SECOND EPILOGUE
River - two years later
“Jericho! What the fuck, man? There are kids around!”
“You cuss like a goddamn sailor. Sex is biological. I’m just giving my nephews a biology lesson.”
“That’s the biggest load of horseshit I’ve ever heard.”
Jericho only shrugged, winking once at Dev as she settled herself at her station.
I’d caught them fucking again when I walked in this morning. This time, with the boys toddling in behind me. Thank God they hadn't seen anything. They wouldn’t know what the hell it was anyway, but still, virgin eyes and all that.
“Where’s Sienna? She feeling okay?”
“Yeah, morning sickness is taking her for a ride this time.”
“Man, you would have thought after having twins this one would be easier.”
“She’s fine. We were up late last night getting the nursery ready anyway. Had me painting pink on the walls.” I rolled my eyes.
“Well, you need any help with these guys, Dev and I are happy to take them for the weekend. Give you some time before number three arrives.”
“Oh, we’ve had plenty of time, no need to worry about that. Just wait till you knock Dev up, she’ll be even hornier than she is now. Sienna can’t get enough.”
“Well, no shit, huh?” Jericho glanced at Dev. “Let’s take the day off, and go have some unprotected sex, woman!”
“Fuck you,” Dev called back, not even looking up from the sketch she was working on.
“God, I love that woman.”
“I can tell.” I nodded, picking up one of the boys. “Better put a ring on it before she gets away. Girls like her don’t put up with men like us for long. Right, Carson?” I shook my son’s pudgy little hand, and he erupted into giggles.
“Got a beautiful family, man. Some days I wish I had it.”
“You could. Just gotta work for it.” I winked at Jericho.
Just then, Sienna walked through the back door of the shop, the sunlight coming with her. I swear she took that shit wherever she went. My girl walked into a room, and the place lit up.
It’d only taken me two minutes to see that about her—and only two months to marry her.
Sienna hadn’t been kidding when she’d said she’d let me haul her off to the courthouse and make her my wife.
We’d done it the very next weekend.
I didn’t want her having my baby without both of them having my name. Call it the caveman in me, but this family was mine and I wanted them taken care of in every way.
“How ya feelin’, mama?” Dev wrapped my wife in a hug.
“Better. River left Carson’s and Dawson’s blankets at home. They throw a conniption without them, and I was feeling better so I thought I’d come in.”
“You look beautiful.” Dev smiled.
“You always look beautiful.” I enveloped my wife in a hug, pulling her against me. Dawson babbled at his mother’s feet, plopping on his butt and wrapping up in his blanket like he wanted to take a nap right here on the floor.
“You ready for this little girl to come?” Dev asked.
Sienna looked down at her rapidly growing belly, a smile only a mother could give spreading her cheeks.
“I think River’s readier than I am. I love being pregnant. Growing a little human with his DNA means I instantly have one up on him. He’s lucky he keeps the house stocked with ice cream, or we’d be in real trouble.”
“Swear, the minute my man laid eyes on you, I knew you had him.” Jericho chimed in. “Lucky you found each other.”
“It wasn’t luck, man. It was fate. Sienna’s and my paths crossed a long time ago, we just didn’t know it. It was only a matter of time before we found each other again.” I tightened my grip on Sienna’s hand in mine. “Love you.”
“Love you more, Daddy.”
“Doubt that, doll face. It’s not even possible.”
He pulled me into his strong, inked arms, wrapping me in a bear hug, just like I loved.
Everything about River filled me up, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. His love, his life, his strength, and his patience, he was my better half, and somehow, I was his.
We were better together than apart, no doubt about that. And there wasn’t a day that went by when I didn’t thank the powers that be for putting us together, no matter how much pain we had to face to get here. It was worth it. He was worth it. We were worth it.
THE END
Thank you for reading! xo Aria