by Lena Lucas
“God, Pepper, you got this, baby. You got this. You're doing so good. I’m so proud of you.” I was rambling, wanting her to know I was here, not just with my touch but with my words too.
“One more, Pepper,” the doctor said. “One more and you’ll have your baby.”
I was all but hyperventilating now.
“Come here, Sloan. Watch your baby being born.”
I didn’t want to leave Pepper’s side, so I kept a hold on her hand and moved toward the end, leaning forward and watching as a tiny head topped with dark hair started to emerge.
And then he was out and screaming up a storm. I laughed, a tear tracking down my cheek as I looked between my son and my wife. She was sweaty and panting but looking between the two of us as well.
“Oh God, Pepper.” I was choked up as I watched them place him on my wife’s chest, rubbing him down with a blanket, his scream still echoing in the room.
She was crying, and I leaned down to kiss her head over and over again, murmuring praises once more.
“So proud of you.”
“I love you so much.”
“You both are perfect. My world.”
I reached out and ran my thumb along her cheek, brushing away the tears of happiness that spilled down her face. I wiped my own tears away with the back of my free hand, knowing I was grinning like a damn fool.
And then he was bundled up and I was holding my son, looking down at him, my heart beating so fucking hard I wouldn’t be surprised if it burst through my chest.
We were left alone, private time for the three of us to bond, and I was so damn thankful for that. I sat on the edge of the bed once more, the baby so small in my big arms.
He has my face.
I felt fresh tears in my eyes again as I stared at this perfect little human I helped create with the woman I loved.
“He’s beautiful,” Pepper said, the love and awe in her voice enough to choke me up even more. “Little Alexander.”
My father’s name.
I cleared my throat and pulled my shoulders back. I should’ve been a man and not cried, right? Been stronger than emotions?
Oh who the fuck am I kidding? I don’t care about crying, because I’m so damn happy and grateful, because I’m so blessed. I don’t care who knows or sees. Let them know how lucky I am.
He had a tuft of brown hair, and I reached out, seeing my hand shake, to run my finger along his tiny nose. Shit, I was afraid to touch him, because he was so tiny in my big arms.
“Look what you did, Pepper. Look what you created.” I looked up at her and grinned.
“Look what we created.”
Yes, so very true, and he’s perfect.
I leaned in and kissed Pepper, lingering against her lips, feeling my love for her grow so much it suffocated me. Good, I’d die for her—for this feeling she has brought out in me.
“I love you, so fucking much.” I clenched my jaw. “Gotta work on the swearing.”
She chuckled when I pulled away. “I think we’ll be okay for a while, at least until he starts repeating us.” She stared at me as if I’d just given her the world. Her smile was so beautiful.
No, it’s the other way around, baby. You’ve brought me to life.
“I love you too. So much, Sloan.”
Alexander made a tiny sound, his eyes open as he looked around. His little lips were pursed, as if he was pissed to have been taken away from his cozy, warm, and protective home he’d been hanging out in for the last nine months.
And as I stared at my wife and our newborn son, I knew I’d lay down my life without question for these two. My wife. My son.
My life.
EPILOGUE THREE
SLOAN
Twenty-five years later
Decades had passed, falling in love with my wife even more each and every day, watching our four children grow, being able to watch my family expand with grandchildren. I was one happy and lucky bastard, and it was all because I had Pepper in my life. She was my heart, my very world. I worked hard to provide for her and our children. And I wouldn’t have changed that for anything in the world.
I sat on the back porch, a glass of iced tea in my hand, the sound of our grandchildren running around bringing a grin to my face. I glanced over at my wife, watched her speak with our two daughters. Pepper was running her finger through Anna's blonde curls before smiling and nodding, agreeing that she loved the new look our youngest had taken on.
Our oldest, Alexander, was looking under the hood of a truck my two boys and I were fixing up in our free time. Markus and Alexander started arguing about something, and I grinned. The two had always butted heads, but they were closer than any two I’d ever seen. “Thick as thieves” Pepper had said. They’d taken over the hardware store after I retired, although retiring was a loose statement, since I was there several days a week to keep busy. I couldn't help but be there. Three generations of McKenzie men running it, and hopefully those generations would keep growing.
“Want another tea, Dad?”
I looked over and up at Deidra, Markus’s twin sister and the wild child of the group. She was a spitting image of Pepper, with her dark hair and blue eyes. “That’d be great, sweetheart, thanks.”
She took my glass and smiled. “Dinner should be ready in about twenty.”
I smiled again and patted her hand before she left.
Markus and Alexander’s wives came out onto the porch, both laughing and heading straight toward where my girls were. Anna refused marriage, saying if she ever decided to get married it would be on her terms and once she was finished with getting her medical degree. And hell, I was so proud of her for sticking with her dreams and aspirations. Hell, I was proud of all my kids so damn much.
I stared at my wife as she started talking about her newest interior design job she’d gotten in town. God, she was so talented, and I swore half of Sweetheart used Pepper’s interior design brilliance and creativity.
“Gramps.” Phillip, Markus’s son, came running up to me, his blonde curls identical to his mother’s.
“Hey, kiddo,” I said and braced myself as he jumped up on my lap.
I listened raptly to him tell me about the worms he found, and couldn’t help but laugh at how excited he was.
The other three grandbabies came bounding up, followed by Alexander and Markus.
“Dinner’s ready, everyone,” Deidra called out from the kitchen, and we all headed inside.
I wrapped my arm around Pepper and pulled her in close, looking down at her. The years had been so good to her, and as crazy as it was, she’d gotten even more beautiful. She was full of life, and I basked in it, absorbed that light, and felt my own world easing even more because of it.
We stood there and watched as our family got things ready, the grandkids sitting at the table as our children got the food situated. I smiled and looked at my wife again, seeing she wore the same smile.
“We are so lucky,” I whispered, and she turned in my arms and rose on her toes to kiss me.
“We really are.”
The moment I first saw you all those years ago,” I whispered softly, “I envisioned—prayed—I’d have this life with you.” I kissed her again. “Thank you for making me the happiest man, father, and grandfather in the world.”
I knew for the rest of my life this feeling—my love for Pepper—would only grow. And damn was that a good feeling.
The End.
POSSESSIVE ALPHA ROMANCE:
PRIMED: Brother’s Best Friend Romance
HARD: MC/BBW Romance
FILLED: New Adult Romance
PURE” new Adult Romance
SHIFTER ROMANCE:
HARD MATED: Fated Mates Romance
HOLIDAY ROMANCE:
STUFFED: Christmas Romance
HUNG SWEETHEART: Valentine’s Day Romance
ADORED BY AIDEN: Double Virgins Romance
AGE GAP ROMANCE:
STROKED: New Year’s Eve Romance
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Just a certified “cat person”, Lena is a girl from the PNW who loves to read any and all things romance. She loves it so much she decided to start writing her own books.
And her books are kind of… dirty.
www.lenalucas.com
[email protected]
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Synopsis
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Epilogue One
Epilogue Two
Epilogue Three
Also by Lena Lucas
About the Author