Page 76 of Unbreakable Bonds (The Boston Romance #2)

EPILOGUE

With desperate need to be home, I park the car in the driveway, my heart already racing at the thought of seeing my family.

The moment I step through our entrance, familiar piano notes float through the air from an unexpected part of the house.

I drop my luggage, drawn to the music like a moth to flame.

Standing in the kitchen doorway, I'm treated to a sight that makes my mouth go dry. Swaying hips in a red satin bathrobe that hugs every curve, my wife lost in her own world. Like a lion prowling his prey, I close the distance and whisper near her ear, "Expecting your lover to visit?"

She jumps like a startled frog, and I use the moment to pull her against my chest, breathing in her familiar scent.

"Cole! You're home."

Before she can say more, I lift her off the ground.

Her legs wrap around my waist like they belong there, and her hands cup my cheeks as she rests her forehead against mine.

The sweet smell of her skin surrounds me as she traces my beard with gentle fingers before pressing a soft kiss to my lips. Home. Finally home.

"Missed touching this handsome face of yours."

"Where are the kids?" My voice is rougher than intended, heavy with need.

"The twins are still in dreamland, and Sam is at school."

I grin and position her on the kitchen counter, settling between her opened legs. While her hands explore my chest through my shirt, she bites that tempting lower lip as I untie her bathrobe, pushing the silk off her shoulders.

"Damn, is this your 'welcome home' outfit?" I ask, revealing smooth red lace underneath. Her nails dig into my arms when I brush my stubble across her shoulder, my hands finding their way to her curves.

"This needs to come off," she murmurs, tugging at my shirt.

A loud cry breaks the moment, and she drops her forehead to my chest with a frustrated sigh.

"Guess 'our time' has to wait."

I lift her chin, stroking my thumb across her lips while drowning in those bedroom eyes.

"Tonight, you're mine. We're showering together, and I'm going to worship the hell out of you."

Two separate cries fill the air. After setting her back on her feet, she secures her robe and takes my hand.

"Come on, your kids have missed you. They've burst into tears every time you ended our daily video call."

Hand in hand, we head to the kids' bedroom, my steps quickening at their cries.

"Mama!"

I burst through the door, throwing my hands up with dramatic flair. "Daddy is back!"

Both Axel and Harley stand in their cribs, and the way their eyes widen at the sight of me makes my heart squeeze.

"Dada!" Axel's voice hits decibels only a Walker child could achieve.

"Hey, buddy." I cross the room in three strides, scooping him up. His little fingers immediately find my face, tracing my features like he's making sure I'm real. I settle him on my arm, drinking in those sparkling forest green eyes so like his mother's.

"God, I missed you." I pepper his chubby cheek with kisses, making him giggle.

"Oh boy... your daughter disagrees with your approach, Cole."

I turn to find my sweet Harley perched on her mom's hip, her bottom lip trembling as she watches her brother. Those blue eyes - my eyes - fill with tears.

"Dada." The soft sniff and outstretched arms undo me completely. Heart melting, I hold out my free arm. Alisha chuckles, transferring our daughter. Harley immediately tucks herself into the crook of my neck, her little mantra of "Dada, dada" warming my soul.

Christ, the love for these kids defies every universal law.

They're turning one next month, and what a rollercoaster it's been. The endless nights were brutal, but we found our rhythm. Now, watching them grow, seeing their personalities emerge - it's everything.

I settle on the floor, placing both kids down. True to form, Axel immediately makes a beeline for his toy box, laser-focused on finding his train. But Harley? She clings to me like a baby koala, refusing to let go.

"Harley, honey. Daddy is staying," Alisha says, sitting beside us and stroking our daughter's back.

"Dada," Harley insists, arms locked around my neck.

My precious angel. When I tickle her sides, she erupts in belly laughs, her whole body squirming.

The sound of her giggles mixed with Alisha's laughter fills the room.

Even Axel glances over, curious about the commotion, before returning to his serious business with the toys.

"Come on, Harley, let's go downstairs. I brought presents for you and your brother." I stand, hoisting my little girl - who's now fascinated with my hair - over my shoulder.

"Cole, you're spoiling them." Alisha scoops up our son, giving me that look that's half exasperation, half love.

I lean in, stealing a kiss from those pouting lips. "Tonight, I'm spoiling you."

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the flush in her cheeks. "Actions speak louder than words, Walker."

I chuckle at my spicy wife as we head to the living room. Settling on the couch, I watch Alisha place Axel next to his sister. Their matching expressions of curiosity as I pull out the gift-wrapped presents make my heart swell.

The moment I place the first gift in Harley's lap, Axel's face scrunches in that way that warns of incoming drama. Sure enough, he lunges for his sister's present, yanking it away and triggering an ear-splitting scream from Harley.

"Axel, give your sister her present back."

He juts out that bottom lip - the same one his mother uses on me - but his grip on the stolen gift loosens when I produce another wrapped package. Harley, my clever girl, seizes her chance to reclaim her prize.

"This one's for you, buddy." Axel's hands shoot out eagerly.

"Dada?" Harley's already attacking her wrapping paper, tongue poking out in concentration.

I hand Alisha the last gift-wrapped box, and Axel tears into his with the single-minded focus he applies to everything. Those green eyes go wide when he sees the picture. "Mama!"

"Yes, Daddy bought you more cars."

My boy and his cars - a love affair that started the moment he could grasp things.

Alisha places the two toy cars on the hardwood floor, pushing them gently.

Axel's giggle is pure joy as he scrambles down, crawling at top speed toward his treasures.

He lifts the red race car, beaming at me with pure adoration.

"Dada." That one word, filled with such trust and love, melts me completely.

Meanwhile, my little princess needs help with her gift. Her face lights up when I reveal the interactive puppy, and the moment it flaps its ears and makes a sound, her giggle fills the room. She hugs it close, already in love. That's my Harley - all heart, just like her mother.

My girl's always been the vocal one - first to say Dada and Mama, now chattering non-stop from dawn till dusk. I set her down next to Axel, and she immediately starts telling her new puppy an elaborate story in her own language.

Settling next to my wife, I pull her close. "My heart was bankrupt without you guys."

We watch our kids play, content in each other's warmth, until a distinctive odor reaches us. I scoop up Axel, car still clutched in his iron grip, and head upstairs. On the changing table, I'm wrestling with a fresh diaper when disaster strikes.

"Oh shit!" I yelp as warm liquid hits my chest. Alisha's laughter rings out behind me as Axel continues his impromptu fountain display, soaking us both.

Click

"This one's going in Axel's one-year photobook," my wife announces between giggles, phone aimed our way.

She comes to my rescue, helping clean our boy while Harley sits on the floor, deep in conversation with her new friend. When I try to take Axel's car to clean it, he lets out a wail that could wake the dead.

"Axel, you're getting it back when it's clean."

But reasoning with an eleven-month-old is pointless. The second the car returns to his grip, the crying stops mid-screech, replaced by happy car noises as he zooms it across the floor. I rub my neck, exhausted but happy.

"Welcome home, honey." Alisha kisses my cheek, eyes dancing with mischief. "Time for coffee."

"Meet me in the shower in fifteen minutes." My body instantly goes on high alert as Alisha whispers these words in my ear.

She slips away, and I continue my conversation with Samantha, who's telling me about her new piano piece she's studying with Ricardo, her teacher from Julliard.

He'd contacted me two months ago, wanting to meet.

During our hour-long chat, I introduced him to Sam, and she'd blown him away with her talent.

When he asked about her attending Julliard, she'd explained she wasn't ready for New York yet.

Understanding completely, he offered private lessons whenever he was in Boston.

I'm secretly relieved she's staying - I'm not ready to let my Sam go yet.

The moment she heads to bed, I practically sprint through the house.

Entering our bedroom, I strip quickly, pausing in the bathroom doorway to appreciate the sight before me.

Water cascades down my wife's silky skin, her hands gliding over soap-slicked curves in a way that would wake the dead.

Unable to resist any longer, I step into the steam-filled shower, placing my hands on her hips.

"Let me."

Her lips curl into that knowing smile I love, and when those sparkling emerald eyes meet mine, my breath catches. Her touch trails down my chest, igniting every nerve ending.

"I missed my bulldozer," she whispers, voice heavy with need.

My fingers tighten on her hips. "Turn around, Mrs. Walker."

She obeys, but glances over her shoulder with that sassy look that drives me wild. "What are you waiting for? Or can't the bulldozer handle his woman anymore?"

With a growl, I show her exactly how much I've missed her.

"Welcome home, baby," she sighs.

I press a kiss to her shoulder, murmuring against her skin, "There's no place like home."

Later, wrapped in our bed with Alisha's head on my chest, I listen to the quiet sounds of our house - the twins' soft breathing through the monitor, the distant hum of the dishwasher, Sam's music floating down the hallway. Everything I never knew I needed, right here in my arms.

Alisha shifts in her sleep, nuzzling closer, and I tighten my hold. My fierce, sassy wife who demolished every wall I built. My Sam, whose talent and heart remind me daily of second chances. And my twins - Harley with her endless chatter and koala hugs, Axel with his serious face and car obsession.

They're mine. All mine.

And as sleep pulls me under, I can't help but smirk. All rights reserved, Walker style. No returns, no exchanges... and definitely no sharing.