Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 189782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 949(@200wpm)___ 759(@250wpm)___ 633(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 189782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 949(@200wpm)___ 759(@250wpm)___ 633(@300wpm)
We spend three days naked and ravenous, learning, exploring, and understanding one another on the deepest, most intimate level. There’s no part of them that hasn’t been licked, touched, or deeply exposed by my mouth and hands.
The bonding between the three of them exceeds all expectations. They become so comfortable together that it’s hard to imagine a time when Monty wasn’t with them.
On the night of the third day, I lie in bed with Leo and Monty curled around me. They’re hot and heavy on top of me, and I’m sore and bruised and bitten all over.
I’ve never felt such a deep sense of peace.
Moonlight seeps through the sheer curtains, casting an ethereal glow over our bedroom.
Water runs in the bathroom, shuts off, and Kody prowls back to bed.
He finds space. They always do. We’ve perfected the art of sleeping in piles.
Crawling up my legs, he pushes aside masculine limbs and squeezes in until his head rests on my stomach and his arms hook around my hips.
Sweet lord, my heart swells. It swells to bursting with the love I feel for each of them.
None of us are asleep, but we’re close. We float in a state of blissful exhaustion that must be what heaven is like.
Slowly, I start to drift off until Monty’s whisper snaps open my eyes.
“I didn’t mean what I said.” He stares at Kody, at his hand on Kody’s welted back. His fingers feather over the crisscrossed scars that bubble Kody’s flesh from neck to waist. “You don’t need to be fixed. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
Kody shudders, his breath hitching as he tries to swallow his emotion.
A lump swells in my throat, and my fingers curl in the soft strands of his hair.
Monty turns to Leo, grazing his hand over the scar on Leo’s stomach. “I’m sorry she did that to you. If I’d known the kind of person she was—”
“I would change nothing,” Leo says in a gruff voice. “She gave us Wolf.”
Monty nods, his face collapsing. “You’re right. As much as I despise Denver, he gave us you. Having you here, standing strong, means everything to me. We’ve been through hell, but we’ll always have each other. That’s something Denver and Gretchen could never take from us. I’m proud of you.”
Leo reaches for Monty, arms folding around him, and fuck, I can’t breathe.
This is the fullness I wanted.
Acceptance.
Family.
Trust.
Love.
This is what I dreamed for them. Nothing is impossible.
I am theirs, and they are mine. For the first time in a long time, we’re whole.
57
Kodiak
—
The last three days have been the happiest in memory. I could spend the rest of my life in bed with Frankie and my brothers. I don’t want to give it up. The world outside can wait.
But it seems the world has other plans.
Frankie’s phone buzzes, the sound cutting through the tranquil morning. She answers it, and her expression changes, a collision of concern and determination hardening her features.
She hangs up, scrambles from our tangle of naked bodies, and hurries into the walk-in closet.
“A cruise ship docked in port,” she shouts from behind the door. “Half of the passengers have the stomach flu.” She breezes out, her mind on a mission as she drags on her scrubs mid-stride. “They didn’t know they were infected until after they carried it into our town. The hospital is overrun, and they need all hands on deck. I have to go.”
All three of us shoot up in the bed.
“Frankie, no.” A knot tightens in my stomach.
“We just got you back.” Leo climbs out and prowls toward her, shamelessly nude. “We’re not letting you go.”
He grabs her, buries his nose in her neck, and presses his hips against her.
“Put that thing away.” She laughs, pushing against his stomach. “I’m serious.”
Monty swings his legs over the side of the bed and braces his elbows on his knees.
Voice hard, he gives her his stoniest expression. “How do we change your mind?”
Her green eyes soften as she treads to him and cups his unshaven jaw. “You handsome devil, how many times have we argued about this over the years? How many times have I changed my mind?” She kisses the angry slash of his lips. “This is my career. My purpose outside of this room. I know you all understand that.”
I do understand. I have my distillery, my own sense of purpose, and hard work. I never want to hold her back, but the fear of losing her is a snarling, rabid beast inside me.
“We’ll go with you.” Leo paces around her, flexing his hands.
“What part of stomach flu do you not understand? It’s contagious.” She pulls on her sneakers. “You’re staying here, all of you, until this is under control.”
I know we won’t win this. Leaving the bed, I remove a pair of lounge pants from Monty’s dresser and drag them on.