The Modern Fairy Tale Collection

by Aria Cole

  “I can’t wait to tie myself to you,” she placed a quick kiss on my chin. “Mr. and Mrs. Black.” She whispered against my lips. “You’re going to be a great daddy.”

  If it was even possible, I fell in love with her a little more with every word.

  My beauty.

  My love.

  My Elle.

  Second Epilogue

  Maxwell

  I laughed at the belly giggle that erupted from Emma's lips as I tickled her sides while she sat in my lap. Her giggles were like a song to my ears, her chestnut ringlets as soft as silk and the button of her nose my complete undoing.

  Just like her momma.

  “Daddy, Daddy!” Emma Elizabeth Black squealed and wiggled in my heavy arms. “Tickle me again!”

  When I did as she asked, she laughed so hard tears leaked from the edges of her dark lashes. I'd just finished reading her Winnie the Pooh again, the same beat-up edition she made me read to her every Sunday afternoon. It was her favorite story, and I had a feeling she was going to grow up to be just like me.

  My little girl. She'd just turned three at the beginning of the summer, and we'd bought her the largest stuffed pony we could find—until I could buy her the real thing, she'd said with a charming smile. She had me wrapped around her tiny fingers, and I loved every single second of it. The truth was Elle had saved me, and fatherhood had been the cherry on the sundae.

  “Almost dinner time,” the siren song to my heart called before soft, rosy lips dusted across my cheekbone.

  I inhaled the soft scent of strawberries, and my muscles went lax. Elle.

  “How's Momma doin’?” My eyes crinkled in the bright sunlight as I peered up at her from my perch on the rocking chair.

  “Good. Tired. This one has settled on my bladder, I think.” Elle rubbed at her massively protruding belly, and it made my heart do an awkward flip-flop.

  “And how's my boy?” I smiled deeply as I ghosted a palm across her abdomen, cupping my son.

  “He's healthy as a horse.” Elle chuckled and traced her fingers through my longish hair, scratching my scalp and making a sigh of contentment fall from my lips.

  This, right here, was everything I’d never known I wanted in life. Everything I never knew was mine to have.

  My family.

  “How about we help Momma set the table, Em?” I heaved the squirming toddler in my arms and stood on the small steps that overlooked downtown.

  We were still living above the library but not for long. I'd just purchased a plot of land outside of town for our now-rapidly-growing family. I was knee-deep in construction plans that included a small stable, future home to the pony I’d promised to get Em for her next birthday. She was a spoiled little girl, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

  I'd be sad to leave the place I’d called home for years, but in truth, the man who’d chosen this apartment wasn't me anymore. I had so much more to live for now, and while we would still keep the apartment above the library and Elle would help out as my assistant when she could, I couldn't wait to move us into our forever home. My forever family. Without them, I didn't know what kind of man I'd be, but they made me a better one--each and every day.

  Later that night, Elle and I were in bed, and I danced my hands across the swell of her overly pregnant belly. “Mmm… the only thing more beautiful than your body when I met you is your body with my baby inside you.”

  I mouthed the words to “Winnie the Pooh” softly against the creamy skin of her stomach, singing to my unborn son. Maxwell David Black, Max for short. I was so anxious for him to make his appearance in the world.

  A soft sigh escaped Elle's lips as she adjusted in our bed.

  I ended my song, a song I sang every night to the little guy just as I'd done for his sister. “Tired, Momma?”

  “Tired but happy.” She pushed her fingers through the locks of hair at my forehead.

  “I think I have something that will make you happier.” I pulled a box from the side table, pulled out a delicate strand of jewels, and draped the brilliant diamonds and polished pearls over her beautiful belly. The gift was long overdue, but I’d taken my time searching for the exact necklace her mother had given her that her father had stolen all those years ago.

  “Maxwell.” Tears welled in her eyes as she fingered the stones. “How did you find it?”

  One hand went to her mouth, and I knew the years of searching had been worth it. Anything to put that look on her face was worth it.

  “I’d go to the ends of the earth and back to make you happy.” I nuzzled into her rounded stomach and grinned, my heart feeling fuller than it ever had. “Loving you was what I was put on the planet to do.” I stroked her jaw before placing a reverent kiss on her cheek. “Ya know, I think I’ve got an idea to get that little guy out.”

  My fingertips traveled up the nape of her neck, and I watched as shivers erupted and raced across her flesh. I gently pulled the antique necklace from her hands and tucked it safely under her pillow. I knew I’d find her fingering it later, reminiscing with the strands.

  “I think I've got an idea what that plan entails.” Elle laughed, but her smile tipped up in just that way, her eyes twinkling and stirring my appetite to life.

  In the beginning, I'd been terrified to fuck her, afraid to hurt the baby, but once the doctor had insisted no harm could be done—in fact promised it would be good for the pregnancy—I’d happily obliged my raging libido.

  “You're so perfect. So sweet,” I said as my hands twisted into her dark locks, pulling her lips to mine so I would taste her. “You're my everything, you and them. I can't picture my life without any of you. I'm so thankful you're my forever, Elle Black.”

  I plunged my tongue into her mouth as my hands trailed down her waist, smoothing over her curves with my greedy hands.

  “I love you so much. You saved me,” Elle whispered between reverent kisses across my lips and jaw. Her hands twisted up my biceps and wrapped behind my neck.

  “Jesus, I can't go without you. Not a single day.” My voice grew strained as she positioned herself on top of me, her legs straddling my hips as my cock ached inside my boxers.

  Elle had recently said it was easier for her to be on top, and it was a new position I loved. Watching her ride me, her pretty hair falling in waves around her face, her breasts full and lush and bouncing before my eyes, begging to be fisted in my palms.

  “Let's see if we can get that little guy out.” A rakish grin graced my face before I wrapped my hands behind her neck and heaved her against my chest, thrusting my tongue between her sweet lips and pressing my cock between her hot legs.

  One of her hands fumbled between us, and she pulled my boxers down my thighs enough to reveal my cock, throbbing and vertical and ready for her warmth. Her knees settled on either side of my hips, and very slowly, so slowly I nearly lost my mind, she slid down onto me, and I was home. Sheathed in her searing warmth, my mind slowed, and my body growled with passion and raw, primal want.

  She was mine.

  Elle's curvy body rocked and hummed rhythmically, driving me insane with all the things I didn't know I’d wanted in life. She was heaven on Earth and God's own gift delivered straight into my palms. I'd just had to learn how to take care of her the right way, the way she deserved.

  “Maxwell…” Her soft voice curled around my insides, her panting driving my orgasm as it burned and hummed for release.

  “Elle.” My hands trailed up her torso and pulled her down to me, skin on skin. I needed to feel her, all of her hot body pressed against mine. My skin seared at her touch as if we were fire and gunpowder coming together in glorious combustion.

  “Maxwell…” Her lips dusted across my shoulder as her nails dug into my chest.

  “Yeah, baby. Give it to me. Give me that beautiful groan that tells me I own you and every orgasm you've ever had.”

  My hands fisted into her hips as her body rocked against mine. Her thighs clenched, and her form trembled, soft
sighs and a low moan accompanying her release.

  My own orgasm bunched and burned low in my balls as I shoved one hand through her dark curls, wrapping my other palm at her nape and pulling her lips to mine again, tasting all the sweetness she offered. My muscles tensed, and my kisses grew more demanding when I finally released inside her body, a thousand tingling sensations rocketing off in every direction and clouding my brain with all the love I had for her.

  “Maxwell?” She trailed her fingertips through my hair a moment later.

  I ran a palm up the soft curve of her back, following the dips of her spine before my racing heart finally calmed enough to reply. “Yeah, baby?”

  “Maxwell”—one fingertip trailed across my softly parted lips—“I think it's time.”

  My eyes shot open and caught hers.

  “Really?”

  With gleaming eyes, she nodded, her hand cupping her belly tucked against my abdomen.

  “Well, let's go get our son.” I grinned recklessly then placed a long kiss on her lips, conveying to her everything I felt but didn't have the words to say. “You are my forever. I never want to go on a day without you. My world was shrouded in darkness before you became my sun. You are my everything, you and our babies. I love you.” I placed another kiss on her lips then wrapped her fingers in mine as I burned with overwhelming emotion.

  “Maxwell…” Her eyes swam with tears. “I love you so much.” She launched herself into my arms and gripped my neck in a bear hug.

  I ran comforting circles across her back just as I’d done the last time she'd been in labor. “Told you I could get the little guy movin’.”

  She chuckled and swatted my chest before cupping my cheeks and kissing me on the nose. “What would I do without you?”

  “I can promise you you'll never have to find out.” I squeezed her hand tightly, enjoying this last moment with her before we became a family of four.

  It'd taken a whole lot of love, but she'd finally tamed the beast in me. My Elle.

  Max and Elle - Ten Years Later

  “Dad!” My daughter's voice singsonged as she ran up, hands clutching a blue ribbon. “Did you see that last jump?!”

  “It was incredible, baby.” I pulled her into my arms, love bleeding out of every pore for her.

  “Em!” Max barreled into us, baseball cap perched awkwardly on his head. “That was your fastest time yet!”

  Em pulled her little brother into her arms, swinging him just like I had always done to her. My beautiful family.

  “You did great, baby.” Elle slipped an arm around our daughter, nuzzling into her soft silky hair.

  A smile spread across my face. I couldn't believe how far we'd come. Thirteen years, two kids, a stable filled with half a dozen horses, and my daughter, well over a dozen blue ribbons under her belt over the years.

  Em had come out of her mother's womb in riding boots it seemed. She had a natural love for animals, so much like her mom, so when I'd finally finished the house and we'd been able to move in, the first thing Elle and Em had done was begun to fill it with horses.

  I didn't ride much, giving over control to an animal that big didn't sit well with me, but the other three people in my family were naturals. I could watch them ride for hours, and the way Em glided over a jump on top of that animal was a beautiful thing to watch.

  She inspired me every day.

  They all did.

  I pulled Elle against my side, nuzzling a nose in her neck thinking it'd been far too long since we'd had some alone time.

  “Ewwww!” Max shrieked up at us, pulling his ball cap over his eyes to avoid our very public display of affection.

  Elle smiled up at me, a small eye roll aimed at our son.

  “We can never catch a break,” I cooed at her ear.

  “Parents kissing is gross, Dad. Just gross.” Em scrunched her face then turned on her boot and headed back to the stables to unsaddle and wipe down her horse.

  “Well, there you have it.” Elle shrugged.

  “Can I stay at Graham's tonight?” Max waved across the stands to his best friend.

  I sighed. “Spend your whole life taking care of them only to have them run away soon as they're old enough.”

  “I think that's parenthood.” Elle slipped a hand in mine. “If his mom says it's okay, you can stay.”

  “Yes!” Max darted off and into the stands. Elle waved at Graham's mom sitting next to him.

  “She told me she wanted to have Max over this weekend. The boys will have fun.”

  “Guess that means we're down one for the night.”

  “Two.” Elle held up two fingers. “Em has a birthday party and sleepover tonight.”

  My eyebrows rose with the news. “So does that mean...?”

  Her eyes twinkled, that beautiful, breathtaking smile turning her lips and stealing all the breath in my lungs. “We get alone time? Yup.”

  “I think those are my favorite words in the English language.”

  She looped her arms around my neck, stretching up on her tiptoes as my arms looped around her waist on instinct.

  The passion Elle and I shared had never faded. We'd just had to be more creative to get our fill of each other.

  “Mom!” Em jogged up. “Not in public! At least not when my friends are around.” She scoffed in only the way a thirteen-year-old girl could. “Shanda's mom is leaving. I'll be home in the morning.”

  “‘Kay, honey. Have fun.” Elle pressed a kiss to her cheek.

  “I would say, ‘You too,’ but I don't think I have to.” Em cocked an eyebrow back and forth then looped her arms around me in a hug. “Thank you, Daddy.”

  Those words were like an angel from heaven.

  “Love you, Em.” I uttered at her ear, holding her an extra few seconds. “You're growing up too fast.”

  “You always say that.” She pulled away.

  “And I mean it more every day.”

  “You're such a sap.” Em burst into giggles.

  That was my girls, always giving me a hard time. Em had her mom's sense of humor too. Some days she drove me insane with her clever retorts, but she'd come by it honestly.

  “See you later!” Em waved before joining her group of friends who had been watching us from a few yards away.

  They broke into a fit of giggles when she joined them.

  “Teenagers.” I growled.

  “They're cute.”

  “Mm, you know what I think is cute?” I pulled my wife into my arms, inhaling a deep breath of her softly strawberry-scented hair.

  Strawberries and Elle. My favorite.

  “What's that, Mr. Black?”

  “You wearing nothin' but a smile.” Elle's creamy skin heated with a soft blush. “Love that look too.”

  She shivered when I snaked an arm around the dip of her back and guided her behind the stands to the parking lot. The rest of the small crowd had already made its way out, only a few cars occupying the big lot.

  “We could watch a movie tonight?” Elle mused as she slipped into the passenger side of my truck and I went around the other side.

  “I've got way better plans than a movie.” I hooked her hand with mine and pulled her across the seat to me.

  Her eyebrows rose, that flirty smile pushing her pretty lips.

  Damn, she still drove me crazy. Just like she'd done from day one. Elle had forced me out of my lonely little shell, forced me to confront things in myself that weren't comfortable, and then given me so much love and happiness in return I was forever indebted to her.

  “Love you a little more every day, Elle Black. I didn't think it was possible, but just like everything, you prove me wrong.” Our lips connected, our tongues tangling in a soft, reverent kiss.

  My hands gripped at her thighs, hauling her into my lap until her knees straddled my hips. I pushed my hands up the soft cotton shirt she wore, lighting bolts of desire shuttling through me at the first touch.

  “You make me feel like a teenager again.” She bre
athed between hot kisses.

  “Don't tell me you did a lot of this in high school.”

  No.” She laughed, fingers undoing the first few buttons of my shirt and slipping her fingertips against my seared skin. My cock burned behind the zipper of my pants, my hands fumbling quickly to relieve some of the pressure.

  Elle moaned, and all sense of control was obliterated before my zipper was done and my cock was resting between us—angry, hard, and hot, desperate to be buried deep inside her.

  “Are we really doing this?” She husked.

  “Fuck yes. There's no turning back now, baby.” I sucked at the hollow of her neck, pulling the thin fabric of her leggings down her thighs. She adjusted, pushing the pants onto the floor of my truck before she hovered over my cock.

  “Jesus, just looking at you makes me want to unload.” I gripped her hips and pulled her down on my heavy cock. Like meteors shooting through my vision, being connected with Elle's body was otherworldly.

  Her body rocked against mine, fingers slipping across the hard flesh of my shoulder blades as we fucked hard and slow in the cab of my truck.

  “The way your beautiful cunt grips my cock drives me insane, Elle.”

  My words fueled her desire, her hips grinding and finding a desperate rhythm. I gripped at her ass cheeks, guiding the strokes as she sucked me into her gorgeous body, sucked me into her soul, gave me breath, gave me life, gave me more love than I’d ever felt deserving of.

  “Oh, Maxwell. Maxwell...” she pleaded, her chest heaving with wild pants.

  “Cum for me, baby. I want all of you. Show me how good it feels and coat my cock in your cum.” My thumb swirled between us, finding that hot little button that drove her wild. Her thighs tightened, her nails clutching at my shoulder blades before waves of pleasure crashed over my cock.

  Sliding and swirling, desperate and wanting more, I slid a hand at her back entrance and probed a fingertip at the tight little bud.

  She yipped, eyes wide before groans took over, and I was fucking her long and slow with my cock, playing with the sexy rosebud of her ass and coaxing her to cum all over again.