“Are you nervous?” I asked, running my fingers through his hair.
“A little.” He shrugged. “I guess. The judge didn’t really say much to give any indication what the verdict would be.”
“I don’t see why you won’t get half the custody. You’re a good dad, and the boys want to be here.” It was a fair proposal: one week here, one week there except Griffin did ask that he not pay Karen during the weeks he had the boys. His lawyer strongly agreed.
Placing a kiss to his temple, I just sat listening to them all talk. Then the conversation went to Griffin and his racing charges. He got off lucky with just six months’ probation period and the loss of three points and a fifteen hundred dollar fine. He was not going to do anything wrong in the way of the law anytime soon.
Karen had been so sure he would suffer and do jail time, but as Griffin pointed out, she had no proof. Besides, it was a one-time event. There was no proof of anything—even of those poker nights he attended. There was no sign of him being involved. He pled guilty to speeding but fought the reckless and hoon charges.
With the fire pit burning a heated flame, we brought out some fruit and cheese platters, kind of a pre-welcome dinner fix. Mack was inside when I went to grab another box of crackers and some dips. He came up licking his lips hungrily.
“Yum, can I have some please?”
“Course.” I glanced around, making sure we were not going to be overheard. “I want to talk to you for a moment.”
He looked nervous, and his eyes lost contact. “Am I in trouble?”
“What? Course not, unless you’ve put a hole through your wall already?”
He and Toby got into a massive fight early morning last week. We had woken up to a startling bang, and Griffin found an Xbox controller hanging out of the wall. Apparently, Mack had a temper when pushed enough. He was grounded from reading Harry Potter for the remaining two days he was with his dad.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Good. Now, I want to know when you’re going to talk to your dad about a certain something. You can’t keep this from him forever.” Griffin needed to know, and this secret made me feel guilty for hiding it from him.
His eyes grew wide. “You can’t tell him. Please, you promised.”
“I know I did, but you need to tell him. Soon, he would hate to find out through someone else.” He would be more hurt by that. “Promise me that you’ll tell him soon.”
“Okay, I will.”
I shook my head. “Not good enough. Promise me.”
Looking up, he nodded. “I promise, Mum.”
Ahh, melts my heart.
Good, about time. “Good boy.” I reached over and handed him a bowl full of chips. “Take this out for me.”
As I walked out, Griffin was on his way in with an empty bottle of beer. He winked and grabbed hold of my hand, pulling me back into the kitchen. He dragged me willingly down the hallway and towards our new bedroom.
Closing the door, I began undoing my jeans. “What do you think?”
“You’re sexy as fuck.”
Giving him an eye roll, I pulled down my panties. “Not me, the bedding. The room?”
He looked around as I lay naked in the middle of our bed, my thighs spread and inviting him into me. Then he began pulling his shirt off and working on his jeans. His eyes still on mine, he glanced to my pussy and then back up again. “Like I said, sexy as fuck.”
His cock thrust in with such force that my eyes rolled to the back of my head. My back arched slightly to let him in me deeper as I slid up the bed, wrapping my legs around his hips and slamming my hips back down on his cock.
I was so close to coming when I heard a noise. “Someone’s coming.” Oh, the irony.
“No.” Pausing, he glanced towards the door before looking back. The footsteps faded and went away. “It’s okay. Keep going. No one will come in.”
His rhythm continues, pulling in and out slowly as our bodies met thrust after thrust until his strokes turned violent, uncontrolled, and raw. Our mouths kissed deeply, and our hands grasped skin as we moved together. Tightening around him, I let go and lost myself in him. I grabbed his ass and pushed him in deeper as I grind up and down against him.
“I’m going to come.” He grunted. “I’m coming.”
My teeth bit into the flesh of his shoulder as I moaned loudly. “Oh yes… Come with me.”
We cleaned ourselves up after that. I nervously giggled, hoping no one noticed we were gone for too long. As I changed into a new pair of panties, Griffin reached inside the closet and pulled out a pair of black dress slacks, a crisp white shirt, and a pair of suspenders. I turned, looking away from him as I continued to put on my panties and bra.
When I turned, he was already dressed and doing up his shoes as he sat on the edge of the bed. Tying his last lace, he sat watching me dress. God, this man in those clothing… damn.
Definitely husband goals.
“Can I help you?” I asked, walking over to the walk-in robe and pulling out a dress. It was a white backless dress with gold embellishments around the front that went around to the back and hang down along the free falling skirt like chains. It was simple but perfect for this occasion.
I slipped it on easily, and he kept watching me. “Just can’t take my eyes off you right now. You’re perfect.”
“So are you.”
Running my fingers through my hair, I came towards Griffin, unable to take my eyes from him. I scrunched my dress up around my thighs and straddled his lap.
“You’re so beautiful, you know that?” He smiled, his hands holding onto my hips. “I wasn’t too rough with you, was I?”
“Since when did you care how rough you are?” I asked, resting my arms on his shoulders. “You didn’t hurt me. And no. I don’t know, but I do enjoy hearing you telling me that.”
He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. “What if I lose the boys?”
“Baby, no.” I reassured him, brushing a hand through his hair. “You’re not going to lose them.” I hated that he doubted himself so much as a father. “You need to think positive. It’s all going to work out, and you need to believe that.”
He nodded, resting his forehead on mine. “I know. I just worry. What if I can’t get you pregnant?”
Oh, god. Way to change the conversation. “Griffin, we’ve been trying to get pregnant for like a week. The doctor said within two years is achievable. I’m not expecting anything to happen soon. I’d love it too, but I don’t think it would be easy.” I wished it was, though. “Let’s not worry about that, or you’ll drive yourself crazy.”
“Hopefully,” he mumbled and glanced over towards the clock. “Nervous?”
“Not a chance. It’s almost six,” I whispered in his ear. “We should go tell them what’s going on. Yeah?”
His smile grew, and the sad man was gone. Griffin laughed as I moved from his lap to a standing position, turning and smiling at him as he smiled right back. “You sure about this? There’s no going back.”
I nodded. I was more than ready. “Yes. Come on.”
I held out my hands, and he took them. We walked outside, and I noticed the car pulling up in the driveway. There was no turning back now. I grinned eagerly as Griffin went to answer the door and let the woman inside. After a briefing, she followed us outside. I stayed back for a moment while Griffin spoke to everyone.
“Ah, about time. Can I fire up the barbeque?” Charlie asked. “Where’s the meat?”
“You’re not getting anywhere near the meat, not after last time.” Griffin laughed, looking back towards me. He looked incredibly handsome right now.
“What’s going on? When are we eating?” Charlie’s wife asked, frowning. “Why are you dressed up?”
“Soon.” Griffin outstretched his hand to me, grinning widely. “Afterwards.”
“After what?” Bryan asked. His voice came to a halt as his eyes landed on mine. “Oh, fuck you look—”
Griffin replied breathlessly. “G
orgeous.”
My mum gasped, and her hands flew over her mouth as I walked towards Griffin and his hand squeezed mine.
I smiled and finally found my voice. “So are you, handsome.” His side-parted hair and the suspenders… Oh, my. He even added a bow tie. His white sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his sleeves of tats. Like I said, definitely husband goals.
I was so in love.
“Umm… What’s going on?” Bryan and everyone seemed to have lost their words.
Looking back to Bryan, I answered him. “After we do something, we’ll eat. But for now, you might want to go over to the garden..” The garden had been lit up with a twinkle of fairy lights leading towards a tree where the woman now stood. I could not stop smiling.
Maggy sucked in a sharp breath as she took note of our formal attire. “Oh, my god! You’re not… I can’t breathe.”
“Yes!” Helena clapped her hands together with excitement. “Please tell me you’re doing what we think you’re doing.”
“Dad, Mum… what’s going on?” Toby asked. His smile said it all, though. Mack just grinned.
A new home. A new start. A new life. Together, forever.
Griffin nodded, placing a tender kiss on my hand. “We’re getting married.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“I promise to always leave the lights on in the bathroom. I promise to mysteriously take three hours to make a simple breakfast as I have no idea how to cook. I promise to create a life for us of unexpected and strange adventures. I promise that I will love you.”
Blink back the tears, damnit.
“I pledge to listen to your advice and occasionally take it. I pledge to never take score on Super Mario… even if I'm totally winning. I pledge to always admire your huge, strong, kind, and determined heart. I pledge that I will love you.”
My heart is close to exploding.
“I vow to listen for as long as it takes for you to feel heard. I vow to watch in awe as you kick ass and take names. I vow to be your unrelenting cheer squad on the days it feels too much. I vow that I will love you.”
I’m losing it.
“I believe that me-time is an actual concept that can be proven by science. I believe that carefully folded underwear makes you happy. I believe there is no time or place I'm more content than when you're close to me. Because of this and so, so much more… I believe that I will always love you, Ayla.”
Tears were running down my cheeks as I became a blubbering mess.
His vows were everything, and so much more.
I could not believe he had come up with that on the spot. Seriously, who the hell knows how to speak romance like that? I could not even talk. I was too busy biting my trembling lip, afraid to open my mouth in case I burst into tears.
“It’s okay,” he whispered, reaching forward and using the pad of his thumb to wipe away the tears underneath my eyes. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
Ahh.. I could not take the feeling I was feeling right now. I wanted to throw my arms around him and kiss him like crazy—then drag him off to our bedroom and bang him like a hammer.
My vows were so going to suck compared to his.
“Griffin...” I began, taking in a steady breath to calm myself. “I love you.”
He grinned, mouthing ‘I love you, too’ back to me.
“You make loving easy. For starters, you’re the best roomie I’ve ever had. Living in sin without our parents’ blessings was totally worth it. I now know you are able to deal with my annoying habits, and I’ve discovered that you have very few. You pick up my half-empty coffee cups that I leave around the house, and you make me breakfast on the weekends even if it takes you hours. You stay up until I finish work even if you’re asleep when I come home. I know you try to stay up.”
“You always know where my phone and keys are when I go into full panic mode and scream that someone stole them.” Like my coffees. “With you, I have learned to take it slow—although I could have dealt with getting to this altar a little faster. When we met, all I knew was that you made me laugh and that you had a dorky look, which I thought was seriously hot. Only time would allow me to see your true colours. You’re generous, loving, sensitive, kind, an insomniac, and a lover of man baths.”
He burst out laughing, blushing slightly as his friends roared in laughter.
“I promise with all my heart to love you when times are good and bad. Wen you’re sore on Monday from sitting the same position all day during Sunday football, when men hit on you, and when you need someone to lean on when work gets tough, I will always be your girl.”
“When I’m scared, you make me feel safe. When I’m sad, you make me smile. We’ve had tough days, but there’s never been a day where I have stopped loving you. I never want there to be one.”
“I promise to continue loving your children as if they were my own as I officially become your partner in their lives. But most of all, I promise to love you under any circumstances; happy or sad, easy or difficult, through the sunshine and through the rain for the rest of my days. I am the luckiest girl alive, and I couldn't imagine growing old with anyone else.”
I turned towards Mack and Toby who were standing near Griffin’s side. I had something to say to them now.
“Thank you for sharing your daddy with me, loving me, and allowing me to love you with all of my heart. I was not there when you took your first steps, but I promise that I will love and support you in every step that you take in your life.”
I was crying, and so was he. Mum was sobbing. Even Dad teared up. It was all happy tears around.
As soon as we were pronounced husband and wife, Griffin flushed me to his front and tongue down my throat, kissing me with the most passionate kiss I had ever felt before. His hands snaked around my waist and dipped me backwards.
I felt his smile against my lips. “Want to skip to the honeymoon?”
“Mmm… I do.”
“Get off her,” someone from the crowd said.
We finally pulled apart to see my mum dabbing her eyes as she came up towards us. “You’re not skipping out on us yet. We’re going to celebrate this wonderful surprise.”
My hands grasped hold of his strong biceps as another camera flash went off. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
Her brow raised, but I knew she wasn’t being serious. “Yes, quite the shock to see your only daughter getting married.”
We had not planned on it. It was just a spur of the moment thing. We had been discussing possible wedding dates and were leaning more towards in a year. Then we had shared a look between us, and asked, why wait? We wanted this. We wanted to marry. We had that discussion, the baby talk, and then talked about a housewarming party. We decided to be different and combine the two without telling anyone.
My dress was bought last week, and Griffin picked up our rings yesterday morning.
“You look lovely.” Helena gushed, coming over. “I can’t believe you got married. I knew it’d happen soon.”
I still did not know what to make of her and Karen. They were all close. It would only be a matter of time before she knew and rain hell on our lives.
Bring it on. We were ready for whatever was to come.
Griffin’s hand slid down my ass and squeezed. “Who knew she’d look that good in a dress.”
I laughed, lightly slapping his chest. “Excuse you. I like my jeans and shorts.”
“Yeah. Well, I like you in that dress.” His hand squeezed once more. “I also think someone should be helping out the big fella with that meat. I don’t trust him to cook after last time.” He turned to me and winked, both knowing it was not actually food poisoning I had, but a bun in the oven.
“Go help. I’ll help inside.” I offered, about to head on in.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Mum pointed towards the garden. “You two... over there and get some photos taken. Mack, Toby, you too, please.”
After what I felt like a gazillion photographs, we were a
llowed to go back to everyone else. The food was amazing. Boy did I eat a ton of food. Griffin was pleased I did not want a drink. He was on baby patrol like you would not believe. It was insane. For a man who was happy to just give up marriage and babies, he had done one hell of a turnaround.
His hand grazed up and down my hip as I sat on his lap, feeling his warm breath hitting my neck. “What are you thinking about?”
“You,” I replied.
“What about me?”
I nestled my nose against his cheek. “Just how I can’t wait until you finger me with your ring finger.”
Shifting in his seat, he gave a low cough. “Is that so? When can I do that?”
“Soon.” I wanted to go to bed really soon. I went to move, but his arm tightened around me, keeping me in place. Someone had an erect cock poking against my ass. Drunk on happiness, I leant in with a giggle. “Naughty husband. You know I could just up and leave you here.”
“You could, but then my father-in-law would also know that I was hard for his daughter, and I don’t fancy being knocked out on my wedding night.”
Yeah, my dad would definitely not appreciate that one bit.
I sat and waited until his raging hard on finally turned soft and got up to go grab something else to eat. I was quite impressed with myself that I had not spilt anything on my white dress. Griffin was still uber sexy with those suspenders and his bow tie now taken off. By now, the top three buttons of his shirt was already undone, showing off a hint of chest hair. My parents left with the offer of taking the kids to give us a wedding night, but we declined. We wanted to share the first night in our new home with the boys.
Plus, their rooms were way away from our bedroom. They would not hear anything, hopefully.
We laughed and talked about how Griffin proposed in the shower. Of course, I skipped the wanting my pussy for the rest of his life part. The night had been perfect—almost.
Karen’s voice interrupted us. “The front door was locked. What’s going on?”
Are you kidding me right now? Like, seriously? She was not meant to be here.
One day was all I asked for—one day to not have her in our faces. It was our wedding day, and I especially did not want to see her today. She was not even invited. This was Griffin’s time with the boys, and Karen knew. She damn well knew that. My heart was not able to take any more. This woman could not take this day from us. It was our day. We were a family here, and Karen could not ruin it. As much as she tried, she needed to get the hell out of our property before I lost it and smack the bitch out.
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