Mostly.
Watching Harper's mom coo over Ash, tickling his feet, has my smile stretching from ear to ear, because there's nothing better than a cute baby to make the in-laws less likely to hang you from a tree. Even if things hadn't gone well with Harper's family, we would have been fine. My dad has been on our side from day one, and I know that he loves Harper all the more for seeing through the tragedy of our family curse. We were just meant to be together.
All of us.
Not just Harper's family and mine, but the extended family that has happily adopted us. I don't know what happened in my grandfather's time that caused a rift between the Loxleys and the Tucks, but we've more than mended it now. Fran has already named herself as one of Ash's aunts, and the whole Tuck family has welcomed Harper and me every time we visit. The Johnsons are on the other side of them, and although they haven't been quite as open to meeting up with us, Fran Tuck is insistent that in time they'll come back into the fold.
Maybe they'll even come to this picnic next year.
A merry band of people united by their connection to me and Harper.
Very few people here actually understand why Harper and I chose this date as our official anniversary, ignoring our actual wedding date completely, but it's the day that means the most to us. It seems impossible that a year ago we were sitting on the floor of the cabin, with me terrified of myself and of a future without her in it. When I close my eyes, I can still see the dirty, bloody mess she was, and I thank whatever powers exist that she still loved me when the curse broke.
That kind of love is rare. Powerful enough to break a curse, and whenever we start to second-guess ourselves, all we have to do is look at the scar on her thigh to remember how close we came to missing all of this. The sleepless nights with Ash, the impact to our GPAs, the utter destruction of our social lives... but I know she wouldn't trade it for anything either.
"Your wife is looking for you," my dad says, nudging my shoulder, and I turn around to smile at him before I get up and search the small crowd for her. I find her sitting with Addison, who's holding Ash in her lap, already utterly in love with her nephew.
"Have I been summoned?" I ask, and Harper smiles up at me.
"I wanted a kiss." She grins and I grab her hand, pulling her off the bench and into my arms so I can claim her lips. I love the way she melts against me. I love the way she tastes. I love the little sounds she makes. And, most of all, I love how much she loves me and Ash.
"How did I do?"
"Pretty good, but I know my king of the outdoors can do better," Harper teases, and I roll my eyes and dip her, leaning her head back, so I can completely control the kiss.
One hand fisted in her hair, I nip her lip and claim her mouth like we're not surrounded by family and friends, the sweet little moan she makes muffled by our lips. When I break the kiss this time, I lean down to whisper in her ear. "Well, my queen, if that's how you want to play, I might just have to fuck you until you beg me to come deep inside you tonight."
"Oh my God," Harper whispers as I lift her upright, earning a few whistles and cheers from our friends as her cheeks turn bright pink.
"Is that a yes?" I ask quietly, and she nods.
"Get a room!" Ollie yells and I turn to point at him.
"Don't make me tell mom and dad about what happened in October," I say, and his eyes go wide.
"What happened in October?" my mom asks as she walks over, and I bust out laughing as Ollie runs for the table of snacks.
"Do you really need to kiss each other like that in front of your baby?" Addison asks, bouncing Ash in her lap, and I reach down to scoop him into my arms.
"I think Ash should know how much his parents love each other," I answer, and Harper leans into my side, tickling just under his ear with kisses that make him giggle and coo in the most perfect way.
"I don't think Ash will ever doubt how much we love each other." Harper turns toward me, and I steal another, much more chaste, kiss.
"No way in hell," I whisper as I lean my forehead against hers. "We're forever."
"Screw that," Harper says, and I can hear the laugh in her voice as she wraps an arm around my waist. "We're happily ever after."
THE END
About the Author
Cassandra Faye lives in Texas where she's done nothing but fantasize about other worlds her entire life. Constantly daydreaming about ancient powers, faerie realms, old gods, and how seriously dangerous unicorns would be if they existed, Cassandra writes the stories she's always craved. Taking paranormal and fantasy worlds, mixing them in with modern day, and adding a dash of darkness.
So, if you enjoy those fairy tales that were a little more grimm, or if you ever wondered just how bad the villains could be as you held on for that happily-ever-after, then you might be just the person she's writing for.
https://www.fayebooks.com/
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Cassandra also writes dark contemporary romance as Jennifer Bene. You can find her online throughout social media with username @jbeneauthor and on her website: www.jenniferbene.com
Also by Cassandra Faye and Jennifer Bene
Daughters of Eltera Series (Dark Fantasy Romance)
Fae (Daughters of Eltera Book 1)
Tara (Daughters of Eltera Book 2)
Standalone Dark Fantasy Romance
Hunted (The Dirty Heroes Collection Book 13)
One Crazy Bite
The Thalia Series (Dark Romance)
Security Binds Her (Thalia Book 1)
Striking a Balance (Thalia Book 2)
Salvaged by Love (Thalia Book 3)
Tying the Knot (Thalia Book 4)
The Thalia Series: The Complete Collection
The Beth Series (Dark Romance)
Breaking Beth (Beth Book 1)
Fragile Ties Series (Dark Romance)
Destruction (Fragile Ties Book 1)
Inheritance (Fragile Ties Book 2)
Redemption (Fragile Ties Book 3)
Dangerous Games Series (Dark Mafia Romance)
Early Sins (A Dangerous Games Prequel)
Lethal Sin (Dangerous Games Book 1)
Standalone Dark Romance
Imperfect Monster
Corrupt Desires
The Rite
Deviant Attraction: A Dark and Dirty Collection
Reign of Ruin
Mesmer
Jasmine
Crazy Broken Love
The Institute: A Dark Anthology
Standalone BDSM Ménage Romance
The Invitation
Reunited
Standalone Suspense / Horror
Burned: An Inferno World Novella
Scorched: A New Beginning
Appearances in the Black Light Series (BDSM Romance)
Black Light: Exposed (Black Light Series Book 2)
Black Light: Valentine Roulette (Black Light Series Book 3)
Black Light: Roulette Redux (Black Light Series Book 7)
Black Light: Celebrity Roulette (Black Light Series Book 12)
Black Light: Charmed (Black Light Series Book 15)
Black Light: Roulette War (Black Light Series Book 16)
Black Light: The Beginning (Black Light Series Book 17.5)
Hunted (The Dirty Heroes Collection Book 13) Page 15