"Yours," I agree, lifting my hips to meet each thrust. "All yours."
His pace increases, his control slipping as desire takes over. One hand grips my hip, the other braced beside my head. The position changes the angle, hitting a spot inside me that makes my vision blur.
"There," I gasp, my nails digging into his shoulders. "Right there."
"I've got you," he promises, hitting the same spot with every thrust. "Come for me again, Sadie. Let me feel you."
The pressure builds, each stroke pushing me higher. When his hand moves between us, thumb circling my clit, I explode around him, my inner walls clenching rhythmically. The sensation triggers his own release, and he buries himself deep with a groan that sounds like my name.
For a long moment, we lie tangled together, breathing hard, hearts racing in sync. Axel's weight is comforting on top of me, his face buried in my neck. I stroke his hair, his back, anywhere I can reach, marveling at the fact that this man is mine. That we belong to each other now.
Eventually, he shifts his weight, rolling to the side but keeping me tucked against him. His hand finds mine, fingers playing with the ring that now feels like it's always been there.
"Move in with me," he says, his voice soft but certain. "Not someday. Now. This weekend."
I lift my head to look at him, seeing the vulnerability behind the request. He's been waiting, patient, letting me set the pace. But now that I've said yes to being his wife, he doesn't want to wait any longer to start our life together.
"Yes," I say, feeling the rightness of it settle in my bones. "This weekend. We'll pack up the apartment and bring everything here."
The relief and joy that cross his face make my heart skip. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." I trace the line of his jaw with my finger. "I don't want to waste another day not being with you completely."
He pulls me closer, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "I've been ready since the first night you stayed over. Just waiting for you to be ready too."
"I'm ready now," I tell him, meaning it with every fiber of my being. "For all of it. For our life together."
"Let's not tell anyone yet," he suggests, his hand making lazy patterns on my back. "Let's just do it—move you in and tell them after. Have our own little bubble for a while."
The idea appeals to me, having this special time just for us, settling into our new reality before sharing it with the world. "I like that. Just us, figuring out our rhythm together."
"God, I love you," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "You and Poppy, you're everything to me."
"We love you too," I whisper, resting my head on his chest. I can hear his heartbeat, strong and steady beneath my ear. "You're our everything too."
We lie in comfortable silence, our bodies cooling, the reality of what we've decided settling around us like a warm blanket. Soon, this will be our normal, falling asleep together every night, waking up together every morning. Poppy's toys will mix with Axel's books on the shelves. My coffee mugs will sit beside his in the kitchen cabinets. We'll build a life together, day by day, moment by moment.
"We're really doing this," I say softly.
“Yes,” he murmurs, “yes, we are.”
Chapter 34
Axel
The party at the ranch is in full swing by the time we arrive. Mom's gone all out, streamers hanging from the porch rafters, a hand-painted Welcome to the Family banner strung between two oak trees, and the scent of her famous barbecue filling the air.
"You ready for this?" I ask Sadie as I cut the engine, watching her fidget with the engagement ring she's still getting used to wearing. We managed to keep our secret for exactly two days before my mother's intuition kicked in over a casual phone call.
"No pressure," I add, covering her hand with mine. "If it gets overwhelming, we can always make an escape."
She shoots me a grateful smile, though her eyes betray her nerves. "It's not that. It's just… I'm not used to being the center of attention."
"Poppy will steal the show," I assure her, nodding to the back seat where our girl is already bouncing with excitement. "Trust me, nobody can resist those cheeks."
As if on cue, the front door bursts open and my mother appears, waving frantically.
"They're here!" she calls over her shoulder before hurrying down the steps, not even bothering with a coat despite the crisp fall air.
