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Epilogue
VALENTINE
Awarm summer breeze blew my hair into my face, annoying me as it stuck to my lip gloss and blew over my sunglasses. It didn’t matter though, really, because I was with my guys, on a daytime date at a local restaurant near the water of Lake Michigan. We were gathered on the outdoor patio, having coffee now that we’d eaten.
“You two okay over there?” Derek asked, making me turn my head in his direction. Three months had passed since our night at Club Sin and we’d been back a few times. We’d found our own haven at Derek’s place, though, a place where we could all come together. That’s where we’d been the night before, at Derek’s wrapped up in a sweaty tangle of arms, legs, and mouths. I loved every second of it. Even if sitting was a bit painful this morning.
I smiled and nodded reaching out for his hand. I noticed an older couple across from us, watching me take Derek’s hand while Diesel had his arm draped along my back, resting on the back of the chair. Cameron leaned over from my right to kiss me cheek and look at me questioningly. I saw the old woman’s mouth drop open but allowed myself only a twitch of a smile. Let them be shocked, I thought, I didn’t care. I was the lucky one here.
“I’m fine. Are you fine, Diesel?” I said at last, turning my head in his direction. My stepbrother had spent every day since our night at Club Sin making up for his lie of omission in wonderful ways. He’d make us all breakfast some mornings, bring me small gifts like my favorite orange and cranberry muffins, and generally making life easier for me. It was nice and I enjoyed being pampered by all three, but Diesel had a lot more to prove than the other two. He did it well.
“I’m good, babe.” He leaned over to kiss my cheek before he sat back up. “So, what do we do with the rest of the day, guys?”
“Maybe head back to the house, see if we can make Val turn into a dripping puddle of need again?” Derek shifted his eyebrows over his sunglasses, making me laugh.
“I think I need a rest, but I could be convinced to do otherwise,” I loved how he teased me, how he made an effort to always let me know he wanted me, needed me in his life.
My suspicion that I loved them all had only grown into a deeper knowledge over the last three months, a knowledge that said I knew I was in love with them all and they loved me back. I felt tears prickle my eyes and was glad they were hidden, though I turned my face away to look at the lake.
“You know,” I started and paused, inhaling deeply before I spoke again. “This was kind of all about protection and sex when we started this journey. I know the idea was to form a relationship, but I didn’t think that would really happen. I’m glad it did. I’m glad I have all of you and, well, I care about you all so much it hurts and it’s turning me into a soppy mess. I hate it.”
We all laughed at my final words, but I ended up with three men holding my hands.
“I think we all feel the same,” Cameron spoke first. “You’ve turned this into something incredible, Val. Yeah, we’re here making it a relationship too, but you are the glue that holds us together. You make this all possible.”
“Thank you,” I have him a watery smile and reached for a napkin. “Don’t make me cry, you know I hate to cry.”
“I do,” Diesel broke in to say. “And I promised I’d never give you a reason to cry. I adore you too much to do that.”
“You’re my everything, too, Diesel.” I bent over and kissed him, my palm on his cheek as I spoke those words for the first time. “I still want to jump your bones every chance I get, but you mean so much to me too.”
“I think tears of happiness are acceptable,” Derek interrupted but his smile said he didn’t do it out of malice. “Tears of happiness won’t get you killed, Diesel. Other kinds of tears might, but those won’t.”
“Derek, you’re always going to be my protector, aren’t you?” I grinned at him, and he moved his sunglasses up to wink at me.
“Absolutely, angel,” Derek spoke softly, words I never thought I’d hear him say. My heart swelled and the tears started again.
“Fuck, stop!” I protested turning to Cameron, hoping he’d take pity on me.
“Don’t come to me, Miss Murphy.” He pecked at my forehead with his lips, and I sniffled.
“You’re all terrible men and deserve to be whipped. With one of those whips that has seashells in it. And leather, it should definitely be leather,” I said, prickly at the outpouring of emotion. I still wasn’t good at it, but these men were all teaching me to accept the love they gave me and to be a little…softer. “Is one of you going to take me home and maybe fool around?”
I ignored my earlier comment about needing a break from sex, hoping to change the subject, but they wouldn’t let me.
“No, you need a break, you said,” Cameron took the lead this time. “That means no sex for two days, missy.”
“Dammit, no, Cameron, that’s not what I meant,” I said quickly, knowing that in those two days I’d be denied an orgasm, but I have to admit, it was fun when they finally did let me get off. “I’m totally able to have sex right now.”
“Nope, you said it, Val. You have to deal with the consequences now.” Derek got up from the table, prepared to go pay so we could leave. “Ready to head back home then?”
“No!” I spit out, pouting prettily at him, but I couldn’t maintain it. I grinned, knowing whatever came next would be awesome, as everything with them had been so far. “Maybe?”
“We’ll take maybe,” Diesel said, getting up. “Come on, let’s get you in the SUV and home. But maybe we’ll put you in the backseat with Cameron while Derek drives? I know you like how he goes down on you in the most inappropriate places.”
“I do,” I breathed against Diesel’s lips, my body already on fire for all three of them. “Promise?”
“Always, Val. Forever.” And I knew they all meant it, even if Diesel was the only one that said. They were my forever. My home. It was all I’d ever wanted. Three men who were crawling into my heart promising to be with me always.
