As I’m stirring the sauce, I hear Taylor come in. He walks into the kitchen brandishing a brown bag and a huge smile. “What’s in the bag?” I ask.
“Something for later. You’ll see. Mmm, something smells delicious. I’ll be right back, I’m gonna go change,” he says and heads for the bedroom.
After a few minutes, he returns wearing a tight black tee and a pair of stonewashed jeans that hug his ass perfectly. I almost ruin dinner with my drooling, but I compose myself and set the table, lighting the candles for the right ambiance.
Dinner turned out amazing, and we immediately jump into the shower together after we finish eating. Then I put on this really sexy lavender lacy one piece. I find Taylor sitting on the bed in nothing but some gray sweatpants and the brown bag in his lap. He gulps audibly as I step closer to him.
“Fuck, Harper, you’re always gorgeous but that…that outfit is the icing on the cake.” He grabs me at the waist and pulls me down on him. “And you smell absolutely divine,” he says as he runs his nose up my neck and then nibbles on my ear.
“Thank you,” I say and back away so he can’t distract me anymore. I’m dying to know what is in that bag, and he’s going to tell me. Now. “So, it’s killing me. What’s in the bag, Taylor?”
He leans over and reaches into my nightstand, pulling out number eighty-five. Confusion must be written all over my face because he laughs as he tosses it from one hand to the other and then right into the trash can next to the bed.
“Taylor! What are you doing? You know that’s my favorite toy!” Why would he do that?
“Relax, baby. I just figured since your number eighty-five has fully retired his number, this one should retire too.” I start to protest, but he places a finger to my lips. “Be patient. I wouldn’tleave you abandoned like that. I got you something that I think you will enjoy a lot more.” He reaches into the bag and pulls out another vibrator. I stare at it momentarily because it looks oddly familiar. Like I’ve seen it before.
“Taylor is that…” the words escape me, so I just stare at the toy in his hand.
“Look familiar? I may have ordered this kit that allows you to… cast a mold of your… appendage, and then you can use that to make a silicone toy, complete with a vibrator inserted that I can control with an app on my phone.
“Oh my god, let's try it out. Right now. Please!” I beg.
He laughs as he scoops me into his lap and kisses me. “Just a minute. I have one more surprise for you.” This time he reaches into his nightstand and pulls out a little blue box. When he opens it, there’s a beautiful diamond ring inside. I gasp. “Harper, I love you with all my…”
Immediately, I interrupt him. “Yes!” I scream excitedly. I don’t even wait for or need the question.
Taylor will always be my forever.
Bonus Epilogue
Five years later…
Taylor
“I can’t wait for this trip. I’m so excited,” Harper says as she packs her suitcase.
“Me too, baby. We need and deserve this break. Did you make sure to call Mom and let her know we’re bringing the kids a day early?”
We’re going on a vacation with some of my old teammates, and their wives, who have also retired. Love Beach, South Carolina will be the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of our lives, the city, and we could all use a kid-free break too.
Our three-year-old twins, River and Raine, are going to stay with my mom for the weekend while we’re away. Harper especially needs this time as not only are the girls a handful, but she still runs her own party planning business as well as helps me run mine. Sometimes, I worry she works too hard, but she assures me that she can juggle it all, which is the exact response that made me jump at the opportunity for this AirBnB with the guys.
It’s a huge beach house right next to the ocean that will be amazing.
“Time to go. You got everything you need?” I ask and go pick up her now closed suitcase to bring our stuff out to the car.
“Yeah, just gotta check the girl’s things one final time and we’re good to go.”
I have the girls follow me out to the car, each holding onto a suitcase so they can ‘help’ Daddy load the car. They giggle as they stumble beside me, trying to keep up. After a few minutes of chasing them around the yard, my beautiful wife emerges with their bags in tow and we buckle the girls in, setting out to Grandma’s.
Harper
After dropping the girls off at Taylor’s mom’s house, flying to South Carolina, and waiting for our rental car, I was exhausted. I couldn’t wait to see the beach house the guys rented and get to spend time with my friends too. Plus, alone time with myhusband is never bad. Everyone was pulling in just as we were. Grant and Mazie had come earlier to set up and park their yacht. Yes, I said their yacht, crazy right?
The first night went as you would expect. Dinner, a fire, laughter and conversation until well into the night. Today is the day I’m most excited for, I think. A whole day out on a yacht, being treated like royalty. Who wouldn’t be excited about that?
We’re cruising around the water, Grant showing us all the sights as we pass them. Finally, we stop at this little private cove beach combo, and everyone decides to go swimming. We have a blast on the beach, swimming, running and playing around like children. When we return to the yacht, Mazie pulls out a bottle of chilled champagne, and my nerves get the better of me.
