Chapter Twenty Seven

[POV: Stephen]

The night of my wife’s award ceremony had finally arrived. We were all dressed up and ready to head out, meeting Luke and Todd at the venue since Luke was also a nominee for the rising star award.

“Honey, where are you?” I call out.

“Coming down the stairs, sweetheart. I’m all set.”

I step into the hallway and, as always, she takes my breath away.

“How do you manage it?”

“Manage what, darling?”

“Leave me breathless every single time.”

“Does that mean you like my outfit?” she asks, twirling for me.

“Like? Honey, I ~adore~ it. Why else do you think I put a ring on it?”

Her smile lights up the room as she continues down the stairs. We grab our things and head out to the car.

“You look irresistible tonight, sweetheart,” she says.

I give her a soft kiss and help her into the car before we set off.

We pull up at city hall and quickly find a parking spot. We make our way to the entrance where we spot Todd and Luke.

“Good evening, guys,” I greet them.

“How’s everything?” Luke asks, pulling me into a hug.

“Hello, you two!” Todd chimes in.

“My girl!” Luke exclaims, hugging my wife and lifting her off the ground.

“Wow, you look stunning,” Todd adds.

“I’m a lucky man, right?”

“We all are,” Luke agrees. “She makes us look good.”

We all share a laugh as she blushes.

I take her hand and we head inside. After exchanging pleasantries, we find our table. Luke and Todd spot us and head off to get drinks for everyone.

When they return, my wife nudges me and whispers, “They've got us all scotch, how are we going to handle this?”

“Just watch and learn, sweetheart. I’ve got this,” I assure her. I give her a quick kiss and a playful wink.

As the ceremony begins, I quickly finish my drink and, while Luke and Todd are engrossed in the presenter’s speech, I switch my wife's glass with mine.

She intertwines her fingers with mine, rests her head on my shoulder, and whispers a thank you. I respond with a soft kiss on her forehead.

Luke's category is announced and we’re all thrilled when he wins. We stand and cheer as he collects his award and returns to our table.

“I'm so proud of you, babe. Well done!” Todd congratulates his fiancé.

“I told you!” my wife exclaims. “Next time, you'll listen to me. Well done, sweetheart.”

“Congratulations, man!” I add.

After congratulating Luke, we all sit back down and I reach for my wife's hand again.

Todd leaves and returns with more scotch for everyone. Like before, I switch glasses with my wife when no one is looking.

This continues throughout the night and I won’t lie, I’m starting to feel pretty tipsy.

When my wife’s category is announced and she’s named runner-up in the state, my heart swells with pride.

“I couldn't be more proud of you, my love,” I tell her.

“We all are,” Luke adds. “Well done, sweetheart!”

“Look at you two winners,” Todd grins. “Well done!”

By the end of the night, I’m completely hammered from drinking two drinks for every one of theirs, and my poor wife is left dealing with my drunken antics.

As we’re leaving the hall, she’s holding my hand, trying to keep me steady, but I'm stumbling all over the place. She can't help but giggle at my state.

“Did you just laugh at me?” I slur.

“I'm sorry, sweetheart, I shouldn't laugh,” she says, still giggling. “Thank you for what you did, but you can't deny how drunk you are right now.”

“I’m fine,” I insist, wobbling a bit more. She laughs again so I grab her hips and press into her, trying to kiss her neck.

“Behave, mister, we’re in public.”

“That won’t stop me from getting under your beautiful dress. I want to taste you.”

“Oh, you're bad. Let's get you home,” she says, rolling her eyes and giggling.

“Yes, let's,” I agree. “Then I can have my way with you.”

“Ha! Mate!” Luke bursts into laughter. “You know you're not even whispering that, right?”

“Of course, I was.”

“You really weren’t, sweetheart,” my wife says.

“Well, don't look so sexy,” I shrug. “Then I wouldn't want to taste you.”

Laughing, Luke helps me to the car. “Come on, man.”

Luke and Todd help my wife get me into the passenger seat.

“Thank you, guys,” she says. “And congratulations again, sweetheart. I'm so proud of you!”

Luke hugs her. “You too, beautiful. Text me when you guys get home so I know you're okay?”

“We'll be fine. He'll be asleep the moment we get in.”

“No way!” I protest. “I'll be between your thighs.”

They all laugh at me. I don't know why they think I'm joking.

My wife gets in the driver's seat and we head home.

As she's driving, I keep leaning over to kiss her neck and trying to work my hands up under her dress.

“Easy there, big boy. I'm trying to concentrate.”

“Me too. Concentrate on getting into your panties,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows.

She laughs. “Slow down there, tiger.”

“Never, not with you.”

Trinity’s laughter rings out as we pull into our driveway. I fumble with the car door, nearly tripping as I step out. I have to lean against the car to keep myself upright.

My wife comes around to my side, her hands pressing against my chest to steady me. I grab her hips, pulling her closer as I start to trail kisses down her neck, towards her perfect breasts.

“Mm, I want to enjoy these before I have to share them.”

“Really, baby?”

“Mhmm, our kids are going to take all of daddy’s toys if they get their way, momma.”

Trinity’s laughter is music to my ears. “Oh daddy, you’re quite a sight right now.”

“It’s ~true~,” I protest. “They’re going to take daddy’s playground away from him.”

“Stephen Luciano! Did you just refer to my body as a playground?”

“But momma, I love playing with you. Show daddy some love, baby.”

“Darling, we’re in the driveway. Let's get you inside and to bed, okay?”

“Mm, let's get you naked in my bed. That sounds better.”

“Ha, I think I'm going to need some help here.”

I start to nibble and lick at her neck, pressing my hips into hers as she grips my bicep, her other hand busy sending a text.

I’m trying to slip my hand under her dress when Clint comes out.

“Ha! Man, you’re wasted.”

“Hey, fuck off. I'm trying to get it on with my wife here.”

“You know, you really should start using your bedroom more for that shit. I'm tired of seeing your white ass hanging out.”

“Piss off. Like I haven't seen you balls deep with Mia's legs over your shoulders plenty of times over the years,” I retort.

“Ha! Okay ~daddy~, you’ve got me there.”

“Oh stop it, you two,” Trinity says, giggling.

I wink at her. “You love it.”

“So do you, daddy,” Clint says. “Come on, let's get you inside.”

“Asshole,” I mutter.

I try to wrestle with him, and we both end up laughing so hard I nearly topple us over with my unsteady legs.

“How the hell did he get this drunk?” Clint asks Trinity.

“That’s a story for another day,” she replies.

“Do I even want to know?”

I watch them both, laughing their heads off at my expense. I’m so drunk, I don’t even realize what I blurt out next.

“It's not my fault I managed to put two babies inside her, so I had to drink her scotches, too!”

They both freeze, turning to stare at me.

Just as I blurt it out, Mia walks out to see what the commotion is.

“Oh my ~GOD~! You’re pregnant?!”

~Shit~. My wife is going to kill me.