Page 101 of Triumphant Kings

SEVERAL MONTHS LATER

Sadie

“Iwould die for him.” Grayson sighs dreamily as he stares down at our son.

“So would the rest of us,” Preston says, rubbing his hand down over our son’s blond fuzz.

“He’s perfect,” Declan says, cupping my face as he presses a soft kiss to my lips. “You did so good. I’m so proud.”

“Thank you.” I smile back, sighing as I settle back into the hospital bed. “I feel like shit.”

“Well, you look like a fucking goddess,” Collin says from where he stands next to Grayson, cradling his bandaged hand to his chest.

He’s pissed he can’t hold the baby. That would be my fault. I may have squeezed his hand so hard that I broke three of his fingers.

“I’m sorry.” Tears fill my eyes again as guilt hits me for the millionth time.

“Hey.” Collin shakes his head, his stern eyes on me. “None of that apologizing bullshit. You just did something superhuman and gave birth to literally the best thing to ever happen to us. If breaking every bone in my body would help you even just the tiniest bit, I’d gladly let you do it.”

It’s so weirdly romantic, and it has me wanting to cry for a whole different reason.

“Next time, take him up on his offer. I think he would look funny in a full-body cast.” Grayson laughs. “I’d draw tits on him.”

“Fuck you,” Collin growls.

“Ah ah ah,” Grayson says. “Can’t touch me. I’m holding the baby.”

Smiling, I shake my head.

“Give him to me,” Preston says, even though there’s this terrified look in his eyes he’s trying to hide.

“But I just got him.” Grayson pouts.

Preston shoots him a death glare, and Grayson sighs, giving the baby over to Preston. He knows just as well as any of us that this is a big deal.

While everyone was over the moon excited when I told them I was pregnant, Preston was afraid the whole pregnancy that he wasn’t going to be a good dad.

No matter how much we told him that wasn’t going to be true, that just because his father was a monster, that wasn’t going to be him, he didn’t believe us.

But the moment Riker was born and he locked eyes on the sweet baby boy, I could see everything inside Preston shift, like he was going to try his damned hardest to be everything his father wasn’t.

And I know without a doubt he will be. Preston loves harder than he lets on, and I know it won’t be any different for this little one.

“He’s so small,” Preston whispers, settling onto the bed next to me. I shift to my side, curling into Preston and leaning my head against his shoulder so I can look down at our baby in his arms. “I’m afraid I’m going to break him.”

“You won’t.” I trace my finger down Riker’s soft cheek. “You’d never hurt him.”

“I’m scared,” Preston whispers as the other guys talk and laugh, excited for the new addition to the family, giving me and Preston a moment, just the two of us.

“You have nothing to be scared about,” I promise him.

“I want to believe you,” he says, looking down at the baby.

“I know this little man is going to grow up to be just like his daddy. Strong, brave, smart. Kind, loving, and loyal. A man who will fight for the ones he loves, never giving up. It’s in his DNA, you know.”

Preston’s eyes snap over to mine. “But I thought you didn’t want to find out yet?”

I shrug, a small grin playing on my lips. “I changed my mind.”