Chapter Thirty-Seven
Hunter
It’s three in the morning, the night before my wedding, and I’m wide awake. Not because I’m having second thoughts, but because I’m so damn excited to marry Lucy in fifteen hours. We should have had a morning wedding because this waiting is killing me. In the end it will be all worth it to spend the rest of my life with Lucy.
I stare up at the ceiling of my sister’s guest room watching the light dance in the dark room. The soft lines reminding me of the soft curves of Lucy’s body. My fingers trace the lines while my mind wishes they were trailing along the curve of Lucy’s hips and up to her supple breasts. I can hear her moans in my head when the pads of my finger flicks over her hard, pink nipple. With that I’m pitching a tent under the sheets. This sleeping away from each the night before the wedding is total bullshit. I’m never going to be able to sleep without Lucy in my arms.
I flip back the blankets back and climb out of bed, thinking a drink will help knock me out. As I pad down the hallway I hear Logan fussing in his room. Instead of going and waking up Brooke, I decide to help out and give Logan his 3am feeding. “Hey buddy, looks like we both could use a drink.” I lift Logan out of his crib and we make our way downstairs.
Logan shies away from the bottle at first. “I know buddy, I feel your pain about not being able to have your favorite boob in your mouth, but you’re just going to have to take this bottle like a man. Just like I’m going to have to deal with not being face deep between Aunt Lucy’s boobs.” I try the bottle again and this time Logan takes it.
Logan stares up at me while he eats, his tiny hand resting on top of mine. I love these bonding moments with my niece and my nephews. I’ve been here for all of their births. No matter what was going on in my life or where in the world I was, I dropped everything to be here for my sister and for them. There were times after our mom died that I wasn’t around. It’s a regret I live with and why I made a promise to myself and her that I would always be there for them, no matter what.
A click of a camera takes my attention away from Logan. I look up and see Brooke standing in the doorway of the kitchen with my camera in her hand. “Not very often that I get to play photographer with you.” She grins and takes another picture of me and Logan.
“Don’t get too used it.” I wink. “What are you doing awake, I was trying to let you sleep.”
“Thank you, I do appreciate that, but my inner clock is on Logan time and as soon as three o’clock comes my eyes are open.” Brooke shuffles over to one of the bar stools and takes a seat.
“Do you want to feed him?” I ask.
“He’s looking nice and cozy in Uncle Hunter’s arms, I don’t want to get in the way of your bro moment.” She softly smiles at us both. “You look good holding a baby, and I am so excited to see you holding your own baby someday.”
“Hopefully you’ll get to see it soon.” This perks up Brooke’s sleepy eyes.
“Is this your way of saying Lucy is already expecting?” she asks hopefully.
“No, but we are trying,” I reply. I only wish Lucy was already pregnant.
“You won’t be able to see it in my face, because I haven’t slept in four months, but I am so incredibly happy for you and Lucy. I know losing Mom was hardest on you and dad, and I know you did the things you did to protect yourself. But I hoped and prayed you would find someone worth unlocking your heart for. I’m glad it was Lucy. You two are so perfect together.” Her eyes gloss over with tears. “I love you both so much.”
I walk around the island to where Brooke is sitting and slide my free arm around her shoulders. “Thank you for always looking out for me Brookie. None of this would be happening if it wasn’t for the push you gave me.”
“I just want my big brother to be happy and if that meant pulling a little underhanded move to make it happen then it was well worth it.” She grins.
This is the one and only time I appreciate being manipulated by my sister. I wouldn’t be marrying Lucy if it wasn’t for that stunt she pulled. I needed that push to get my shit together.
****
I step into my room and my eyes catch a shadowy silhouette laying in my bed. My lips curl into a knowing smile, hands twitching at my side, hungry to touch the bare curves waiting for me. I reach behind my head and pull off my shirt followed by my sweatpants. In the light coming from the streetlights outside, I can see Lucy licking her lips as she watches me climb into bed next to her.
“How did you get in here?” I whisper, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss while my hand cups the curve of her ass, pulling her close to me. Our bodies come together and I feel whole again.
“I snuck in while you were in the kitchen with Brooke. This whole sleeping away from each other thing was a stupid idea. I needed to be with you.” She moans the last part as my hard length slides between her folds. “I never want to spend another night away from you again.” The nights we spent apart after Colton came back were the toughest of my life. It was unsettling. Being away from her tonight brought back those feelings of unrest.
“You’ll never have to worry about that ever again,” I promise, slowly pushing inside her. Soft moans fall from her lips. Her arms wrap around me and I am home. “I promise to be a safe place for you to land, to make you laugh every day. To always be by your side. You are my queen, Lucy, and I will love you from now until eternity.”