Epilogue
I t had been two months since the excitement of her race against Shane Spencer, and Emily was more than happy for her life to go back to its normal, boring self.
In fact she almost appreciated it more, now that she’d had a taste of that world.
A world her brother had tried to warn her about.
One that Eric and Dane were determined to protect her from.
One she was happy to put in her rearview mirror.
Her parents and younger brother had both returned home from their respective holidays, and she had announced to everyone that she was officially dating two men. And not just any men, but her future sister-in-law’s brothers.
But apparently she had underestimated exactly how much of a secret their flirting was, as neither her mother nor father seemed surprised by the news, and Easton had simply shrugged and asked if there were any chips in the pantry.
Teddy was still warming up to the idea, although he and Eric and Dane had started hanging out more often, usually sharing a few beers while tinkering with one engine or another. And they still made time to visit the track and race each other, and Teddy was still the only person she hadn’t beaten.
Yet.
She stared at her brother as she pulled on her racing gloves. “Did Eric and Dane tell you to let me win?”
Teddy feigned ignorance, but Emily wasn’t buying it. She cocked one brow and continued staring at him until he caved.
“They may have mentioned something like that. In passing. Possibly. To be honest, I tend to tune out whenever they start speaking.”
Emily tried to hold back a laugh and failed. “Teddy, I’m serious.”
He shrugged. “So am I.”
“Don’t you dare let me win just because you feel sorry for me, or you think I need this. Because I don’t, no matter what those two tell you.”
Teddy chuckled and shook his head. “Emmy, since when have I ever let you beat me at anything?”
She frowned and chewed on her bottom lip as she studied her brother. He looked sincere. He sounded sincere. But….
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” he said, and pulled her into a hug. “If you win today it will be because you’re the better driver. Full stop.” Then he pushed her back and stared at her like she was an idiot. “Okay?”
Smiling, she nodded. “Okay.”
“Good. Let’s race.”
They made their way over to the cars, playfully shoving each other and laughing as they went. Her brother was sticking with Holden, but instead of a vintage muscle car from their father’s stable, he’d opted to put Dane’s R8 GTS through its paces.
Emily on the other, was driving a BMW M3 Competition sedan, the one she’d acquired from a police auction the previous month and had shipped up from Victoria.
And yes, she understood the irony of buying a Beamer after telling her men she didn’t even like the brand.
But how was she supposed to pass up the opportunity of owing an ex-highway patrol car with more mods than she could poke a stick at?
Of course, she’d spent the last month putting her own personal touches on it, starting with a paint job.
No one would ever confuse it for a cop car now, not with its bright canary yellow body and sleek black racing stripes.
She’d also modified the exhaust, upgraded the sound system and, for the first time ever, she had given her car a name.
Birdie.
She thought it fitting considering the colour.
She climbed in, strapped in and started the engine.
Birdie purred to life. Until Emily hit the accelerator and then she roared.
A glance to the sidelines told her Eric and Dane were watching her closely, and for a moment she got distracted, remembering all the things they’d done for her, and to her, in the last few weeks.
Hell, the last few nights.
Emily had spent so much time over at their house, they’d asked her to move in.
She wasn’t quite ready for that yet, but she was all in when it came to exploring her newfound sexuality and all the naughty ways her boyfriends expressed their love and appreciation for her.
Sometimes she even did things on purpose, like hide their shields, misplace their keys, things she knew would earn her a trip over Eric’s knees for a spanking, while Dane force-fed her his cock.
She was so distracted by these thoughts that it was only when her brother honked his horn that she realised she was still staring at Eric and Dane instead of paying attention to the cars.
Giving Teddy a thumbs-up, Emily revved her engine again and laid some rubber on the track before rolling forwards to the starting line and triggering the lights.
After that, the only thought in her head was….
Win.
Emily knew the timing of the lights. She’d had the pattern memorised for years. The only difference between her and her older brother was reaction speed, that was what won races like this.
Her adrenaline was high, her concentration solid, and as she watched those lights flicker downwards without even a second of time between them, her excitement and anticipation sharpened her senses and calmed her mind, and by the time the green light lit up, she was in motion.
Flying down the track like a bat out of Hell.
And it was all over in ten seconds flat.
Emily knew she hadn’t won, but she couldn’t deny it was a rush.
Slowing her car down, she took the slip road to cut back around to the pre-staging area, and petted her steering wheel. “Good girl, Birdie. We’ll get him one day.”
But as she turned the corner, she saw her family waving and jumping up and down, screaming incomprehensible things. She parked her car, then realised Teddy was pulling up behind her.
What was going on?
Suddenly Eric and Dane were there, pulling her free from the driver’s seat and kissing her as though they hadn’t seen her in a year.
“You won!” her mother screamed. “I’m so proud of you, Emmy. You won.”
“What?” A loud rushing sound filled Emily’s ears and she shook her head, sure she’d misheard her mother. “I don’t think?—”
But then she looked over at her brother, who had the biggest grin on his face even as he was casually pulling his leather gloves off. “You beat me, kiddo. Fair and square.”
“I did?”
“She’s in shock.”
“Come here, kitten.” Eric pulled her into his arms and held her tightly against his chest, while Dane slid his arms around her from behind. Her men. Her lovers. Her protectors. Always there, always surrounding her with their warmth and their kindness and their love.
“You won, baby,” Dane murmured against her ear.
“I know,” she said, her voice muffled by Eric’s shirt. “I won the night I met you. I won again two months ago, when I started the night with one wrong man, but finished it with two right ones.”
Eric pushed her back a little bit, smoothed his hands over her face, and pushed her hair away from her eyes.
She stared up at him, saw the worry etched across his features, heard the quiet hitch in his deep voice.
“And you’re sure you’ll be okay with all of this in the long run?
The three of us together? It’s not always going to be easy.
Not everyone will accept our way of life. ”
Emily looked at the people surrounding them, their families and friends. Everyone who mattered to her was there, celebrating her win celebrating them. Not a single one of them gave a flying fuck about her sex life.
“I’m sure,” she said with a smile. “Just like I’m sure I’ll need a key.”
Eric frowned. “A key?”
But Dane was already pulling his car keys out of his pocket and sorting through the bunch. “Here,” he said, and handed her a newly minted house key. “I had it made in case you changed your mind.”
“Consider it changed,” she said, then kissed each of her men in turn. “I love you both so much. I just want to be where you are. Always.”
Dane grinned. “You realise this means you’re stuck with us now?”
“Promise?” There it was again, that hope in her voice. The hope that only her men knew how to elicit.
Surrounding her again, they held her, kissed her. Loved her. “We promise. Always.”
I hope you enjoyed Eric, Emily and Dane’s story.
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