“Happy Birthday, Gorgeous. I love you. Always,” I whisper against the lips I will never stop kissing as long as I live.
Epilogue
Damon
Three years later
“‘I could feel every ridge, every vein as I licked his rock hard, pulsing, heat-seeking missile. When I reached the bulbous mushroom tip, I began to suck as hard as I could, and when he exploded his molten juices down my throat, I gagged. But he tasted like roasted marshmallows, and I wanted to swallow every bit of his gooey love seed’.
“Eewwah. This book is just awful.” Pip throws the book onto the blanket next to us.
I chuckle and turn my head to press a kiss onto my beautiful wife’s gigantic pregnant belly. “It’s not the worst one you’ve ever read to me.”
In her current state, one of her favorite pastimes is to lay on the beach and read to me. And of course, Pip’s favorite thing to read is romance. I don’t mind, though, because I’m the fortunate recipient of her heated response to the juicy love scenes.
Sometimes, since this is our own private beach—the one outside the twenty-acre estate I bought when we got married—we have our own private reenactment scene.
“Ugh. It’s pretty bad. I may never eat a roasted marshmallow again.” She giggles. My head bounces against her belly.
On the days she reads to me, my favorite pastime is to lay my head on her stomach and listen, not only to the story but to the muffled, gurgling sounds of our baby inside her. I can’t believe this is my life.
“The babies need some exercise. Why don’t you throw some sticks for them to chase?” Pip suggests.
“Be right back,” I whisper against my baby mama’s belly to the him or her growing inside and then plant a kiss on her lips. “Don’t move, Dr. Andersen. I’ll be right back, and we can eat our picnic lunch.”
“Hey! That’s Dr. Mrs. Wolfe to you,” Pip calls out as I run to the shoreline and collect some sticks to throw for the babies; the babies being the menagerie of rescue animals we’ve adopted since moving into our spacious new home.
Last count, we had: seven dogs, six cats, one pot belly pig, two parrots, three turtles, an iguana, and a partridge in a pear tree. Actually, although we do have a pear tree, we don’t have a partridge in it. But I’m sure we would if Pip found one who needed rescuing.
It’s the reason I bought this place. I wanted her to have the space to adopt all the creatures needing her love. No one knows better than I do how she can take in broken, damaged strays and love them back to life
“Throw one near Sheldon, D. He can’t keep up with the other dogs,” Pip calls to me.
I glance back and take in the vision of my pregnant wife—still rockin’ a teeny string bikini— stretched out on a blanket. It’s the most gorgeous sight I’ve ever seen and continues to make my knees weak and my cock hard.
There are still some days I go down a dark road thinking about my past. But when I’m not feeling good about myself, Pip pulls me back. She reminds me who I am now and what I have. She’s brought me back to life and makes me a better man, every day.
I don’t know how or why I deserve all this, why I’ve been so blessed. But I thank God every day for giving me Heaven and in two months, our baby. As I said, I’m the lucky bastard who gets to love Heaven Andersen—now Heaven Wolfe—for the rest of my life. But the most amazing thing is, she loves me, unconditionally, in return.
***
Heaven
See the massively huge pregnant woman stretched out on a blanket in the beautiful, California sun, smiling from ear to ear? Yup. That’s me again, Heaven Andersen Wolfe. Now you know my boring/not so boring love story, the journey to my happily ever after. And here comes the beautiful reason for my HEA.
“Hey, babe. I was thinking,” my gorgeous husband stretches out next to me on the blanket. I still get chill bumps every time I see him or hear his voice. I can’t believe he’s mine and I’m his. “I don’t think you should travel with the team anymore. It might be too much for you and the baby.” He rubs his calloused hand over my baby bump—uh, my baby mountain—and nuzzles his nose into my neck.
Even now, with one touch, I’m wet and ready to straddle him. Pregnancy hormones are fantastic for one’s sex life. Although, a husband like D doesn’t really need much assistance in getting me hot and bothered.
“I’m pregnant, D, not handicapped,” I protest while running my fingers through his long silky waves.
“I know, babe, and I love having you as the team’s DPT when we’re on the road so I never have to leave you but…” He bites his lip like he’s afraid to finish his sentence.
“But what?”
“But…um…you’re getting kinda…um…large and immobile.”
“What?” I click the T off my tongue. Pregnancy hormones also tend to make you want to bite off the head of the person who’s the reason you’re the size of a small whale.
“I…I mean…you’re getting close to the end and I think you should take it easy. Take care of my girl and our baby.” He nibbles my earlobe and trails kisses down my neck.
I let out a huge sigh. I’m so stupid in love with this guy I can’t even stay mad at him when my hormonal chemistry is raging at DefCon 100.
“No worries.” I suck in a breath as D continues to lavish kisses down my chest. “I already worked it out with Mac. I won’t be traveling with the team until after the baby is born.”
“Awesome. You need to take it easy for the last couple months.”
“But you’ll miss me while you’re away next week, right?” I give him a teasing pout.
He licks one of my nipples right through my bikini top and my hips jump off the blanket begging for more.
“Mmm. Can you touch me so I can say I was touched by an angel?” he moans. Oh, God. I adore his stupid pick-up lines. “Let’s go back to the house. I want to take care of my girl right this second.”
Yup. I’m a very lucky girl. And if I’ve learned anything over my years growing up with D, I’ve learned some very important things besides the fact I deserve to be loved completely, without any uncertainty. Love isn’t always easy. Sometimes it can hurt and be a real struggle. But when you find the right person, don’t give up, despite their so-called flaws. Hang on for the ride. We all have flaws. It’s what makes us human.
Oh. One more unsolicited chestnut of wisdom? Don’t be afraid to be the one who loves the most. No matter what happens, you’ll never lose if you share your love.
The more love you give, the more love you get in return. I don’t know who said that. Um…maybe the Beatles. Whatever. It’s true.
I didn’t think it was possible, but I fall in love with D a little more every day, and he returns my love tenfold. And when you’re lucky enough to fall in love with your best friend and blessed enough to have his babies, it’s the happiest happy ever after any girl could ever ask for.
Cross Crease Playlist
Pink Julia Michaels
Don’t Be a Fool Shaun Mendes
Love the One You’re With Stephen Stills
Run Away Bruno Mars
Your Side of The Bed Loote
Tracey The Cufflinks
Dancing With A Stranger Sam Smith
The Wolf The Spencer Lee Band
Say You Won’t Let Go James Arthur
Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon Urge Overkill
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow Carole King
One Night Christina Perri
Here He Comes Again Dolly Parton
Say Something I’m Giving Up On You Cristina Aquilera
He’s So Fine The Chiffons
Feel Like Making Love Roberta Flack
Don’t Know What It’s Like To Be You Shaun Mendes
I Can’t Make You Love Me Bonnie Raitt
New Rules Dua Lipa
I Say A Little Prayer Dione Warwick
The End The Beatles
Acknowledgments
First of all, I want to thank Limitless Publishing. If not for the
amazing team at Limitless, my book babies wouldn’t have the chance to travel out into the world. I’m forever grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to realize my dream.
To Toni Rakestraw, my new editor. Thank you so much for polishing my manuscript and making it shiny and perfect for my readers. It’s been one of the most pleasant editing experiences I’ve ever had—once I got my program to work correctly. LOL. I know some of my incorrect dialogue grammar makes you crazy but my characters insist on talking like that. So, blame them.
To all my girls, Jordan, Taylor, Elyse, Rachel, Jackie, Ronnie and Kristina. I couldn’t ask for a better street team. Thank you for all the constant support and helping to spread the word about my books. Can’t wait to see the photos of you guys holding this book in some beautiful location.
Thanks to the girls at DreamWorks for loving my characters as much as I do. I’ll try to get my book boyfriends out to you a little faster in the future.
To Michelle Lancaster. Thank you so much for the beautiful photos. Your photography is inspirational. Here’s to many years working together.
To Darren C. Thanks for the hockey lingo. Your humor helped shaped the personalities and conversations of the Bernard Boys.
A big thanks goes out to all the bloggers, reviewers, and booklovers who spend so much of their precious time spreading the word about my books out of the goodness of their hearts. There are not enough ways to say I love you.
Of course, I want to thank my family for putting up with me when I’m in writing mode. I tend to get just a teensy bit grumpy when someone interrupts the creative flow. But I would never be able to do this crazy thing of writing books if not for your constant love, support and inspiration. So, thank you for loving me unconditionally—as Wolfe would say.
Most of all, thank you to all my readers. There would be no point in doing this if no one ever read my words. I am so grateful to all of you for buying, reading and reviewing my books. I’ve spent so much time creating the characters in this series they have almost become part of my family. I love that you love them as much as I do. Wolfe and Heaven hold a special place in my heart. I hope they will touch your heart as well.
Until next time, happy reading.
See you between the ‘covers.’
Love,
Elizabeth Hartey
About the Author
As a lover of the northeast United States, Elizabeth moved with her husband to the Poconos several years ago to open a Chiropractic Clinic. Four children and a menagerie of animals later, she has finally found time to fulfill her lifelong dream of writing novels. A dreamer at heart, romance is the genre she spends most of her time writing and reading into the wee hours of the morning. When not juggling work responsibilities and writing, she enjoys hiking the beautiful hills and woods around her home, swimming, knitting, travelling, and spending time with her family. She is an avid hockey fan, which means she has to compromise with her husband, one night of hockey for her, in exchange for one night of football for him.
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Cross Crease (On The Edge Book 3) Page 30
