Her throat burned and she couldn't look away from it. It was one of the best gifts anyone could have ever given to her because it was like a piece of her father was there, present in their growing, expanding lives, and Caleb's sentiment wasn't lost on her.
"She can listen to it when she goes to sleep at night," he said softly.
Maddie was destined to be an endless, crying mess that day, but it was okay because they were good tears. Caleb wrapped his arms around her, the music box pressed between them, and she told him, "I fall in love with you more and more every second. How is that possible?"
"It's entirely possible," he whispered to her, brushing his lips across hers. "Because I feel the exact same way, princess."
"Yeah?"
He nodded, pushing his forehead against hers. Then he repeated words she'd said to him. "And loving someone is a good thing. It's a beautiful thing, isn't it?"
"Yes," she whispered, smiling. "It is."
She sealed his words with a kiss.
EPILOGUE
"Oh my God, oh my God," Maddie whispered into Caleb's ear. "We should … oh … not be doing this right now."
Caleb bit her neck, not caring if he left evidence of this moment for everyone to see. His hips surged into her, feeling her clench around him. Maddie's body certainly thought that they should be doing this right now.
"Why not?" he rasped.
She bit her lip, dazed eyes meeting his. They were against the wall in their bathroom upstairs. Maddie had been getting ready for their daughter's second birthday party, but when he'd seen her in her dress, with her damn perfect legs and teasing eyes, he'd had to have her. Immediately.
"Maybe because guests will be arriving," she moaned when he reached down between them to find her clit, "any moment."
He gave her a grin, the one that she said made him look like a devil, as he strummed his fingertips between her legs. "I'll be quick then."
Maddie let her head fall back against the door and she let him have his wicked way with her. Her hands clutched at his chest and shoulders as he continued to pump into her. She loved to touch him. And it had taken a long time, but he loved it too. They still liked to play with their ropes, but being with her like this, with nothing holding them back, was something special.
Moments later, Caleb had to clasp his hand over Maddie's mouth to stifle her loud moans as she climaxed. And when he felt her pulse around him, he was right there with her, coating her walls with his hot seed.
Maddie sighed happily, smiling, and Caleb helped clean her up and straighten out their clothes. She looped her arms around his neck and pressed kisses to his lips.
"Love you, princess," he murmured into her kiss.
He knew that Maddie never got tired of hearing him say that, so he said it often. He'd said it when their daughter, Kinsley, was born on a sunny August afternoon, when he'd proposed to Maddie, tucked in a cozy cabin during a snowstorm on their first vacation together, when Maddie had received her Master's degree last June, during their vows when they got married almost a year ago, and every single day in between.
"I love you," she whispered, eyes glittering, giving him one last lingering kiss, like she never wanted to stop. Then she took a deep breath and pulled away. "Are we ready?"
"Let's go relieve your mom and Peter of babysitting duties," he said and they made their way downstairs. Friends and family were expected to arrive in the next ten minutes or so and Maddie still had to set up the food.
When they went out into the backyard, Caleb's chest threatened to explode when he saw Kinsley, his beautiful daughter. He wondered if he'd ever get used to the feeling. No matter how many times he saw her, it was always the same reaction. Cindy had been right that morning in the hospital. When Kinsley had been born, it was like another piece of his heart had torn free from his chest and was given to her on a silver platter. It was beautiful, yet maddening. The panic he felt everyday, worrying that something might happen to her, or to Maddie, was excruciating. Sometimes, he just stood in her nursery at night, watching her sleep, just to make sure that she was all right.
Maddie told him she felt it too and it made him feel a little better. And knowing that he had her, his beautiful wife, by his side meant everything.
Caleb strode over the grass to where Kinsley was playing on the little playground he'd set up for her and he snatched her up in his arms. She squealed in delight and clutched at his neck as he kissed her.