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He was the biggest momma’s boy out of the lot, always attached to her when he was home. She loved it, of course, and proclaimed at least one of the kids loved her the most.
“Of course, my sweet boy. Just a little wet.” She ruffled his hair and then slipped into the pool to hold him in her arms.
“Will you play a game with me?”
I couldn’t help but watch their exchange. Watching Amber with the kids had become one of my favorite past times. She was a natural mother, and she always knew what to do with them, even during the times that I felt like I was drowning in my confusion.
“Can everyone play this game?” She was walking over to me, her eyes darting between me and Nicky.
“If they want. It would be fun if they did.” She bumped her hip against mine as she leaned against me in the water. I snaked an arm around her cool body, feeling the goosebumps on her skin.
“I’m sure we can all play.”
“I want to play!” Charlie screamed from the other side of the pool and swam over, splashing everyone in the process.
* * *
Ace
“Marco! And don’t ignore me this time! I know you all are in the freaking pool!” Summer screamed, her eyes closed, her arms outstretched in front of her. We all darted out of her way, fighting our laughter as her face scrunched up. Her cheeks were flushed with anger and embarrassment. I could see that she was close to exploding. How she could fit so much rage in that tiny body still astounded me.
“Catch me if you can!” Charlie tapped on her shoulder from behind and then ducked as she whirled around, trying to grab the sneaky boy, but he was too fast for her, and she missed.
Celine was clinging to my back, her arms wrapped around my neck, her lips pressed to my ear. “I love you, handsome,” she whispered, her legs wrapping around my waist. There wasn’t anything I didn’t love about this woman. Every day, I found something new about her to love.
“More, princess.”
“Never.”
She had become so much lighter the last few days, no darkness hanging around her anymore. And she hadn’t mentioned her father’s company in days since she and Amber decided to start their own business. It had become a healthy distraction for her, and I was excited to embark on this journey with her.
More than anything, I wanted to watch her continue to bloom into who she was meant to be. Nothing and no one would ever hold her back ever again.
“What are you thinking about?” she whispered as I backed away from Summer until we were standing along the edge of the pool, treading further into the deep end where I knew she couldn’t stand. Her legs immediately tightened around my waist as I reached the other end of the pool, putting some distance between us and the kids.
“You,” I admitted, grateful she couldn’t see my reddening cheeks under my dark glasses. Her body melted further into mine, those teasing lips of hers a whisper away from my ear. “How lucky I got after the crap I did. I don’t think I’ll ever deserve you.”
“You have always deserved me, Ace. We were made for each other. You are my soulmate, asshole.” She giggled before brushing a soft kiss to my cheek, and then, she rested her head on my shoulder.
Needing to see her, I pulled her around my body. She wrapped around me again, her body flush with mine, her nose brushing mine, lips so close. At this moment, I didn’t care if the kids saw us. I wanted them to see this.
I wanted them to see how much I loved their mother.
I wanted my daughter to find a man who would love her with every fiber of his being.
I wanted my sons to respect and love their women.
Most importantly, I wanted to be impossibly close to my wife. I wanted to feel her body against mine. I wanted her to know that time had not dimmed our flame, that she still boiled my blood. Her body would always ignite a flame within me. Time will never make her beauty fade.
“I wish there were words more powerful than love to explain my feelings for you. I need you to understand that my heart,” I took her hand and held it over my pounding heart that beat only for her, “belongs to you, Celine Danvers – that my breath,” I brought her hand to my lips and softly kissed the wrinkled tips, “belongs to you. I belong to you, princess.”
I saw the tears shining in her blue eyes, and I knew she understood. The love shining in the doorway to her soul was all for me and only me.
* * *
Celine
My life had changed as quickly as a summer rainstorm could blow in on a hot afternoon, I didn’t see it coming. I sure as hell hadn’t seen Ace Danvers coming into my ordinary life to sweep me off my feet until I had no choice but to fall in love with him as any princess would. He created a fairytale for us. Granted, we had a very bumpy road to our happily-ever-after, but right now – at this moment – I didn’t care how many hurdles I had to jump or disappointments I had to face.
