As soon as the baby is out of her arms, Darby takes advantage of her position and slides in for a hug. “My brother has never been this happy, and I have you to thank for that. Welcome to our family.”
“I’m sincerely glad to be a part of it.” There’s an undeniable crack in Poppy’s voice.
Darby transfers her back to me, pulling away with her own quivering lips.
“We’ll leave you two to dance before I mess up and gush.”
“Good idea,” I agree.
“Congrats, man. You’re in for the ride of your life.” Peirce tips his chin and leads them away.
“I didn’t know how much it meant to me until that second.” Poppy winds her hands around my neck.
“What?”
“Her approval and accepting me into your life. It felt awesome.”
Hatred for her family boils in my blood.
“I know that look and what you’re thinking, but this has little to do with them.”
“It has everything to do with them.”
“No, it is me wanting to be accepted by one of the most important women in your life.”
“Look around you, baby. There’s nothing but acceptance and love in your future.”
She flashes me that blinding smile that lights up her face and hits me hard every time.
We stay like this, lost in each other and swaying to the music, until the band announces the tradition of the bouquet toss. “Come on, Poppy, get your beautiful bohemian butt to the front,” Mom yells.
“You are not doing that shit,” I complain, not willing to take a chance she catches it.
“It will be suspicious if I don’t.”
“Get in the back. Don’t even try,” I order.
“I see a lifetime of battles,” she refers to Darby’s remarks.
“You want bossy, I’ll haul your ass out of here over my shoulder and not give a damn.”
She tips up, brushing her lips across mine, and escapes my hold. I step to the side and spot Darby staring at me across the dance floor with a mischievous grin.
“Shit.”
“Hey, man, if she catches it, I’ll sacrifice the ridicule to get the garter, so she dances with me.” Andrew steps to my side.
“The fuck you will.”
“I’ll get in on that, too.” Ashton joins. Mom’s already got stars in her eyes.
“She’s not catching it,” I state firmly
To my horror, Maya links arms with Poppy, dragging her in the front, and whistles loud. The flowers fly through the air, Maya jumping up to bat them into Poppy’s chest. She has no choice but to grab them.
“Oops, looks like I may have a chance to dance with the pretty performer.”
My mom is the loudest one cheering, and I catch Todd slightly jerking his chin my way.
This was coordinated, the list of orchestrators too long.
“That fucking garter is mine.”
Todd takes his time sliding the material down Stephanie’s leg, and I stand in the middle of the dance floor with my eyes locked on Poppy, who’s biting her lower lip with hilarity glowing in her features.
Todd finally slingshots it, not hiding his intended target. I grab it to the chorus of cheers and make my way to my wife.
“We’ve been set up. Your niece is sneaky.” Poppy melts back into my arms.
“She’s your niece now, too.”
“Yeah, she is.” Her answer is dreamy and filled with happiness.
“Baby, you straddling my lap with my dick buried inside you is a sight that I love, but are you gonna move or keep staring at me?”
Her fingertips scale over my abs, and the walls of her pussy tighten. “I need your full attention.”
“You had all my attention the second you woke me up by wrapping your hand around my cock.” I squeeze her ass, driving upward.
“Ahhhh, God, that feels good.” Her head falls back, her chest arching and tits taunting me. I heave up, latching onto a nipple, and suck it deep. Her hands fly to my head, fisting at my hair. “We have to talk.”
“We’ll talk after you fuck me.” I bite gently before rolling my tongue around the hard flesh.
“Sweetie, please.”
“You talk, I play.” My mouth moves to the other side.
“Nine months,” she huffs.
“Nine months what?”
“My contract is up.”
My head pops up as her implication sets in. “It doesn’t have to be.”
“I decided last night. For days, I’ve fallen in love with your life. The dynamics of your family and friends.”
“They’re your family now, too.”
“That’s why I’m ready to make this decision. It kills me not to be here with you for the birth of Darby’s little girl. Or be here when Miller and Ashlyn have their baby.”
“I can understand that, but we’ll work it out without you giving up your career and dreams.”
“Dreams change. Especially now.”
My heart races and I swallow the burn in my throat. “We have time.”
“We do, but I don’t want to wait.”
I study her, seeing no trace of hesitation or indecision. Instead, her expression is filled with firm determination. “This is a huge decision, baby.”
“Does it freak you out?”
“Moving to Charleston and having you full-time? That’s my goal.”
“Then give me nine months.”
“We get closer to that timeline, and feelings of regret or anxiety hit, promise you’ll tell me.”
“I promise.”
I fold her in my arms and crush my mouth to hers. My tongue sweeps through, taking over greedily. She whimpers down my throat, rocking her hips, and slanting her head to give me better access.
My cock throbs eagerly, and I force myself to slow, breaking away but keeping our lips close.
“Baby, did you say all you need to say? Any more heartfelt and monumental life-changing decisions?”
“Not right now.”
“Good.” I hold tight and twist her to her back, keeping our connection. “Because now I’m showing you exactly how happy all this makes me. You may not walk afterward.”
She grins, locking her legs around my waist. “It’s a good thing my husband likes to carry me.”
Chapter 18
Poppy
I’m startled awake when Evin hooks my knees over his elbows and hefts me from the truck. “Someone is worn out.” His lips brush across my forehead.
“Endless days of drinking, eating, and partying have that effect,” I murmur, snuggling into his chest. “Just need a little nap.”
“I’m taking you straight to bed. We’ll unpack later.”
“What about Runner?” I glance around and see the dog on the front porch waiting.
“He’s good.”
I nod, cuddling back and closing my eyes. The next thing I know, he’s placing me on top of the bed. Instantly, my forehead breaks out into a sweat and my stomach churns. Saliva fills my mouth, and I scatter forward, using my force to shove him to the side and racing to the bathroom. My knees slam on the tile hard before the first round of sickness hits.