You are my world now, Norah. It doesn’t matter where we lay our heads. As long as we’re together, we’re home.”
Epilogue
Silas
Five years later.
The aroma of beef and onions fills the evening air, as the sun glides behind the distant hills. We had some of the dead trees removed a few years back to create a small yard around the cabin. One of the perks of fewer trees has been stellar views of the sunset.
I flip the burgers and top them with cheese just as Norah emerges from the kitchen, cradling our three-month-old daughter, Thalia, in her arms.
“Smells amazing,” she says. I kiss her forehead, then our daughter’s forehead. “Do you want me to bring out the chips and dip?”
“Let’s eat inside. After last night’s rain, the mosquitoes have been downright vicious.”
“I’ll set the dining table.” She gestures to our four-year-old son, Jack—named after Norah’s father—sitting in the moss below his tree fort. “Make sure he lets that poor creature go before he comes inside.”
“On it.” I whistle. “Jack, dinner time.”
He comes skipping onto the porch, holding the mason-jar terrarium I made for him, complete with leaves, twigs and air holes. Today, he’s caught himself a disgruntled looking toad.
“Your mom needs help setting the table,” I tell him. “But first, it’s time to let this little guy go.”
“Can’t he sleep over?” Jack asks, frowning.
“Afraid not. He’s probably got a family of his own to get home to.”
Jack sighs and crouches by the edge of the porch. He unscrews the lid and upturns the jar. The toad lands on his feet, then hops off into the bushes.
Jack stands up and waves.
“Bye!” he yells. At first, I think he’s waving goodbye to the toad. Then I follow his line of sight to the tree fort.
I’ve stopped pretending that I don’t see Norah’s father out here in the woods. Our son sees him all the time. Sometimes they even play together.
I move the burgers to a plate, then cover the grill to burn off the smaller bits stuck to the grate. Jack and I head inside, delivering the meat just as Norah’s finishes opening the dips. Jack doles out the napkins and forks, just like his mama taught him. By the time we sit down to eat, it’s time for Norah to feed Thalia.
I hand feed my wife bits of her dinner so her food doesn’t get cold as the baby suckles her breast. Watching the two of them converse in their own special love language, I can’t help but smile. The night before our wedding, Nora told me she didn’t think she’d ever have a life like this. A comfortable mountain home, two beautiful kids, a loving husband who adores her.
It’s been my privilege to be able to give her the life she didn’t dare dream of.
As for myself, I had no idea what the hell I was going to do after I left the real estate business. Thankfully, it turns out my knack for fixing things comes in handy pretty much everywhere. When the ski resort in Gatlinburg posted a job advert for a General Maintenance Technician, I applied. A few months later, I was promoted to Lead, with a hefty pay bump to match.
After the dinner dishes are washed, and the bedtime stories are read—and read again—I kiss Jack goodnight in the loft and then head downstairs to the bedroom. Norah’s already putting the baby to sleep in the bassinet. I fold my arms around her from behind.
“How many times did he make you read that book?” she asks.
“Two and a half.” I gaze down at my sleeping daughter. She’s beautiful, just like her mama. But judging by the size of her feet, I have a feeling she’s going to be much taller.
Norah turns and hooks her arms around my neck. “Daddy looks tired.”
“Daddy’s had a long, hard day.” I kiss her. “And if mommy doesn’t stop rubbing against him like that, he’s gonna have a long, hard something else pretty soon.”
She bites her lip, and I know that means she’s craving some Daddy-Norah time. I plant a kiss on her nose, then glide my hands down to squeeze her ass.
“Is it time for Daddy to put his baby girl to bed?” I ask.
She nods eagerly. My cock is already hard as a rock as we crawl under the covers. I spoon her, grinding my erection into the cleft of her ass.
“What’s that, Daddy?” she whispers in the dark. No matter how old we get, neither of us will ever tire of this filthy game.
“It’s a surprise for you, sweetheart. But we have to be quiet.”
She lifts her leg and I align my cock with her pussy from behind. She gasps as I push inside her. Normally, I would play with her tits, but the last time I did that, milk went everywhere and we had to change the sheets. I play with her clit instead, rocking my hips, fucking her nice and slow.
Within minutes, her whole body starts to tremble. She whimpers. I place my hand over her mouth.
“Shh, baby. We don’t want your mama to hear us.” I keep my pace steady, knowing she wants me to go hard. But if she wants that, she’s going to have to give me what I want first.
Reaching around, I find her hand between her legs.
“That’s it, baby.” I kiss her neck. “Play with your clit until you come.” And she does, rubbing vigorously, as her pussy flutters around my shaft.
Finally, I roll on top of her and shove my cock in deep.
“Daddy loves his little girl,” I whisper at her ear. “No matter how grown-up she gets.”
~