My Ex’s Dad is Coming to Town (Bringing Home Trouble)

Epilogue

COLE

ONE YEAR LATER

It was hard to believe it had only been a year since I proposed to Winter in her parents’ front yard. So much had happened since then, and I had so many things to be grateful for. Everything we’d been through had led to this moment. I clasped my hands together while I waited for my bride to start down the aisle.

We’d intentionally kept the ceremony intimate with only a few friends and family. First, it wasn’t fair to expect guests to travel over the holidays, and second, it gave us more opportunities to be alone. Winter had no idea how much I was looking forward to having her all to myself.

The first strains of “Carol of the Bells” rang through the small chapel we’d booked on the California coast. Winter took her place at the end of the aisle. Her eyes locked on mine, and I struggled to take in a few calming breaths while my heart hammered against my ribs. In a long white gown that sparkled with thousands of hand-sewn beads, she glowed. Her hair swept up, leaving her neck bare. She was absolutely stunning—the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and I couldn’t believe she was about to be mine.

I smiled, hoping to calm her nerves. I’d learned her tells, and the way she gripped the bouquet of poinsettias in her hands told me she must have had a million butterflies beating their wings against the walls of her stomach. She had nothing to worry about. Every step she took brought us closer together. The guests, the decorations—everything faded away until it was just me and Winter facing each other.

“You’re beautiful,” I whispered as she slid her hand into mine.

“You look pretty good yourself,” she teased back.

With eyes only for each other, the rest of the world disappeared. I thought back to that first night we’d met at the airport… the long road trip we took to Texas… and how even then I knew I didn’t want to ever let her go.

“Merry Christmas everyone.” The officiant welcomed our guests and thanked those who’d traveled to share in our special day. Winter’s parents had made the trip to California and so had Mama Mae and a few of my foster brothers, but we’d decided not to invite Ryan and his new bride. He still hadn’t come around to accept that Winter and I were getting married. This was our day, and I wasn’t about to let anything ruin it.

I went through the motions, promising to love, honor and cherish my bride. Through sickness and in health, for rich or for poor. I’d never made vows like that to anyone, and I took them seriously. As Winter said the same words back to me, I couldn’t help but grin. I’d been waiting a whole year for this moment. There wasn’t a sliver of doubt in my mind that we’d been made for each other. She was my missing piece. Without her, I’d been living half a life.

“Cole and Winter would like to say a few words to each other to complete their vows.” The officiant nodded, signaling me to go first.

“Winter,”—I tightened my grip on her hands—“you’ve shown me what true love is. You make it feel like Christmas every day, and I’m the luckiest man in the world to be able to take you as my bride.”

Her soft smile encouraged me to continue. There was so much to say, so many promises I wanted to make. There wouldn’t ever be enough time to tell her how much she meant to me.

“You’re my everything. I promise to be there for you every day in every way. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’ll never take you for granted. I’m going to spend the rest of my life being a man worthy of your love.”

She took in a shaky breath, her eyes full of the same raw emotion I felt down to the marrow of my bones. “Cole, you’re the only one for me. We’re better together than we ever were apart. I promise to be there for you every day in every way as well. Thank you for loving me just as I am and encouraging me to be myself. You’ve got my heart, and I want you to know, you can trust me with yours.”

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. We exchanged rings, then the officiant told me I could kiss my bride. He’d barely said the words when I slipped my arm around Willow’s back and dipped her down to kiss her. Fuck if I didn’t tear up as he introduced us for the first time as Mr. And Mrs. Calvin.

“I like the sound of that,” I whispered into Winter’s ear as we made our way down the aisle.

“Mr. Calvin?” she shot back. “I would think you’d be used to hearing people call you that by now.”

“Mrs. Calvin, you naughty girl.” I led her into the bride’s dressing room, eager to have her to myself for a few minutes before we had to greet all our guests.

She whirled around, her back up against the door. “I kind of like the sound of that, too.”

“Oh yeah?” I rested my palms on the door, one on either side of her shoulders, caging her in. “You’d better get used to it.”

“There’s a good chance of that happening.” She pressed her fingertip against my lips. “You know what else I want to get used to?”

“What’s that, Baby Girl?” I closed my lips around her finger and sucked it into my mouth. Her eyes widened slightly and a playful grin danced across her mouth.

“I want to get used to making love with my husband.” She arched her brows, a clear invitation.

“And you think we should start now? ”

Her fingers shifted to my waistband. I was one lucky motherfucker. I had the woman of my dreams, and she was even more insatiable than I was.

“I’m not going to mess up this dress, not until I peel it off you later.” I got down on my knees and lifted the layers of silky fabric high enough to crawl underneath.

“Cole, get back up here.”

“No chance of that, Mrs. Calvin. Not until I hear you call out my name while you come on my tongue.” I eased her lacy white thong down her legs and spread her thighs as wide as I could. Then I feasted on my wife’s pussy. Her happiness was my own. Giving her pleasure was a gift to myself.

Winter moaned and sagged against the door as I fucked her with my tongue. I wasn’t sure how it was possible, but she tasted even sweeter now that we’d said our vows and were bound together forever.

“Cole”—she bunched the fabric up in her hands in an effort to reach me—“I love you and your filthy tongue.”

“Then give me what I want, Mrs. Calvin,” I growled against her clit.

That’s when she came. Her core clenched, tense and tight. Then she gave herself over to her release. I couldn’t love her any more if I tried.

“Every day is Christmas with you, Mr. Calvin.” She got ahold of my shoulders and attempted to pull me up for a kiss.

I let her .

She was my everything, and I’d do anything to make her happy.

Anything and everything for the rest of our lives.