Page 195

But neither withdraw, nor does my body push them out.

They remain where they belong.

Filling me.

Except...

“Out,” I rasp, the tension in my limbs and the raw ache between my thighs becoming too much.

Gingerly, with all the slow gentleness he possibly can, Van slips out of me. The gesture, no matter how careful, causes me to wince. Causes Lachlan to grunt.

“Okay?” he asks softly.

I say nothing for a moment as I pull myself off Lachlan. The tender opening pangs with the motion. It throbs. I know based on the soreness alone that I need to take a day or two before we do anything else.

“Evie?”

Shuffling to a sitting position, all my weight placed more on my right side rather than center, I nod. “Sore.”

Van kisses me softly on the lips. “We’ll take care of you.”

I don’t argue as they begin moving around me.

Van slips off the bed first. He pads into the bathroom. The light flares on and I hear the water rush in the tub a moment later.

Lachlan gently lifts me into his lap. His hand moves lovingly along my spine, hips and thighs in unhurried kneading. His lips graze along my temple and down the side of my face, tickling my skin with his stubble.

“You okay, sweetheart?” he murmurs.

I take a deep breath and nod. “Didn’t realize the possibility of me being pregnant would cause such celebration.” I tip my face back on his shoulder and grin. “Or trying.”

His features soften into one of such sweet affection it closes around my throat. “Do you want to?”

“Have a baby?” At his nod, I shrug. “I honestly never thought about it before. I always thought it would be a discussion between me and the person I was with.”

“And now?”

Warmth creeps into my cheeks and I lower my gaze to his chin. “I’m not opposed to it. As long as you want to have a baby with me knowing it may not be yours...” A new dread settles in my chest, and I nibble on my lip. “Do you still want—?”

“Yes,” he says before I can even finish.

“Even if it might not be yours?”

“It is mine,” he corrects smoothly, without a speck of hesitation. “I didn’t get a say with ... Bron,” he falters like he hadn’t meant to say the name out loud. “I was young, and I had no idea what I was doing. It all happened against my will with someone I didn’t even like.” He hooks a finger and lightly sweeps back a strand of hair off my cheek “I don’t want to wait for anything with you. I’m ready to start a whole life with you and Van and all the babies you’re willing to give us, or no babies at all. I just want you.”

I kiss him because how did I ever get so lucky? When did my gray little world find these men who are everything I don’t deserve?

“Love me?” I ask, unsure and a little nervous.

His lips curve. “So damn much.”

EPILOGUE

EVERLY

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TWO YEARS LATER...