EPILOGUE ⇆ ANGELINA
YEARS LATER...
It's been four years since I married Rowan, four years since I walked down the isle to him, when he became mine on paper.
When we announced it to every single person out here, it was an unforgettable night, we didn't invite a lot of people, our friend group and a couple more friends, other than that, only my mother attended the wedding, and none of Rowan's parents came, because we didn't invite them.
Which was his wish, and mine, but I didn't admit that until far after the wedding, that was his choice and my opinion didn't have a place in it, till this day, sometimes I just keep recalling the night over and over again.
I've never been this happy in my life back then, hearing that from me, you'd think that our marriage went downhill, it's anything but that, it only went uphill from that point.
My fingers trace the picture I'm staring at, Rowan is carrying me in it, and I'm laughing, while he's staring down at me, that look always altered my mind, it stuck through it, it's one I still see everyday from my husband.
"Good morning, Angel." His raspy voice cuts off my thoughts and my lips tip upward as I look up from my hand, eyes clashing with his before they start descending down his naked chest.
Truth is, a part of me thought that there was a point where your attraction toward your partner would lessen a bit, but well, it still feels like I'm a horny teenager whenever I'm around him, it's both embarrassing but refreshing actually.
speaking of that, Rowan's physique has only developed along the years, he's gained more muscle, but he's still lean, the hard ridges are sharp, defined and seductive.
It never gets boring around here, not with him, I stand up and wiggle my eyebrows as I place the wedding catalogue on the bookshelf, he eyes it before his eyes snap to mine.
Glistening with a question, "Why don't we go on a date?" I start, teasing as I try to catch a hint if he remembers what today is, "I'd rather spend my anniversary with my wife alone, how does that sound?" He wouldn't actually, but his response is worded like that so he tells me that my tricks won't work as his lips tip upward in a victorious smile.
I nudge him hard, but it's still nothing, I bet he didn't even feel it, "Ouch." He mocks, and rubs his skin, i roll my eyes but a small smile stretches across my lips, "I got you something." My love language isn't exactly spoiling Rowan like that, it's the other way around.
I normally include physical touch at any possible opportunity, but today, he deserves a present from me, it's just the fact that I'm always so confused on what to get him.
But this time it wasn't so hard since I dreamed of it, yeah just like that, it's definitely a sign.
"I'm curious." His response pulls me away from my destructive thoughts, "Stay curious, you aren't getting it right now." I tell him the truth and his brows furrow in confusion.
My hand traces along his chest, stopping at my name that's tatted on the left side of his chest, right on his heart.
That was one of his presents to me, it's my favorite.
Over the years, normally, Rowan would make dinner, light up some candles and buy me a new dress or a flower bouquet, oh, he still isn't great in kitchen, but he's much better than before I gotta give him the credit for that though.
Even if our late dinners on that table have been filled of tense topics and slight arguments lately, i still love them, he brushes a strand of my hair away, "You're not mad about yesterday?" As if he can sense my mood.
"Or is this an apology? Saying that I'm the one who's right and all." He jokes and tilts his head to the side, "I still stick by my choice, but I'm sorry about my Burst out, however, that's still not the reason behind that, I got you a gift for our anniversary." I explain softly.
Looking up into his warm eyes that always send comfort through my body, security and calmness, "We'll see your taste." He arches a brow, not mentioning anything about buying me a gift, I don't mind if he didn't, but it's the fact that I'm almost certain that he did, but as he said, we'll see.
For now, I just stand on my tip toes and place my mouth down on his, he welcomes me instantly as his hands come around, caging me toward him as I drown in his warmth.
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
"Finally, I've been waiting all day for this." He exclaims dramatically before sitting down beside me, I roll my eyes at the act but smile widely, almost uncontrollably.
"We'll talk first." I start, it's more important than the present, actually maybe it isn't but I need to get this out before I cower away from the topic as always.
His expression sobers up and he clears his throat before nodding, looking so concentrated as he waits for me to talk, "I understand you, I know that you want kids." So do I.
He absorbs my words and stays quiet, so I ramble on, wanting to get this out, "So do I, we already discussed that before marriage, remember? It's just the fact that—I just want a little bit more time for myself, for us, alone, they're a big responsibility and I'm willing to give them my whole time and attention, so I'm being honest with myself, I'm not ready for it right now, I still want to live a little more like this." I breathe out harshly, feeling a pressure being lifted off my chest.
His brows furrow slightly as he leans back, maybe yesterday the words sounded different or gave off a completely different assumption, but I was just so angry, the way we both talked was wrong, but Rowan already apologized for it yesterday, I stayed stubborn for a couple of hours.
"You make it sound like having a kid will swallow up your whole life, it won't be a burden, Angelina." He says so gently it warms my heart, I sigh, "I know, I know, but looking back at how my mother grew up, she lost so—much because she was forced to have me in her twenties, there are so many things that she missed out cause of me." My throat clamps shut as I explain where that arose from in the first place.
Understanding seems to morphs into Rowan's eyes, "I understand, and I don't mind, I would never force you to have a kid, Angelina, it was just all in the way we talked yesterday about it, I'm sorry, I get you, you have time, we'll do everything we want, but again, we will still do them after having a kid, I get why you would think such a thing, while comparing yourself to your mother." He starts, sounding so sincere it makes a breath of relief leaves my mouth, not because of that, because he doesn't sound mad about it.
"But your mother's marriage and ours is different, you won't be sitting 24/7 with the baby alone as if she's your kid only, I'll help, I'm sure you already know that, but right now, you need to hear that again, cause I can hear it, the fear in your voice, there's nothing to be scared of, Angelina, you're not your mother, you're not your parents, none of us are, we're breaking cycles." He promises.
My voice seems to be caught in my throat as I absorb his words, nodding as I smile, relieved and slightly feeling comfort in my body due to what he just said, he inches closer to me.
Raising an eyebrow, "Why do you keep calling the baby she?" I ask, it's something I've noticed whenever we talked about that topic, he sighs, smiling softly, "Hopefully it will be." He wants a girl, I'm sure he'll be an amazing father for that matter, but yes, being a girl's daddy suits him well.
"I want my present, Angelina, i don't know what made you think that I'm a patient person." He murmurs under his breath after a while and a smile stretches across my lips as I wag my eyebrows.
"I want to see yours first." Through the day, it slipped that he brought me something, which made me even more excited, he sighs, most of his gifts lately have been dresses and I'm adoring it.
But this one seems like it's small, too small that he retrieves it from his pocket, it's a small box, it's a jewelry, fuck, it sends excitement rushing through my body at an incredibly fast pace.
It's a necklace, gold and classy, my smile widens as my chest tightens before he slowly pushes my hair away, placing it on my chest, before he pulls the necklace on my neckline, it hangs low as he clasps it, it's a little Angel, it means more than it looks like since he's been calling me that for years now.
I smile satisfactorily and touch it before turning and placing a quick kiss on his lips, then standing up excitedly, and just when he's about to do so, I motion for him to stay right where he is.
My fingers find the hem of my shirt as I slowly raise it upward right as I lower my sweatpants, just enough to reveal my hips, sure enough, the moment realization falls over Rowan's face is the same moment I smile widely in victory.
His finger reaches out as his thumb traces his name that's written in italic on my hips, "Fucking Stunning." He murmurs against my hot skin, before planting a kiss right there it almost wrenches a sound out of my lips.
I need to get a grip, asap, or maybe not, I smile widely, "Did you like it?" I tease, "I love it." He whispers in awe, gripping my hips harshly before standing up, his frame towers over me in no time as I look upward.
Meeting his eyes that are full of emotions.
"Happy anniversary, my love." He whispers against my lips, I smile.
"Happy anniversary, Husband." I say softly.
So I have some news for y'all, go to the next part‼️