Precious Consequences(70)

“Be gentle,” she says quietly. Her request has me swallowing hard.

Our mouths join as I sink into her tight, heated body and our joint moans fuse. Her hips rock into mine, with mine, and our bodies’ fall into a slow, sensual rhythm, becoming slick with sweat. Threading our fingers together, I stretch her arms above her head and she whimpers. Our kiss breaks, but her eye stay on mine, and we don’t look away. Her little whimpers drive me wild and encourage me to push harder, deeper. I bring my knees up, changing our position so that the backs of her thighs rest on the front of mine.

“Oh, wow,” she cries out. “So deep.”

“So close,” I groan. “Fuck, buttercup, you’re close, too. I can feel it.”

“Faster, Cam, please.”

My hips move faster, and Hayley’s muscles clench around me. “Cam,” she breathes between pants. “I’m going…”

“Let go, baby, just feel me.”

She tightens around me and her body shakes violently as she comes. Her head falls to the side and she bites the pillow to silence her scream. Shit, that’s hot. I thrust into her once, twice, and on the third time my orgasm rips through me, starting low and working its way up my spine. My hips slow, triggering more residual quivers from both of us, and when I stop, Hayley’s eyes land on my again. Her face is damp, and I notice the tears sliding down her temples. Brushing the hair from her face, I ask, “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

Her hands come up and she smooth’s the frown between my brows. Shaking her head, she replies, “No, it was… I just…”

I silence her with a kiss. “I know. I love you, too.”



Epilogue

~ Four Years Later ~

~ July ~

~ Cameron ~



I lean against the frame of our kitchen door and watch Hayley and Ari dance around the kitchen. Ari’s long brown locks, matching Hayley’s in both color and length, fly around her face as she spins in wild circles. Hayley laughs as her red summer dress flares up and shows off her bare thighs. She’s as gorgeous as the day I met her, and even after four years together, my need for her grows stronger with each passing day. So much has happened, and yet, I feel like Hayley and I are still the same. We drive each other insane more often than not, and we fight like an old married couple, but our love for each other, for our family, is unending.

Ari stops abruptly, having spotted me from the corner of her eye. “Daddy!” she yells, darting around the kitchen table and launching herself into my waiting arms. “Hey princess. You ready for your party?”

“Yes!” she claps her hands excitedly and beams down at me. “Can I go put my dress on now?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart, you’ll have to ask your mom.”

Just then, Hayley comes to my side and wraps her arms around my waist. She stretches onto her toes, and gives me a gentle, lingering kiss.

“Good morning, husband,” she whispers, her smile blinding in its brilliance.

“Good morning, wife.”

“Eeeeew.” Ari scrunches her nose. “That’s gross.”

I chuckle. “I hope you always feel that way about kissing,” I tell Ari. “Boys are gross.”

Hayley arches a brow at me and smiles at Ari. “Sweetheart, go get ready, Nana and aunty Candice will be here soon.”

Ari jumps from my arms and runs up the stairs, bouncing with energy. When we’re alone, my arms snake around Hayley’s waist and hold her as close as possible. We’ve been married for a year, and shortly after our wedding, I adopted Ari, making her my daughter. It was the second happiest day of my life, the first being the day Hayley and I said our vows and became Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Argent. That’s not the only ‘big event’ we’ve experienced together. When I graduated from college, I decided it was time to make my dreams come true, instead of doing what I thought my father would’ve wanted out of guilt. My mother told me he’d want me to be happy, regardless of what I wanted to do. My father’s company was sold, and with my portion of the profits I started my own restaurant. I also helped Hayley start her own photography studio, which is what she wanted after she graduated last year. Her father has also become a permanent fixture in our lives, making up for all the years he wasn’t there for her while she was growing up. He adores Ari and loves his role as grandpa more than Hayley thought was possible. But like most of the people in our family, he is smitten with her. Hannah, who is now happily engaged, works as a sports photographer in Chicago, and flies home twice a month to visit. As for Noah, he has stopped his man-whoring ways and is actually dating Hayley’s assistant at the studio, Lisa. Hayley freaked out when she got wind of it, but seems to have warmed up to the idea after seeing them together at our wedding.

“What are you thinking about so hard, buttercup?”

Hayley looks up at me, her face glowing but her eyes sad. “I wish Gama was here,” she says quietly. “I miss her so much.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmur, lifting her chin so that our lips touch. Hayley’s grandmother died of breast cancer two years ago, and it was one of the most difficult things we’ve had to face together. By the time the doctors diagnosed her, it was too late, and there wasn’t more they could do. It was the toughest four months imaginable, but in the end, Gama Tanner ended up in a better place. We knew that. But her absence is still felt and I know Hayley misses her, especially now that we are talking about growing our family, and having a baby of our own.