Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
She smiles through fresh tears that crest. “And then one day my friend Milo introduced me to the most terrifying man I’d ever met.”
I drop my head a little bashfully. I know I was a bastard that first day we met. But I’m also fascinated to hear what she has to say as she continues.
“But it was also electrifying. And the weeks that followed, getting to know all of you, were the most alive I’d ever felt. Falling in love with the three of you felt like the most natural thing I’d ever done, but it was also the bravest. Even as we all struggled to figure out what the hell we were doing, I wouldn’t have stayed if you hadn’t been the men you are.”
Fuck, her words hit me hard. I don’t think I always was the kind of man she’s describing. But her saying it makes me want to be, from here forward.
She continues, “You are strong, good men, whom I respect. Maybe that doesn’t sound like much, but my bar for the kind of man I’ll respect and more than that, trust, is actually quite high. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the kind of men that I can respect. And for being trustworthy. I love you and I will love you forever. In the end, it’s that simple. But I thank you for being the kind of men I’ll have joy in loving, and not pain.”
Fuck, she destroys me.
The sun sets behind her, sending out a blaze of light, and I’ve never been more in love than I am in this moment.
“Then by the power vested in me, by the ordination I got from the online Lust for Life Universal Church,” I say, which makes Hope giggle again, “I now pronounce us man, man, man, and wife. We may kiss the bride.”
We descend upon our woman and kiss her everywhere we can, eventually each of us getting a turn at her mouth. Sealed with a kiss, she’s now ours forever.
Chapter 54
JANUS
“Greedy girl,” Leander says as he gets Hope in the expansive house at the top of the cliff. It’s the only residence on the island, with servants’ quarters if one is throwing that kind of party, which naturally we aren’t. It’s just up a flight of stairs from the beach. We’re staying here for a week, secluded, a law unto ourselves with absolutely zero eyes on us.
When Leander told me his plan to rent out this entire island for a whole week, I thought he was nuts.
But that was when he told me that he’d invested all the money from his last hit movie and the bonuses for the Emmy wins from the last two seasons of Gemini. As the star, he was getting paid more than a million per episode by the end. Even more in residual streaming rights.
And the son of a bitch invested it wisely. Wisely enough that we could live off the returns for the rest of our lives if we’re smart.
So even this lavish trip will barely skim anything off the top.
Hope’s thrown her arms around Milo, kissing him while also tugging Leander in. She’s switching back and forth as if she can’t decide who she wants to kiss more. As if she’s sorry she herself only has one mouth.
I grin as I pull the huge glass door shut behind us.
Jesus, what a luxury. There’re so many big, open windows to let in the view of the island and the ocean waves crashing in the waning light of sunset. But for once in our damn lives we don’t have to worry anyone’s looking in, or about telephoto lenses.
No one in the world besides our two pilots even know where we are. Not our agent. And we brought our sexy as hell publicist with us, obviously.
Hope lifts her hands in the air and does a little dance, spinning in the circle of Milo and Leander’s arms. “I’ve never been this happy before!!”
Her face is alight, and dammit if it’s the last thing I do, I’m gonna keep that joy there. After working since I was four years old… I realize that this is the only job I want.
And if Leander really has taken care of the finances so that I won’t feel like I’m letting the family down if I don’t step into his place… I step forward to join the group so I can get my hands on our new bride. I slide my hand underneath her silky, windswept hair and caress the back of her neck.
“You’re ours, baby,” I say darkly. “And this week we plan to worship you like the goddess you are.”
“But you have too many clothes on,” Leander says from the other side of her, his tone matching mine.
“Where’s the damn bedroom in this place?” Milo asks impatiently. “I hope the bed is big enough for all of us.”