EPILOGUE

ARDEN - 5 YEARS LATER

“Come for me, Princess,” Jackson whispers as he eases in and out of me from behind, hitting my G-spot perfectly with the head of his thick cock. “They’re gonna be here any second. You need to hurry.”

“Right there,” I breathe as heat begins to coil tightly in my core. “Fuck…don’t stop. Please.” He doesn’t let up, reaching around and using the pad of his middle finger to flick my clit so expertly, every muscle in my body begins to wind tight, craving that moment of release. And when he picks up speed, fucking me at the perfect pace, I’m swept away, losing myself to the rush of ecstasy as it crashes into me. I cry out, slapping my hand over my mouth in a seemingly unsuccessful attempt to muffle the sound—because I’m pulled back to reality entirely too soon as a heavy fist bangs against the pantry door.

“Are you two fucking kidding me ?” Hawk whisper-yells through the thick wood. “You can’t go five seconds on our daughter’s first birthday without acting like horny teenagers? The Valentines are here.”

My eyes go wide as Jackson chuckles, finding his release and emptying inside me with a quiet groan. He curls his chest over my back, burying his nose into my hair until we’ve both caught our breath. Pulling out, he covers my center with the panties he’d pushed aside, and I stand from where I’m bent over the counter before shooting him a dirty look. “It’s not funny. You lured me in here by asking for help carrying out the snacks, and now there’s a strong possibility Riggs and Monroe just heard me have an orgasm.”

He spins me around, and I don’t miss the cocky grin that tugs at his mouth as he pulls me in for a passionate kiss. I immediately melt as his tongue slides against mine in a soft, deliberate caress. Sparks explode around us, and even though I just came, my body is already begging for more of him—not that it ever stops.

He breaks the connection, his eyes sparkling with adoration as he looks down at me. “It’s going to be a long day with everyone here, and I needed my fix before it got crazy. I wouldn’t have had to resort to lying and cheating if you’d just slow down for a second. You work too hard, baby.”

I sigh, smiling softly. “I just want Wyatt’s first birthday to be perfect.”

He takes my face in his hands, pressing his lips to mine once more. “It will be. And even if it isn’t, you’re still the best mom in the world.” I snuggle into him, grateful that he and Hawk always know how to keep me calm when my mind and body are going a million miles a minute. “Now let’s go before he loses his shit.”

I giggle as we open the door, immediately feeling judged by the way both Hawk and our daughter stare wordlessly as we exit the dark room. My expression goes serious, and I try to hide my amusement at their matching party hats. “Sorry,” I say, reaching out and taking her from his arms. Her toothy grin makes my heart do flips in my chest as a thick line of drool runs down her chubby little face.

“Yeah, right,” he replies playfully. “I bet.”

“You started this,” Jacks says to his best friend. “I’ll fuck our wife in there every chance I get, and you’ll only have yourself to blame.”

“Language!” I yell, attempting to shield Wyatt’s ears, but I can’t deny the butterflies I get every time one of them calls me that.

Although we aren’t legally married, we said our vows to one another in an intimate ceremony on the beach two years ago. It was everything I’d always dreamed of for my wedding, with more love and support than we could’ve hoped for—even from the public.

When we first announced our relationship dynamic, I expected the worst. And while we got our fair share of hateful comments from online trolls, it wasn’t nearly as bad as we had anticipated. After discussions with the Fury and the Flare, where we were assured that both teams would stand behind us, we were able to take on the world. And that’s how it’s been ever since.

“Give me my baby,” Monroe says, waddling into the kitchen with her giant bump leading the way. I swear, she’s been pregnant forever—but she and Riggs have two beautiful sons and one on the way, so I bet she’d tell you it was worth every single minute. I drop a quick kiss to Wyatt’s cheek, handing her over to her crazy aunt and leaving them to greet our other guests, but I’m stopped as a set of thick, muscular arms wraps around my waist.

“Hey there, Hellcat,” Hawk drawls, his mouth hovering next to my ear and sending warmth throughout my entire body. “After we’re done here, I’m taking you on a date—just us. Then, I’m going to bring you home, tape you up, and fuck you until you beg me to stop. Sound good?”

“So good,” I whisper, clenching my thighs together to calm the throb between them. Spinning in his arms, I look at him like a fool in love as he dips down and brushes his lips over mine in a sweet, but claiming kiss. It’s feather-light, yet somehow it still sucks all the air from my lungs just like it always does. He never fails to make me see stars, even after five years together—and as much as I’d love to disappear with him right now, I know I can’t. We have a party to host.

He shoots me a devious wink, patting me on the ass just as my dad and Gina approach. “There you are!” she says as I break away from Hawk and lean in for a hug, shuffling aside and stepping into my dad’s arms as he pulls me into his chest. They recently moved to Daytona, and it’s been nice having them close. Although I wish I could say she took Marcus up on his offer to coach, it didn’t happen. I’m grateful she’s still my agent, but the real pleasure has been watching her bond with our daughter as the most doting Mimi I’ve ever seen. We don’t know which one of the guys is Wyatt’s biological father—nor do we care—but it doesn’t matter because our family and friends would love her the same either way. “Is there anything I can help with?”

I quickly scan the room, making sure nothing is left undone. “I don’t think so,” I reply. “The food is all set up in the kitchen, Lark and Ace are picking up the balloons, and the rest of the guests are on their way. Why don’t you two sit down and relax?” Ushering them to the couch, I’m startled by a loud ruckus as a very tan, wide body pushes through the door.

“Party’s here! Where’s my niece?” Hayden yells through cupped hands, looking like he just stepped out of an ad for whatever board shorts fuckboys are wearing these days. He’s also new to the Daytona Beach lifestyle after moving here last year, and he’s been soaking up everything the city has to offer. I know Two-for-One Drink Night hates to see him coming, that’s for sure.

It wasn’t two weeks after his eighteenth birthday that Hawk got a message on social media from his middle brother. Apparently, his relationship with their father had become strained as he got older, and he began to see the manipulation for what it was rather than believing his brother would ever willingly give him up. Henry is still coming around, but that’s okay. I have faith that my husband will eventually get back all the things he lost.

“In the kitchen,” I say with a laugh. “Good luck prying her out of Monroe’s arms.”

He clicks his tongue, strutting past me and heading toward the kitchen. “Roe loves me. I’m just waiting for her to leave that zero and get with the hero.” His cocky smile is annoyingly adorable as Riggs pipes up from where he and Tanner are talking on the couch.

“You couldn’t handle her, Hayden. And you definitely couldn’t afford her.” I laugh, watching as the most important people in our lives gather to celebrate our little girl, my heart overflowing with love for each and every one of them.

If you’d have told me when I moved here to play for the Flare that I’d end up with two adoring husbands, a beautiful baby, two PVF championships—and hopefully more to come—along with so many amazing memories, I wouldn’t have believed you. It sounds crazy on every level—but here we are. And now that it’s all mine, I wouldn’t change a single bit of it for the world.

Curious about Friggle and Taylor? Get the answers to all your burning questions in this steamy bonus chapter !

Want to know what’s next from C.L. Rose?

Turn the page for a sneak peek!