EPILOUGE
One Year Later
REID
The phone rang and rang. Patience wasn’t a strong suit of mine but I stayed on the line, and thankfully there was an answer a few seconds later.
“Hello?” Parker’s tone was full of confusion and bit of irritation.
“Parker, hi. I’m not going to pussyfoot around this and ask how you’re doing and all that bullshit, because I knew you well enough then to make small talk. Come to dinner with me tonight at six. We need to talk.” I was straightforward and waited for his response as he sighed heavily and grumbled into the speaker.
“Where at? Usual spot we used to go?” He asked sharply.
“Yes. I’ll make reservations now for six o’clock. See ya then.”
Parker ended the call without saying goodbye and I shook my head. This wasn’t going to be an easy dinner tonight, but I had to do what I had to do. I typed the number to the restaurant into my phone and made the reservations for this evening.
Parker hadn’t come around when it came to Bridget and I, but he didn’t make any comments about us being together, and we never heard from him unless it was something that had to do with Ellie, mine and Bridget’s baby girl.
I watched Ellie as she laid on her pink soft fleece blanket sprawled out in the middle of the floor, playing with her toys and cooing. She had bright blue eyes like me and Bridget’s cute little button nose. I had never been happier in my life and I never thought the day would come that I’d be a dad, but here I was.
Admiring the beautiful little being Bridget and I had made together, a child of fate and pure love. She was everything and the longer I watched her, the more I thought about giving her brothers and sisters. I wanted more of our love running around and eventually making differences in the world around us.
“Do you think Mommy and I should give you a brother or sister next?” I asked her softly. It was just Ellie and I here during the day with Bridget gone at classes I made her enroll in.
Her education was important to me as was her happiness, and I was more than capable of caring for Ellie even if the shitty diapers made me gag. I wouldn't change any of this for the world. I was wrapped so far around both of my girls’ pinkies and I always would be. I’d do anything in my power to protect these two and to make them happy.
The day slipped by us in a breeze and it was nearing time for me to meet Parker at the halfway point. Bridget had just gotten home from classes and I was rushing to leave.
“Where are you going? Why the rush?” Her eyes widened as though she was thinking something was wrong.
“Oh, just a last minute business meeting I have to attend.” I hated lying to her.
“Business meeting? I thought your work was all done at home now?” She questioned.
“I know, I know. It is, but unfortunately the client wants to talk numbers over dinner and this is one of our biggest clients. I promise I won't be long.” I placed a soft kiss to her forehead and tilted her chin upwards leaning down to kiss her against the lips.
Then I walked over to Ellie who was lounging in her swing and I kissed her adorable chubby cheek.
“Daddy loves you, Princess.” I whispered softly, and she smiled a big gummy smile.
I kissed Bridget once more before rushing out the door and hopping onto my motorcycle.
After about an hour drive I finally pulled into the parking lot of the steakhouse and I saw Parker standing out front puffing on a cigarette.
Something I hadn’t seen him do since we were in the military together. I took a deep breath and let it out, prepping myself for the talk that neither of us wanted to have. I nodded at him since we’d made eye contact and I shuffled over, quickening my steps as it started to sprinkle.
Great. I rode my bike here so no matter what we’d or at least I would be stuck here until the rain stopped.
We walked in together, not even exchanging a word to each other. I was here for Bridget that was it. The hostess seated us with a smile leaving us to ourselves.
“What do you want?” Parker asked impatiently as soon as the hostess sat us down at our table, and I frowned, hating that my best friend and I were nothing more than acquaintances.
“First and foremost, I wanted to meet up and discuss you seeing, Ellie.” I paused, taking a sip of water from the glass in front of me. “I’m going to be taking Bridget out for a weekend away but we’ll need a babysitter, someone we trust, someone we know will protect her like she is theirs….” Parker and I might’ve had a falling out, but I knew more than anyone that Parker would protect his granddaughter with his life.
“Okay, consider it done. I’ll watch her. I have no problem watching my grand baby.” I smiled. I already knew he would say yes, the hard part was getting him to agree to letting me marry Bridget.
He licked his lips and eyed my hand where the tiny box was sitting. I placed it on the table in front of him.
“What’s that?” He narrowed his eyes on the small black velvet box and then looked up, meeting my eyes with a glare.
“That’s my promise to, Bridget, to my daughter, to protect and uphold my promise to be the man they both need. I want to make Bridget my wife, but I’m going to do it the right way.” I paused, my hands were sweaty, and my belly was nothing but knots.
“Are you asking me if I approve of you marrying my daughter?” There was a smugness to Parker’s voice that I didn’t like.
“Yeah, I fucking am, but not because I need your approval to do so, but because I respect you and care about you, and want you to know and approve. I’m not required to get your approval, your daughter’s old enough to make her own choices. But I would like for you to put hard feelings aside so I can have your blessing.” I withheld the disdain from my voice. I didn’t want this moment to turn ugly. I wanted us to be on good terms.
“Hey…” Parker called to the waitress. “Can you get us two beers please?” I exhaled, feeling as if I could finally relax into my chair.
When Parker turned his attention back to me he spoke, “I want you to know that my disapproval of you being with Bridget was out of fear. She’s my little girl, my baby, or at least she was…” He trailed off. I knew how he felt about Bridget, his heart beat started and ended with her, same with me.
“I’m not going to hurt her. Not ever. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not twenty years from now. She is mine. My forever.” I sounded possessive as fuck, but I was. What was mine, was mine and no one, not even Parker, was going to act like I would hurt, Bridget?
Parker smirked as the waitress sat two beer bottles on the table in front of us. “I guess I should be grateful that she found someone now, and that I didn’t have to endure the college days.” I couldn’t help but sigh at his comment. Picturing my sweet, naïve kitten in college, with a bunch of frat boys’ eyes all over her.
It made my blood boil.
“I would kill anyone who touches her.” I took a long pull from the beer my eyes never wavering from Parker’s. This was my best friend, the man that knew me inside and out.
“You’ve got my approval and my blessing. I just want to see you two happy, and of course, I want to make sure Ellie has a good life.” Parker finally spoke, and my body calmed, knowing I had his approval. Like I had said before I didn’t need his approval, but I wanted it.
“Thank you, you have no idea how much this means to both Bridget and me.” I could finally relax and enjoy the idea of engagement. I had wanted to marry my kitten since the day she told me she was carrying my child, but I knew that everything came with time.
“Just don’t let me down.” He mumbled around the beer bottle. We were okay now, not perfect, not happy, but in a place where we could agree to give Bridget and Ellie the best in life.
“I won’t, Parker. I never have before and I won’t start now.” I assured him. We ordered our food and made small talk the rest of the time. I plucked the ring up off the table before we said our goodbyes. I was beyond excited to have Parker’s blessing and it would be even greater when I saw Bridget’s face sparkle with excitement as I placed the diamond ring on her finger.
***
Our sweet baby girl cooed in the baby swing in the living room while I worked on dinner. My naughty little kitten would be home any second now and I wanted everything to be perfect when she walked in.
I moved between the kitchen and the living room checking on Ellie. She was a little thing just like her momma. I heard the sound of the garage door opening and knew Bridget was finally home, and just in time since Ellie had just fallen asleep. I tiptoed into the kitchen and lit the candles along the island and dining room table.
“Reid, what the heck…” Her soft voice was music to my ears, making my heart beat faster in my chest. Her eyes collided with my smoldering ones as she closed the door softly behind her. She looked around, her eyes scanning over Ellie in her swing before coming back to mine. I smirked, knowing she was all mine.
“I wanted to do something special for you, kitten.” I spoke in soft low tone as she walked toward me, reaching my hands out to grip her by her waist. She stood on her tippy toes and pursed her plump lips, leaning down to where my lips met hers we kissed. Every time was always as powerful as the first time our lips ever touched.
“Why’s that, babe?” She asked, a smile pulled at her lips and I wanted to kiss her again, but I didn’t. I returned the smile and slid my hand down to her ass, gripping it in my palm and she giggled.
That is all mine, this is mine. Forever.
“Because I love you. I want to take you out, just a little weekend getaway. We won’t be away from Ellie long.” I spoke, scanning her eyes seeing the wash of anxiety come over her as she thought about being away from Ellie for the first time.
I already knew she would be worried about daycare for the weekend, but I couldn’t tell her I already spoke with Parker about him keeping Ellie for us. The surprise I had planned for her burned a hole in my pocket. I was ready to make her my wife. Ready to make my family whole, and us becoming one would make it that way.
“Who will watch Ellie?” She was fear stricken, and I found it to be adorable. I brushed a few strands of her soft brown hair out of her face and stared at her in awe.
“Reid, who is going to watch Ellie? I’m not leaving her with some random babysitter.” She frowned, and I decided to finally answer her.
“Your dad is on his way here now. I wanna take you somewhere special so hurry up and eat dinner with me and then get your ass in the car.” I ordered. Her mouth was popped open in disbelief.
“How did you get him to come watch her?” She was flabbergasted, her green eyes swirling with curiosity. I couldn’t tell her I went and saw him the other night, not just yet.
“He might not be onboard with us being together, but he loves Ellie more than anything.” I guided her in the direction of the kitchen where I had a pan of baked ziti, her favorite meal, cooling. She smiled up at me as I got two plates out and served up the food. Well, she uncorked a bottle of wine, pouring herself a glass.
“I can’t believe we’ve been together over a year.” I lifted my eyes to hers as she brought the wine glass to her perfectly plump lips. I wanted to fuck her right here, right now on the table.
“I can’t either, kitten.” I mumbled, my mind drifting to other things, things that involved getting her naked and screwing her all over the house. I placed her plate in front of her before heading to my own spot on the other side of the table.
She gave me a hungry look, a look that said she wanted me to eat her.
“Are you hungry, baby?” I nibbled at my bottom lip. She nodded her head yes, before shoving away from the table, sauntering over to where I sat. I scooted the chair back, making room for her so that she could sit on my lap. It was when she started to pull her panties, and black yoga pants down that my already stiff cock turned to steel.
“I’m hungry for you, Reid. I want your cock inside of me, owning me.” She turned, placing her hands against the table while bending over with her ass jutted out. I resisted the urge to growl and instead shucked my pants to the floor. I pulled the black box out of the pocket of my jeans and situated it next to me on the floor.
“You’re drenched, kitten.” I announced, dipping a finger between her wet folds. She was soaked for me and clearly turned on by my cooking skills.
“I want you.” She muled as I dropped to my knees giving her one hard lick from the top of her ass to her clit.
“Bad enough that you want to spend the rest of your life with me?” I questioned flicking the tip of my tongue against her swollen clit.
“God, fuck yes.” She cried out, gyrating her pussy against my face. Her juices coated my tongue, but I wasn’t going to end things here.
“Turn around, kitten.” I ordered, grabbing the ring box. She turned around slowly, her eyes meeting mine instantly.
“I’ve wanted you to be my wife since the night you called me and told me you were carrying my child. I knew then, there would never be another woman for me. You were it. My all, my everything till death do us part.” I held myself together, watching as she lifted a hand to her mouth to stifle the cry that wanted to escape her lips.
“Reid. Oh my God.” I popped the box open, showing her the two-carat diamond engagement ring. It wasn’t much compared to what others gave their spouses, but it was enough.
“Will you do me the honor of marrying my crazy ass?” I licked my lips, fear spiraling deep in my belly. There was a chance she could say no, there was always a chance something could go wrong, that was the thing about life, it was never known what would happen next.
She nodded her head yes, and I slipped the ring onto her finger, lifting her up in my arms and sinking all eight inches of my cock into her tight hole. She was soaked with need, and I was hungry for her, starving for her touch, for her kisses, for her.
“Reid.” She cried out as I upped my pace, my cock sinking deep into her channel. Her legs shook as I held her in place against the counter.
“I love you, kitten. I fucking love you.” I whispered into her ear as pleasure like I never felt before shot through me. Her pussy clenched around me and her head fell back against the cabinet.
“I love you too, Reid, fuck do I love you.” She cried out, her pussy convulsing as she fell apart around me. I upped my pace, until the pleasure grew too great, and my balls felt tight with my release. Then I shot my load deep inside of her holding her in place against the counter, our pants were the only thing that could be heard.
“Are we still going to go out?” Bridget questioned as I pulled out of her, my cock ready for another seven rounds.
I smirked, pulling my jeans on before her father got here and saw us fucking in the kitchen. “Of course. I asked Ellie if she wanted more siblings earlier and she said at least five so we better get to fucking, kitten.”
She smiled, but a zing of excitement showed in her eyes. She loved me, and she wanted more kids.
Fuck. I had the greatest woman in the world as my own.