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MAKAYLA

I t feels so good to be back in Alex’s arms. I inhale his scent, realizing I’ve craved that mix of soap and cologne since Sweden.

His nearness zings through every synapse, reminding me just how much they all mean to me.

I’ve been lost without them, even though our time together was brief yet blisteringly intimate.

“God, you’re gorgeous,” he whispers, then pulls back, holding me steady as if he senses how vulnerable I am right now.

I gaze up into his eyes to see the kind of love that I’ve only seen in movies. They are my three princes, and at last I’ve found my way back to their castle.

“I’ve missed this more than I can say,” I whisper back.

A wicked stirring coils low in my belly, urging me toward dark, delicious things. I ache to strip off every layer and feel their hands gliding over my skin. But my head spins, and my limbs feel weaker than they should. Alex notices.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“You look a little pale,” Oscar says.

I turn to find all three Anderson brothers gathered around me. I offer a soft smile, hoping to ease their concern. “I’m just… tired from the trip.”

“Let’s get you some water, then,” Kellan says. “And an aspirin, maybe?”

“Sounds like a good start. So, what have you been up to lately?” I ask, making my way into the kitchen with Kellan at my side.

This is new territory for me—their territory—and I intend to make myself at home.

“Not much,” Alex says, following behind. “I’m more interested in what you’ve been up to. You got started on your winery, then? Who’s helping you? How is it going so far?”

I laugh, looking around for a cup. Alex senses my confusion and moves in front of me. His sweatshirt rides up, flashing those gorgeous abs as he opens a cabinet and reaches for the top shelf. He hands me a cup, his eyes full of gratitude.

“It’s exhausting.” I sniffle and blink back tears, realizing how much better I could’ve done for these three gentle giants of mine.

Kellan comes around and hugs me, pressing my head to his chest until I regain my composure. I hear the refrigerator door open and someone fills my glass. I focus on my breathing, not wanting to fall to pieces.

“You’re anything but okay,” Kellan says.

“I’m so sorry,” I gasp. “I didn’t realize how much I hurt you. I never meant to cause any pain. It was just that I was so convinced that what Melanie was saying was true.”

“We don’t blame you,” Oscar says. “We blame her. But no matter what, we want nothing but the best for you. Honestly, I’m just thrilled that we can put this all behind us.”

“Yes, of course,” I say, pulling back from Kellan just far enough to accept the glass of water from Alex.

I drink slowly, feeling peace unfurl through my body. I’m home here, with them. Home is anywhere with them, in fact.

“The look in your eyes steals my breath,” I whisper to Kellan.

There are no words that can express what I’m feeling. After denying myself pleasure for so long, I’m ready to ease back into it. And I can tell that this is no fleeting arrangement between us. We’re all in it for the long haul.

“Now, now, you’re stealing my lines.” He chuckles, then plants a kiss on my temple.

“Can I say I’m sorry again?”

“No,” Kellan says, tilting my chin up so that he can gaze into my eyes. “We’re done with all that. Just promise not to run away again without talking to us first.”

“I promise,” I say, pouring my heart and soul into the vow.

And just like that, the last of the lingering doubts between us melts away. That doesn’t mean everything will be perfect overnight. We’ll need time and patience to figure it out, to work on this relationship, to build something lasting.

Brick by brick.

Kiss by kiss.

I reach up to caress Kellan’s jaw, the prickle of new stubble tickling my palm. “Are you growing a beard, Mr.Not a Hair Out of Place?”

“No,” he replies simply. “But if this bothers you…”

I press my lips to his, and he lets me set the pace. “Not at all,” I whisper.

His arms circle my waist, warm but without pressure. Right now it’s just him and me, standing in the kitchen, reconnecting. Then, suddenly, he sweeps me off my feet.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he growls.

I slide my hands behind his neck for leverage. He scoops me up, laughing in that adorable, boyish way of his. He carries me down the hall to a back room, kicks the door open and twists sideways to fit us through the frame.

“Really? I couldn’t tell,” I giggle, aware that we left Alex and Oscar behind.

“Then maybe I need to be a tad more expressive.”

They’ll join us soon enough, but for now Kellan has taken charge—and I don’t mind one bit.

He eases me down onto the bed before kissing me hungrily. I close my eyes as the approaching footsteps echo through the apartment’s main hallway.

“Something feels different about you,” Kellan muses, gazing at me with a twinkle in his eyes. I look up and see Oscar and Alex standing beside the bed, eager to join us.

“Maybe I’m truly happy for the first time in what feels like a lifetime,” I reply, then pat the sides of the bed. “Alex, Oscar… Come… Sit here.”

They climb onto the mattress, hunger blazing in their eyes, while I kick off my shoes. Kellan takes that as an opportunity to playfully wrestle with me, pinning me to the bed and straddling me with his muscular legs.

I swat at his thighs in mock protest. He grins down at me like a kid who just won a game of tag. I reach out for Alex’s hand and he takes it, giving my knuckles a chivalrous kiss.

“Come here, you!” I yank him down beside me so that we’re lying side by side. Then I reach over for Oscar who comes just as easily, surrounding myself with my lovers. “Ah. This is the life…”

“You’ll have to give me a second,” Oscar says. “I dreamed about this moment so many times, I might have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not still sleeping.”

“I can pinch you,” Alex suggests.

“By all means, try.”

I can’t help but laugh at their boyish charm. “Tell me one thing you’re grateful for today,” I say with a soft, dreamy voice. “And it can’t be me.”

Kellan leans back, his erection grinding deliciously against me. I want to bottle this moment before we go up in flames. Staying grounded now will only make the explosion later that much more intense.

“I’m grateful that the sun came up,” Kellan says finally. “I wasn’t sure it would continue to do that as long as you weren’t around.”

Oscar rolls over onto his side to face me, propping himself up on one elbow. “I’m grateful that things have a way of working out, even when we think they won’t.”

“I’m grateful for good wine,” Alex says. “And I can’t wait to taste yours.”

“Alex, that is years from being market-ready,” I reply.

“I don’t care. I’m not going anywhere, nor am I in a rush. Good things take time, don’t they?”

Alex rolls toward me, sliding an arm across my belly. He nuzzles against me, feathering kisses down my neck.

I close my eyes before they can roll back in my head. This is exquisite. Yet I want to savor this for as long as I can.

“Guys,” I say, sitting up and sliding my legs out from beneath Kellan.

All three perk up, surrounding me. My heart rate triples. I’d almost forgotten how incredible it feels to be surrounded by my lovers—mine and mine alone. “I forget what I was going to say.”

Kellan laughs and pounces on me. “Even better!”

“You’ll remember it later,” Alex stands up to remove his shirt.

I kick and squeal with laughter as we collapse into a tangle of pent-up energy. We’ve denied ourselves for so long; there’s no stopping it now. I couldn’t push them away even if I tried.

Truth be told, coming here was the first step in healing myself. Knowing they still love me—just as they did when we played video games in my parents’ basement—realigns something deep inside me. These are my soulmates. Life tore us apart, yet somehow we found our way back to one another.