Epilogue Harper
Rose petals covered every surface of Dante’s penthouse. Red and pink scattered across the marble floors and floated in the massive bathtub where I’d been about to relax. Someone had gone overboard for our first official Valentine’s Day together, and I had a pretty good idea who.
“Julian, did you buy out every flower shop in Manhattan?” I shifted Emily in my arms, grinning down at her. “Your daddy is silly.”
She yawned and snuffled, tiny fists waving.
Julian stuck his head out from the kitchen. “Just three of them.” Flour dusted his tattooed forearms, and a smudge of chocolate marked his jaw. “And before you ask, Yes, I’m making dessert from scratch.”
“You look like you’re trying to become dessert. Try not to burn down the kitchen.” I tapped my jaw in the same place where chocolate rested on his.
He crossed the room and kissed my temple, then bent to kiss Emily’s dark curls. She gurgled and smacked her fists around. Julian’s grin turned mischievous. “Dante’s supervising. Want a taste?” He swiped the chocolate from his jaw and extended his finger, challenging me with a look.
Holding his gaze, I pulled his finger into my mouth and licked it clean.
His eyes darkened, and he wrapped a hand around my waist, yanking me closer. “Keep that up and there won’t be a dinner. We’ll go straight to the fun.”
“I heard that.” Dante’s voice carried from the kitchen, followed by metal clattering. “And I’m not supervising. I’m preventing disasters.”
“Says the man dropping all the bowls.” Julian’s crowing laugh caused a similar sound from Emily, which prompted me to join in on my way to the kitchen. I’d take a bath later. This moment with Dante and Julian needed to be explored.
Alexander met me in the doorway, a glass of champagne in hand. He held it out to me, and we traded. He took Emily and cradled her against his chest, cooing and baby talking like he’d been born for it.
“Happy Valentine’s Day.” He leaned in to kiss me, grinning against my lips.
“You too.” I sipped the champagne and peered around him to the kitchen. “Should I be worried about what’s going on in there?”
“Probably.” He tapped Emily’s nose. “But we don’t care, do we? No, we don’t.” His expression gentled to one I rarely saw but stole my breath.
A year ago we’d been fighting to keep all this, and now we were celebrating our daughter’s first Valentines in a penthouse filled with rose petals…and burning.
“Shit.” Julian’s curse spun me around, and I headed toward the kitchen.
“Nope.” Alexander hooked an arm around me and brought me back. “Let him deal with it. He wanted to fuck around so let him find out.”
“You’re mean.” I smacked at his shoulder but let him lead me to the couch.
We played with Emily and continued to ignore the loud curses and banging happening in the kitchen.
Half an hour later, we sat on the living room floor, picnic style, with Emily on a blanket between us. She stared up at the twinkle lights Julian had strung across the ceiling.
Dante refilled my champagne and pressed it into my hand. “To family.”
“To many more holidays together.” Alexander clinked his glass against mine and we all drank.
Bubbles fizzed on my tongue and I savored the feeling, along with the sight of my men grinning at me.
Mine. All mine.
The elevator dinged.
I frowned and turned. “Are we expecting someone?”
“No.” Julian pushed to his feet and moved to block the door.
Lila burst through before he reached it, arms full of shopping bags and her face flushed. “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
“Lila.” I set down my glass and stood, crossing to hug her. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have a blind date tonight?”
“In an hour.” She dumped the bags on the couch and made grabby hands at Emily.
Alexander scooped her up and handed her over with obvious reluctance, and Lila cooed at her like they’d been apart for months instead of hours.
“I had to stop by first and see my goddaughter. Can’t let her first Valentine’s pass without presents. ”
“You spoil her.” I finished my champagne and stuck my tongue out at Lila.
Lila rolled her eyes. “That’s literally my job.
” She settled on the couch with Emily and bounced her.
“Besides. I thought I’d better pop over and check on everyone.
Unless you’re planning on baby number two arriving next year.
” Her eyes lit up when she laughed and nuzzled her nose against Emily’s.
“You need a baby sibling, don’t you, darling. ”
Um. Not quite yet.
Julian choked on his champagne and uttered an expletive too low for me to understand. “I want more kids, but can we wait just a little while longer.”
“Guess that’s up to you.” Lila wiggled her head side to side. “This little bundle sure did surprise everyone.”
Right. I’d been on birth control when we conceived, and we still had no idea which of them might be her biological father.
We’d thought it might be obvious when she was born but I saw all of us in her features.
My mouth. Dante’s nose. Julian’s stubborn chin.
Alexander’s forehead. We were all part of her.
“I wouldn’t be opposed.” Dante’s liquid fire eyes met mine.
I hurled a pillow at him.
He caught it and grinned, completely unrepentant.
Lila stayed another twenty minutes, showing off everything she’d bought Emily. Tiny dresses and stuffed animals, along with a onesie that said “Daddy’s Girl” with a space to check off which daddy. She’d checked all three boxes.
When she finally made her way to the elevator, she hugged me tight. “It’s good seeing you happy like this. You deserve it.”
“You too.” I returned her embrace. “Good luck tonight.”
She snorted, tossing her dirty blonde hair over her shoulder. “Please. I don’t need luck. I have killer tits and a great personality.” She winked and backed into the elevator, patting her killer tits as the door closed.
Quiet surrounded me, and I turned. Dante watched me from across the room, Alexander beside him and Julian walking my way from the bedrooms.
“Emily’s asleep.” Alexander swept a hand toward me. “Time for our Valentine’s present.”
Dante crossed to me, each step deliberate. He framed my face in both hands, thumbs tracking across my cheekbones. “You’re beautiful.”
“I’m covered in spit-up and never made it to the bath you fixed for me.”
“Beautiful.” He kissed me in slow, delicious caress that curled my toes.
Heat pooled low in my belly. I’d been cleared for sex a few weeks ago, but exhaustion and work had kept us too busy for time to breathe, let alone be intimate. The want had been building, simmering under the surface every time one of them touched me.
Julian pressed against me from behind, his chest to my back and his lips warm on my neck. “We’ve been very patient.”
Alexander slid into place on my right. “We’d like to show you how much we missed you. If you’re willing.”
My knees went weak, and I sank toward the floor.
They caught me, supporting me between their bodies. Three sets of hands. Three mouths. Delicious, soul-consuming heat that liquified my bones as the three men who knew every inch of me began worshipping me as I fell apart.
“The baby monitor.” I gasped as Julian’s teeth scraped my pulse point.
“Already on.” Dante nodded toward the bedroom, where the small screen glowed on the nightstand.
They walked me backward into the bedroom, a coordinated effort that left me breathless. They’d placed rose petals here too, covering the bed with them and sprinkling them across the floor. Candles flickered on every surface, casting shadows that danced with every movement.
I planted my hands on Dante’s chest. “You planned this.” Spreading my fingers over his heart, I leaned into him.
“We always plan.” Alexander ran his hands over my hips and ass, squeezing as he went.
Julian spun me around to face him. “It’s time to make you scream again, Harper. I’ve missed the sound of you coming undone around me.”
Dante found the zipper on my dress and eased it down while Alexander pressed kisses down my spine. The fabric pooled at my feet, and Dante helped me step over it. “Leave the shoes on.”
He’d said something similar the first time we were together.
It was why I’d chosen another sexy red dress and heels for tonight.
I might not have had much time to prepare, and Emily had decided to leave part of her dinner on me, but I knew they’d appreciate the similarity to our first time together.
Julian captured my mouth, swallowing my gasp when Dante palmed my breast.
They laid me on the bed, rose petals brushing my skin and heightening every sensation. All three of them converged on my body with kisses and strokes that reminded me exactly why we belonged here. Together.
I’d fallen in love with them, and my body came alive under their touch, sending every nerve ending singing. They took their time, drawing out each sensation until I gasped and pleaded for them to put an end to my torture.
Alexander flipped me onto my stomach and nestled his cock between my legs. “Is this what you want?”
“Yes.” I barely breathed the word as my body reacted to him. “Please, Alexander.”
He gave me what I wanted, but he did it his way, taking his time and teasing me for what felt like hours. We had all night. We had forever.
And I planned on returning the torture as soon as possible.