The rest of my afternoon passes in a blur of errands and Nicole's nap, and by the time I finish cleaning the house that evening, exhaustion's settled deep into every muscle.I get home a little before Darren does, leaving Nicole in with Kelsea, who offered to keep her overnight so Darren and I could have some time to ourselves, and by the time I make it back to the house and into the living room, I'm too tired to do much besides collapse onto the couch, fully intending to wait up for him.
I must drift off somewhere in the middle of a rerun playing on the TV, because the next thing I register is the front door easing open, followed by soft footsteps crossing the living room floor.
"Hey."Darren's voice comes out low, gentle, and I blink my eyes open to find him crouched down beside the couch, still in uniform, badge catching the light from the lamp I left on."Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."
"S'okay."I stretch, working the stiffness out of my neck from sleeping at an awkward angle."What time is it?"
"Little after eleven."He brushes a strand of hair back from my face, something soft and warm behind his eyes as he looks at me."Nic's good at Mom's?"
"Yeah, she was super excited to spend the night."I sit up a little, making room for him on the couch, and he sinks down beside me, pulling my legs across his lap."Long shift?"
"Long enough."He runs a hand along my calf, thumb tracing idle patterns against my skin."Been thinking about something the whole drive home."
"Yeah?What's that?"
"You should know we're gonna get married one day."He says it plainly, no hesitation behind it, like he's just stating a fact he's already decided in his own mind."Not asking right now, don't worry, I haven't even picked out a ring yet.But I need you to know it's coming, Mace.This isn't casual for me.Never has been."
My breath catches, warmth spreading fast through my chest at the certainty in his voice, at the way he says it like there's no version of our future where that isn't true."You planning on giving me a heads up on everything big before it happens?"
"Only the important stuff."He leans down, brushing his lips against mine, soft at first."Wanted you to know exactly what you're signed up for, so it doesn't catch you off guard whenever I actually get around to asking properly."
"Consider me warned."I loop my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, kissing him deeper this time, and he groans low against my mouth, one hand sliding up under my shirt to rest warm against my ribs.
"God, I love you."He kisses along my jaw, down to the sensitive spot beneath my ear that makes me shiver every single time."Been a long day thinking about getting home to you."
"Show me."I tug at the collar of his uniform shirt, already working the buttons loose while he kisses down the column of my throat, one hand tangling in my hair.
He makes quick work of the rest of his shirt, tossing it somewhere off the couch, and I run my hands over his chest, still catching my breath every time I get to touch him like this, still amazed some days that this is actually my life now.He pulls me into his lap, straddling him on the couch, and I feel exactly how much he missed me pressed hard against me, groaning into his mouth as he grips my hips, grinding me down against him.
"Bedroom," I manage between kisses, though neither of us seems particularly interested in moving anywhere just yet, too caught up in each other right here on the couch, his hands sliding up under my shirt while mine work at his belt.
"In a minute," he murmurs, kissing me again, slower this time, deeper, like he's got nowhere else in the world he needs to be besides right here with me.
When we finally come together, after he’s worried my nipples with his lips and teeth, I gasp as his cock presses into my core.“God, D, it feels good every single time.Are we every going to get sick of this?”
“Fuck, I hope not,” he groans as he sets a blistering pace, his hips moving back and forth.
I hope not too, I hope it’s always like this.Reaching between us, he presses his finger to my clit as he continues thrusting, and I come apart against him.
Breathless and tangled together, we finally collapse against the sheets.As we cuddle, I'm more certain than ever that whatever future he's already planning for us, I want every single piece of it.
Epilogue 1
Darren
Two months since I told Macie we were getting married one day, and I've spent every single one of them planning exactly how I want to ask her properly.
My plan isn’t complicated.I thought about doing something big, renting out a venue or flying her somewhere fancy, but none of that feels like us.What feels like us is right here, standing on the back porch where we danced in the rain, string lights strung up along the roofline the same as always, storm clouds nowhere in sight tonight, just clear sky and a warm breeze rolling in off the trees.
"You're being weird," Macie says, eyeing me from across the kitchen while I fumble putting dinner plates away, distracted enough that I nearly drop one for the second time tonight.
"I'm not being weird."
"You've reorganized the same cabinet three times in the last hour."She crosses her arms, that knowing look on her face that tells me she's already suspicious, though she's got no idea exactly what's coming."What's going on with you?"
"Nothing.Just tired."I close the cabinet, forcing myself to stop fidgeting."Mom's got Nicole overnight, right?"
"Yeah, she picked her up right after dinner.Said something about wanting extra grandma time before Nic starts preschool next month."Macie leans against the counter, watching me with that same suspicion still lingering."You sure you're okay?"
