Page 88 of Wilder
“I guess I’m glad to be over here, then.”
I bite my lip, resting my head on his shoulder. “I’m glad, too.”
“Echo, can I ask you a question?”
My stomach flutters. From his tone, I’m not worried. But I’m curious. “Yes.”
“First, more of an admission.” He clears his throat, pausing.
I frown. “An admission of what?”
“I hate that my nickname for you no longer has the best connotations, you know?”
My mouth drops into an O. “Legacy. Yeah. I guess it’s kinda awkward, huh?”
“Yeah.” He runs his fingers through my hair. “You have any thoughts as to what I could call you?”
I only wait a beat, patting his chest. “Can I be your Lois Lane?” I wrinkle my nose, immediately thinking it’s a dumb idea when he’s silent for way too long. Blowing out a breath, I look up at him.
His lip is caught between his teeth as he stares into my eyes. “I love that.”
I’m overcome with happiness flooding through me. “Good. Now, what was the question you wanted to ask me?”
He presses his lips to my forehead. “You know I love you, right? When I said it at the cabin—” He hesitates, and I straighten, turning on the bench so I can see him better. “It was rushed, I guess. But I didn’t know what was about to happen, and I couldn’t stand the idea that you might not know how I felt.”
I give him a slow smile. “Wilder. I know. I’ve known for quite a while now. Even before you said it, you showed me in so many ways. I love you, too.” Leaning in, I kiss his soft lips, ruffling my fingers through the hair at the back of his head. His hand cups the side of my neck, thumb brushing over my cheek as he takes us deeper, sliding his tongue into my mouth. It’s leisurely and sweet and everything I need today.
“Yook! Mama make kissy face wit Widah!”
At Chase’s shout and the sound of quick footsteps approaching, Wilder and I pull apart.
Royal picks up Chase, planting a kiss on his cheek. “That’s what people do when they love each other.”
Chase frowns. “Daddy, you yub Mama?”
As Wilder and I stand up, Royal smirks at me and reaches out with his free hand to pull me close, his lips a whisper away from mine. “I do.” He plants a kiss on them. “Love you, Mama.”
I grin, my heart beating fast. “I love you, too.”
For a moment, Chase seems content with that, but then he looks at Beckham and points to him. “Becky, you yub Mama, too?”
“I sure do, little guy.” Beckham shoots me a flirty grin, grabs for me, and dips me right there in the middle of the park. He lowers his lips to mine, delivering a smoldering kiss that results in a cheer of excitement from Chase. “Love you, gorgeous,” he whispers.
I nip at his lip before he brings me back to standing. “Love you, too.”
“And Chase”—Royal grins at him, poking his little tummy—“who do you love?”
We circle around our son, who is grinning broadly. “I yub Mama and Daddy.” He hides his face in Royal’s shoulder for a second, but just as quickly turns back around pointing to the two men who have claimed him as their own. “And Becky. And Widah.”
I lean in, pressing my lips to his chubby cheek, and the guys follow, peppering him with noisy kisses. “What do you want to do now, Chase?” His sweet giggles have my heart melting.
Chase throws his hands in the air and shouts, “Les go home, muthafuckas!”
Wilder covers his mouth, throwing an arm over Beckham’s shoulders that are already shaking from his silent chuckle. Royal clenches his teeth, shooting me a rueful grin, then mouths, “Sorry.”
I lift a playful brow as I scan the apologetic yet amused faces of these supposedly brutal boys of SIN—thesemenI love—andshake my head, trying desperately not to laugh. “Looks like this is our new normal.”
And after everything we’ve been through—the fear, loss of trust, threats, and near misses—that sounds fucking perfect to me.