The Butterfly Effect (Boggy Creek Valley 1)

My wife.

Two of the most beautiful words I’d ever heard.

“My wife,” I whispered as I kissed her.

Her eyes turned dark as she replied back, “My husband.”

“God, that’s like music to my ears.”

She grinned. “So you mentioned something about a closer look under my dress?”

Smirking, I lifted her skirt up. “And you said I was wicked.”

It didn’t take long for Willa to cry out my name after I found what I was searching for.

“I need this dress off, Aiden. Now!” she demanded as I peeked out from under her dress and ran my tongue over my lips. “Please.”

Standing, I pulled her up, turned her around, and got to work on the crazy number of buttons that went down her back.

“Who designs these dresses?” I asked, fumbling with the last three buttons.

“I’m convinced it’s all men. Fathers, to be exact, who want to make it as hard as possible for men to get them off on their wedding night.”

I harrumphed. “I think I’m going to agree with you. And if we ever have a daughter, I want the right to design her dress.”

Willa turned and looked at me. “You want a little girl?”

Smiling, I brushed a lose strand of hair away from her eye and tucked it behind her ear. “I want whatever we’re blessed with.”

“How soon do you want to start for kids?” she asked, a hopeful gleam in her eyes.

“Whenever you do.”

She dug her teeth back into that lower lip and then smiled.

“Do you want a big family or small?” I asked.

“Two more?” she asked, as if waiting for me to agree or disagree.

“Three kids sounds good, makes us a family of five.”

Willa searched my face, and I placed my hand on her cheek. “I cannot wait to see your belly round with my child growing inside of you. I want you to know, though, that I will love all of our kids equally. As far as I’m concerned, Ben is my son. I may not be his biological father, but he stole my heart the first time he smiled at me, just like his mother did when she was fifteen years old.”

My beautiful bride smiled as she said, “That morning, in my parents’ kitchen, something changed between us, didn’t it?”

I nodded. “It did. One small, innocent smile had a ripple effect on my entire life.”

Her blue eyes sparkled as she whispered, “Like a butterfly effect.”

I stilled—that was exactly what Dr. Sharpe had said. “Yes, exactly.”

Willa dropped the hand that held up her wedding dress, causing it to fall to the floor in a pool around her feet. The only thing she still had on after my little escapade under her dress was the strapless bra. I moved my hands from her shoulders to her back and quickly unclasped it, dropping it to the floor on top of the dress.

I greedily moved my gaze over her body. “Well, if we’re talking about starting a family, I think we should get to practicing right away. But first, I want to show you something.”

“Now?”

I laughed and nodded. “Now.”

“Okay, what is it you want to show me?”

Over on the desk was the folder I sent to the hotel earlier. I asked them to put it in the room, along with a bottle of champagne.

I walked over, picked it up, and then brought it back to Willa. She stood there, beautifully naked, as I handed it to her.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Open it and see.”

She gave me a sweet smile and opened the folder and then stared down at it. “House plans?” she asked, lifting her head to look up at me.

“You can make any changes you want to them; I was only giving you something to start with. I was thinking we could build a house up on that favorite hill of yours that overlooks the orchard.”

She brought her hand up to her mouth as sobs broke free. “Are…are you…serious?”

“Whenever you’re ready, we’ll start building it.”

“Oh, Aiden!” she cried out as she threw herself into my arms and held on to me. “I love you, I love this gift, I love my life.”

Smiling, I held her and said, “Ditto.”

Drawing away from me, Willa closed the folder, set it on the chair, and then gave me a look that said she wanted me.

“I believe we need to start practicing for a family to fill that house up with,” she purred as she sat on the bed and then pushed herself up into the middle and laid down. I crawled over her body, covering her with kisses as I worked my way up to her soft, delicious mouth. When I could hardly take another moment of waiting, I lifted up and slowly pushed inside of her.

“Aiden,” she breathed out as I buried myself deep. “Love me.”

Staring down into her eyes, I replied, “Always.”