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“Well?”

She knows the answer. I use my words and hands to worship her every second of every day.

However, I sure as fuck don’t mind indulging her.

“You’re as beautiful as your heart, Mrs. Payne.” I brush my lips to hers. “If we weren’t married already, I would’ve proposed right this fucking minute.”

“Ha!”

We both laugh. Onyx likes curse words just as much as she loves the scary bedtime stories we read to her. The mask I wear from time to time.

“Let me hold her.” Shiloh’s voice is full of longing, and I give her what she wants. She feathers kisses all over Onyx’s face, then cradles her in her arms. “You and Daddy have fun together?”

“Ha!” Our daughter wiggles her legs, grasping at Shiloh’s arms. “Ha!”

“Motherhood suits you,” I tell her for the millionth time as I watch the two loves of my life together. “You were meant for it, Shi.”

She hums, and it’s so out of tune that I laugh again. I tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear.

What a fucking miracle that I, of all people, get to havethis.

A family. Happiness. Unconditional love and acceptance.

“You make the perfect Dad yourself, Kaleb.” She inches closer, allowing me to wrap her in my arms.

We sit there as the horizon and future stretch before us.

My woman. My family.

I’ll always be here to protect them. To love them.

To kill for them.

Mine.

The End