Colters' Gift (32 page)

She emitted a dreamy sigh and then let out a sound of protest when Noah began to withdraw.

He kissed her back again, right at the small, before pulling the rest of the way out.

“Need to clean you up, honey,” he said gently. “I’ll be right back.”

She lay there on Liam, his arms wrapped around her body, holding her snugly to his, him still deeply embedded inside her.

“Was that okay?” Liam murmured.

She smiled against his chest. “Oh yeah. Perfect.”

He squeezed her. “I’m glad. Welcome home, baby.”

Tears blurred her vision. She was home. Right where she belonged. But she couldn’t ever truly be at home until the men she loved were with her. Fully. And now they were.

Noah returned, wiping a warm cloth over her skin to clean her. Then Liam gently lifted her, pulling free from her body in a hot rush. They laid her down and finished the job Noah had started.

When they were done, Noah tossed the cloth in the direction of the bathroom and then climbed into bed next to Lauren. He pulled the covers over her while Liam settled on her other side.

“Now, there’s something we want to discuss with you,” Liam said.

Her eyes widened.

“Don’t look like that, honey. It’s nothing bad. Well, I hope to fuck it’s not.”

She laughed at the sudden uncertainty in his voice.

Liam was more serious, though. His expression never faltered as he took her hand, guiding it to his mouth. Then he reached back and into the nightstand to pull out a small box. Putting it between them, he glanced up at Noah as if waiting for his friend to speak.

“I know we discussed it on the flight home. It wasn’t the best time, and I regret bringing it up when your world had been upended. But there’s not a more perfect time than right now when you’re in our arms, soft and sleepy from making love to both of us.”

“What is it, Noah?” she asked quietly.

Liam cleared his throat. “We want you to marry us, Lauren.”

As he spoke, he opened the box and pulled out a sparkling diamond ring. Her hand shook as he carefully slid it onto her third finger. Then he kissed it.

“I know we discussed it,” Noah continued. “But we want to ask you now. Now that you’ve had time to process it and what our life would be like together.”

“We talked to the Colters,” Liam said. “Found out how they did their ceremonies. Holly is dying for you to be married right where she married her husbands, and Lily married hers, and where Max and Callie both got married.”

“In their garden right there on their mountain,” Lauren said in awe. “Oh that would be perfect!”

“Then is that a yes?” Noah asked hesitantly.

She flew into his arms, knocking him over onto his back as she hovered above him. She kissed every inch of his face until he was laughing and begging for mercy. Then she launched herself at Liam and gave him the same treatment.

“Yes!” she exclaimed. “Oh my God, yes I’ll marry you!”

“Now, about those babies . . .” Liam said with a grin. “Just how serious were you?”

“Very,” she said, returning his grin. “Think you two can help me out on that?”

“We’ll sure as hell try,” Noah murmured as he rolled her underneath him again.

CHAPTER 7

L
AUREN,
Liam and Noah were married under the same arch where Holly Colter had married her husbands nearly thirty-five years before. As had Max and Callie, and Lily, Seth, Michael and Dillon. Gathered was the entire Colter family. Holly. The dads. Seth, Dillon, Michael and Lily with little Caleb. Max and Callie.

They all surrounded Lauren Wilder as she pledged her life and love to Liam and Noah, and it was decided that from that day forth, Lauren would take the name Lauren Sullivan-Prescott to honor both the men who in turn pledged their love and devotion to her for all eternity.

They married when the aspens had turned, their incandescent glitter transforming the landscape into a simmering sea of gold. It was the same month that Holly Colter had returned to her husband all those years ago, pregnant with their first child.

Over the years, many children were born to the Wilders, Colters and Sullivan-Prescotts. They grew up secure in the love of the older Colter generation, guided by the gentle hand of Holly Colter and her steadfast husbands, who swore to love her into the next life and beyond.

The children ran wild and free over the mountains where the Colters had lived for decades. They grew up with an unshakable purpose, confident and backed by the love of Colters’ Legacy.