Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“Since we’re gonna have a boatload of kids, I better learn how to cook. All I know how to do is make pancakes and grill steak. I have to have a bigger skill set.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one cooking and taking care of you?”
“No.” I stop patting long enough to kiss her on her lips. “You should play with Jasmine, watch television, and read books.”
“I thought I was supposed to go to school and study to run The Academy.” She sounds a little breathless.
I pull down the collar of her shirt and start patting the cream on her chest. When the ribbed band is stretched as far as it can go, I give up and just dip my hand under the tee to stroke her nipples to hard buds. She leans back against the counter to give me better access.
“School. Books. Isn’t that the same thing?” I lift one bare leg over my shoulder and then the other.
“Not really.”
I pull my hand out from the top of her shirt so I can push it up from the bottom. Her panties are soaked. I nudge the wet fabric aside and begin to lap at her. The discussion on school, cooking, her duties, my duties, the future all fall by the wayside. Those things will take care of themselves. The important thing is that we’re together now. The dreams we had as kids, when it was just the two of us against the world, are finally a reality.
I look up at her from between her legs, my hands around her waist, all the love I have for her in my eyes. “It doesn’t matter what we do as long as we do it together.”
Her hand cups the back of my head. “Yes, West. You’re right. As long as we’re together.”
I rise and gather her in my arms in one motion and stride into the bedroom to seal our vows. What started so long ago when we were barely adults has finally been realized. Two hearts making one life together.
Epilogue
VASEY
“Those centerpieces need a few more lilies in them.” I gesture toward one of the numerous tables that occupy the outdoor tent we built in our backyard. "Oh, and the cake. It should be between the two ice sculptures.” One indicates the year, while the other displays the university logo that Jasmine has selected.
All the colleges she applied to had accepted her. I was pleased she ended up picking one that was close to home. It’s funny how she used to cling to me; now it’s me doing the clinging. I’m not ready to let her go, but I know she needs to spread her wings and explore the rest of the world.
“I sound snotty, don’t I?” I cringe, looking over at Rebecca, the party planner. I know I’m being particular, but I want everything to be perfect for Jasmine. She deserves it.
Never in my life did I think I’d be talking about centerpieces, ice sculptures, and picking chandeliers to hang in an outdoor tent for a party, but here I am. I remember when West and I would pool our money just to be able to buy ice cream at the local ice cream shop. I couldn’t have imagined throwing a party of this caliber all those years ago.
“You sound like an excited mom.” Rebecca gives me a reassuring smile. I might not be Jasmine's birth mother, but it warms me that people see me as a mother figure in her life. Even Jasmine.
I was worried about how things would go after I moved across the street, but Ware actually stepped up some. I mean, he didn’t do a complete three-sixty, but he definitely put in more effort than he had before. I think he realized it was easier to have a small role in Jasmine’s life than to marry a woman he couldn’t stand. Jasmine still spent a large amount of her time over at our house, but she had dinner with Ware a few nights a week. He’s even insisted on paying for the party. In his own way, Ware cares.
“Sweetness.” West comes up behind me, placing his hand on my small baby bump. This one popped out way sooner than my last, which is saying something because it was twins. Two precious little girls who will be waking up from their nap soon. “I want you off your feet for a while.” I turn in my husband's arms. “We have staff that can handle this.” He’s probably right. My feet do tend to swell, and I’ll be on them a lot tonight when the party starts.
“You just want me off my feet and on my back,” I tease him.
“Now there is an idea. Help you work some of the stress out.” He gives me a devilish smile as he leans down to kiss me. I melt into my husband. I never get tired of his kisses. I cherish all of them.