“Jesus, Terra…stop.” I was ready to cover my ears because I couldn’t hear anymore of this nonsense. If Terra died, I’d be alone for the rest of my life. How she could think I could love someone else was beyond me.
“I wouldn’t want you to be alone.”
“Don’t think like that. You’re going to beat this.”
She nodded. “I suppose there’s always your hand in the shower.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes. If necessary. But it won’t be because I expect you to give me all my orgasms from now on.”
She grinned. “Deal.”
“We better get going because my dick is growing and I don’t want to be arrested for indecent activities in the gazebo.”
While I wanted to focus on completing the connection between Terra and me, we had children, and so instead, I focused on us as a family. We went to lunch and for the first time in what seemed like forever I felt a part of them. This was what I’d sacrificed. I wouldn’t do that again.
It started to rain that afternoon, so we headed home. The kids asked if we could camp and have s’mores. I looked at Terra sitting next to me in the car.
“Camping? In the rain?” I asked.
“The living room,” she explained.
Again, another thing I’d missed out on. “That sounds like fun. I can make a fire in the fireplace for s’mores.”
“Yay!” Lanie’s hands shot up in victory. “I love s’mores, daddy.”
“Me too.” Noah copied his sister, lifting his arms up.
Turned out, camping in the living room was fun. We barely fit in the tent with all the pillows and toys, but being immersed in tight quarters with my family helped me feel more connected to them. I wasn’t the odd man out.
“Thank you for this.” I leaned over and whispered in Terra’s ear.
“No kissing,” Lanie demanded.
I grinned. “Kissing? You want kissing?”
“No!” the kids yelled, but I didn’t listen. I planted a big one on Terra and then grabbed the kids to kiss them too.
We ordered pizza for dinner and ate it in front of the fire. We made s’mores and told kid-friendly ghost stories, like a real camp out. Eventually, I looked over and saw both kids crashed out.
“They’re exhausted. Maybe they’ll sleep in tomorrow,” Terra said when she noticed them too.
“You’re an optimist.” I rose and went over to pick up Lanie. Terra got Noah and we put them both to bed.
With them tucked away, I could finally focus on Terra alone. When I finished putting Lanie to bed, and checking both shrimp, I found Terra sitting, staring into the fire.
“You okay?” I asked.
She turned and smiled at me. The light from the fireplace made her face glow. “Yes. I was just thinking about how quickly things can change. Bad and good.”
“How about some wine and we focus on the good?”
“Wine in front of the fire. How romantic. Are you hoping to get lucky?” She wiggled her eyebrows.
I grinned. “I’m already lucky. But maybe I can get laid.”
She laughed. “Chances are good.”
I considered getting started right then and there, but forced my dick to wait. I got the bottle of wine and two glasses, and met her at the fireplace.
“A good campout needs wine,” I said, uncorking the bottle and pouring her a glass.
“Indeed.” She clicked her glass with mine. “I love you, Brayden.”
There it was again. The three words I’d been starving to hear. “You don’t know how much I’ve wanted to hear you say that.”
Her expression turned apologetic. “My father said you didn’t think I loved you. I’m sorry for that. I’ve never not loved you, Brayden. Ever.” Her palm rested on my cheek. “I know why you felt like that and I hate myself for being such a bitch. I’m sorry.”
I kissed her palm. “As long as you love me, I’m good.”
She reached over and grabbed her purse, pulling out the papers I’d given her at the zoo. “Are you sure about this?” She laid them out and got a pen.
“I’ve never been more sure about anything, except marrying you. When the idea came to me, it was a giant duh, why hadn’t I thought of it sooner. And such a relief. So yes, I’m sure.”
She bit her lip, looking apprehensive.
I nodded toward the papers. “You’ll notice that I’ve already signed.” I signed them the minute I was happy with them. I was eager to get it done and get on with the business of loving my wife and family.
She went to the page with the signature lines, and I guess realizing that yes, I was committed to this new plan, she signed the paperwork.
She looked up at me, her gaze a little stunned. “What are we going to do now?”
“Drink wine. Make love. Be happy.”
She laughed. “Perfect.” She put the papers back in her purse and then crawled to me her eyes shining with seduction.
I set my wine glass aside. “Maybe in a different order?”
She nodded. “Make love first.”
My dick shouted hallelujah. I started to reach for her but she shook her finger at me.
“This is my seduction. You’re at my mercy.”
I swallowed as pleasure and anticipation mixed in an erotic combination. “If you insist.”
“Oh, I do.” She straddled my thighs and pulled my shirt from my pants. I helped her pull it over my head. “I hope the kids don’t wake up.”
It was hard to process what she was saying as her hands and gaze took in my chest. “They don’t usually.”
“My man is so strong.” She leaned in, flicking her tongue over my nipple.
I hissed a breath. “And hard. Your man is so fucking hard.”
“Let me see.” She undid my belt buckle and button. “Are you sure you’re not going to get bored being home all the time?”
“Can’t imagine why I would. If we do, we can start a new project.”
“That contract had a no-compete clause. You can’t start another business like it.”
I shifted so she could pull my jeans down. “So, we’ll start a different one. Maybe we can become one of those lifestyle influencers. You know…blog
