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“I love it. I love you.”

I hauled her into my arms for a kiss. Roscoe huffed and retreated to his room because we had an understanding. No cock-blocking. “I love you, Annalise.” I carefully laid her out on our new bed. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous with my ring on your finger.”

“And you’re sexy staring down at me like you want me.”

“Oh, I more than want you, babe.”

“Then show me.” She hiked up her skirt. “I may have lost my panties somewhere at the party.”

Fuuuuuccckk. My cock saluted my excellent choice in a life partner. In a wife. So I unbuckled my belt and fisted the beast my woman wanted. “Your pretty pussy looks awfully needy. How hard tonight, Annalise?”

“So hard we need to replace the brand-new headboard.”

“That’s my girl.” I moved between her legs and didn’t stop until the wood cracked and Annalise had screamed my name enough that we were imprinted on every inch of our new hideaway.

EPILOGUE

ANNALISE

Fourteen months later…

Seth placed a sausage on my plate and took a piece of my bacon. The pancakes were stacked between us on our usual table at Dottie’s Diner. Roscoe huffed at my feet as he finished off his bacon and whipped cream treat. Our new addition, Reaper, was still learning his manners. Seth had his foot in front of him, keeping him from stealing crumbs that Roscoe might leave behind.

“You nervous?” He grinned at me.

I scoffed. “Not in the least. Are you?”

His soft brown eyes twinkled. “Babe, I’ve been waiting for this day for almost two years.”

“You asked me to marry you just over a year ago.”

He kept grinning, not explaining himself.

“Seth Butler, you exasperate me. Are you seriously implying you’ve been wanting to marry me since before we even started dating?” There was one thing I knew would never change about my future husband, and that was his mischievous streak. It was a mile wide and widening.

“You ran me down in that outfield and I fell so hard I’ve never gotten up. Best day of my life.” He winked, picking up his fork to finish off his eggs.

I rolled my eyes.

Dottie came back to the table with the check. “You two have come in with some strange ensembles but this one takes the cake.” She slipped the check to Seth. “But you do look good. Congratulations. Have fun.”

“Oh we plan to, Dottie.” He slid two-hundred-dollar bills into the folder. “Keep the change.”

I popped my last bite of bacon in my mouth and finished off my orange juice. Then I pulled off the napkins Seth insisted I cover myself with and shook them out. Not that there were crumbs. I ate like a lady.

Seth stood up and my mouth went dry all over again. “You look damn good in a tux, Future Husband.”

“Not half as good as you do in a white gown, Future Wife.” The heated gaze he sent my way made me squeeze my thighs together.

Damn. It didn’t matter how many days we spent together or how many nights we kept each other busy; we only wanted each other more.

Seth whistled and both dogs hopped to attention. When he reached for Roscoe’s leash I gave it without a second thought because getting up in this dress required focus.

Not that I had picked an overly ostentatious wedding gown. I was still me. But I wasn’t used to sitting in a booth in a floor-length dress. Or heels for that matter. Despite my first suggestion we get married at the courthouse and come here in our pajamas to celebrate, I was happy Seth nixed that idea in favor of this one.

The dress I picked had lace everywhere. And since it was January, I opted for an off the shoulder neckline with long sleeves. The dress hugged my curves before falling into a small train at my feet.

My hair was down, parted to the side with a dramatic swooping curl so he could nibble on my neck later tonight.