by Nichole Rose
Sebastian hands the microphone to Leslie before he shuffles me over a little bit, putting me exactly where he wants me. I stare at him with a smile on my face. I can't help it. He looks so damn proud of himself.
My heart jumps into my throat when he drops to his knees in front of me.
Oh my gosh.
He isn't…is he?
"One," Leslie says as he shoves his hand into his pocket and pulls out a little blue box.
Holy shit. He is.
My hands fly to my mouth.
"Two," Leslie says.
My hands shake. So do my knees. I think I'm going to pass out.
"Three!" Leslie yells into the microphone.
"Miss Lassiter, please marry Dr. Thorne!" all the kids shout as he flips the box open to reveal the ring inside.
"Say yes, little owl," he says, smiling so brightly I lose track of everything for a second.
My heart soars with joy.
"Yes!" I manage to blurt.
I don't know if the kids hear my answer or if they're just so excited that they're going crazy, but the entire auditorium is complete chaos as Sebastian inhales a deep breath and then tugs me toward him. His hands shake as he slips the ring onto my finger. The band is full of diamonds, with a massive round cut stone in the center. It's beautiful.
He pulls my hand to his mouth to press his lips to the ring and then hops up and pulls me into his arms. The entire auditorium erupts into more chaos when he kisses me hard on the mouth. It doesn't last long, but the kiss is full of joy and fierce possession.
I taste tears on our lips, but I'm not sure if they're mine or his.
"Don't be mad," he murmurs when he breaks the kiss, tucking my head against his chest and holding me. He dips his head, putting his mouth near my ear so I can hear him over the kids. "I know how much these kids mean to you and how much they love you. It was only right to ask them to help me out."
"I'm not mad," I promise, sobbing. My heart is so full it feels like it might burst. "I'm s-s-so happy!"
"Good. You should only ever be happy. I'm going to spend the rest of my life teaching you just how magical you are, Paradise. Teaching you how beautiful you are and how happy you make me and everyone who knows you. You're mine forever. My paradise."
"You're mine too," I whisper. "I love you so much."
"Thank God, little owl," he whispers, reverence in his voice. "Thank God."
Epilogue
Sebastian
Six Years Later
"Mommy, Daddy says you have to stay in bed," Dashiell—Dash, for short—says as I make my way down the hall toward the bedroom, shaking my head. Our five-year-old looks just like Rowan, but he's all me. He's protective of his mom and little sisters, always trying to look out for them. He's a mini alpha who takes no shit from anyone, not even his pregnant mama.
"I'll get back in bed in a minute," Rowan promises him, though we both know she won't do it. She's stubborn as can be and rarely ever does what she's told. She likes to say that her mom is crazy, but she's a little crazy too. It's one of the things I love about her.
And my God, how I love her. Every day, I fall deeper, love her harder. She's the center of my world, the sun around which it revolves. The last six years with her have been the most incredible of my life. I thought I knew what happiness was when I found her, but it's only grown in the years since. My feet never seem to touch the ground. My heart never stops trying to beat out of my chest. That little voice still whispers mine every single day.
My life is pure magic because my wife is still pure magic.
Our kids are pure joy. All three of them are absolutely perfect. They take after Rowan in that regard. Elysia and Nalani, our twin three-year-old daughters, are little replicas of their mom. They're pure light, shining brightly for the world.
Thank God we had Dash first. He's fierce when it comes to protecting them. And I'm going to need that when they're older because they're beautiful just like their mama. They have her big doe eyes and dimples. They're both tiny like she is too. Just thinking about them as teenagers shaves years off my life.
"I need to get some things done before your daddy gets home," Rowan says to Dash, trying to wheedle her way out of getting back in the bed. "He never lets me do anything."
"That's because you're nine months pregnant and supposed to be resting," I murmur, stepping into the room.
"Dang it," she mutters under her breath. An adorable pout crosses her lips.
Dash turns to look at me, silently asking if I'm going to handle this situation.
"Your sisters are downstairs in the playroom," I tell him, rubbing my hand through his curly hair. Cadence just dropped the girls off. They had dance class with her little girl today. "Why don't you go play with them and I'll deal with your mama, bud?"
"Kay, Daddy." He grins at me, his dimples flashing. He turns and heads out of the room, leaving me alone with his mama.
She glares at me from across the room, her hands on her hips. She's wearing one of my shirts, the sleeves rolled halfway up her arms. The soft fabric stretches over her pregnant belly, ending a little above midthigh. Her little shorts peek out the bottom. She's far too enticing.
My dick reacts like it's been years since I was last inside her. I made love to her this morning before I slipped from the bed to start the day.
Even though school is out for the summer, my job is never really done. I'm still the superintendent. Rowan is still the most loved teacher at Commodore. There were a few bumps in the road at the beginning, a few salacious whispers. They didn't last long. Like Leslie said back then, it's hard to be scandalized by a man with hearts in his eyes.
I've had them in mine since I met Rowan, and I don't hide it from anyone. I will never hide how I feel about her to please anyone. She's everything to me. Mine.
Richard Johnson is just a bad memory now. He disappeared quietly, not putting up much of a fight once I made it clear that I would destroy his entire world if he even thought about trying to fight us on his retirement. I would have done it too. I agreed not to fire him because Rowan asked it of me, and I will never do anything to hurt her. But after what he tried to do to her, I have no sympathy for him. He made his bed. He can rot in it.
The man we hired to replace him, Sawyer Greenway, is exactly what Commodore needed. The kids and teachers all love him. Hell, Lana Winters married him about five minutes after meeting him. They've been blissfully happy since. Everyone is happy. And Commodore is performing better than ever.
"I don't want to lay back down," Rowan complains, flinging her hands into the air. "I have stuff to do."
"What stuff?" I ask, prowling toward her.
"Stuff."
My lips twitch. The only thing she has to do is lay her pretty ass down in the bed with her feet up. I've already taken care of everything else. The house is spotless. The nursery is ready. Lisa, Cadence, and Lana have stocked our freezer full of enough food to feed an army for a year. Her bag is packed. The diaper bag is packed. The kids all have a bag packed.
They're staying at Cadence's while Rowan is in the hospital. Her mom plans to fly in as soon as the baby is born. Kennedy and Asher are flying in next week. They're back in New York for her book tour. Caroline and her husband are back in Sacramento and will be driving up with Killian and Liberty after Orion gets here. Even our father and Anna plan to come visit soon.
All Rowan has to do is relax. She is terrible at being pampered though. She tries to do everything and be everywhere. As much as she loves being pregnant and being a mom, she hates not being allowed to do whatever she wants to do. I put an end to that shit when she was pregnant with Dash and I caught her trying to hang Christmas lights by herself.
The ladder was more stepstool than anything, but still. I almost had a damn heart attack.
"Back to bed, little owl," I growl, scooping her up into my arms.
"Sebastian! Put me down," she demands, kicking her feet and wriggling.
I ignore her, striding across the roo
m to deposit her right back in the bed. Before she can fuss at me, I kiss her. Her complaints turn to little moans that have me palming my cock through my pants. Once she's suitably dazed and distracted, I back off to rest my forehead against hers.
"How's our little boy doing in there?" I ask, laying my hand on her belly.
"Bored and grumpy," she hums, swaying toward me.
I chuckle at her, rubbing her belly. I love watching her body grow and change. Keeping my hands off her is impossible, especially when she's carrying my babies. She thinks she looks terrible, but she's never more beautiful than she is when she's pregnant.
"I want to rearrange the closet in the nursery."
"I'll make you a deal," I murmur, pressing my lips to her forehead and then pulling back so I can see her face. I press my hand to her shoulder, gently pushing until she lays down. Once she's where I want her, I quickly check to make sure the kids haven't snuck in and then I slide my hand inside her shorts.
She's wet and ready, her soaked panties clinging to the lips of her pussy.
"Sebastian," she moans, arching toward me.
"If you don't pass out after I make you come, you can rearrange the closet," I murmur, sliding her panties to the side to touch her pussy. God, she's wet. Hot. Fucking perfect. I'm obsessed with this cunt and the way it feels. The way it tastes. With how tight it is and how fucking hard it makes me come.
"Please," she whimpers, her eyes glassy and her lips parted. She rocks against my hand, greedy for more.
I give it to her, thrusting two fingers inside her while I play with her clit. The combination of her quiet moans and the sounds of her wet cunt quickly drive me wild. I squeeze my cock with my free hand, trying to relieve a little of the pressure in my balls.
"Come, Paradise," I growl, curling my fingers up to rub against her G-spot.
Her pussy instantly locks down around my fingers, her back bowing off the bed. She whines my name, trembling as she comes all over my hand. I capture her lips with mine to stifle her cries as I work her through it, not stopping until the last little tremor ends and she slumps against the bed, boneless.
She stares at me with satisfaction in her eyes when I pop my fingers into my mouth to lick them clean. Somehow, pregnancy makes her sweeter. I fucking love it.
"You're so beautiful when you're coming for me, little owl," I murmur, running my hand down the side of her face. I tuck her hair behind her ear, my heart pulsing with emotion. She's so damn cute after she comes. I swear I fall a little deeper for her every time she blinks those big eyes at me, all soft and sleepy.
"Mm," she hums, nuzzling her face against my hand.
"You going to sleep on me?"
"No. I want to rearrange the closet."
"Come on then," I murmur, sweeping her up in my arms to carry her to the nursery. I can't ever tell her no. I worship the ground this woman walks on. Whatever she wants, she gets.
She cuddles up with her arms around my neck and her head against my shoulder. I carry her into the nursery and sit her down in the rocking chair. The room looks incredible. Lisa painted a tree on one wall for us, with a little family of owls playing in the branches. The furniture is white, with bright blue bedding and a plush rug. Little stuffed owls hang on the other wall, with Orion's name painted beneath.
"I can't wait until he gets here," Rowan murmurs, her voice soft. "I'm so ready to meet him."
"I know you are." I also know that's why she won't stay in the bed. She's anxious, waiting for him to get here, ready to hold him in her arms. He was due three days ago, but he's being stubborn.
I sit her in the rocking chair in the corner, sinking to my knees in front of her.
She lays her hand on the back of my head, weaving her fingers through my hair.
"You gotta come out soon, little man," I murmur, pressing my lips to her belly. "You're making your mama nervous."
He kicks me, which I assume is unborn baby speak for mind my business. He's comfortable in there, not wanting to leave. I don't blame him. She's perfect.
"He's been really active all day," she says, laughing when he kicks me again. "He's like a little acrobat in there."
"He'll be here soon, little owl." I kiss her belly and then rise to my feet. "I'm going to check on the kids and start dinner. Work your magic in the closet so I can take you downstairs and feed you."
"Can we have chicken nuggets? Oh! And those little pieces of cheese." She bites her lip. "And chocolate cake?"
I chuckle, shaking my head. She always craves chicken nuggets and chocolate cake when she's pregnant. I make sure we keep both on hand. It's not easy to run out to the store in the middle of the night when you've got three kids and a pregnant wife.
"Yeah, baby. I'll make you chicken nuggets."
She beams at me. "You're my favorite everything."
"You're my favorite everything too." I help her to her feet and then stand and watch her as she starts going through the closet, rearranging the clothes hanging inside. She hums while she does it, happy as a clam.
God, I adore her.
"I'll be back to check on you soon."
I head out of the nursery and jog down the stairs to check on the kids. Nalani and Dash are laying on the floor of the playroom, watching Dora on the tablet. She and Elysia are still dressed in their little leotards and tutus with their hair in baby buns. Elysia is spinning in circles in the middle of the room, singing her ABCs. She knows all of them, but still mixes up which one goes where. Rowan calls it her remix.
"Daddy!" she yells when she sees me. She stops spinning and almost tumbles over.
"Careful, baby girl." I rush forward and scoop her up into my arms before she falls.
She just laughs and pats me on the cheek. "Hi hi."
"Hi hi, baby girl."
I love how excited she always is to see me. Every time I walk into the room, she lights up like she hasn't seen me in days. It makes me feel like the world's best dad.
"My hungry," Nalani informs me, tipping her head all the way back to look at me with big, dramatic eyes. She's always a little quieter than Elysia. She's also more emphatic. She says exactly what she means and that's that.
"Is Mommy sweeping?" Elysia asks me.
"No. She's in the baby's room."
"I go see her." She wiggles for me to put her down.
I kiss her on top of the head and then put her on her feet. She wobbles before she manages to steady herself. "No running on the stairs," I remind her. "And hold onto the railing the whole way."
"I'll go with her," Dash says, hopping up to chase after her.
"What about you, lovebug?" I ask Nalani.
"My hungry," she repeats.
"Come on," I say, holding my hands out to her and chuckling. "You can watch your show while I make you food, sweet girl."
She climbs to her feet and then bends all the way over to pick up the tablet. Once she has it, she lets me pick her up to carry her into the kitchen. She settles down at the table while I grab the chicken nuggets and fries out of the freezer.
"Daddy!" Dash yells, panic in his voice.
"Stay right there," I order Nalani and then take off running through the house. I clear the steps three at a time, my heart in my throat.
Dash is waiting at the top, his little eyes wide.
"What's wrong, buddy?"
"Mommy peed in the floor," he says. "And her back hurts."
"Shit." I grab my phone out of my pocket, dialing as I hurry down the hall to the nursery.
Rowan's in the rocking chair, grimacing in pain. Elysia's standing beside her, wide eyed.
There's a puddle of water on the floor.
"I think I'm in labor," Rowan whispers.
Cadence answers the phone on the second ring.
"She's in labor," I blurt as soon I hear her voice. "We're bringing the kids to you."
"We'll be ready," Cadence promises.
"Dash, buddy," I murmur, shoving my phone back into my pocket. "Mommy's going to have the baby. I ne
ed you to take Elysia back downstairs and get your bags so you can spend the night with Aunt Cadence, okay?"
"Kay." He doesn't ask questions or waste time. He simply grabs Elysia's hand and heads out of the room with her.
I scoop Rowan up into my arms, carrying her back to the bedroom. My heart pounds with a powerful mix of adrenaline, excitement, and pride. I can't fucking wait to be a daddy again, to meet our son and bring him home.
"He's so perfect," Rowan whispers almost seven hours later, her voice soft, full of awe. Orion is cuddled up on her chest, his tiny fist against his lips. He's sleeping peacefully, worn out from the excitement of being born.
I guess he heard me when I told him that his mama was getting anxious, because labor was quick this time. We barely had her settled into the room before it was time to start pushing. They didn't even have time to give her an epidural or anything for pain.
She handled labor like a goddess, bringing our son into the world with the courage of a ferocious mama bear. She's exhausted now though, only awake because Orion wanted to nurse.
"So are you," I murmur, running my hand down the side of her face. I can't stop touching her, worshipping her. This woman is everything to me. So strong, so brave, so fucking beautiful. "You did so good, little owl."
"So did you." She gives me a sleepy smile. "You always do so good."
"Nah, baby. I just do my job."
It's true. I can't go through pregnancy or labor for her, but I can be the rock she leans on while she does it all. I don't have time to panic or freak out when my woman needs me to be there for her. When Johnson cornered her that day, I made a promise to myself that she would never fight alone again. I'll never break that promise.
"I'm sleepy."
"Here." I reach for Orion, sliding him off her chest and into my arms. He fusses for a moment before he settles down again, content in my arms. He doesn't cry very much. As soon as the nurses laid him on Rowan's chest after he was born, he settled right down. Even when he's hungry, he just whines. "Rest, pretty Paradise. I'll get him back in bed."
"Okay." She yawns and blinks at me. "I love you."
