Meghan woke to a sharp pain in her side. Groaning, she rolled awkwardly and fought with the covers until she was upright. Pushing hair away, her eyes immediately saw what was causing her distress. The children’s books Alex made a production out of reading to his baby humans every night. His two favorites—The Sword in the Stone and Beauty and the Beast. She’d kept to the ritual during his absence and must have fallen asleep while still holding the small storybooks.

With a deep sigh, she slumped into the mound of pillows against the headboard and looked around the bedroom. It felt so empty without her husband’s presence, and their bed was far too large. Her eyes drifted to the wadded-up t-shirt she slept with. The one she’d rescued from the hamper before Carmen did the laundry. It smelled of Alex, and she desperately needed the comfort of his scent, so she took it to bed with her every night and stuffed it into a drawer each morning—so it didn’t mistakenly end up in the wash.

She folded her hands over her enormous belly, and the first thing she noticed was how loose her wedding rings were. Another reminder that it was supposed be the other way around. She should be fat and swollen, not gaunt and fragile.

“Mornin’ sweeties,” she cooed. Her hands massaged both sides of her bump in big circles. Quickly glancing out the window, she told them what a glorious day it was. “Maybe later we’ll ride down the lane to visit Aunty Toto.”

Tori had been her rock through this whole ordeal. Well, she admitted, everyone had. Angie especially. But Tori had stepped up big time. It reminded her of the way Alex and Drae were with each other. One of them was always shining a light forward.

Rocking and rolling like a bottom-heavy wobbler, she eventually hauled her burden to the side of the bed and slid to her feet. Meghan missed Alex’s hand, helping and guiding. She went through the motions every day, but her heart cried a soulful lament around-the-clock. She was lost without him.

Leaving a trail of pajamas on her way to the bathroom, she tossed aside the cotton cami and wiggled out of the ghastly grandma panties she had no choice but to wear. The reflection in her vanity mirror as she passed showed how hugely pregnant she was.

Too damn tired to deal with her hair, she shoved the whole mass of curls into a shower cap and sat on the shower stool that Tori had forced on her. Meghan let the warm water ease her worries while she washed as best she could. Scowling at the state of her pedicure, she muttered dark oaths. Not being able to get at your feet for months wasn’t an old wives’ tale—that shit was for real.

When it was time to choose an outfit, she stared numbly at her wardrobe. She loved letting Alex pick her clothes. Sometimes, he was so adorably unaware that she’d laugh all day at what he chose. Other times, she got a thrill knowing he’d chosen something specifically for his pleasure. Her husband liked looking at her, and she basked in the warmth of his approval.

Without him, she simply didn’t care. What difference did it make what she put on? Grabbing the first thing her hand connected with, Meghan pulled out a clingy cotton t-shirt dress in a muted teal color and slid it over her head. Pulling it over her belly, she smoothed soft fabric over her hips. It fell to mid-calf and had side slits for easy movement.

Sliding her feet into a pair of common sense Skechers, she lifted the two hearts on a chain that symbolized her and Alex’s love and fastened it around her neck.

Instead of waddling down the back steps that would take her directly to the kitchen, she wandered down the long hallway and stopped at Abuelita’s portrait.

“Good morning, Dona Lucia. It’s a fine day.”

She fussed with the little bowl of flowers, picked out whatever looked saggy, and made a pile to throw away.

Meghan’s head lifted, and she stared into space. What was that? She thought she’d heard something. Not a whisper, more like a faint echo. She looked at the portrait. Abuelita’s eyes seemed brighter than normal. Was the old woman trying to tell her something?

A boxing match broke out in her crowded womb. She grunted when a series of kicks took her breath away. Tears filled her eyes—not from discomfort but because it felt like Alex’s great-grandmother and his unborn babies wanted her to know they were with her. That he’d never leave her alone. Even though he wasn’t physically there at her side, parts of him were.

She went down the main staircase with a firm grip on the railing and arrived at the bottom, winded and in need of a chair.

“Carmen?” she called out. “Are you around?”

“Meesus Meghan, what is it?” Carmen’s words arrived on the air before she did. Wiping her hands on a towel, she jerked a thumb back at the kitchen and said, “I give up with the pie crust. It’s just not my thing. Ria wins.” The defeated amusement in her voice made Meghan laugh. There wasn’t anything Carmen couldn’t do—except make a flaky pie crust. But that didn’t stop her from endlessly trying.

“I keep telling you,” she quipped. “Get one from the supermarket and pass it off as homemade.”

“Ria will know, and then she’d never let me live it up.”

“Live it down.” She chuckled.

“Whatever.” The older woman snickered. “What do you need?”

“Can you help me to the kitchen?” she asked with her hand out. “Feeling a bit top heavy today.”

Carmen’s happy laugh was just what she needed. Her joy at the impending arrival of the twins and Sophie’s baby had shaved ten years off her appearance. As a matter of fact, the whole Villa was full of happy, smiling people. Alex had created a wonderful world for the people he loved.

“You need one of those walkers. Something to hold on to and push.”

“What I need,” she joked, “is a bevy of shirtless cowboys to carry me around like Cleopatra on a fancy litter.”

“Ooh, Elizabeth Taylor!” Carmen croaked. “Nice one, Meesus.”

She guided her slowly to the kitchen and got Meghan seated at the table. “Cereal? A muffin? I made cinnamon swirl. Or a breakfast burrito. Five minutes is all it’d take.”

It was hard not to wince at the menu of food choices thrown at her morning, noon, and night. Whatever her heart desired would end up on the table in front of her. If only she could work up an appetite.

“Dr. Sterner wants me to add more calories to my daily intake and suggested yogurt and cottage cheese for breakfast. To help the babies’ brain development.”

“I know what to do,” Carmen chirped, and within three minutes, a bowl of homemade Greek yogurt with a fruit plate was in front of her. So was a warmed-up buttery croissant from the Jenni Rose bakery alongside a wicked looking pastry shaped like a conch shell with a delicious sweet cream filling. Carmen knew her way around calories.

She picked, ate, and picked some more. Carmen kept up a steady conversation and kept refilling her tea cup. The diversion was appreciated. Sometimes not thinking about what she should be doing made it easier to actually follow through.

“Has anyone called this morning? I thought maybe Angie might have more news.”

Carmen’s brows knitted, and she frowned. “No. Duke spoke to Colonel Davis, which is how we know they’re in Germany. Unofficially.”

She shut her eyes. It was the unofficial designation that had her worried. And wasn’t Germany where they sent soldiers and overseas Americans with severe injuries? Why the hell couldn’t someone just tell them what the fuck was going on?

The iPad on a stand that Carmen kept on the counter lit up and buzzed. She looked at Meghan and then leaned over everything to tap the home screen.

“Security message,” she muttered. “Oh. Just a delivery.”

Meghan watched the housekeeper respond. With the approval sent, she closed the message screen and let out a short sigh. “I thought …” Carmen murmured.

Meghan squeezed her wrist reassuringly. “I know. I thought the same thing.”

She shimmied off her chair and stood. “I’m going to check my email. Did you put those magazines in my office? I should probably weed through that stuff.”

Pressing her fist into her lower back, she headed into her office as Carmen cleared the table.

The stack of magazines she had asked about formed a leaning tower that threatened to topple over. Refusing to toss them out, she thought a great way to responsibly recycle was to pass them to the reading and waiting rooms at the Double M.

“Hey, girl,” she chirped when Zeus came bounding into her office. “Where were you hiding, huh?” She hugged the dog and gave her head a vigorous scratch. “You had a bath, didn’t you?” she asked with a laugh. “You smell like a flower garden.”

The dog licked her face. All females, human and canine included, liked a good bubble bath, and Zeus was no exception. She had a standing weekly appointment down in Brody’s kennel facility for a wash and blow dry.

Meghan sniggered. Her damn dog got blow-dried!

“Morning, Meghan,” Brody called out. “Just dropping Zeus off. Catch you later.”

“Thanks! Bye,” she yelled back.

Disappointed that nothing remotely interesting was in her email, she huffed once or twice and lost interest in working. In fact, nothing seemed appealing at the moment.

She turned off the computer and left the office. Without thinking about where she was going, her feet led her from the kitchen into the front foyer. Carmen was bustling and complaining about how long it took for the delivery to get here.

The piano called to her, and she answered. Sliding across the polished bench, she put her hands on the keys and inhaled deep. Urging her mind to emptiness, she waited for a few beats and started playing.

Her fingers danced across the keys. She played “When We Met,” a composition by Ryan Stewart that her husband was particularly fond of. The beautiful melody filled her with peace.

As she played, the doorbell rang, and Carmen dashed forward to yank open the door. Concentrating on her fingers sweeping across the keys, Meghan was lost in thought when Carmen called out her name. She looked up, and her hands froze midair.

White roses in an arrangement so large Carmen had trouble carrying it filled her vision. The lone green rose made her heart leap. She stood with a gasp and splayed her hand across her chest and throat.

When she saw tears flowing down Carmen’s face, she choked out an emotional sob. “He’s coming home! Alex is coming home.”

With a reverence that touched her heart, Carmen placed the flowers on a table in the center of the foyer. Meghan watched her move the vase this way and that until the placement was perfect. The moment the housekeeper’s eyes met hers, Meghan saw how proud she was of Alex.

“I told you from the start, Meesus Meghan. Do you remember? I said that Alexander was a good man.”

She couldn’t breathe and began frantically fanning her face with her hands. “Oh my god, Carmen. He’s coming home.”

It took a minute to pull it together, and then she clapped her hands. “My phone! I need my phone.”

With a happy laugh, Carmen dashed into the kitchen and returned with Meghan’s phone.

Before making any calls, she pointed at Carmen. “Call Ben. Tell him I’m going into town. Tori too. Maybe Lacey. We’ll need a car. And then call the nail salon. Tell them we’re on our way. Oh, and pack some snacks for me, okay?”

“On it,” she happily boomed. “Call the others.”

Meghan took a deep breath and watched Carmen march away. They were coming home. The boys were coming home.

She dialed Tori first.

* * *

Angie checked the time twice. It was coming up on seven o’clock, and nervous butterflies bounced around her insides. She looked down at the strapless skater dress and the sexy heels she’d put on. Her hand went to the nape of her exposed neck and touched the back of her hair. Nothing seemed out of place.

He’d be here. Any minute. She was sure of it.

Wetting her lips, she strained to identify every sound, hoping to hear a car pull up outside.

When Meghan told her yesterday morning about Alex’s silent message, she knew the men would move heaven and earth to get back home as soon as possible. It was Parker’s birthday, which only added extra importance to the timing.

The sound of a car door slamming made her jump. Laughter followed. Familiar laughter. And then the front door flew open and hit the wall with a loud bang.

“Honey, I’m home!” Parker boomed. He slammed the front door, dropped a bag on the floor and looked around till he saw her. Fire lit up his eyes. “Get your ass over here, wife, and stick that wicked tongue down my throat.”

No further invitation was necessary. She squealed and then ran at him like a tackling dummy. At the last second, Angie jumped and wrapped her arms and legs around his waist and neck as she plastered herself to his front.

He took her in his arms and furiously kissed her, his tongue dipping in when she parted her lips. Their tongues danced as they melted together. The hands holding her ass trembled. A surge of tremendous emotion overcame her when she saw how deeply their reunion hit him.

“Happy Birthday,” she moaned as he dropped kisses around her lips and across her jaw.

He reared back slightly and gave her an especially awesome Elvis lip sneer. “Yeah, about that. Now that we’re an old married couple and the honeymoon is officially over, I get the birthday blowjob special, right?”

“My father will kick your ass for that.”

Parker chuckled, dropped her feet to the floor, and grabbed her chin. “Your father wants grandchildren. He’s okay with me talking any way I want as long as I put a baby inside you.”

She felt the blush start in her feet and move rapidly upward until it exploded on her face. He looked at her curiously but let it go.

“I prepared a celebration.” With a small wave, she gestured to the decorations and the table set for two in the dining room.

The pleased look on his face turned to a slow burn. “You knew I’d be here.”

She took his hand and led him to the table. “Come on.”

Her husband’s husky chuckle made Angie tremble with need. “Tell me, Angel. Are we working off a script? I don’t want to spoil your plans.” He looked her over seductively and licked his lips. “Speak now, baby girl, or prepare to be the main course.”

Whirling around, she pouted. “Yes, there’s a script. Now don’t spoil things with your sexy growls.”

Laughing, he patted her ass and said, “Oh, okay.”

Serving him dinner like an experienced geisha, she catered to his needs and threw in some naughty angel flourishes, including getting handsy when she put a napkin on his lap.

Sitting across from him, she watched him in the flickering candlelight. He was a mess—a hot, sexy mess. The unkempt hair and thick beard did nothing to disguise the telltale signs of bruising on his handsome face. Two fingers on one hand were taped together. The dark discoloration of a healing injury was evident across his whole hand.

An embarrassing tsunami of arousal rushed into her panties. She could practically smell the testosterone oozing from his pores.

“What’s for dessert?” he asked with a brow-wagging leer.

“Presents first,” she reminded him.

Shooing him into the living room, she cleared the table and got ready for the next phase of Operation Birthday.

She found him arrogantly man-spread across most of the sofa when she joined him. There was a very good chance she was about to self-combust.

“May the fourth be with you,” she simpered and held out a large wrapped gift.

He snatched it with a laugh and tore the paper to shreds. The childlike excitement on his face when he held the unwrapped gift was adorable.

“Wow,” he murmured.

“Thirty-eight hundred pieces.”

He blinked and said, “Sorry?”

“The Death Star, silly. It’s thirty-eight hundred pieces.”

He was looking at her as if she’d handed over a rare work of art.

“Wait.” She laughed. “There’s more.”

She produced a basket full of presents—none wrapped by her—and encouraged his excitement as he tore into a treasure trove of Star Wars crap. He was like a little kid. Joy did a happy dance in her heart.

When that was over, he chuckled and said, “Okay, What’s next?”

Angie snickered. “Am I bothering you?”

“Nah,” he drawled. “I’m just anxious for the birthday BJ.”

She threw a ball of wrapping paper at his head.

“I’ve waited four weeks. You can cool your jets.”

“Let’s open the playroom,” he suggested with his signature panty-melting smirk.

“Parker, come on,” she growled. “Is it so hard for you to behave?”

“Wow.” He chortled. “Turning down an offer like that? Hmph. Guess the glow wore off.”

“Will you please behave and let me do this my way?” She stomped her foot. “You’re ruining my fun.”

“All right, sheesh.” He grunted. “Bossy much? We’ll have to discuss your predisposition for topping.”

She put her hands on her hips and frowned. “I’m warning you. Behave.”

“Okay. My bad.” His hands were up in surrender.

“I made a cake,” she announced.

“Nice try,” he drawled with a beefy handed wallop on her butt when he saw what passed for a cake.

The two-tier cake with the figures of Han and Leia made from fondant on top had little stormtroopers and a mini Chewbacca circling the base.

“I have one more present,” she told him.

Handing over her shitshow of a wrapped gift, he eyed her curiously. A half-smile played around his lips. “What the hell is this? Did you have some sort of tape episode?”

Shrugging the comment off, she excitedly tapped his arm. “Open it.”

“Settle down,” he softly chided.

She couldn’t wait for him to see what she got. “Hurry, hurry.”

He didn’t tear the package apart with his big hands and kept looking at her. She knew he realized something was up and loved that he wanted to perform accordingly.

The bow sailed through the air and landed on a side table. The long ribbon wrapped several times around the messy bundle went next. There was no way to be gentle with the tape overkill she’d applied, so he gave a rip and caught the object inside before it fell to the floor.

Her heart began beating like one of her brother’s drums inside her chest. Would he like it? Her gift?

“What is this?” he asked.

That he had no idea what he held in his hand almost got him pinned to the floor from an avalanche of kisses. If he’d never been confronted with a little white stick before, she was over the damn moon about it.

“The box,” she mumbled when words deserted her. “In the paper.”

He ripped the paper wider and found the crumpled box. It took him a minute, and then he lost his shit. She’d never loved him more.

His eyes flooded with tears, and he dropped like a rock, going to his knees in front of her. He held the white stick in his hand and gaped at it.

Angie ran her hands through his mane of hair. “Happy Birthday, my love. You’re going to be a daddy.”

His arms came around her waist, and he clung to her for long minutes. She ran her hands through his hair and lovingly stroked his head.

Then he stood, carefully put the plastic stick on a table, and picked her up. He didn’t say a word. She stared at his face as he walked to their bedroom. The tears on his cheeks matched the ones she wiped away on her face.

In their bedroom, he undressed her slowly, reverently. When she was naked, he caressed her stomach but still said nothing. She’d never known him to be without words.

Yanking the covers to the foot of the bed, he scooped her up again and gently eased her into the center. She watched through eyes hooded by desire, wetting her lips when his manly chest was revealed. When he was naked and she could see for herself the level of his arousal, she turned to mush.

They’d made a baby, and her slick talking lawyer husband was at a loss for something to say.

He made love to her with heartfelt intensity—their bodies in perfect harmony. Passion throbbed in her veins. He kissed her taut nipples and licked them until she cried out. His hands touched her everywhere, triggering a shuddering ecstasy that melted her brain.

Together, they found a tempo that drove them to new heights. She writhed beneath his powerful thrusts. The degree to which she responded stunned Angie. This was more than sexual desire. He’d claimed her many times as his lover and wife, but this was different.

A deep feeling of absolute peace enveloped her. She wrapped him in her arms and rose to meet each claiming stroke. He groaned against her ear. They soared to an awesome, shuddering ecstasy. She felt him expand and release inside her in a series of pulsing throbs that threatened her sanity. Angie couldn’t hold back her hoarse cries of love.

When the emotional storm passed and they were cuddled together, he spoke of his love for her and how everything changed when she gave him a second chance. He thanked her over and over and promised everything she ever dreamed of and so much more.

“I’ve loved you every day of your entire life, Angel—and I will honor that love until my last breath.”

She fell asleep relaxed and happy for the first time since they returned from honeymoon.

Everyone was safe; they could all get back to living their lives and being the happiest they can be.

* * *

Stephanie greeted Cam on the front porch. She put a finger to her lips and said, “Shhhh.” Then she grabbed him in a fierce hug and kissed his cheek.

“Dylan is in bed, but he might not be asleep. Lily is snoozing, and Lacey is resting.”

“Thank you for everything,” he murmured quietly.

She grabbed his arms and squeezed. “Jason Cameron, you have a beautiful family. You are blessed beyond words. Go see to your wife. She might be the strongest one of all of us. You can be damn proud of how she’s behaved, shugah.”

Then she bounded down the steps and climbed into the car door Ben held open. He waved them off and went inside. Familiar smells assailed his senses. The scent of lavender buds from a bowl by the front door entered his system, and he detected warm vanilla wafting from the kitchen. The lights were low, but a light in the bedroom hallway lured him forward.

At Dylan’s bedroom door, he paused and listened. Hearing no sound, he silently cracked open the door and peeked inside. His son was asleep in his toddler bed with the partial safety sides. He went and stood next to the bed and stared at the child he and his Ponytail had made.

His heart surged with love. Bending over, he whispered, “Daddy’s home, big guy,” and then kissed his cheek.

In his and Lacey’s bedroom, he found his beautiful wife curled up on the lounger underneath a large window. Her hands were tucked beneath her chin and a pink blanket covered her legs. Nearby sat a small bassinet.

He peeked and saw his baby daughter lying on her back, sucking a thumb with an occasional snuffling sound. She was a tiny miniature of her mama. Gently scooping her into his hands, he held her against his heart.

“Daddy’s home, princess, and I missed you so much.” He brought her up to his face and pressed kisses onto her small face.

Lily’s baby squeaks and wriggles filled him with happiness. He glanced toward his sleeping wife and found her watching him with smiling eyes.

“Welcome home, Daddy.”

His smiled broadened until his face hurt. Kissing his daughter one last time, he lay her gently back in the bassinet and went to sit by his wife’s side. She scooted over enough to give him room to sit.

Caressing her face, he bent and gently kissed her. “How are you?” he asked.

“Better now that you’re home. But how are you? Is everything okay?”

He touched her nose and rolled a shoulder. “It’s over, and that’s what counts. The team is in one piece although a bit worse for wear. There’s nothing else to say really.”

She nodded. Lacey always understood. Not every little thing had importance. Some shit just was. The sooner they could put this episode behind them, the better.

“I brought you a present.”

Her shocked giggle was what he expected. “Airport gift shop?”

“Yep,” he proudly declared. “Had several hours to kill during a Paris layover. They have interesting stuff in the duty-free shops.”

Lacey laughed and sat up. “Do I have to wait for this present? What’s your plan, darlin’? Just gonna discuss it?”

He grabbed her chin and kissed her with fierce passion. “Hold on.”

Running down the hallway, he retrieved his carry-all and hunted through it till he found the right bag.

“Sorry it’s not wrapped,” he quipped when handing it to her.

She eyed him with mocking suspicion and carefully accepted the bag.

“It won’t bite.”

“Mmmhmm. That’s what your son said before he chomped down on my thumb.”

Conscious of his sleeping baby daughter, he laughed quietly.

Reaching into the bag, his wife pulled out a piece of ruffled white fabric. “What’s this?”

He took it from her hands, shook it out, held it up and stood to demonstrate. “It’s a French Maid’s apron, see?”

His wife’s mouth fell open.

He shrugged. “Thought it might come in handy when you’re feeling up to it.”

Her stunned expression was award-winning funny. “Remember our first Thanksgiving? Was one of the first big meals you made in our kitchen. You wore a cute little apron and nothing else. I recall the vision fondly.”

After a couple of heartbeats, she laughed. “I think I love you.”

“Just think?” He snickered.

She dropped the apron and twined her arms around his neck. “It’s been six weeks. We have the all-clear if you want to initiate a proper homecoming.”

He looked at her doubtfully. He remembered feeling like a bit of a pig after Dylan was born even though they waited the full amount of time. That didn’t mean, though, that they weren’t doing everything else under the sun.

“The longer we wait, the better it is for you,” he reminded her.

She looked at him slyly and batted her eyelashes. “The doctor says orgasms help things get back to normal.”

It required a superhero effort to keep a straight face. “And when was the last time you had an orgasm?”

Cam thoroughly enjoyed the rosy blush that moved onto her cheeks. He smiled and sniggered at her embarrassment.

“Manual or vibrator?” he asked.

She whispered so the baby wouldn’t overhear. “You were right. The little bullet packs a wallop.”

He looked at the sleeping baby and then at his beautiful wife. “I think I should perform a careful inspection, don’t you? If things seem okay, you can show me what you like about the bullet.”

“Show and tell?” She giggled.

“Something like that,” he answered before swooping in for a ravishing kiss.

* * *

“Honey, I’m home,” Drae hollered. He dropped his bag by the front door. Three seconds later, Raven was jumping on him, yipping happily.

A happy voice hollered, “Daddy home!”

A huge smile spread across his face. Wearing a pair of Woody from Toy Story pajamas, his son came running at him.

“Daddy! Daddy!”

He swept him up and laughed. “Miss me, big guy?”

“No sues,” Danny babbled with a jerky headshake.

Victoria came around the corner from the kitchen. She was wearing a big smile and a baggy t-shirt that said Baby on Board.

“He means shoes.” She chuckled. “He’s showing you that he hasn’t any shoes.”

She came to him and stood on her toes for a hello kiss. It was as if he was coming home from work at the end of the day. The perfectly normal vibe was exactly what he didn’t know he needed.

“How was your day?” he asked.

His wife chuckled. “Well, let’s see. Meghan quit her job. Heather too. So that means Sophie and I are suddenly in charge of everything. Fun times. But Heather now has the time to play kid wrangler, so that’s kind of cool.”

He smiled.

“Uh, I should warn you about something, though,” she said.

Drae arched a brow. From the corner of his eye, he swore Danny did too.

“FiFi got loose in the shop, and she didn’t exactly behave.”

This right here, he thought with deep satisfaction, this is what I live for. Everything else was bullshit.

Danny hit his chest a couple of time and made a mad face. “FiFi poop.”

Victoria’s giggle reset his whole world.

“Yeah, sorry. We cleaned it up, but you know how that goes.”

He just spent a month in the Middle East chasing terrorists and bad guys. Guns were drawn. Blood was spilled. People got fucked up. But nothing had ever been more important or sounded more wonderful or welcome than learning there was dog poop in his woodshop.

“I have news too,” he told his family.

“Oh?”

Danny lay on his shoulder and rubbed his face on Drae. It was good to be home.

“Yeah. So listen, hon. I sort of quit my job.”

Victoria started to laugh. Then she stopped and looked at him more closely when he didn’t say he was kidding.

“You’re serious?”

Feeling his son against his chest and seeing his wife’s pretty eyes was all he needed to know he was making the right decision.

“Yes, I am. We haven’t figured out all the details yet, but the three of us are done. We’re over it. Alex hired Domineau to run the programs, and we’re gonna headhunt a general manager.”

She stared at him with shock on her face.

“I don’t wanna do it anymore, honey. And honestly? I don’t need to. Money isn’t exactly an issue.”

“Well, okay,” Victoria murmured. “What does this really mean, Draegyn?”

“It means, dear wife, that I wanna use my talents in another way. Making stuff. Teaching the kids how to make stuff and take care of things.”

He could tell by his son’s dead weight that he was drifting off to sleep. She snickered softly so as not to disturb him.

“Did you get hit on the head or something because that wasn’t exactly eloquent. You wanna make stuff?”

He bent and kissed her luscious lips. “Yep, that’s me. Draegyn St. John. Maker of stuff and things.”

A hushed laugh erupted from his wife’s throat. “This is so cool.” She sniggered.

“It is? I expected more of a reaction, babe.”

She wrapped her arm through his and walked them slowly to the elevator.

“Well, Sinjin, let’s tuck our boy in and then you can describe in detail all these things you’re going to make while I work up a scenario in my head to ask Alex for a raise.”

“What? Why?”

The elevator took them to the second floor. Victoria opened the door for him and Danny.

“If you’re going to be a slacker, someone has to bring home the bacon.”

He thought the comment especially funny. “Uh, I didn’t know he still paid you.”

“Are you serious?” She giggled.

“Yeah. Mostly, I thought you just hung out with him because he’s a huge pain in the butt when not closely monitored.”

In Danny’s room, he looked around at the familiar decorations and felt complete peace. He lowered his precious boy onto his bed and carefully tucked him in. Victoria stood by his side and kept her hand on his back. When he looked down at her, she smiled into his eyes. He caressed her growing bump.

“I love you,” he murmured.

The love he felt for the little woman who never took his shit was too big for his heart to contain.

“I missed you. We missed you,” she added with a glance at Daniel and a pat on her belly. “Are we truly done with this crap, Draegyn? Can we move on?”

“Yes. You have my word, Victoria. None of us plan to look for trouble. We have kids to raise and wives to make crazy. That’s enough.”

Her bright, happy smile made him feel complete.

The team came home. The past was put in its place. They could focus on the future now.

She kissed their son, turned out the bedside light, and took his hand.

“Come on, you. Nerves overtook me, and I cooked everything in the kitchen so I hope you’re hungry.”

He caressed her face with his fingers. “My nerd queen.”

Victoria smirked, crossed her eyes, and made a goofy face. “Silver-tongued devil. Such a way with words.”

They clung to each other and had a good laugh. All was right in the St. John household now that he was home and back with his family.

Tomorrow would have to take care of itself.

* * *

Meghan was waiting at the end of the walkway when Ben pulled up. She couldn’t stand waiting inside because it robbed her of a full minute before she could touch him.

The passenger door on the far side of the car swung open, and her husband climbed out. She very nearly hyperventilated with excitement when she saw him.

Resembling a grizzly bear, he had a full beard and looked like he needed a shower and a haircut.

He came straight to her and folded Meghan in a powerful embrace.

She wanted him to know she heeded the message in the flowers. “I stayed strong,” she whispered. “I kept faith that you’d come back.”

He pulled back and framed her face with his hands. “I knew you would.”

Burying her face in his neck, she breathed kisses on his skin. He moved her until their lips met, and he kissed like a whisper. He quickly pulled back when one or both of his babies kicked him but good.

“Holy shit, that was strong. Are you okay?”

“I think they’re happy you’re home.”

He ran his hands all over her giant bump and grinned. “You’re huge.”

“Twins. Remember?” she answered with teasing sarcasm.

She waved to Ben, who was watching them like a smash hit rom-com. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure, double M.” He saluted them both and got back in the car. As they walked along the path to the open front door, he drove off.

Before they entered the house, she stopped him. “I don’t want to take the last month into the house. So tell me everything I need to know right here.”

“We did what we said we were going to do. It’s done. No regrets.”

“Good,” she said. “I hope you made them pay.”

He nodded and then blew her mind in a very straightforward way. “And I’ve hired Domineau Rivera to take over the Justice programming.”

“What?”

“I’m done, Meghan. We all are. The truth is we could retire today, shut down the agency, and never feel a financial pinch. At first, it was fun, and then it was challenging, but now, it’s just work. I’ll figure out something for the agency as a whole. We’ll still need a managing director for the business end of things—but Domineau can do the trainings with an eye patch and one hand in her pocket. It took some convincing, and she only promised eighteen months, but it’s a start.”

“Well, if we’re confessing career changes, Sophie has taken over at the family center. Same thing. Eye patch and one hand. She’s amazing.”

His smile crowded Alex’s entire face. “Drae wants to play Geppetto full time. Some Zen bullshit about wood and working with his hands. I’m pretty sure that’s your influence, madam. So actually, it’s on you that the agency needs new management. Once we lose 007, the brochure gets dull and boring.”

“Where does Jason fall in this whole thing?”

Alex chuckled. “Lacey, right?”

She nodded. “Got a whole lecture one night. She doesn’t want the kids confused and feels that nosy people ask invasive questions over names and stuff. It’s hard, though. I can’t think of him as anything except Cameron.”

“Well, Lacey can go stuff some cookies or something because he’s going to be Uncle Cam and that’s that. If you ladies want to call him something else, what-fucking-ever.”

“Oh, thank god.” She laughed. “I’ll blame it on you. Use that Uncle Cam line.”

“It’s a good one, huh?”

She elbowed him playfully. “Danny calls him Uncle Cam, so don’t get all high and mighty. Not unless you’re stealing material from a toddler now.”

He had a good laugh and hugged her tight. It felt wonderful to hear his voice and feel his presence.

“Are we done here?” she asked. With her foot out, she drew a line across the doorway. “All bullshit remains out here. Our anniversary is a few hours away, and that’s all I want to think about.”

“Our anniversary? You’re right! Well, damn. Good timing on my part.”

“You’re an ass,” she quipped.

“Yet you love me.”

She beamed into his face. “I understand from your housekeeper and Calder that there’s a returning warrior ritual.” She waved him into the house. Soft music played on the sound system.

“There are two beautiful steaks waiting to go on the grill and a full ice bucket with a bottle of Glenfiddich. Just for you. Only for you.” She smirked with a pat of her belly. “Pussy,” she coughed into her hand.

“And after you eat, I’ve been instructed that a steaming bath and quite possibly a cigar will be in order although not at the same time unless you want me to throw up.”

They were in the kitchen when he pulled her into his arms. “Did you miss me?”

His eyes told her the kidding and light banter were at an end. Her beast needed something more, and nothing served that purpose more than honesty.

“I can’t breathe without you, baby.” She searched his face. “Until you were gone, I didn’t know.”

Maybe her words made sense, and maybe they didn’t. She wasn’t sure it mattered. He was so much a part of her that without him, she didn’t feel complete. The babies kept her going. His baby humans were her life.

He nodded solemnly. “One more thing,” he muttered. “I did that mission for you. For the kids. So nothing can come at us from the past and bite our asses.”

“There’s nothing else?”

“No.”

She thought for a minute. “I have to ask you one question, and you can refuse to answer.”

He scoffed at her remark. “Baby, I’m an open book with you. Ask away.”

“Did you, Parker, Cam, or Draegyn ever sleep with Domineau?”

“Excuse me?” he bellowed on a gale of laughter. “Are you insane?”

“Alex,” she grated in her bossy, teacher voice. “It’s a perfectly reasonable question.”

“No, it’s not. For you, anyway. Let me guess. Is this Tori? No,” he said with a headshake as he answered his own question. “So it’s Angie’s fear? That Parker did Domineau?”

“Or the other way around,” she said with a haughty sniff.

The snotty teacher tone and annoyed sniff earned her a blazing look that set fire to her lady parts.

She could tell from the way his jaw clenched that he was trying really hard not to smile.

“Full disclosure. I’ve seen her naked. Not in a sexual way,” he quickly amended when she grabbed the front of his shirt. “Shit happens in a war zone. But I can fully swear that neither Parker nor I have ever touched her.”

“And what about the other two?”

He looked at her like she was genuinely crazy. “What about either of those dumb fucks do you imagine she’d get off on?”

It was her turn not to laugh. “Okay, cool,” she cheerfully yipped. Wrapping her arm through his, she kicked the whole topic into the dustbin and went back to taking wifely care of her manly beast.

She took him into the courtyard. A fire crackled in the enormous outdoor fireplace and a hundred strings of fairy lights draped the trees and along the high stone wall.

A warm breeze ruffled her hair. He touched her face and played with a long curl. “Tell me about the kids. Is everything okay? What have I missed?”

“Five weeks to go. Getting crowded in there. My blood pressure is good—she’s not concerned about that.” She gasped. “The last ultrasound was amazing. I could see their faces.”

“Can I see it?”

“Of course,” she purred. “I have the picture on my phone. And I kept all the ribbons and bows from my birthday to show you.”

“I’m so sorry I missed your big day.”

“Oh, pfft. Whatever! The only big day I care about is the debut of these two.”

He stroked her belly and measured it with his touch. “Are you sleeping okay?”

“Alex,” she drawled. Grabbing his shoulders, she tried to shake him. “Honey, I’m fine. Hush now. Let me take care of you. I’ve been thinking about this all day as I waited.”

He gave in and let her weave a magical homecoming spell. They ate fantastic steaks with his favorite grilled veggies. She waited on him hand and foot, refilling his drink and stroking his arm as they talked. It was heaven. The best of times were simple ones like now. Relaxing together, laughing, talking, touching. It was extraordinary intimacy.

After dinner, they held hands and walked up the big staircase. He wanted to stop by Abuelita’s portrait and say hi. She watched her magnificent beast connect with his ancestral past with a jaunty bow—the way he’d been taught as a child. He thanked Dona Lucia for keeping watch over his family.

In their bedroom, she took control—rather like a stern nanny because his wandering hands were quite busy.

“I’m going to run you a bath, and just to be clear, I won’t be joining you.”

“You’re no fun,” he teased.

“I’ll make it up to you,” she assured with a throaty chuckle.

He soaked for a long time—most of the time alone. When she felt certain he was somewhat relaxed, she joined him and pulled a bench from the dressing room next to the tub. He held her hand and smiled when she propped her iPad up and started the slideshow she’d put together of everything that happened while he was gone. The last two pictures were from the latest ultrasound.

“Oh, my god,” he murmured with wonder.

A strange quiet fell over him after that. She left him to finish and went onto their private balcony to enjoy the night air. When he joined her a few minutes later, she offered him one of his favorite cigars, but he declined.

“Can we just go to bed, love? All I could think of once we were clear to leave was feeling you in my arms. We don’t need to do anything else if you’re uncomfortable. It’s not about sex. It’s you I need.”

She sensed his vulnerability and reacted swiftly. “Take me to bed, husband. I need you too. And as for anything else? Let’s see what happens. We haven’t been told no, and there are still weeks to go.”

He undressed her with trembling, worshipful hands. The appreciation and lust in his expression made her feel beautiful. And sexy.

When she was naked, he walked around her, slowly leaving a trail of wet kisses across her shoulders and collarbone. He had to lift her hair, and for some reason, she found the action sexy.

Something was spine-tinglingly erotic about him kissing, nipping, and licking her back. She could feel his growls against her skin. When he sank his teeth into her ass, where the Valleja-Marquez brand marked her as his, she cried out.

His hand slipped between her thighs and gently caressed her mound. He hissed his delight and cupped her from behind.

“You’re unbelievably sexy, my wife.”

At the compliment, heat poured into her center. He chuckled because he undoubtedly felt it with his hand.

She groaned when he removed his hand and circled round to her front. He swept his fingers across her chest, making her nipples harden. With the gentlest of caresses, he fondled her heavy breasts. She whimpered when he licked the sensitive nubs.

His hands caressed her belly. Eventually, he abandoned her breasts and sank to his knees. He kissed their bump over and over. She carried high so when his face moved to the juncture of her thighs, he had plenty of room.

“God, you smell so good.”

It was a little disconcerting at first when he started playing with her pussy as she stood and he knelt. She felt exposed in some way. Leaning against the bed with her butt, she widened her stance. Her movement emboldened him, and he went straight to fingering her in a way that brought her to an orgasm in under a minute.

“Oh, baby. That was beautiful.” He patted her mound and followed up with a kiss.

He stood and kissed her with passionate urgency. “I read that lying on your back can be uncomfortable.” He leered at her. “I liked watching up close. We’ll be trying that again.”

Not entirely sure how she remained standing when her head rolled back and her body exploded, she was too wobbly to do anything other than stand there. Lifting her carefully, he helped her to the bed and rolled her to her side. She brought up her knees by habit and curled into a ball.

After turning out the lights, he joined her and pulled the covers up. They spooned and murmured words of love. He touched and fondled every inch of her body. She arched into him and wrapped her arm around his neck when he mauled her shoulder with his teeth and lips.

His hard cock rested against her ass. From time to time, he would grind into her and groan. She started to pant and wiggled her ass against his groin. Things became heated and passionate very quickly. His long, thick shaft slid between her thighs.

He was touching her everywhere. Heat rolled through her. She undulated on his big cock, wetting it with her desire.

He shifted and lifted her leg. The fat sexy head of his cock pushed into her opening. She growled. Needing more, she pushed her ass back in silent demand.

Slowly and carefully, he entered her. Not too deeply but enough to cause him to shudder and groan and her to get a little wild. He made shallow thrusts, and she undulated in a way that gave them mutual pleasure.

It didn’t last long. They were both far too desperate for finesse. They both needed the same thing. This.

She came after a moaning, desperate build-up. He followed immediately; the pulsing of his cock emptied inside her as she milked him with her body.

They slid into blissful sleep not long after.