Where You Belong: Epilogue

Two Years Later

I look over at Alexis as she spreads suntan lotion all over her body. She’s in a white string bikini, lounging next to me by the pool.

“You better hurry up and apply that lotion before I drag you back into our villa.”

She giggles while continuing to work it into her skin. “You’re gonna kill me. I’ve already had two orgasms this morning.”

“Well, we can’t let that happen. How would I explain to everybody back home how you died on our honeymoon?” I smile at her.

We both settle into our seats with our coffee and look out at the view. The rolling hills look like they go on forever, and the medieval town is off in the distance. I booked a trip to Tuscany for our honeymoon after Alexis went on and on for the last year about how she wanted me to take her someday and show her my favorite vineyards.

We’re staying at a luxury villa in Panzano, which is one of my favorite towns to visit. It’s in the Chianti region of Tuscany, and it’s only an hour drive from Florence.

“This is amazing, babe. I don’t wanna go back tomorrow.” She sighs. “I’m only going home because I miss Sienna.”

Sienna wasn’t too fond of us leaving her for two weeks, but my family has it covered. We’ve talked on the phone with her every day we’ve been here. I told Alexis she can go a day or two without talking to us, but she insisted.

I couldn’t have dreamt up a more amazing mother for my daughter. Sienna was so excited when I told her I was going to propose. The first thing she asked was if she gets to call Alexis her mom from now on, which goes to show just how perfectly Alexis slid into the role.

There’s another reason I wanted to take Alexis far away from everybody for two whole weeks. I want a baby. Sienna isn’t getting any younger, and Alexis would look sexy as hell carrying my baby.

It’s all I’ve been able to think about in the months leading up to the wedding.

It’s been two years since, by some miracle, I won her back. I was ready for her to move in permanently right away, but she said she wanted to date and stay in her apartment for the remainder of her lease.

I didn’t like it, but I agreed. It was better that way with Sienna. We eased her into the idea, not that it was necessary. She loved Alexis from day one.

“What’s the plan for our last night here?” she asks after she takes another sip of coffee.

“I thought we could head into Panzano this afternoon. Their outdoor market is open. We could get a bottle of wine, get a little tipsy, stroll around town eating meats and cheeses. Then I thought we could come back here, and I could eat you before dinner.”

She laughs her uninhibited laugh that I’ve come to adore.

“You think I’m joking.” I raise an eyebrow at her. “But I’m dead serious.”

“Honey, I know you’re completely serious. That’s what I love about you. You somehow can start off by saying the sweetest, most romantic thing and follow it up with something crass.”

“I can’t help it that your body was made to perfection. I just can’t wait until I put a baby in there.”

She rolls her head back. “Ugh. You’re going to be disgusted with my body once that happens.”

“Never. Every single perfect imperfection that comes from our babies is going to be sexy as hell.”

“You sure know how to flatter a woman.”

I’m not sure if she thinks I say this stuff to make her feel good, but I mean every damn word.

“Hey, did you notice Marcus acting funny at the wedding?” she asks.

I think about it. He did seem a bit on edge, maybe even a bit angry at times.

“I did. Do you know what’s going on?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe he’s stressed out with trying to balance work and teaching at the university.”

“I don’t understand why he wanted to take on that class anyway. It just sounds like a headache to me. It’s not like he needs the money.”

I told Marcus that, but he just shook his head at me and walked away. I guess I’m in a different headspace than he is. He sees the value in taking on a temporary professor role teaching a class three nights a week, and I see it as working from sunrise to sunset three days a week.

“Because it was an honor to even be asked,” Alexis fires back.

“Whatever makes him happy. He just hasn’t seemed all that happy lately.”

“You should talk to him when we get back.”

I nod my head. I’m not sure he’ll want to talk to me about it, but I’ll give it a shot.

Right now, I have other things to focus on, like spending the last moments of my honeymoon soaking up my time with my wife.

I stand up and reach my hand out.

“What?” she asks as she looks up at me.

“Let’s go get ready for the afternoon.”

She places her hand in mine and squeals when I pull her up abruptly. When she’s standing, I hoist her up onto my shoulder and start walking toward our room.

“Gabriel. Put me down this instant!”

I swat her sexy ass. “I need you in the shower, my tongue on your pussy, before I have to behave for an entire afternoon in public with you.”

Her laugh echoes as we enter our room.

Never would I have thought that the sexy, young nanny that walked into my life two years ago would be the one to heal my heart. But I’m glad she was lost and looking for a place to belong because with me was always where it was.