Page 21

A small giggle wakes me, followed by a soft thud as Lily launches herself onto the bed. She crawls over Talon, her little arms and legs a flurry of excitement. “Wake up! Wake up! It’s fair day!” Her voice is bright, filling the room with more energy than I’ll ever have at this hour.

Gone is the fragile little girl, and in her place, someone strong and fierce. I can’t wait to see the woman she grows up to be.

Talon grumbles something unintelligible, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into a playfully rough embrace. “You sure it’s today? Thought that was next week.”

Lily squeals, trying to wriggle free, but her giggles betray her. “Noooo. It’s today! Nia, tell him!”

I sit up, running a hand through my hair, smiling at the two of them. “It’s today, Talon. And I think she’ll explode if we don’t get moving.”

He exhales, releasing Lily, who bounces up and down, her face glowing with anticipation. I watch them, my heart so full it could burst. The last six weeks have been a blur of disbelief and happiness, a reality I never imagined could be mine. When Lily’s parents agreed to sign guardianship over, it felt like a dream.

“You’re mine,” I whispered to Lily the day it was final, holding her tight, her small arms wrapped around me. “Forever.”

“Forever,” she echoed, her voice soft and sure.

Now, she belongs to me, and I’m still not used to the bliss of it. The way the world feels open and bright, the way our little space is filled with laughter and love. I’ve watched her grow stronger, healthier, her spirit as fierce as ever.

“We’re goin’, we’re goin’,” Talon says, sitting up and pulling Lily into his lap. She’s still bouncing, her energy infectious, and I can’t help but laugh. “You ever been to a fair before, kid?”

“No!” Her eyes are wide, and she claps her hands together.

“Really?” he teases lightly. “I thought you had, so I thought we might give it a miss...”

Her eyes widen, and he chuckles low.

“Just kidding.”

She exhales, then her face lights up again. “Do they have popcorn?”

“Popcorn, candy apples, rides,” Talon ticks them off, one by one, his voice teasing. “Maybe even a pony or two.”

Lily’s mouth forms an O, and she claps her hands again, more insistently this time. “Get up! Get up!”

I swing my legs over the side of the bed, feeling the soft carpet beneath my feet. The thought of the fair, of seeing it all through Lily’s eyes, fills me with a joy I’ve never known. It’s been a long journey to this moment, to this life, and sometimes I still can’t believe it’s real.

Talon watches me, his gaze steady and full of something that makes my heart skip. Love.

“How’d we end up with the most impatient child in the world?” he asks, his tone mock-serious.

I grin, leaning over to kiss him, the contact quick but electric. “No idea,” I say, pulling back and meeting his eyes. “But I wouldn’t trade her for anything.”

Lily jumps off the bed, a whirlwind of motion, and runs to the door, her little arms pumping, pigtails flying. We hear her footsteps recede, then the soft thud of her colliding with someone.

“Kael!” Her voice is bright, triumphant. “I’m going to the fair!”

Talon chuckles, the sound rumbling in his chest. “Poor bastard,” he says, pulling me closer, and I can’t help but laugh with him.

Outside, Kael’s voice is muffled but amused. “Whoa there, Lilypad. You gonna leave me behind?”

Then Lily again, breathless. “I gotta get my boots!”

Talon’s hands are on my waist, and before I know it, he’s lifted me effortlessly onto his lap. I feel the heat of him through my skin, and my breath catches as I stare at his lips, longing to get lost in them before we go. But he and I both know, that’s not going to happen.

Kids.

Who knew.

His eyes lock onto mine, and everything else fades away, he doesn’t seem bothered by the fact that Lily could come back in. No, he presses his lips to mine. The kiss is deep and unhurried, a promise more than a claim, and my heart stutters in my chest, then settles into a slow, fierce beat that matches his.

He pulls back slightly, enough to murmur against my mouth, “Later, I’m takin’ you for a ride.”

I look at him, my pulse thudding. “A ride?” I arch a brow.

“On my bike.” His grin is wicked, a flash of teeth that sends shivers down my spine. “And maybe me, if you’re lucky.”

I can’t help the way my face heats, the way a laugh escapes me, breathless and exhilarated. “Oh, I was looking forward to the bike,” I tease.

Talon’s expression softens, a rare tenderness cutting through his usual hard edges. “Can fuck me on the bike, if you’re feeling energetic.”

My cheeks flush.

Oh.

Now that does sound fun.

Outside, we hear Kael’s voice again. “C’mon then, slowpoke. Let’s find those boots.”

I shift on Talon’s lap, the movement deliberate, feeling the way he tenses beneath me, a delicious ripple of energy between us. “I can’t wait,” I say, and I mean it in every way.

He grins. “Come on. Let’s get the kid to the fair before she busts a top.”

I laugh, climbing off his lap.

I could get used to this.

The family life.

Being with these two forever.

How did I get so lucky?

THE FAIRGROUNDS ARE a riot of color and sound, the air thick with the sweet smell of cotton candy and popcorn. Lily’s eyes are wide, taking it all in, her wonder contagious as she pulls us from ride to ride, her small hands gripping ours. Talon’s arms are full of stuffed toys, fairy floss, and other bright and useless things she has managed to convince him to buy.

The two of them go on a fast ride, and I watch with laughter as Talon’s face twists, looking less than impressed by the speed.

Big tough biker, huh?

“Did you see him?” Lily laughs after it, her hair wild and her cheeks flushed. “He was going to vomit!”

I grin at Talon, who’s looking a little less steady on his feet than usual. “I saw,” I say, biting back a laugh. “I think he needs a break.”

“No way!” Talon protests, but the playful glint in his eyes gives him away. “I’m just gettin’ started.”

“Then let’s go!” Lily pulls us toward the Ferris wheel, her excitement unending.

We spend hours like that, losing ourselves in the joy of it, in the freedom and the laughter. Talon wins Lily a giant stuffed tiger at one of the booths, and she carries it proudly, her face shining with happiness.

“I’m gonna call him Rook!” she declares, hugging the tiger tight.

“Rook?” I smirk.

“’Cause he’s big and scary, just like Wolfe,” she says, matter-of-fact, and I can’t help but laugh.

Later, as the sun dips low and the sky turns a soft, dusty pink, we pile back into the truck. Lily’s chatter fades as her eyelids grow heavy, and by the time we hit the main road, she’s slumped against her seatbelt, sound asleep, clutching Rook in her arms.

Talon glances over, a soft smile pulling at his lips. “Think we wore her out?”

“Not nearly as much as she wore us out,” I laugh.

We drive in comfortable silence, the engine a low hum beneath us. When we reach the club, Talon lifts Lily gently, carrying her inside. I follow, watching the way he moves with her, so careful and tender, and my heart swells with a fierce, uncontainable love.

He lays her down, tucking the blankets around her, and I stand in the doorway, feeling the enormity of our life together. It’s everything I never dared to hope for. Goddammit, I am absolutely in love with this man. Head over heels, completely his.

“Gonna join me out back?” Talon asks, his voice low, coaxing.

I nod, biting my lower lip, wondering if he has forgotten about the bike ride.

Outside, the night is cool and clear. The rest of the club is gathered around the fire pit, the flames casting a warm, flickering glow. Laughter and voices fill the air, and I feel the pull of it, the connection I’ve found in this unlikely family.

“There he is!” Kael calls as we walk over, his smile wide and teasing. “Get tired of babysittin’ already, Steel. Or should I call you daddy?”

Talon flips him the bird.

“Just needed a break from you, Kael,” I shoot back, settling into a chair. “You’re the real handful.”

Laughter ripples through the group, and I feel Wolfe’s eyes on me, a grudging respect in his gaze. Talon and I sit on the old fallen log beside the fire, and Kael tosses him a beer. He pulls out a cigarette, lighting it and inhaling deep, blowing the smoke into the night.

God, the way I want this man.

“Guess what Lily named that giant tiger,” Talon says to Wolfe, a grin forming at his lips.

Wolfe raises an eyebrow. “What?”

“Rook. Apparently, it’s big and scary, just like you.”

The group erupts into laughter, Wolfe grunts.

“Aww,” Mera giggles, nudging Wolfe. “You big scary thing.”

I can’t wipe the smile from my face.

Mera comes over and plants herself beside me, nudging my shoulder with hers, her eyes mischievous. “When are you gonna give that man a baby of his own? He’s makin’ my ovaries hurt with his daddy vibes.”

I snort, then giggle. “I’m not sure I’m ready for another child yet. Lily’s enough to keep us busy.”

Mera arches a brow, a grin playing on her lips. “You’d better hurry, I can’t wait much longer to be an aunty to Talon babies.”

I roll my eyes, keeping the grin. “For now, I might just keep the daddy to myself, if you know what I mean.”

Mera gasps, then laughs. “Bad girl.”

The night stretches on, and I soak in the warmth of it, the ease and the connection. It’s still surreal, this life, this happiness, and I find myself wondering how I could have ever doubted it.

The laughter fades to a hum as the fire burns lower, and I feel Talon’s fingers tracing idle patterns on my arm. He leans close, his breath warm against my ear. “You ready for that ride?”

My pulse quickens, a thrill running through me. “Thought you’d never ask.”

We slip away, the night cool and inviting. Talon leads me to where the bikes sit. He moves to his and swings his leg over, scooting back so I can get on in front of him, not behind him. My heart skips a beat, and I chew my lip as I get on, facing him, my legs spreading for him.

My hands settle on his shoulders, feeling the solid muscle beneath the leather, and he pulls me close so I’m flush against him. I can already feel his cock in his jeans, hard and ready. Talon’s eyes lock onto mine, a fierce intensity burning there, and I know he is more than ready for this.

Then his mouth is on mine, demanding and raw, and I’m kissing him back, relishing every single second of it. I clutch at his jacket, desperate to anchor myself as his hands roam down my back, pulling me tighter against him. He grips my bottom, using that to move me against him, rubbing my clit up and down over his jeans.

Goddamn.

His movement is perfect, and he’s fucking me without even being inside me. I gasp, tipping my head back as his mouth moves to my neck, and I let out a soft cry, desperate to release all this tension I have been carrying for so long. I want to cum, crying out into the night, gasping his name.

“Fuck, Nia,” he breathes, his voice rough, and it sends a shiver through me. I’ve never heard my name said like that, with such dark, aching need.

I can’t wait. I reach for him, fumbling with his belt, and the urgency between us builds. Thankfully, I wore a dress, because it allows him to pull my panties aside as I free his cock, curling my hand around it, squeezing. His growl echoes through the night, and he hauls me up, bringing me down onto his lap.

I gasp and throw my head back as he slowly sinks me down onto him.

“Fuck, you got the sweetest cunt,” he growls into my ear.

I shudder. “I love it when you talk filthy.”

He growls.

I moan.

Then, I keep sinking down until he’s deep inside me, my pussy aching and stretching around him. My moans fill the night as he uses his hands to rock my hips, and there, on the bike, I ride him. Oh, do I ride him. My fingers tangle into his hair as I rock my hips, sliding up and down, back and forth, relishing in the sounds of his strangled growl.

“Fuck. I can’t hold on,” he rasps, fingers digging into my bottom as he tries to slow me down. “Slow down, baby.”

“No,” I hiss, fucking him harder, deeper, until I can’t hold back.

I cum with a force that has my screams radiating through the evening. I know everyone can hear, and I don’t fucking care. I shudder, every pulse of pleasure jerking my body as I tremble against him. He follows soon after, his cock pulsing, his growl in my ear making my skin tingle.

“Fuck,” he growls again. “You’ll...”

“Be the death of you?” I moan into his ear. “Yeah, well, I did promise.”

He chuckles.

I smile.

Fucking finally.

This is what freedom feels like.