AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m young, I know. I was told this by a dozen different people in the hospital, but the desire to have a piece of my guys grow within me, to give it life, is something I want so desperately, I can taste it.
Most girls would worry that the men they’d fallen in love with while under their protection would be ready to move on once the job was over. I’ve never had that concern. Now that the job is over, I know we can move forward in our lives together. There’s no me without them, and I know it’s the same for them. They’ve shown me in so many ways since our first meeting that I’m a priority.
I’m singing along to the radio when Flounder comes barreling into the kitchen, his lopsided grin spread wide. Dropping down to the floor, I scratch his ears and give him kisses. “Think you could handle living here?” He lets out a bark and stares back at the doors leading outside.
After filling his food and water bowls, I push open the French doors and enjoy the breeze still kicking around outside as it wafts through the house.
The aromatic smells of cooked vegetables and spicy sausage seem to do the trick in waking up the men of the house. Grumbling sounds travel from the stairs as I pour three cups of coffee and orange juice for them at the table.
“Little girl,” Duke growls as his arms wrap around me from behind. Kissing the back of my neck before he nips me has me grinning. “What are you doing up?”
“You guys have been taking care of me and Lorde, so I thought it only fair that I at least make us breakfast.” I give him a smile over my shoulder and get a smooch as a reward.
Noble is quick to spin me around into his arms. “You’re too good for us,” he growls, planting his lips over mine, licking across the seam of my mouth, and stealing my breath. “We’re keeping you, anyway.” My smile grows wider. “Sit, I’ll get everything to the table.”
I don’t get a choice as I’m plopped down into a chair next to Lorde. His warm hand cups the back of my neck and draws me closer to his body. “Good morning, pretty girl,” he greets before kissing me as well. I sigh into his mouth. I sure do love how they all need to kiss me so often. It makes a girl feel loved.
Epilogue
SOL
One Year Later.
Breathe.Forcing my body to do something it doesn’t want to is harder than I could imagine. It’s been over a year since I’ve been back here. I’ve been competing all year, but this is where everything went to hell.
Slipping the goggles over my eyes, I get into position and breathe.
Waiting…
Hoping…
I don’t flinch.
Bang!
My body hits the water before I have time to react. Muscle memory propels me on my way to the other end of the pool, and I pop up once for air before pushing off the other side and heading back to where I started.
I ignore everything and everyone around me as I focus on the end goal.
Winning.
I’d never cared before. I’m not even sure I do now. But my recent past has been transformative for me. I’ve been making my own choices, embracing the changes that have come my way, and when I decided to get back in the water, my husbands, yes, plural, were there to encourage me as I navigated through.
There was no pressure, no disappointment when I freaked out the first few times. But one thing I’ve learned since my life exploded those many months ago, it’s that I do love to swim. I always have. Unfortunately, that love was stolen from me somewhere along the way and replaced with the burden of success every time I dipped my toes in.
After discovering I wasn’t pregnant, I decided to do this for me. I went on the pill, hoping to have some time for myself while also taking care of my body in a way that suits my needs, and dove in headfirst.
My lungs scream for air as I reach the end of my journey, and as I push up through the water, gasping for air, the blowhorn blares as my ears pop and a satisfying smile graces my lips.
I won.
And for the first time, it was for me.
The crowd cheers. I’ve been a bit of a redemption story this past year, and the first people to meet me as I gain my feet are my husbands. I mentioned them, right? We married on the beach on New Year’s Eve in Jamaica, and even though Noble is legally my husband, we all have the same surname now. I couldn’t be happier.
“Fucking proud of you, pretty girl.” Duke is the first to pull me into his arms and lay a lingering kiss on my lips that heats my body up like an inferno.
“I knew you’d do it.” Lorde pulls me into his embrace, lifting me and burying his head in my neck, licking across the bite mark that has never gone away. Mercy, I love the way this man marks me.
