76

—

Six Months Later

—

His arm slid around my body, pulling me back against him as I readjust my hand in his. I put my hand against his shoulder as I moved my view from his lips to his eyes. I became lost in the way he was staring at me.

"You're so beautiful."

A smile spread across my lips. "I love you."

He tilted his head, "I love you too." He held my hand tighter.

Enzo and Bonnie's wedding has been one of the highlights of my year, but I think it's time to go.

I looked over at the happily wed couple, who was smiling at each other. I moved my hand from Kai's shoulder to his hand, pulling it off of me and intertwining my fingers with his. I released his other hand and turned, pulling him with me as I walked out of the venue. His other hand found ours and held it as he stepped beside me.

He pulled away from me, opening the door for me to get in his car. He looked at me, and I placed my hands at the side of his neck as I kissed him. His hand moved to my hip, pulling me forward, but my body was blocked by the car door. I was eager to have his body pressed against mine.

He forced himself to pull away so I would get in the car. He shut my door and was in the car within seconds. He started driving. His hand settled on my thigh, his fingers slipping into the slit in my dress, caressing my bare skin. My breathing shuddered.

I put my hand on his, guiding it higher as I leaned across the console. I pressed my lips to his neck, peppering the exposed skin with soft, wet kisses, and drawing soft, sensual noises from his parted lips.

His fingertips grazed my pussy, making me moan. "You're not wearing anything?

"Mm-mm." I moved my hand to his leg, sliding it higher to find his hard cock pressing against his pants.

He groaned. "Evelyn."

"Yeah?" I pulled back far enough to look at his face.

He looked at me as he parked the car. "Get out."

We both got out. Within a second, his hands were on me, pulling me to press against his body. He kissed me fervently as he walked me backward. I reached for the button on the elevator, pressing way too many.

He pushed me back against the wall, keeping his body against mine as he slid his hand to the side of my neck. He pressed his thumb against the bottom of my jaw, tilting my head back further. He started kissing my neck, sucking gently.

I pushed against him as I opened my eyes. The lustful desperation in his eyes as he stared down at me pulled me closer to him. I gripped his suit jacket tighter in my fists as I guided him backward to his apartment. He pulled a hand from my body to open the door. Before I could get both feet through the door, he lifted me by my thighs, wrapping my legs around him.

I held his face in my hands as I kissed him harder. He kicked the door shut and walked me to the kitchen island. He moved his hands to my thighs as he sat me down. I unwrapped my legs from around his waist. I moved my hands to his shoulders as he pulled away from the kiss. He angled my hips further toward the edge, pushing my thighs further apart.

He trailed kisses up my thighs before burying his face between my thighs. I gasped feeling his mouth completely cover my pussy, pressing his tongue flat against me. I moved my hand to his head, urging him closer.

The fast, short movements of his tongue were done with such ease it robbed me of all the air in my lungs. My eyes fell shut from the euphoric pleasure that rippled through my body. The sensual noises that bubbled from my throat echoed through the room.

Before I could cum, he pulled away, making me whine. "What are you doing?"

He grabbed my hips as he looked into my eyes. "You're so impatient." He pulled me off the counter.

"Well, that's one way to describe it."

He smiled as he pulled the dress off of me. His gaze fell to my body, skating across every inch of me. I pushed the jacket off of him before grabbing his face again, pulling him to kiss me again.

I stepped out of my heels as he pulled me with him. His hand moved from my side to my stomach, sliding between our bodies. I gasped as he pushed three fingers into me roughly, stretching me without warning. I moved my hand to his wrist.

He used his other hand to turn me away from him. I put my other hand on the arm of the couch, keeping myself from falling forward, although his hand was doing a pretty good job of contradicting me. He pulled me back against his chest as he pumped his fingers in and out of me at an almost uncomfortable speed.

"Touch yourself," he whispered.

I followed his command, replacing his fingers with mine. Thirty seconds later, his hands were on me again. He placed a hand on my back, grabbing my hip with the other. He pushed me to lean over the arm of the couch.

"Move your hand and spread your legs."

I groaned as I did what he said. I moved my hand to the edge of the couch, holding it preemptively. He slid his hand down my back. I felt him slip the tip of his cock inside of me, pulling a moan from my lips. He pulled out and slid his tip along my pussy, circling around my clit for a moment. I held my breath, gripping the couch to keep myself from cumming.

I rested my lower stomach against the arm of the couch, rocking my hips back, "Kai, please."

"Please what?"

"Fuck me. Please," I whined.

He hummed in response as he slid the tip back and forth from my throbbing clit to my aching cunt. "Doesn't sound like you want it that bad."

A moan passed my lips. "Kai, please fuck me. I need to cum so bad. All I've thought about all day is having you inside me, fucking me until my head is completely empty and the only thing I can remember is how you feel inside me."

I gasped, digging my nails into the cushion as he slammed into me. A cry left my lips as I released the breath I was holding. His hands gripped my hips, his fingers digging into me as he held me still.

With every thrust into me, a moan followed from both of us.

I lost the ability to hold myself up, burying my face in the couch as he fucked me deeper into a mind-numbing orgasm. He bottomed out inside me, stilling completely as his cum filled me, leaking down my thigh with mine.

A lengthy moan escaped my lips, leading into a heavy breathing. I felt him pull out of me, allowing more of the cum to spill out of me. He grabbed my sides, pulling me upright. I put my hands on his, leaning back into him.

He kissed whatever part of me he could reach as he guided me to the bedroom. He moved his hands to my waist, turning me to face him. He sat down on the bed, pulling me onto his lap. I rested my hands at the sides of his neck, staring into his eyes.

I hovered over his cock that he was guiding into me. He put his hands on my hips, pulling me down on him quickly, not giving me time to adjust. My eyes fell shut as a cry left my lips.

"Kai, I can't-" I moaned.

"You just begged me to, baby. You can do it." I moved my hands to his. "Look at me, baby." I forced my tear-filled eyes open and looked into his. He tilted his head as he moved his hand to the side of my face, "You're doing so good."

He pulled me forward to kiss him. His lips worked against mine slowly, distracting me from the pain I had. He moved his hand back to my hip. He guided me up and down his cock slowly, filling me each time he pulled me down on him.

I moved my hands to his neck, pulling away from the kiss to focus on riding him. His cock twitched inside me as his movements became sloppier and rougher. My face twisted in pleasure as he worked me closer to another orgasm.

I opened my eyes to look into his. "Does that feel good?"

"It's fucking amazing." He pulled me to the tip of his cock, making me gasp. He jerked me back down on his dick, then moved a hand to my throat, pulling me forward to kiss him. I slid my tongue past his lips. I guided his hand away from my waist to my clit. He instinctively started rubbing my clit in fast, tight circles.

I bucked my hips forward, shifting his cock inside of me, triggering him to cum. I moved my hands to his neck as he grasped my hips, holding me firmly against him. I stopped kissing him to breathe. I came around his cock.

I moved my hands to his after most of my senses came back to me. I opened my eyes, and he looked into mine. He lifted my body, pulling me off his dick. "Don't move."

I furrowed my brows. He moved his hand to my pussy, pumping his fingers in and out of me slowly, making me moan. "What are you doing?"

He pushed his fingers apart, letting the cum inside of me drip onto his cock. I looked between our bodies, seeing the mess.

He grabbed my waist and tossed me onto the bed. I gathered the strength I had to sit up. He was standing in front of me. I moved to the edge of the bed, sitting on my knees. He moved his hands to my face, cradling it in his hands and making me look into his eyes.

I wrapped my hands around his cock, letting the cum make it easier for me to stroke him. He slid his hands back, gathering my hair and holding it back away from my face. I kept my eyes on his as I wrapped my lips around his cock. I slid my hands to the base of his cock, allowing myself to fit more of him into my mouth.

I flattened my tongue against him. I could taste the cum as it slid down my throat. I pulled my head back, leaving my mouth open as I looked up at him. The look on his face was nothing short of astoundment.

I slid my hands along his length, spreading the cum that was still there. I pressed a kiss to the base of his cock, trailing soft, wet kisses to his tip. I pumped him slowly as I took him back in my mouth, bobbing my head back and forth slowly.

He tightened his hold on my hair as he started controlling my movements. My eyes fell shut as he hit the back of my throat, dipping just a little further. Tears ran from my eyes as salvia and cum started to spill from my mouth.

The noises of pleasure that traveled from his lips to my ears spurred on my enjoyment. I hollowed out my cheeks as he hit the back of my throat again, sucking him harder. He groaned as he came. I swallowed every drop that he poured into me.

His grip on me loosened as I pulled back. I looked at my slick hands as I pulled them away. He pushed my hair behind my ears. I pressed my hands together, then pulled them apart. He grabbed my face, and I looked up at him as he leaned down.

He kissed me as he laid me back. I balled my hands into fists, pressing against his chest. "There's cum all over me," I mumbled into the kiss.

"Do you want to wash it off?" He pulled back far enough to look at me.

I whined, "I'm too tired."

He tilted his head. "Do you want me to do it for you, baby?"

"Please."

He kissed my lips softly, "Okay."

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me off the bed as he got up. I wrapped my arms around his neck, keeping my hands at a safe distance from him. He put me down in the shower as he turned the water on. I stepped back and washed my hands. I looked up at him and smiled once it was gone.

His head was tilted slightly to the side and there was a small smile on his face. He stepped closer, grabbing my hands and pulling me toward him. He kissed me softly.

"For the record, I don't care what state you're in, I'm not afraid to touch you."

I slid my fingers between his. "Just marry me already."

"Do you want to?"

I tilted my head. "Ask me when we're not high on sex hormones."

"So never?"

I laughed as he started kissing me again.

—

Three Months Later

—

His hands were still covering my eyes as I cautiously walked. "How much further? We've been walking for an hour."

"It's been two minutes, and just wait five seconds."

I groaned as we kept walking.

"Okay," he stopped walking, making me stop.

"Finally."

He pulled his hands away, moving them to my arms. I blinked to adjust to the light.

The house that was in front of me was gorgeous. The Victorian style house had a beautiful yard that was well groomed and had flowerbeds lining the front of the house. The walkway was wide enough for five people.

"What is this?"

"A house."

"Whose house?"

He slid his arms around me as he pressed his body against mine. "Ours."

The air escaped my lungs. "Malachai, no."

"Evelyn, yes." He pressed a kiss to my cheek. "You said you wanted it a few weeks ago."

I put my hands on his, leaning back into him. "Tell me you're joking, or I swear to God, I'll rip your heart out."

"You don't believe in God."

"Yeah, well... That's not my point."

"Just accept it, sweetheart. I bought us a house."

I felt a lump in my throat. "It's not just a house."

"It's your dream house, I know." He pressed the side of his face against mine. "Are you okay?"

I tightened my hold on his hands. "Yeah." I breathed out slowly as a tear fell from my eyes. "I'm just thinking about how we have to move everything here now."

He moved his hands to my shoulder. "Look inside."

I sighed, "You moved everything already."

"I had a free night."

I turned to face him. "You know it's like a rite of passage to move into a house together, right?"

He smiled as he stepped closer, "Yeah, but there's a much better one that involves just as much physical exertion, but it's a lot more fun." A laugh bubbled up my throat as he pressed his lips to mine, kissing me slowly. He pulled back, grabbing my hand, "Come on."

I sighed as he started walking, guiding me to our house. My eyes were bombarded with the sight of everything hitting me at once, making me feel slightly overwhelmed. He squeezed my hand gently before letting it go and opening the door for me. I walked inside, stopping after only a few steps.

The house opened into the living room, which was filled with remnants of both of us. The walls were plastered with pictures of everyone. The living room led into the dining room, then the kitchen. There was an office across from the living room, which acted as a library.

He followed me up the steps. The first room was a guest room, the next was another, then ours. It was five times the size of my room. How he made it seem so full escaped me. I sat at the end of the bed, trying to wrap my head around what was happening.

He walked over, sitting next to me. I sucked in a breath of air, trying to keep more tears from falling from my eyes.

"You're not supposed to make me cry. Not like this, anyway. The least you can do is make me choke on your dick first."

He laughed softly to himself as he wrapped his arms around me. I slid my arms around him, resting my head on his shoulder. He moved his hand to the side of my face. He pressed a kiss to my forehead.

We sat for a few minutes. He gave me time to calm down before pulling away from me. I sat up and looked at him. He cupped my face in his hands, using his thumbs to wipe the tears off my face. He stared into my eyes.

"I have to show you something."

I sighed. "It's not another house, is it?"

He smiled and tilted his head, "No."

"Okay," I breathed.

He grabbed my hands, pulling me to my feet. He turned, holding my hands behind his back as he walked. He pulled his hand away as he reached for the door. He pushed open the sliding doors and turned to me, stepping back.

The room was different from the others. It was lighter and more colorful. It felt hopeful. I stepped into the room. He stood close to me. The walls were painted with soft, childlike murals. There was a rocking chair in the corner with a table beside it. The lamp that was resting on it was shaped like a flower, turned down toward the table. There was a changing table in the corner. The other side of the room had a white crib that had lace trimming around it. A mobile hung over the crib with stars, the moon, and the sun dangling from it.

I moved my hands to my stomach, feeling sick. My heart skipped a beat. "Kai. We can't..." I turned to face him. "We can't have kids."

He shook his head, moving closer. He put his hands at my sides and tilted his head. "Nothing's impossible with magic, Evelyn. We may not be able to conceive, but it's not impossible for us to have kids. Not wanting them, though, is a different story." He moved his hands to my face. "If you don't want kids, tell me and we'll turn this into something completely different. You won't even remember it was here. But if you do want kids, baby..." He tilted his head. "I won't stop until I find a way to give you one."

I slid my arms around his neck, pulling myself closer to him as I closed my eyes. His arms encircled me, hugging me tightly. An exasperated sigh passed my lips as tears slipped from my eyes.

I moved my hands to his face, pushing my arms between us as I pulled back to look at his face, looking into his eyes. He kept his arms around my body as he stared into my eyes, returning the same gaze full of love.

"You want to have kids with me?"

He furrowed his brows, "Of course I do."

My breath caught in my throat. "Are you sure?"

He nodded, "Yes."

I breathed out slowly. "I love you."

He smiled. "I love you."

I let my eyes close again as I breathed out. He pressed his lips to my forehead.

—

Five Months Later

—

I finished putting away the groceries for Caroline. Listening to Kai interact with Lizzie and Amelia brings me more hope for how great he'll be when we do have kids. Although we haven't been able to actually have kids yet, it's still been fun trying to find ways.

Agreeing to watch the girls and run errands for Care and Stefan has been exhausting, but it's better than joining Elena on her journey to find an anniversary dress.

The small sound of footsteps down the hallway, running toward me, caught my attention. I looked down at Lizzie as she stopped in front of me. She grabbed my hand.

"Hurry! You have to come outside!"

I gasped, mockingly. "What's wrong?"

She tugged at my arm, "We need you to read the story to us."

I started following her. "I thought that was Uncle Kai's job?"

"He's dead, he can't."

I looked at him sitting on the couch with Lizzie. "You have to stop telling her that, Meils."

She sighed dramatically as she walked over to him. "Give me the book."

I watched as he handed the book to her. He got up as she walked over to me. He stopped beside me, and I turned to face him. "I'm going to go call your sister to see where she disappeared to." He kissed me before walking out of the room.

I turned to the girls. I opened the cover, "Okay, what-"

"No," Lizzie yelled. "You have to read the cover!"

"It's an interactive story," Amelia added. "You have to read every word and do what it says!"

I sighed as I closed the book. "Okay." I looked at the cover. "Happily Ever After by Evelyn Forbes, Amelia Saltzman, and Elizabeth Saltzman." I furrowed my brows. "What?" I turned the book over. There is no summary. Read it. I shook my head as I opened the book. "I grew up in a house with my sister and my mother. I surrounded myself with things I loved, like books." The sentence stopped. In parenthesis, it read, "Take a walk outside...?" I looked at Lizzie and Josie, "This doesn't make sense."

They both quickly moved to me, pushing against me. "Let's go," Lizzie ordered. She and Amelia pulled me outside. I stopped at the top of the steps. Caroline was standing in the middle of the pathway, holding her hands behind her back.

I looked at the book. "My sister was not always the best person, but she was always my best friend... Take the gift." I furrowed my brows. "Gift?" I looked at Caroline.

Lizzie and Amelia pushed me, forcing me toward my sister. I held the book to the side. "What is this?"

She pulled a piece of paper from behind her back, and I took it. I'm not telling you what it is. Make it to the end. You can do it. :) I sighed as I handed the paper back to her.

"Was that the gift?" She shook her head as she pulled something else from behind her back. It was a rose made from pages of a book. I took it from her. I looked at her. "Caroline."

"Next page," Amelia demanded.

"Fine!" I looked at the book again. "After leaving her, I needed to fill the emptiness that I felt. I didn't get a replacement, but something much more valuable. Follow Caroline." I looked at her.

The smile on her face was unmistakable as she turned away from me and started walking. I followed her to the end of the sidewalk. She turned to face me and pointed toward the end of the sidewalk. I glanced down at Lizzie and Meils. They were both staring at me with the same smile Caroline wore.

I looked at Caroline. "Having your children in on whatever this plot is is conniving and evil." I turned to see Damon standing, holding something behind his back. I sighed as I started toward him. He started walking toward me. I stopped a few feet from him. He held out another paper rose. I took it from him, holding it with the other.

He stepped to the side, revealing someone sitting on a bench across the street. I started to move closer, only to realize it was Ryan. I felt my heart sink to my stomach. A smile spread across his face as he stood up. His hands were behind his back too.

I made my way over to him. I stopped a few feet from him. "Give her the gift," Lizzie demanded.

He pulled his hands from behind his back, revealing two paper roses. I added them to my others. "You'll have plenty of time to hug me later, read the next page."

I drew in a shaky breath as I looked at the book again. "Although I had a new life, I still longed for my last one, feeling incomplete without everything I had once known. I came back to celebrate, like I had always done. Walk back to your old home as you read the next page." I turned and started walking as I read. "A lot of things had changed, but most had ultimately stayed the same. It was the thing I was most grateful for that Thanksgiving. Besides the time I got with my mom, which I didn't know would turn out to be my last. Or so I... thought." I furrowed my brows. "Look up, V- Vale," I breathed.

I looked up, my eyes landing on the steps of the porch. The grip I had on everything in my hands faded as the breath escaped my lungs. I gasped for air as I ran to her. My mom rose to her feet, a smile gracing her lips. I threw my arms around her as she held me tightly. She hugged me tighter as I cried harder.

"Hi, sweetheart." Her voice was weak from the tears in her throat.

"Hi," I said through tears.

She pulled back after a moment, moving her hands to my face and letting her eyes scroll over my features. "You have all the time in the world to spend with me, but I think your nieces need you to finish their story."

I rushed out a breath of air, trying to calm myself down. She stepped back, holding two more roses out to me. I took them with shaky hands. Lizzie and Amelia stepped in front of me, handing me the things I dropped. I followed the instruction that said to sit next to my mom. The twins stood a few feet away. Ryan, Caroline, and Damon stood behind them, now joined by Stefan and Elena. My mom wiped the tears off my cheeks before they fell on the pages.

"One night, I was dragged to a party by the aforementioned new friend. I ended up alone, looking for room to breathe. Instead, I was found by a guy. I didn't know it yet, but he would end up saving my life, while I turned his around." I breathed out slowly. "Someone needs to start digging his grave." The collective quiet laugh from everyone caused more tears to form in my eyes. "After that holiday trip, the quality of my life started to plummet. Everything around me felt like it was coming to a close. Even though it seemed like it at the moment, my life wasn't ending, it was just getting started. Give the book to Amelia."

I looked at her and handed her the book. She took it and handed it to Caroline in exchange for three paper roses. Amelia walked closer and put them directly in the hand with the complete bouquet. "Lizzie has the string."

I smiled as Lizzie walked over. "Uncle Kai said that Bonnie has to hold them until he can put them together for you."

"Where is she?"

She looked behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see the door open. I stood up and walked over to her. She took the flowers from my hands as her smile grew. "Follow the flowers."

I stepped past her into the house. There was a trial of paper flowers leading through the house. I followed them slowly, knowing exactly what it's leading to. I wiped the tear off my face as I pushed the back door open the rest of the way. Kai was standing in the middle of the yard with his hands behind his back.

There were wooden posts in a huge circle around him. There was a firepit behind him that was helping light everything. There were strings of photos hanging from post to post.

I took a few more steps. "You're the worst, you know that?"

He nodded, his smile growing. "So I've been told." My eyes wandered from picture to picture, taking in every moment of our lives we've built together over the years. "Every moment of your life has been important, Ev, but mine hasn't. Nothing really started to matter until I met you. Getting to know you has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. What I've been able to learn from you has helped me become who I am, and there is nothing that exists in the past or present that could repay what you've done for me." I looked into his eyes as he continued. "I learned what it was like to feel loved and be loved because of you, and it's because you never gave up on me that I get to tell you that I love you and mean it." He took a few steps closer, "I love you, Evelyn."

I was ready to be walking down an aisle with him. "I love you."

He tilted his head. "If you didn't, this entire thing would've been for nothing." I laughed as I wiped the tears off my cheeks. He looked behind me, into the doorway. I glanced behind me as Lizzie ran past me, running to Kai. I watched as she slid something into his hand. He kissed her cheek. "Thanks, munchkin."

She smiled as she ran past me again. My eyes followed her to the doorway again. She was standing beside Amelia, who was standing in front of Caroline. I turned back to Kai. He took a few steps closer, stopping a few feet from me.

He stared deeply into my eyes. "Evelyn," he got down on one knee as he opened a box that held the most gorgeous ring I've ever seen, "I love you, and I want to spend the rest of our lives together. Whether that's hating each other, but pretending we don't, or completely all over each other all the time, doesn't matter to me. I just want you." He tilted his head. "Will you do me the greatest honor and marry-"

"Yes," I answered immediately.

He smiled as he rose to his feet. I rushed forward, holding his face in my hands as I kissed him passionately. His hands pulled at my waist as he kissed me with just the same need.

The cheers of excitement from the twins, made a smile break out between Kai and I. He pulled away and looked into my eyes. He grabbed my left hand and looked at it as he slid a ring on my finger. He wrapped his arms around me, kissing me again as I hugged him back.

I slid my hands to the sides of his neck and pulled away from the kiss to rest my head against his. "You brought them back."

He moved his hands to my waist. "I told you I'd do anything for you."

I opened my eyes and looked into his. "I didn't think resurrection was on that list."

He smiled, "It's at the top, right under 'make a baby'." I laughed as I slid my hands to his chest. "I figured out how to do that too, by the way."

For a second, I could've sworn my heart stopped, but I'm still alive and breathing. "Really?"

He tilted his head. "I'll show you tonight."

I moved my hands to his face as I breathed out slowly. "I love you."

He kissed me again.

—

Two Years Later

—

The feeling of her small, warm body bundled in blankets in my arms was something I never imagined. I felt tears in my eyes as I stared at her. Kai pressed a kiss to the side of my head as he pulled me closer. The side of his face rested against mine.

"She's so perfect."

He moved his hand to the blanket, pulling it further down from her face. "Yeah," he whispered.

There was a quiet knock on the door before it was opened slowly. I looked up to see Caroline, my mom, and Stefan. They all gathered around the bed. I looked back down at Maddie, getting lost in admiring her again.

"How do you feel," my mom asked.

Exhausted was my first thought, but then I felt love surrounding me. "Lucky."

She sat down next to me, and I carefully handed off the baby to Kai. He kissed my cheek before walking her over to Caroline. I turned my attention to my mom. She was staring at me with tears in her eyes. A smile pulled at the corner of her lips as she grabbed my hand, holding it between both of hers.

"I'm so proud of you, Evvy."

I felt tears brimming my eyes. She moved to sit beside me, wrapping her arm around me and hugging me. Her hand rested against the back of my head. I rested my head against her chest, hugging her back.

"You're going to be a great mom." She kissed the top of my head.

I let her words sink in, wafting through my mind. After a few minutes, she pulled away, moving off the bed. I watched as they all welcomed my baby into the world.

The doctor let them know it was time to go after a while. Kai made his way back over to me, holding the baby as if it were the most precious thing.

"You okay?"

I nodded slowly. "Just tired."

He tilted his head, "You should get some sleep, baby."

I nodded after a moment, agreeing to his advice. He laid next to me, holding Maddie so I could see her while I fell asleep.

—

Two months later

—

I kept my hands on the side of the crib, watching as she slept. Kai pressed a kiss to the side of my face. "I'm going to head downstairs."

I nodded. "I'll be down in a minute."

He kissed me again before walking away. I listened to his footsteps as he walked back downstairs to rejoin everyone.

I kept my eyes on her, watching to make sure she was okay. After I was sure nothing would happen to her, I walked away, shutting the doors behind me. I made my way back downstairs to everyone, taking a seat beside Kai. He put his arm around me, pulling me against him as he kissed me softly. He looked into my eyes.

I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be, without being haunted by ghosts from my past and future telling me where I should be.

The look in his eyes was filled with emotions, making me feel like I was overflowing with emotion. This was the last place I imagined my life to end up: In a house with Kai Parker as my husband and a child, surrounded by everyone I've ever loved and lost.

Nothing could ever have prepared me for getting everything I never thought I could have. I never once believed anyone when they told me it would get better, but I guess I should have.