DEACON
Five Years Later
"How is it that you have phone reception, but I don't?"Cordelia demands, eyeing me suspiciously from the passenger seat."We have the same carrier!"
"Guess I'm God's favorite, Sunshine."
My wife gasps in outrage and then giggles."That's only because he feels sorry for you, Mountain Man.He always shows mercy to the less fortunate."
"The less fortunate?"I cock a brow at her.
"Your sons, your dog, and your sister love me best.Someone had to take pity on you," she sasses, shoving her phone back into her pocket.
"Keep talking your shit and I'm not going to take any on you when we get to the cabin, little girl," I warn her, smiling despite myself.Fuck, I love when she's feeling feisty.Nothing makes my dick harder than my wife when she's giving me nine kinds of hell…which is basically all day every day.She sasses me because she knows I get off on it, just like I boss her little ass around because I know she gets off on it.
After five years, there are no secrets between us.I know this girl like I know the back of my hand, and she knows me the same way.I never imagined hiring an assistant could lead to this kind of happiness, but I've never been happier.Neither has she.She tells me every day how happy she is and how much she loves the life we've built together.
We spend most of that life just outside of Seattle with our boys.I lead expeditions up Rainier a few times a month.Her business is thriving.We don't get up here to the cabin now that we've got three kids with another on the way, but we still try to slip away as often as we can for a weekend alone.Nell and Ford watch the boys while I fuck my wife all over the cabin, just like I did five years ago.
Cordelia still isn't entirely comfortable with nature.I don't think she ever will be.But she no longer has anxiety attacks when we're out in the woods.She's conquered her fear…or at least put it to bed.She says that's because I make it impossible for her to be afraid, but she doesn't give herself nearly enough credit.She's the one who faces it every time she steps onto a trail and refuses to let it beat her.That's all her.I'm just the lucky bastard who gets to protect her while she does it.
"Is that a threat or a promise?"she asks."Because either way, it's not really making me want to behave, Mountain Man.Oh!Stop at that rest stop.I need to pee."
"That isn't a rest stop, Sunshine.It's a fucking port-a-potty on the side of the road."
"Well, your giant son is sitting on my bladder, so I don't care what they call it.I need to pee," she says, rubbing her belly."I don't know why I can't have normal-sized babies.They all have to come out fully grown, carrying briefcases."
I chuckle, shaking my head.Our boys are big.Hudson and Myles were both over ten pounds and 23 and a half inches long.Ryder was eleven pounds and twenty inches.Her belly is even bigger this time around.She hasn't been able to see her feet in three months.She never complains though.She loves being pregnant.The part she hates is when they're outside of her body and growing.She wants to keep them little and cuddly forever.
I pull over beside the port-a-potty and hop out, jogging over to check it out and make sure it's safe for her.It's not in the greatest shape, but there isn't shit smeared on the walls or heroin needles all over the place.And there isn't anyone hiding inside.I jog back to the SUV to help her out.
"I'll wait out here."
"Uh, yeah," she says."There's no way we're both fitting in that thing."
She waddles inside, scrunching her nose up at the smell.
I wait in front of the door, chuckling as she mutters to herself.Even after five years, she's still always talking.I don't think she ever stops.Her voice is still my favorite sound.I fucking love it.
"Deacon!"she shouts.
The sheer panic in her voice sends my heart slamming against my ribcage.I rip the door of the port-a-potty open, ready to fight.She's still sitting on the little toilet, her eyes wide and stricken.
"My water just broke," she whispers.
"What?"
"My water just broke."Tears well in her eyes.
Fuck.Oh, fuck.We're an hour from the nearest hospital.
"Come on, baby," I say, trying to stay calm to keep her calm."Let's get you back to the car.Everything is going to be okay."
"I can't have this baby on the side of the road, Deacon."
"We're not having the baby on the side of the road.We're going to the hospital," I say firmly.Paul Bunyan, save me.We better not have this baby on the side of the road or she's going to kick my ass.
I help her up from the toilet and then scoop her up into my arms to carry her back to the car.
