Epilogue
Two Years Later
“Shh, Ben, I’ll sing you your favorite song,” Yasmin crooned to her son.
She sang “Twinkle, Twinkle” to him once, and he went out like a log as usual. His small snores made her giggle. Yasmin lowered him to his day crib and pulled a blanket over his small body. She pressed a kiss to his tiny forehead, which only had a few tufts of black hair.
“You’ll grow up to be a stunner, just like your dad,” she whispered.
She walked up to the windows, about to draw the drapes closed in case the sunlight would wake Ben up, but she paused. The view of the city’s skyline sill made her smile. She recalled how two years ago, she’d woken up in this very apartment, confused and bedazzled by everything that had happened since her father tried to sell her out to pay his debts.
Plenty of things had happened since Carver took her as his wife. They’d had Ben, the most precious gift to them. True to his promise, Carver took the first few steps to slowly legitimizing some of his businesses. While some of his men didn’t like the change, plenty of loyal ones stayed with him to help run his companies. Carver explained that the journey wouldn't be easy, that it would take years for their dream to come true, but he wasn't giving up and neither was she. They still had plenty of enemies, but Yasmin never once felt unsafe. She knew without a doubt that her man would do anything to keep their family safe.
As for Larry, her father made a full one-hundred-eighty degree turn after learning she was pregnant with Ben. He’d cleaned up, worked two jobs, got a real loan from a bank and was slowly paying off his debts. Larry also hadn’t had a drink in a year. Time would still tell if he could maintain his good behavior, but she was confident he could for the sake of seeing his grandson—and his other future grandchild.
Nervous butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Carver had been away on a business trip for three weeks, so she hadn’t been able to tell him the news she was pregnant again. They’d been trying for another kid so long, and now, it finally happened. Carver had initially asked if she wanted her and Ben to come along with him during the trip, but that meant bringing their nanny and making plenty of other arrangements. Besides, she knew if they were there, Carver would be distracted.
Her man was a family man and a devoted husband through and through. She and Ben always came first to him, business a far second. Yasmin had been so distracted, she hadn’t heard the door open. When Carver’s familiar solid arms went around her waist, she sighed and leaned against him. He gently spun her by the shoulder and goddamn it. Three weeks made her lonely, horny as hell for her husband.
It seemed he felt the same way, because he yanked her close, until their bodies touched and he gave her a rough and deep kiss. Carver knew exactly what she needed. Pressing a hand to his chest, she kissed him back fervently.
“I fucking missed you, too damn much. I’m never going on a trip that long ever again,” Carver grumbled. The way he eyed her up and down made her shiver in anticipation and excitement, even now. Carver looked ready to toss her over his shoulder and have his way with her in the bedroom. “Hmm. Ben’s asleep, too.”
Carver parted from her for a moment, to give his son a kiss. Back when she’d been pregnant, Carver had worried about being a good father, because he’d never had a father figure his entire life, just indifferent foster parents. In the end, Carver had nothing to worry about, because Ben had the best father in the world. This trip was the longest Carver had been apart from them, and he’d only done it because he was expanding his business in Asia.
“Listen, before we get to the good part,” she began.
He raised his eyebrows at her. “The best part,” he corrected.
“I have some news.” She clasped her hands.
Looking concerned, he neared her again and gave her hands a squeeze. “What happened?”
She let out a breath and gave it to him. “I’m pregnant again.”
Carver widened his eyes, pulled her so tightly in his arms, and practically lifted her off her feet and began kissing her. She laughed, unable to help herself, because he was clearly excited.
“You’re happy about the news, I take it?” she asked.
“Fuck yeah, I am. Plus, I’ve always wanted another kid after Ben.” Carver set her down and hugged her close. “I love you so much.”
Two years and counting, and Yasmin hadn’t gotten tired of hearing those words. She gazed into the eyes of her man, her soul mate, and said the words back.
“I love you, too.”
The End
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