Epilogue
Shane
ONE YEAR LATER
If someone had told me a little over a year ago that I’d not only be pursued by a sociopath who stalked me and uncovered secrets no one should have access to but that I’d also fall in love with him and his boyfriend, I’d have called them lunatics and to shut the fuck up.
Or well, maybe the old me would’ve actually just ignored them because that was what I did back then. Always the silent type.
But today, I was a wholly different man as I stood at the end of the makeshift aisle in Zeppelin’s backyard with X right across from me.
I actually spoke more than I ever had before, and I wasn’t so broody anymore.
X and Preston had brought so much light into my life—light I hadn’t even known I needed.
And they provided me with the kind of purpose I’d missed when I left the military.
They gave me people to protect and take care of.
“If I didn’t love Preston so much, I’d rip this fucking suit off,” X complained, tugging at his jacket sleeves. We were both wearing white suits with royal blue ties, belts, and shoes. Preston had even forced X to pull his hair back into a half-up bun so his face was more visible for the cameras.
Honestly, wearing that suit and with his hair like that, the man looked so hot, I just wanted to force him to his knees and shove my cock down his throat.
And I knew he’d be down for it, no matter who might be watching.
But while the both of us were good with just exchanging rings, promising forever, and going on about our day, Preston wanted a small wedding with the people we’d come to know as family in attendance.
And if there was anything X and I agreed on, it was that Preston deserved everything he wanted, especially if it made him happy.
“You two about ready?” Jaxon asked, coming to stand with us.
He’d gotten licensed to officiate the wedding just for us, and Preston almost cried when Jaxon sent the image of his certificate in the group chat we’d been added to, surprising everyone except Eros and Zeppelin, who’d known what he was up to already.
“Ready for this to be over,” X griped. I shot him an annoyed look, and he sighed. “I’m not really. I want to marry him. I’m just uncomfortable in this fucking suit. And hot. Why did he want to do this on a day it’s ninety fucking degrees?”
“Because this is for him,” I reminded him, exasperated and a little fed up with his bitching.
“He’s coming,” Jaxon said, and we both shut the fuck up.
Turning, I smiled at the sight of Preston.
Eros, who’d practically becoming Preston’s best friend, was leading Preston down the makeshift aisle Spencer and Ezra had painstakingly worked on for Preston’s sake.
It was outlined with dyed blue and white rose petals with baskets of flowers placed a foot apart in a line so straight, it almost seemed impossible they’d did it themselves instead of hiring a wedding planner.
Preston was wearing a blue suit that matched our ties, belts, and shoes, but his tie, belt, and shoes were white. His curly, light-brown hair had been styled into a messy look that made him look like he’d just been fucked, and goddamn, it was my favorite look on him by far.
“Can we cancel and I get him in the bathroom real quick?” X muttered.
“No,” Jaxon quietly replied. “Stop thinking with your dick, X.”
X grunted. “I’m not thinking with my dick. He’s hot as fuck. Who the fuck told him to do that to his hair?” He looked at me. “You see it, right? He looks like we just finished fucking him.”
“Christ,” Jaxon muttered. “And here I thought you three would be a little fucking normal. What is it with this family and the oversharing of sex lives?”
My lips quirked in amusement. If there was one thing I’d learned since being added to the group chat, it was that Zeppelin and Logan overshared their sex lives a lot. I knew more about their bedroom shenanigans than I ever wanted to.
Eros made it to us and smiled, holding out Preston’s hand.
X took it, and Eros dipped his chin before moving to go stand beside Zeppelin, who wrapped his arm around Eros’s waist and kissed his temple.
I focused on Preston, reaching up to cup his cheek.
He leaned his face into my touch, making my heart do something funny in my chest.
“You look fucking fantastic,” I told him, meaning it.
Preston’s cheek warmed beneath my palm. “Good enough to fuck,” X added, ruining the soft moment. I rolled my eyes, but Preston laughed, leaning in to kiss him.
“We’re ready,” Preston told Jaxon.
Jaxon nodded and began, officially sealing the three of us together.
While it wasn’t a regular ceremony and would never be acknowledged in the eyes of the law, it was real to us, and it was real to our family.
And that was what mattered. We would all three wear rings on our fingers and remember this day.
We would celebrate wedding anniversaries and move through life like any other married couple.
Besides, everything we owned—including our house—was already ours. And everything I had become theirs when I passed away. This moment, this day, was just for us.
For Preston.
Xan
Preston laughed as he and Eros danced across the patio, doing some kind of square dance song I would never even attempt. I had bowed out the moment it turned on as well, but it was funny and adorable watching the two of them move to the beat and hit every step.
“Did you know he could square dance?” Shane asked me.
I shook my head. “Nope, but I’m not surprised. He grew up in country clubs and lived with conservative, rich but also a bit country, parents. This was probably taught to him before he could write his name.”
“Beer?” Logan asked, holding out a bottle to me. I took it with a jerk of my chin in thanks, lifting the rim to my lips after popping the top off. He took a seat next to me. “You think I can get tickets to see your next fight?” he asked.
I snorted a laugh. “Buttering me up with beer, Logan?”
He shrugged. “Man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, I suppose.” He arched his brows at me. “So? Can you?”
“Just show up,” I told him. “I’ll let the guards know you’re family, and they’ll let you in.
” Logan, despite being a cocky asshole that liked to push everyone’s buttons—Zeppelin’s especially—was actually a big fan of my fighting and followed me on social media.
But being a fan of mine didn’t stop him from being a little shit I sometimes wanted to punch in the face.
He loved to run his mouth. But I gave as good as I got, which probably didn’t help the verbal wars we ended up in more often than not. But honestly, he was a cool guy, and it was fun watching everyone’s reactions to the shit he let fly from his lips.
“Dance with me?” Preston asked, appearing in front of me. His cheeks were red from exertion, and he was breathing hard, but his eyes were bright and alive. He held his hands out to me. “Please?”
I dramatically sighed, pretending to be put out by the idea, and set my beer aside before giving him my hands and letting him pull me up from the chair. I glanced at Shane as Preston tugged me away from the table and finger foods. “You good?”
Shane lifted his beer. “I’m good, boy. Make our man happy. I’ve got you both tonight.” He winked, and my dick hardened a little behind the zipper of my slacks.
Fuck yeah, he did, and I couldn’t wait to have him inside of me.