Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 67644 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67644 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Daddy, yo face wet,” Brand said with a deep frown. “Men don’t cry.” I laughed and wiped at the tear that had slid down my cheek.
“Maybe one tear when we’re super happy, dude.”
He eyed me skeptically, then shrugged and played with the guitar picks.
“These are amazing, guys. Thank you.” I kissed and hugged both kids, then gave Belle a quick peck and a look that told her she’d get her appreciation later.
There was still a gift to be opened, but Belle held it back when I reached for it. “This is from me.” She winked. “You can open it later.” Her sly smile told me it was something that couldn’t be opened in front of the kids and she’d pulled it out just to torture me since we had friends and family coming over for a barbeque.
“Angling for another spanking, baby?” I murmured.
Her brown eyes turned molten, and her cheeks bloomed with pink. Later couldn’t come fast enough.
“Kids are with your sister, and everyone is gone,” I declared when I walked into the kitchen later that night. “Let’s go.”
Belle looked up from the large center island where she was packing away what was left of the cake. “Patience, Griff. I need to—” she broke off with a yelp when I ignored her protest and threw her over my shoulder in a fireman’s hold.
“What you need is to get naked and let the birthday boy play with his favorite toys.”
Belle giggled and slapped my ass. “I don’t want the cake to dry out!”
I halted and twirled around, keeping her steady with a hand on her butt. “No problem,” I assured her. I grabbed the plate of sugary goodness and pivoted once more, heading straight to our bedroom. “I’ll make sure it’s all gone by the time I’ve finished licking it off of you.”
Once we reached the master suite, I made a beeline for the bed and tossed her onto it. She laughed as she bounced, and I had to stop for a second and admire the view before me. Belle was wearing shorts and a white tank that had a purple stain from Brand dripping grape juice on it. There was frosting on her cheek, and her hair was falling out of the ponytail she’d thrown it in when it got really hot that afternoon.
“I don’t know how you do it,” I breathed. “You get even more gorgeous every fucking day.”
Belle’s expression softened, but she chuckled ruefully. “I’m a mess!”
“Gorgeous,” I disagreed with a tone that indicated I couldn’t be swayed to believe otherwise. “Now, where’s that present?”
I looked around and spotted it on the dresser across the room. Glancing back at her as I walked over to it, I demanded, “Strip, baby. Time for your birthday spanking.”
“How come I’m always the one getting birthday spankings, no matter whose birthday it is?” she grumbled.
I retrieved the gift and headed back to her, grinning wolfishly. “Because I enjoy putting my mark on your pretty white ass.”
Belle huffed and gestured to the box in my hand. “Open your present, caveman.”
By the time I was back at the bed and sitting beside her, I’d already torn off the paper and opened the box. Inside was a small, plain, cream-colored card on top of black tissue paper. On the backside of the card was a simple, “Happy Birthday. I love you. Belle.” Then I noticed the small script at the bottom. “I suggest you hide this present where no one else will find it so I don’t have to help you hide any dead bodies.” Hard laughter burst from my chest, making me gasp for air. Adorable.
“I’m glad you think so, but I was being completely serious,” Belle quipped, making me realize I’d said it out loud.
Setting the card aside, I continued to chuckle as I lifted the black paper away, revealing a leather album. My curiosity was definitely piqued. I pushed all of the other stuff off of the bed and set the book in my lap before opening it to the first page.
My breath whooshed from my lungs, and I nearly came right then and there.
The first page was a picture of my wife wearing nothing. Well, almost nothing. She was sitting on the ground with my new guitar strategically placed in her lap. The next page was a similar photo in another pose.
“Aurora hired a new photographer for the chapel, and she also does boudoir shoots.”
I could barely tare my eyes away from the photos to glance up at her. “Baby, these are amazing.” I gave her a lopsided grin. “That guitar looks a fuck of a lot better in your hands than it ever will in mine. And you’re right, if anyone besides me ever sees these, they won’t live to tell about it.” I went back to flipping the pages as I teased, “But I’ll get Knox to help so I’m not implicated.”