"Is that what I think it is?"

I look up and barely hold back a laugh at Wolfe's horrified expression.

"What?" I shrug and turn the tattoo machine off. I blow cool air on my new ink and grin at him. "You like?"

He comes closer to inspect my bicep and shakes his head slowly. "Tattoos are permanent, baby girl."

"Wow, I had no idea. If only this was my profession."

He cuts me a dry look at my snarky words before looking at the ink again, blinking in disbelief. I can't quite read his expression but I laugh because I have absolutely no regrets.

"Relax, big guy. This one means a lot to me."

"But it's so ugly."

"You're the one who drew it."

"That's why it's ugly, Mel."

I snort and look at my bicep. I mimicked the drawing of the rose Wolfe drew that day he waited outside my workplace, knowing I was having a bad day. To get my mind off things he urged me to draw something and came up with this little number in the meantime. He's right—it's ugly. My man doesn't have a single artistic bone in his body. But I don't care because that day was the day I realized that I was going to fall in love with him. And I was right, wasn't I?

"I can't believe you inked my nipple rose," He mumbles and I burst out laughing. It totally looks like a nipple, which is what I'd told him the day he drew this for me.

"But it's yours," I urge. I stand up and shove his large body into the seat instead, climbing on top of him. His mouth twitches only slightly, his naturally stoic face giving way to that tender look he only ever reserves for me, his hands going to my ass to hold me in place. I run my fingers through his hair and smile. "That's why I got it on me for life. Because it's you and me for life, right?"

"You and me," He repeats gruffly, eyes softening.

He wraps his hand around the back of my head and pulls me down, pressing his lips to mine. My arms go around him immediately as I burrow closer into his warmth, his safety, his security. When I pull back, my grin widens.

"Happy anniversary, big guy."

"Three years of you being my wife," He confirms and brings my joined hands to his lips, kissing the insides of both my palms. "Don't think I'll ever get used to it."

"Because I'm too crazy too handle," I nod solemnly and his lips twitch again.

"It's the good kind," He shrugs in agreement and I smack his shoulder. He chuckles under his breath. "Is it my turn now?"

"Yup. Just give me a minute to wrap my ink up and then I'll do you."

His brow pushes up. "Right here on the recliner? I didn't know the benefits of being married to the owner of a tattoo studio included this. You're very generous."

"What do you think about going mute again? Because I have to admit, it crosses my mind sometimes."

He chuckles good-naturedly as I climb off his lap. He crosses his arms, silently watching me put some healing cream on the ink before wrapping up my bicep. As I watch him and his naturally brooding face I can't help but feel a little nostalgic.

"I don't think I've inked you since I did your back piece."

"Yeah. That was almost five years ago."

"Five years," I repeat, chest growing a little warm. "Hmm. Who'd have thought we'd get here?"

He raises a hand up adorably, his innocence peeking out. "I did."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, Mel. I used to lie down on that recliner and call myself an idiot for showing up to every single appointment you scheduled."

I tilt my head at him in curiosity. He's never told me this before. "Why?"

"Because every time I showed up I'd fall a little more in love with you. I was done for the second I grabbed you and chose you to be my artist instead of Lavender. Choosing you has always been my instinct so yeah, I knew we'd get here."

I feel myself soften some more as I go over to him and cup his face. I don't think I'll ever get used to him being mine. He's so unapologetically in love with me and the years that've passed haven't dimmed his passion at all. I guess it's fitting because I'm on the same boat. I don't love easy but man, I love the fuck out of my husband.

"I love you," I tell him out loud now. We're good at silence but we're even better at words.

Wolfe smiles and grasps my hips to pull me closer. "I love you, baby girl."

We exchange a kiss that flips my stomach over and I have to pull away before I become too greedy and really do do him on the recliner. His eyes sparkle back knowingly and I kick his boot in reprimand. Asshole.

When he takes his shirt off I do a whistle that colours his cheeks instantly. Serves him right. He's downright scowling by the time I've taken the shirt from his hands and fling it around in the air and call out all kinds of obscenities to him. You'd think he'd be used to my antics by now but he still flushes deeply, a true testament to the innocence he'll always have in him.

The two new tattoos are small so I do them fairly quick. I have to admit both make me a little emotional and I'm nearly misty-eyed as I work the tattoo gun. I'm still not comfortable being so vulnerable all the time but Wolfe knows that, so he merely keeps his lips on my forehead while I duck my head, not meeting his eyes and focusing on the tattoo on his chest. It's a small speaker symbol that has a little heartbeat coming out of it. He's a private guy before anything so he wanted an illustration instead of the words themselves, something only the two of us would know what means. I love you so fucking loud.

The second tattoo goes just as quick as I mark each knuckle on his hand with a letter until the name is formed. I smile wide at this one. I have to admit I'm inspired and might steal it from him.

"There," I blow on it and pull back. "Good?"

"Perfect," He murmurs, looking at both tattoos. Then his eyes meet mine. "Thank you."

I wink and get to wrapping him up.

There's a squeal behind us and we both turn around, laughing as our daughter walks over to us on wobbly legs and somehow still outrunning Corbin. He's a panting mess, bursting inside the studio and crouching over to set his hands on his knees.

"You know," He starts, breathless. "I always thought I'd love the gay uncle gig but I'm officially retiring. Your offspring cannot be contained."

"Somehow I find that hard to believe," I snort and pick her up when she reaches me, propping her on my hip. "She literally just learned how to walk."

Corbin scoffs. "I said what I said. Can I please go now?"

I shake my head in amusement and wave him off. I look down at my daughter expectantly. "Reese, were you giving your uncle a hard time?"

"No," She responds with a huge grin. What a little liar. Corbin might be on to something after all.

I sigh and smooth her hair back. "You got Mommy's troublemaker genes, huh? Aw. Daddy's gonna have a big ole' heart attack raising you."

Wolfe rolls his eyes while I snicker and reaches his hands out. I pass Reese who immediately lurches over to get to him. She's as obsessed with him as I am. Wolfe as a father makes me all kinds of reckless. I once used to think I'd never be a mother but watching Wolfe with our daughter in action, the little mischievous bundle she is snuggled against her father's broad and tatted chest, has put my ovaries on high-alert. They're demanding to be fertilized again and I don't think I can say no.

"Look, baby," He tells her quietly and spans his fingers out. "That's your name. See? R-E-E-S-E." He points to each knuckle as he spells out her name.

"No," Reese shakes her adamantly, her little finger wagging in her father's face. She's so bossy. "No, Dada."

Wolfe frowns. "What? Did I spell it wrong or something?"

"No," She huffs. She turns to me, a little glower on her face that makes me choke back my laughter. We are in so much trouble with this one. "No, Mama. No."

"You don't call her Reese," I remind Wolfe and understanding dawns on him. "Might want to correct yourself or her little fist will punch you out."

"That's right," Wolfe smacks his head dramatically, nodding. "I read it wrong. See, baby? It says 'Reese's pieces.' Daddy made a mistake."

Reese grins proudly and claps her hands in obvious approval. This time Wolfe and I laugh at the stunt she managed to pull on us. She's only a year and a half and she's already the one calling the shots. I can't say I'm surprised.

"Cooba!" Reese sings loudly. "Cooooba!"

I'm in hysterics when Corbin reluctantly drags himself back in my office. He winces at the way Reese smiles at him. I can't lie—it does look a little evil. "What do you want?"

"Play, Cooba!" She crawls off Wolfe's lap and walks over to him. She wraps her tiny arms around his legs and looks up at him expectantly.

Corbin raises a brow right back. "No, thanks. I'm good."

Reese bites him.

Commotion ensues when Corbin yelps and I quickly run over to do damage control. Corbin hobbles around the room while I sternly explain to Reese she can't keep biting people. She's made it a habit ever since her teeth came out and I've been trying to get it under control. Reese makes a little pouty face at my scolding and Wolfe is beside her in another blink, picking her up and coddling her and completely undoing my lecture. Well, gee, maybe that's why the kid is still a biter. I huff impatiently at the jerks. It's always two against one with them.

"Reese," My tone doesn't leave room for arguments. "Say sorry. You hurt Uncle Corbin and when we hurt other people, we apologize. Right now."

"Sowwy," Reese grumbles. She pouts up at her father who immediately takes bait.

"Good job, baby," He smooths her hair back. "My baby did such a good job, right? C'mon, Mel. She apologized."

I roll my eyes. "Play with Uncle Corbin, Reese. Look how sad he is."

"Am not," Corbin retorts. Wolfe holds Reese out to him and Corbin makes a dramatic hissing sound, clawing the air. Reese only giggles and Corbin's lip twitches in obvious reluctance because he can't resist her as much as he tries to. "Fine, you demon. Let's go."

Reese squeals happily when Corbin takes her in his arms and the two start bickering about who knows what as they leave my office. I toss a dry look at Wolfe who's already wearing a sheepish expression.

"I'm sorry, Melanie," He puts his hands up in surrender. "She made those eyes at me. I couldn't help it."

"Wolfe Emerson, you are the wall of fucking Boston. You don't budge an inch for anyone but you're scared of your own one-year-old daughter?"

"To be fair, I'm also scared of my wife."

"Grow some balls, assface." I punch his rock-hard gut and he doesn't even flinch. I glare up at him and he shrugs apologetically. "She knows she has you wrapped around her finger. If you don't help me out now you're on your own during her teenage years."

Wolfe visibly blanches at that and you'd think fucking Pennywise licked his ear or some shit. My husband is the scariest looking guy around but the thought of his little girl growing into a teenager makes his knees clatter together. Men.

"Okay, okay," He relents. "I'll work on it."

I wrap my arms around his torso and crane my head back to look at him. "For my sanity, I hope our next kid is more like you."

His eyes grow tender and he pushes my hair behind my ears. "You want another baby?"

"I've been thinking about it," I admit. "I know we just had Reese but I kind of want to start trying again."

"Then let's do it," He agrees and bend his head to kiss me softly. I melt into him, my earlier anger dissipating immediately. I can never stay mad at the big guy for too long. "I'm ready if you are."

I waggle my brows. "That recliner suddenly looks really comfy. What were those benefits you were talking about?"

He laughs, a rare sound I barely get to hear and I bottle it right up. I can't help myself from going up on my tiptoes to kiss him again, squealing when he picks me up effortlessly and walks us over to the recliner. Holy shit, he's actually going to do it. Sometimes I forget how much he's changed over the years and cracked free from the shell that once contained him. But no matter what, he'll always be the brooding and intense man that I fell in love without him having to say one fucking word. No matter what.

THE END (for the third fucking time why am I like this)

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Now would be the perfect time to mention Greg has a novella coming out for those who missed the news! Follow my Instagram as all the information will be posted there!

IG: @authoramberisabelle