Page 78 of Pretend it’s Forever

The nightmare was over, and perhaps a new one would begin, but it didn’t matter.

Because I had made my choice, I had tried to fight.

And somehow, against all odds, we had won.

And maybe in the morning it would all make sense.

Chapter Eighteen

CARSON

Although her eyes were closed, and her breathing even, I knew she was awake. I could always tell. She looked so damn beautiful underneath the soft duvet, her eyelashes pillowed on her cheeks, her hair flowing over her shoulders. I knew she usually slept with a bonnet, but we had been up late the night before, enjoying ourselves a little too much. In fact, we’d stayed up far too late and had barely gotten any sleep. I was loath to wake her up this morning, but we had to. We had an important day ahead of us.

I knelt by the edge of the bed and leaned forward, staring at the woman I loved.

I couldn’t quite believe that this was our life now. Sophia sleeping in our bed, with the girls making noise in their room, giggling at one another. They were still young enough that the twins wanted to stay in one room, and I knew one day it would probably break Sophia’s heart to have them separate, and frankly, it would probably break mine as well.

I was never meant to be a father—not with the father that I had growing up—and yet here I was, becoming the man I never knew I could be.

Because of this woman.

I was now a girl dad, and I loved it. And anybody who ever came near those little girls of mine would have to deal with my wrath.

“I can hear you growling. Who are you thinking about maiming?” Sophia hadn’t opened her eyes, though a small smile played on her face as she spoke. I leaned forward and traced my fingers along her jaw.

“I’m just wondering what I’m going to have to do one day when Hazel and Violet are old enough to date.”

Sophia’s eyes fluttered open as she laughed softly. “Oh yes. I can see you being that growly man. But you have to let them open their wings. If you cage them, they’ll just rebel. You know your sister.”

“My sister is in a loving relationship with an amazing woman. Maybe we’ll be lucky and our daughters will be lesbians, that way I don’t have to deal with boys.”

Sophia’s entire body shook as she laughed, and I leaned down and kissed her softly on the mouth.

“That sounds quite bigoted, mister.”

“You know I’ll love whoever they love. But they will have to run the gauntlet.”

“And not just your gauntlet. Have you met the Cages?”

“You know, that’s true. I bet Aston and I could start an entire interview process for the next generation.” Actual plans began to take form in my mind, but then Sophia was leaning forward, her lips on mine.

“Stop. We will raise them to be smart, caring, and careful. We will not have an actual lie detector and interview process.”

I grinned. “I didn’t say anything about a lie detector, but I like the idea of one.”

“You are ridiculous.”

“But that’s why you love me,” I said honestly.

Her entire body softened, and she sat up. I couldn’t help but notice the way the sheet pooled at her waist. Her pink tipped breasts were so damn beautiful, so I leaned forward and sucked one into my mouth.

She groaned, leaning forward.

“Carson,” she whispered.

“You always taste so beautiful.”

“And I just looked at the clock, so I know we’ll be late if we’re not careful. We need to get the girls ready. And that means you need to get your mouth off my breasts.”