’s an awful lot of giggling coming from the upstairs,” Dean says as he slides the chair into place.

“They’ve all been gone a while. No telling what they’ve gotten themselves into,” Ryan adds.

“And we haven’t seen Emma in a while either,” Levi chimes in when he and Linkin deliver the bookshelf into the room.

“Really?” I ask, feeling a bit more concerned now. Last I knew she was in the kitchen putting something together for dinner. The girls all together and cackling are one thing, but a missing Emma usually spells trouble.

“You locked your bedroom, right? Lexi and I learned that lesson the hard way,” Linkin mentions when he sets down his end of the load.

Did I lock the bedroom door? Uh, that answer would be no. Even though AJ had most of her daily personal belongings at my place, she still had a few things for the bathroom and closet to transfer.

“Yeah, last time she had access to our bedroom, I found a fucking cat,” Ryan adds, recalling the story he likes to tell every chance he gets.

“Shit,” I mumble as I turn toward the doorway and head up the stairs.

When I reach the top, I notice our bedroom door shut, but the guest bedroom wide open. All giggling quickly stops the moment I pop my head in. “What’s so funny?” I ask, catching them off guard. Something in AJ’s hand is quickly tossed under the bed. They all giggle profusely, some even turning a brilliant shade of pink. “All right, ladies, what’s going on?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest and waiting them out.

“Oh, you know, Sawyer, just checking out AJ’s housewarming gift from Grandma,” Payton says, a wide smile on her face.

“Gift?” Fuuuuuck. I’ve heard all about these little gifts Emma likes to give, usually sexual in nature. “Let’s see,” I add, holding my hand out.

“Are you sure?” AJ asks, trying so damn hard not to smile. My interest is definitely piqued now.

“Yep, let’s have it,” I reply, keeping my hand out, palm up.

I watch as she crouches down and reaches beneath the bed. I’m stunned silent when she pulls out a dildo–a fucking huge-ass dildo–and sets it in my hand. “The fuck?” I ask, resulting in six girls all busting out laughing.

“Isn’t it something?” AJ asks, placing a kiss on my cheek as I stare down at the massive black cock in my hand.

“What’s wrong with your grandma?” I ask, unable to stop the words before they spill from my lips.

“Too much to list,” Lexi says with a big smile, a cooing baby in her arms.

“AJ’s not impressed though,” Jaime says, fighting a smile and rubbing a hand on her baby belly.

“You’re not?” I ask, glancing between my woman and the massive rubber dong in my hand.

Why am I still holding it?

“She says you’re bigger,” Lexi says, shrugging. “You’re gonna have to show us.”

My head whips around to the petite brunette with a wicked gleam in her eyes and an ornery smile on her face.

“What?” I gasp.

“It’s a rule,” she replies loudly.

“It’s not a rule,” Abby insists.

“Well, it should be,” her twin sasses.

“Why do you have a dildo out in front of my children?” Linkin bellows from the open doorway. “And why the fuck are you holding it?” he asks me with a disgusted look.

Of course, I go ahead and toss the thing onto the bed, where it bounces off and hits the floor.

“Don’t say fuck in front of my children!” Lexi replies.

“Our children,” he says softly before placing a kiss on her lips. “How’s my baby doing today?” he asks, reaching around and placing a hand on Lexi’s stomach.

Everyone gasps.

“Shit.” Linkin closes his eyes before glancing down at Lexi. “Sorry.”

“You’re pregnant?” Abby asks her twin.

“Apparently,” she grumbles.

Linkin has a huge smile on his face and takes the baby from her arms. “My little men are gonna be big brothers, aren’t you?” he asks Hudson.

“How? When? What?” Meghan gasps, all attention turning to Lexi.

“Well… Do you know how hard it is to wait six weeks? It’s practically a lifetime! It’s impossible!” she declares, tears filling her eyes.

“She couldn’t keep her hands off me,” Linkin chimes in.

“How far along are you?” Jaime asks.

“Ummm… about three months,” she whispers.

“Three months?!” all of her sisters holler at the same time.

“I know, I know,” she says, dropping her hands to her side and going to Hemi, who’s tucked in Jaime’s arms. “I was gonna tell you, but…” she glances at Payton and then around the room, wide-eyed. “I was afraid. And there were no condoms since we hadn’t used them in a year. Actually, we had never used them. And I just needed it. It had been so freaking long.” Lexi glances back to Payton. “I’m sorry.”

Payton steps forward and wraps her arms around the youngest sister and baby. “You don’t ever have to be afraid to tell me anything, Lexi Lou. I love you and am so happy that you’re having another baby. And I know when, and if, the time is right, I’ll have big news to tell you too. Someday, maybe I’ll be the one sharing the excitement.” Payton shrugs, but doesn’t fight the tears.

Damn those tears. They all have them in their eyes, even AJ.

Clearing my throat, I reach down and grab the big black cock and toss it back on the bed. “I’m just gonna…” I start and point to the escape. AJ’s tear-filled eyes glance my way, a big smile on her face, and she mouths, “I love you.”

“Love you, too,” I tell her as I kiss her forehead and exit the room.

Too much emotions. Too many tears. Too much estrogen.

Needing a quick breather, I slip down the hall to my bedroom. Our bedroom. She’s slept here every night since that fateful October evening when my world finally felt right again. Inside, it’s quiet and somewhat undisrupted, even though there are a few boxes stacked on the far wall and the bathroom light is on.

When I look to my left, I find the life-size cutout of me in my baseball uniform from one of my sponsors. I laugh, not really surprised by its random appearance in our bedroom. AJ loves that thing and regularly molests the cardboard cutout. When we work out, she always grabs my cardboard crotch. Usually that happens before I grab her.

And give her my real crotch.

Something beside the cutout draws my attention. It’s sticking out of the wall on the opposite side of the cardboard me. When I reach it, I’m stunned. Shocked. Mortified. And a little turned on.

Attached to my wall is a long, thin red dildo. It’s suction cupped in place, and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“AJ!” I holler, shell-shocked at the appearance of yet another sex toy in my house.

The love of my life slips into the silent bedroom. “Is everything okay?”

My eyes are still trained on the dick. “Another gift?” I ask, finally glancing over my shoulder and watching as her eyes search, landing on what I’m referencing. Then, she collapses in a fit of laughter.

“Holy shit,” she says, holding her stomach and bending forward in amusement. When she gets herself under control, she walks over and slides under my arm, wrapping both of hers around my waist.

Kissing the top of her head, we both gaze at the protruding wall dick. “That might be fun,” I concede.

AJ starts to giggle again. “Actually, I don’t think that’s for me.”

Wait. What? “Pardon?” I ask, wide-eyed and shocked.

“Well, look at the position. It’s actually lined right up with Mr. Randall’s sexy cutout.”

“Exactly, it’s the perfect height for you.”

“No, you’re tall. You have to widen your stance when you give it to me from behind,” she says, making my dick instantly hard in my jeans.

Before I can reply, I hear a drawer close in the bathroom. Moments later, Grandma appears behind us, happy little grandmotherly smile on her evil face. “Oh, I see you’ve found it!” she cheers, clapping her hands.

“What is this exactly?” I ask, turning to face the elderly woman, while still keeping AJ in my arms. “And why were you in our bathroom?”

Ignoring the second question, she says, “Your present!”

“Mine?” My throat is instantly dry.

“Sure is. I picked out that big Bubba cock for AJ, and Grandpa chose the slimmer, more flexible model for you.”

“Grandpa?” AJ asks, her voice hoarse and quiet.

“Did you notice it suctions to the wall,” Grandpa says, exiting our bathroom with a pleased look on his face.

“Oh, hell,” I grumble as AJ gasps.

“You’re out of rubbers,” Grandpa says as he joins us in the bedroom.

“Don’t worry, though. We remedied that,” Grandma adds.

“Don’t use them. Never use condoms from Grandma and Grandpa. I wouldn’t put it past them to tamper with them,” AJ whispers into my side.

“We’d never do that to you. Abby and Levi? All bets are off with them,” Grandma says with a shrug, as if it’s no big deal.

“Well, we’d never do that before the wedding. You know, if Sawyer ever gets off the pot,” Grandpa adds.

“But Abby and Levi aren’t married,” AJ refutes.

“Semantics,” Grandma waves off.

“When are you gonna get off the pot?” Grandpa asks me with an inquisitive glare, putting me firmly in the hot seat.

“What were you doing in my bathroom?” I ask, giving him my own look.

“Do you really want to know?” he sasses back, crossing his arms at his chest.

“No!” AJ pleads, but my eyes are still firmly locked on the old man. He’s challenging me, calling me out, and putting me on the spot.

I swallow hard, staring him down and weighing my options. This isn’t what I had planned. There’s nothing romantic about this moment. We’re not even alone, for fuck’s sake. But here I am, getting ready to propose to the woman I love. Oh, I’m gonna do it. I know it, and he knows it.

“Get out,” I say to the ornery old man, nodding toward the door. His smile practically splits his face in half as he reaches over for Emma’s hand and leads her from the room.

“What just happened?” AJ asks, watching them go.

“They’re giving us privacy,” I reply, turning so that we’re facing each other.

“For?” she asks, the question flashing through her eyes.

That’s when I fish out the ring from my pocket and drop to one knee. Her surprised gasp is like music to my ears. The only thing better would be a confirmation for the question I’m about to ask.

“Alison, I knew when I saw you across the room that there was something special about you. Even though you puked on my shoes, I wanted more time with you. When I saw you sitting next to me in the teachers’ lounge, it was like fate bringing us back together.” I take a deep breath and reach for her shaking hand, not even saying what I had originally planned.

“It hasn’t been an easy road,” I say, chuckling a little and making her smile. “But it’s the only road I want to be on. As long as you’re by my side. My coach once told us never to let the fear of striking out keep us from playing ball. So here I am, swinging for the fences, baby.” Deep breath. “Will you marry me?”

Tears fill her eyes and I swear time stands still. She gives nothing away as she gazes wide-eyed down at me. Until she finally says the sweetest word. “Yes.”

I whoop (very macho-y, I might add) as I jump up to my feet and take her into my arms, my lips eager as they connect with hers in a bruising kiss. She sniffs, grabbing my face with both hands and giving as good as she gets in a no-holds-barred, mind blowing kiss.

“Can we come in now?” Grandma hollers outside the door and knocking gently.

Pulling my lips from hers, I smile down at the woman I love, my fiancée. “You said yes,” I smile, pushing some loose hair away from her forehead. It’s a tender motion that will always remind me of the night we met.

“There was no other answer,” she says, reaching up and wrapping her arms around my neck. “But, didn’t you say something about a ring?” she teases.

Shit. I open my hand and show her the two carat round diamond that I chose to slip on her finger. She holds her hand out, a slight tremor visible, as I make it official.

“It’s beautiful,” she cries, gaping down at her new ring.

“You’re beautiful,” I tell her as I slide my hands along her jaw. “And I love you.”

“I love you,” she says before my lips claim hers once more.

I don’t even notice that her family bursts through the door. It doesn’t bother me that there’s a plethora of dildos in my house brought in by an eighty-something year old woman. I only care about the woman in my arms and the fact that she’s agreed to spend the rest of her life with me.

Our life.

“You’re mine. Forever.”

“I was yours the moment you approached me in the bar,” she says, giving me a coy grin. “Plus, this means I get to fondle cardboard Mr. Randall for the rest of my days,” she adds, making me laugh.

“That’s fine, but just promise me you’ll get that foot-long red cock off my wall as soon as possible.” Now it’s her turn to laugh.

“Not interested in playing?” she teases, glancing over at it.

“Oh, I’m interested… I was just thinking maybe I could use it on you,” I whisper, nipping at the corner of her mouth.

“Are you asking me to stay after class this afternoon, Mr. Randall?” The look she gives me goes straight to my dick.

“I love it when we get to play teacher/student.”

“How quickly can we get rid of my family and start the celebration?” she asks, glancing around at all the people in our bedroom.

“Time to go!” I holler.

And then I proceed to ignore everyone else except the woman in my arms. It’s time to start the rest of my life with the woman I love at my side. Miss AJ Summer, eighth grade math teacher.

My fiancée.

My life.