Egotistically Yours by Hayley Faiman

Epilogue

THREE MONTHS LATER

BETHANIE

This is what you wanted. What he wanted. What we wanted.I say to myself, reminding myself that this is all part of the plan, part of our plan. Tucker cries out and I remind myself again that this is what we were planning.

Honestly, I was kind of hoping that it would take a little while, but since I got pregnant the first time by mistake, I also figured it out to be immediate.

But not this immediate

The test confirmed what I have been thinking the past few days.

I’m pregnant.

Walking downstairs, I look around and frown when I realize that Laurent and Tucker are nowhere to be seen. When I went upstairs to take a shower, they were in the kitchen finishing up cleaning breakfast. Well, Tucker was tucked in Laurent’s arm and watching everything that was happening around him.

Now the house is quiet as I attempt to listen for them. Our home is on the outskirts of Boulder, away from the city of Denver without being too far away from civilization. Laurent bought an old ten-acre horse ranch and it’s amazing and quiet.

It’s exactly what I didn’t know that I needed after living in Dallas, after everything that happened with Peter and Zara. The tranquility and peace that surrounds us here is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. This is where I was meant to live, where I was meant to raise my family.

Making my way outside, I look out over the green pastureland and smile at the sight of Laurent and Tucker. Laurent is out by the small playground that we had built. Tucker can’t use any of the toys yet, but Laurent has his arm extended and his finger is pointing to the slide as if he’s explaining to him what exactly everything is meant for.

“Laurent,” I call out.

He turns around, his eyes catching mine and he gives me a grin. “When will he be old enough for this?” he asks.

“When he can hold his head up longer than just a few moments at a time,” I say with a laugh.

He smiles, then makes his way over to me. Tucker reaches out for me when they’re close and I take him from Laurent’s arms.

“I want to talk to you,” I say softly. He grunts but doesn’t say anything else as he waits for me to speak. “You wanted more children, right?”

“Bethie?”

“This is our forever and you’re here for good?”

“Have I given you any indication that I’m not?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

He hasn’t given me even an ounce of an indication that he isn’t in this a thousand percent. The house is half in my name, the cars are as well. We share a bank account, we’ve started the process of legally changing both mine and Tucker’s name, and Laurent has a will in place that leaves me the sole beneficiary of everything he has, including his trust. We’re as good as married, without actually being married.

He’s come through with every single thing that he’s ever promised me. I wasn’t sure that any of it would happen, but as soon as we moved to Colorado, he put all the balls in motion and my life is a dream come true.

I don’t need to be his wife, because I feel like I’m so much more than that. I’m his partner, completely and fully his partner.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out.

Laurent’s eyes widen and then his lips curve up into a huge grin. “You’re what?” he asks.

“I’m pregnant,” I repeat.

Without skipping a beat, without a moment of hesitation, he takes a step toward me, then another, and another, until he’s almost pressed against my body. Laurent lifts his hands and he cups my cheeks.

His eyes search mine, his thumbs slide along my bottom lip, then he tilts his head to the side, and his lips touch mine. His kiss is long and wet, hard and owning. His hands are trembling and so is my entire being by the time he lifts his face from mine.

“I love you, Bethie,” he rasps. “So fucking much.”

My lips curve up into a grin. “I love you too, Laurent. I’m terrified to have another baby again so soon, but do you know what trumps my terror?” I ask. He doesn’t say anything, his grin completely taking over his face. “My excitement,” I admit.

Laurent chuckles, his body shaking slightly. “You’re an amazing mother, Bethie. You’ll be amazing with this new baby too. They’ll be close together and our lives will get a little crazier, but you know what?”

I hum, waiting for him to finish, my eyes connected to his and unable to look anywhere else. Laurent Astor owns me, mind, body, heart, and soul.

He leans forward, his mouth against mine before he speaks again, his lips touching mine the entire time he talks.

“It’s going to be chaotic, crazy, and absolutely perfect in every fucking way.”

With a low growl, he kisses me again, hard and deep. I’m reminded for the millionth time of just how much I love this man. Just how much I crave him and need him, but also just how much I want him, too. Laurent is everything. He always has been. He and Tucker are my entire world. I can’t wait to add more to our chaos.

ONE MONTH LATER

CHRISTMAS IN COLORADO

LAURENT

Rolling over in bed,I wrap my arms around Bethie. She hums, letting out a long sigh before she turns around to face me. She’s been working her ass off the last few weeks, trying to make this home as Christmas wonderland as possible.

She has succeeded.

I’ve never seen so much Christmas in one place in my entire life. Lifting my hands, I cup her cheeks and look into her eyes as they slowly open. She smiles, letting out another sigh. She’s exhausted. I know that she has to be and I’ve done what I can to help her, but the woman won’t rest until everything is perfect.

We’re hosting Christmas.

Not just for her family, but mine as well. The entire Astor bunch is going to be here celebrating. It will be the first time anyone in my family has come to Colorado to see us, plus Tucker’s first Christmas.

It’s special, at least it feels special. Maybe it just is for us.

Then there’s the fact that Bethie is pregnant again. Nobody knows yet and since everyone will be together, she’s going to tell them in just a few days. She wants everything to be absolutely perfect.

“You look tired,” I point out.

She smirks, her eyes searching mine. “You’re not supposed to tell women that, Laurent.”

Leaning closer, I wrap my arms around her a little tighter and hold her against my chest. Touching my lips to hers, I let out a grunt. Sliding my mouth across hers, I taste her lips before I pull away from her just a few inches so that I can see into her eyes.

“You’re pregnant and you’ve been pushing yourself, that’s all I meant.”

She hums, pushing her hands against my chest and straddles my hips. She places her palms against my chest, her head tipping down to look into my eyes.

“Bethie,” I rasp.

“You still love me, Laurent?”

I smirk. Lifting my hand, I touch the ring on her finger, a ring that will stay there until the day I die. Keeping my gaze focused on hers, my tongue slides along my bottom lip and I sink my teeth into my flesh as I continue to look up at her.

“With every bone in my body, baby.”

It’s her turn to sink her teeth into her bottom lip as she shifts her body and I feel her pussy at the head of my cock. Slipping my hand between us, I start to rub firm circles against her clit.

“Laurent,” she breathes as she slowly sinks down along my length.

With her palms pressed against my chest, she slowly starts to ride me. I let out a grunt, keeping one hand between us and the other grips her hip.

She lets out a whimper as her hips roll above me, over and over. Her breathing comes out in pants as she starts to move faster, grinding her hips harder as she searches for her release.

Bethie has been the longest relationship that I’ve ever been in and we have found our rhythm with one another. We can both come in seconds or draw it out for a long evening of fun. It’s been the best time of my life and every day gets even better and I know it’s because I’m madly in love with her.

“I’m close,” Bethie breathes.

She doesn’t have to tell me, I can feel it. Her pussy flutters around my cock, her back arches, and her head falls backward. Her hair is growing out a bit more and as she arches, it touches the middle of her bowed back.

Bethie is fucking beautiful as she finds her release. I watch, holding back my own as she finishes. When she collapses on top of my chest, I move my hand from between us and wrap both of my arms around her back before I roll her over, keeping my hips between her thighs.

Keeping my eyes on hers, she looks up through her hooded eyelids. I fuck her slowly, taking my time and moving with slow, even strokes as I thrust into her, pulling out almost completely, then pushing back inside over and over again.

“You’re going to have my baby, again,” I mutter.

She hums, lifting her legs and wrapping them around my waist. She shifts and lifts her hips, meeting my strokes over and over. I’m on the edge, my back is tingling, my balls draw up and I know that I’m about to come again.

“I am, Laurent. Another beautiful Astor to grace this earth.”

Chuckling, I let out a groan as I move harder and faster. I can’t hold back my release. It’s coming and there’s no stopping it.

I’ve lost all control.

Pulling back, I slam into her hard, once, twice, and on the third time I bury myself deep inside of her and I let out a roar as my orgasm completely takes over my entire body.

Nuzzling her neck, I touch my lips to her throat, then kiss up her neck, lift my head to look into her eyes again.

“This baby will be beautiful because it’s yours, not because of me.”

She rolls her eyes and laughs. “Says the man with the most gorgeous face and family on earth. Speaking of, when does everyone arrive?” she asks.

“In a couple hours. We can do this again if you give me ten minutes,” I offer.

Bethie opens her mouth, then Tucker cries and I know that we’re done for a while. Climbing out of bed, I get ready for the day while Bethie grabs Tucker and starts to feed him. When she’s finished, I take him so that she can get ready for the day.

The doorbell rings just as Bethie is walking downstairs.

“They’re here,” she breathes.

I watch as her eyes move all over the room, trying to find something to clean, but there’s nothing. She’s been cleaning for weeks. With Tucker in my arms, I walk over to the door and I open it to see my entire family standing on the front porch, the snow all around behind them.

“It’s too cold for this,” Lucinda shouts. “Why did we even come here?” She pushes her way through, then stops right in front of me. She takes Tucker from my arms and kisses his cheek. “Oh yeah, now I remember why.”

I laugh and everyone files in, everyone except my dad, who is still on the porch. “Dad?” I ask.

He lifts his hand and motions for me to come outside. I do, but I’m confused. I don’t know why he’s out here and not inside. Closing the door behind me, I step out and that’s when my dad throws his arms around me in a huge bear hug.

“I’m so fucking proud of you, Laurent,” he mutters.

“Dad?”

“Equity Research, you came up with that on your own, you’ve worked your ass off and it shows,” he murmurs.

I snort. “I still take dividend money from my trust,” I point out.

He shakes his head. “That’s yours, Laurent. But this is something you’ve done. I didn’t help you. I didn’t do it for you. You have done this all on your own and I’m goddamn proud of you.”

I don’t say anything else and neither does he. My dad is proud of me, not proud because I’m being mediocre and showing up to work every day, but proud because I’m making a name for myself. I’m doing it and I’m doing it on my own. I’m doing what I should have done all along. I’m being a fucking adult.

“Dad?”

He stops, his hand on the doorknob. “I wanted to tell you first,” I begin. He freezes in his spot. His eyes widen and he watches me. “We’re having another baby.”

He blinks once, then his lips curve up into a grin. “Seriously?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I say, nodding my head.

“I’m happy for you, Laurent. You got a good life and you got it early. You’re lucky.”

Shaking my head, I walk over to my dad. “I only have this life because of the things you taught me as a kid. Couldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”

He shakes his head with a snort. “Don’t give me any credit, Laurent. This is all on you and I’m proud of the man you’ve become, career-wise and as a father and partner.”

Without another word, mainly because I might cry if I tried to say anything, we walk into the house together. I look around my living room. It’s decorated to the extreme with Christmas decor. It’s loud, everyone is talking and there is a toddler running around.

It’s chaos and it’s goddamn perfect in every way.

This is what I never in a million years imagined my life would be like. I thought I would always live in a penthouse in the city. I thought that I’d have a different model to bang every day of the week.

Thinking about that now, living alone in a penthouse, banging a different woman every other night. It’s fun for a little while, but after a while it sounds miserable. This life full of dirty clothes, a messy lived-in house, dishes in the sink, the same beautiful woman to share my day and nights with—fucking heaven on earth.

I wouldn’t trade this for one night of my old life.

This chaos. This same woman every day for the rest of my life? This is what dreams are made of.