Page 486 of One More Kiss

Epilogue

ETHAN

TWO YEARS LATER

I’m coveredin clay and need to shower before heading in for the night, but I can’t pass up the opportunity to sneak inside the nursery first.

My gorgeous wife is rocking our baby and humming as she nurses him. It’s the most beautiful image in the entire world, everything I ever could’ve imagined. And more.

“How’s it going?” I whisper, grabbing her attention as I lean against the doorway.

She smiles up at me, a noticeable glow circulating her face.

“He’s just like his father. Gravitates to the left more than the right.” She chuckles, holding his precious little hand.

“We Rochester men know what we like,” I say with an unapologetic shrug. “Plus, the left one is bigger.” I flash her a wide, knowing grin.

She rolls her eyes and looks back down at him. Pushing off the doorway, I walk over to them and press a kiss to her head.

“I still can’t get over how much he looks like you,” Vada says, rubbing her finger along his soft cheek.

“Yeah, but he’s probably got his mama’s sassy mouth.”

She chuckles softly. “And his daddy’s crass attitude.”

“The kid’s gonna be a spitfire, no doubt.” I lean down and press a soft kiss on her lips. “I’m going to hop in the shower if you want to join me after he’s asleep.” I flash her a wink, telling her everything I need to.

“You know we can’t have sex for six weeks after giving birth,” she reminds me as if I could’ve forgotten that little detail.

“I know, but that doesn’t mean I can’t feast on other parts of you,” I tease.

Shaking her head at me, she bites down on her lower lip to conceal her smile. “You’re naughty.”

“And you wrote a whole book telling everyone how much you love my naughty ways, so there’s no turning back now,” I remind her smirking, and she wrinkles her nose at me before I lean down and kiss the top of London’s head. He barely fidgets from my contact—too busy eating.

I head to the shower with a toothy grin on my face. I can’t help it. I’m happier than I ever thought possible.

When we found out Vada was pregnant, I panicked at first. Although I was excited to be starting a family with her, I couldn’t help that fear inside that something was going to go wrong again, and I’d lose everything all over again. I knew Vada felt it too, but we leaned on each other for love and support, which helped get through those nine months.

Everything went great during her pregnancy, and even her labor was smooth without any complications. The relief that struck me when he was finally here was unlike anything I’d experienced before. Just knowing I could hold him brought me on an emotional roller coaster. London was born a whopping nine pounds and a head full of dark hair. It was an indescribable feeling and one I’ll never forget.

As soon as we found out we were having a boy, I was flooded with memories of Alana and Paris. I hated that I felt like I was replacing them somehow, although I knew that was far from the truth. Vada knew how important it was for me to keep their memories alive. She didn’t change much in the nursery, knowing I’d want to keep certain things. She never pressed me on it, and I loved her even more for that. She wanted to keep the memories of my family alive too, and that meant more to me than anything.

I’m on cloud nine as I begin rinsing off my body in the shower and hear Vada sneaking in behind me. Spinning around, I gasp when I see her kneeling down in front of me.

“What are you—”

“Taking care of my man.” She smiles up at me, grabbing ahold of my shaft as the water cascades on my back and blocks her. “Unless you’d like to jerk off in the shower alone again?” she teases, feistier than usual.

“Fuck, Vada…” I groan as she swirls her tongue around my piercing, knowing just how much it turns me on. “And for the record, I don’t jerk off in the shower.” I pause before continuing, “Anymore.”

She chuckles, releasing the tip. “Yeah, okay, Casanova. That’s not what you inspired in chapter sixteen of my newest book,” she reminds me with a wink.

“That was one time,” I defend. “And only because you were being a cock tease.”

She bursts out laughing. “I was six months pregnant and out of clothes to wear,” she reminds me, and memories of her wearing my T-shirts starts getting me hot all over again.

“Yeah.” I flash her a knowing smile. “You should always be pregnant, wearing my shirts, and only my shirts.”

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