Ten years after they met
Six months after the Epilogue in Colt’s book
“Carla,”Madison says, drawing my attention from my husband who is standing out on our back deck talking with J and Scott. “We’re gonna get going soon. Is there anything else you want me to help you with before we leave?”
I eye her two-year-old daughter, Dallas, wriggling in her arms and smile. Dallas is an adorably happy little girl and so freaking gorgeous with her dark ringlets, chubby cheeks, and smile that never leaves her face. “No, you girls have done everything already. Go home and put your feet up.”
I threw Havoc a birthday party today. Madison and the girls helped me plan it, host it, and clean it all up. I couldn’t have managed such a fantastic party without their help.
The guys join us as I tell Madison to put her feet up. J moves to his wife and takes Dallas from her. “She’s got other things to do besides putting her feet up,” he says.
Madison shakes her head at him. “Seriously, aren’t you getting tired and worn out in your old age? No one has any energy left for sex after running around after kids all afternoon.”
“You didn’t do any running around,” he says. “You’ve got enough energy for both of us.”
Madison’s eyes widen. “Seriously, J, you’re treading on dangerous ground here. I did plenty of running around this afternoon.” She shoves her bag filled with all the things their kids need at him. “You can carry that too.”
He grins as he takes the bag. He doesn’t say anything else, but he doesn’t need to. We all know J loves to rile his wife up. He likes the sex it leads to.
Harlow enters the living room where we all are, her two children, and J and Madison’s other two girls with her. Eyeing Madison, she says, “Right, so I’ll drop the girls back to you around eight tomorrow morning. Is that good for you guys?” The girls are having a sleepover at Harlow’s and Scott’s tonight.
Madison nods. “Yes, J will be up and ready for them while I enjoy my Sunday morning sleep in.”
I laugh as Havoc moves behind me, curving his arm around my waist. I’m always amused by Madison and J’s antics. Lately, she’s insisted on sleeping in every Sunday morning. It’s common knowledge around here that if she misses that sleep in, J will miss out on many things during the coming week.
“Right,” J says, rounding up his wife, “Let’s go.”
Madison hugs me. “It was a great party, babe.” She looks up at Havoc behind me. “Enjoy the rest of your birthday.”
“I intend to,” he rumbles, the gravel in his tone affecting me the way it has for a decade. I also intend for him to enjoy the rest of his birthday.
Madison smiles. “I don’t doubt it.”
J slaps her on the ass. “Come on, woman. Dallas needs sleep.”
Madison shakes her head at him again. “We both know Dallas won’t be asleep for hours.” She looks at me. “Seriously, make the most of Ruby being six months old. When she’s two, you won’t find it as easy to enjoy your birthdays all night long.”
With that, she follows J outside to their car. Harlow and Scott say their goodbyes too and we follow them all out.
I smile as I watch J and Madison banter their way into their car and then out of our driveway. I’m convinced those two will never change. Always arguing. Always loving deeply. It’s just their way.
Harlow and Scott, on the other hand, are much quieter about the way they move through life, but just as in love as they’ve always been. Maybe more. I can’t count the number of times I’ve gone to Harlow for relationship advice. She’s full of wisdom when it comes to this stuff and always knows what I need to hear. Lately, she’s been talking me through my thoughts over whether I want another baby or not.
“Where are your thoughts, darlin’?” Havoc asks, bringing his mouth to my ear. His warm breath whispers across my skin, along with more of that gravel I can never get enough of.
He’s standing behind me again and I grip his hand that’s settled itself on my stomach. “I was just thinking about how grateful I am to have Harlow and Madison in my life.” I turn in his embrace after Scott pulls his LandCruiser out of the driveway. Placing my hands to his chest, I add, “I was also thinking about how grateful I am to your sister for taking Ruby for the night. I have birthday presents to give you.”
Heat flares in his eyes as his hands find their way to my ass. That’s never a hard thing for them; I’m certain Havoc’s hands were born with a sixth sense for my ass. “Let’s not waste anytime getting those presents to me,” he growls before leading me back inside.
Less than two minutes later, I’m on my back on our bed and Havoc is pulling his T-shirt over his head.
I sit up and reach for his belt. Undoing it, I find his eyes. They’re glued to mine, the heat in them intensifying. “Can you believe your wife is married to a man who is now forty-one?”
He brings his hand to my hair and runs his fingers through it before gripping a handful. Angling my head back, he dips his mouth to my neck and kisses his way up to my lips. “Thank fuck she is. And thank fuck she knows how to give good fuckin’ birthday presents.”
Havoc never takes the bait when his age is mentioned. Not that I mention it often. His sister does, though. Yvette and Havoc give each other shit for everything. It’s how they show their love. She often brings up our eight-year age gap and wonders out loud about him having to fight off younger men in his old age. I’m always amused by their conversations, but equally glad that he doesn’t ever take it seriously.
I lower his zip and reach for his cock. The hiss that falls from his lips when I wrap my hand around it is a sound I live for.
