Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I don’t know why people say those things. I honestly don’t.
Maybe I’m the rare exception. Just maybe. But this family is full of rare exceptions. Each one of Orion’s brothers is happy, and their wives are amazing. Alden and Azalea had twins last year, and they’re the cutest pair of little boys in the universe. Ransom and Ayana’s daughter is now in kindergarten, and her little sister is in preschool. They’re busy—adorable, busy little angels who are doted on by our whole family and a whole family of tough biker dudes on Ayana’s side who aren’t so tough when those little girls are around. They turn all soft and mushy, and it’s the most adorable thing to see.
Atlas and Victoria didn’t want to steal our wedding thunder, so they kept the news that they were going to have a baby a secret, but Victoria’s been so sick that they finally had to confess, and of course, we were all overjoyed. They’ll have to figure out if they want to keep going with the family, moving around and fighting crime, or if they want to settle down somewhere like Alden and Ransom have. Lennox and Cass are taking their time and enjoying all their nieces and nephews and their married life together, as well as being totally badass with what we all do. They’ll probably have a family soon enough, but right now, they’re happy exactly as they are.
“Granny is bringing her man,” Orion grumbles. He swings our joined hands in a pattern like they’re jumping over invisible waves. “I don’t know if I can handle that.”
“Of course you can. You handled Ginger finding someone last year and bringing him on board just fine. It shouldn’t be any different. Plus, we’ve met him. Edgar Jones Johnson Smithson The Third. It’s a pretty cool title. If your granny is going to give up her last name for anyone, it should be that.”
“Granny isn’t giving up her last name,” Orion huffs petulantly. “Never. Ever. Ever.”
I laugh softly. “If there’s anything we’ve learned about love together, it’s that it makes anything possible.”
He sticks out his bottom lip in a little kid pout that makes me laugh. We’re lying on the floor on a blanket instead of attempting to climb onto the blow-up mattress. Both of us had a few glasses of champagne or a few beers at our celebration in the house before the wedding tomorrow afternoon, so we both thought the floor was a better idea than trying to get onto the air mattress of edible human doom. I drop his hand and roll over him, straddling his hips, my hands going to his shoulders as I look down at him.
“I’m so happy I’m going to marry you again, and this time, we’re both choosing it, and we’ll both remember it. I’m so excited to be your wife and have you actually know you have a wife. I’m excited that this time, I’ll want a husband. But even if we never got married again, I’d be just fine with that, too, though. You’ve given me a family, a home, and a purpose.”
“Nah, I haven’t given you any of those things. I just helped you find it. You more than did the rest.”
“Okay, fine, I’ll accept that,” I say with a gasp as he grasps my bottom and squeezes playfully.
“You look mighty fine tonight, Echo Von Rippenstein,” Orion says appreciatively, his eyes filled with love.
“Ahhhh, yes, I get the most badass name tomorrow! I’m so excited,” I gush.
“You’ve been Echo Von Rippenstein to me for a long time now.”
“I said I love all the parts of you, but you know which one I like the most?” I ask as I rock against the rising bulge in his jeans. He groans, and his eyes darken as he looks up at me.
“My lovely eyes?”
“Yes, that’s right. Your eyes are my favorite part of you. Followed by your lips, your sharp mind, and then your big heart.”
“That’s all?” He’s not really disappointed since he knows I’m kidding. No, not kidding about those things, but kidding about not including other things on the list.”
“You know that’s not all. Every bit of you is wonderful to love. It’s an honor.”
He blinks up at me. “Oh, we’re doing the serious stuff now? Because you’re pretty great too. And if we’re talking honors here….”
“It’s an honor to kiss you,” I tell him.
“You’re very good at kissing me,” he agrees.
“You’re very good at kissing me too.”
“It’s good to be good at kissing each other,” he says with a smirk.
I lean down and kiss him deeply, taking my time, savoring the taste of him, and stoking the heat until I’m aching all over, but especially between my legs. While he kisses me back, his hands close around my waist, and then, suddenly, the world tilts, and I’m not the one on top anymore. He’s the one leaning over me with his leg between mine, his hands stripping off the blouse I wore to our family celebration slash last night of freedom slash practice run for our wedding minus the practice run party we had tonight with everyone. Our wedding tomorrow was just an excuse. The real reason for the celebration was everyone being back in San Diego, seeing everyone, and having everyone together in one place again. It’s been a good long while since that happened. Too long.