Chapter 176 Where Five Hearts Choose Forever
POV Maya:
One month later.
I am happier than I ever thought I could be. Ever since the cowboys came after me at that airport, things between us have been incredible. Luca is already preparing to return to college; he’ll spend a few days a week in Dallas, and Mikhail will stay with him so he can begin his treatment and find out how to enroll in equivalency classes. He wants to graduate from high school, and I couldn’t be prouder of his decision.
Adrian is going with them to study how to open and manage his carpentry shop. Dominic and Sebastian will remain on the ranch, taking care of things and preparing for the stud farm’s opening. I’ll divide my time between the ranch and Dallas—I can’t stay away from my cowboys for too long. That’s why I’m sitting here in my chair, wearing a bikini and my pink hat, soaking up the sun and watching them work on building the arena where the horses will stay.
Even though this is Sebastian’s dream, they’re all committed to making it happen. Dominic told me that once the stud farm opens, the ranch will see greater profits because of the visitors it will attract. The brothers still insist on the crazy idea of paying me back the money I spent on them. It might take a while, but they say they will reimburse me. At first, I was hurt that they wanted to return it, but then they told me it would be impossible for them to benefit from money that had made me so unhappy.
I loved them even more for that. That was what made me decide to use that money for good. Every dollar the brothers repay me over the course of our lives, I will donate to orphanages and institutions dedicated to abandoned animals. When I told them my decision, their smiles and kisses let me know they approved. This was the way I found to turn that damned money into something that brings happiness to others.
“Minx, are you going to keep sitting there?” I take off my sunglasses and look at my wild caveman—shirtless, sweaty, carrying a log over his shoulder.
“Dominic, vitamin D is important. How many times do I have to say that?”
“Are you sitting there to get vitamin D, or to ogle our sweaty bodies?” Luca asks with that arrogant little smirk at the corner of his mouth.
“Luca, if a woman doesn’t have the right to admire her men in the holy peace of the Lord, why the fuck would she get into a relationship?” I ask, standing up. “I worked hard to have you eating out of the palm of my hand. I deserve everything that comes with it. That includes watching you work, hoping your cocks get hard and give me material to masturbate to when we’re not all together.”
“You’ve got the nerve to say to our faces that you’re going to masturbate?” Mikhail asks, outraged, dropping the wood in his hands and striding toward me. “You’ve got to be kidding me, redhead.”
I bite my lip to hold back the wicked laugh trying to escape. My cowboys are so predictable—being with them means never being bored.
“I might be exaggerating a little,” I say, and they all stop in their tracks. “But the truth is, I’m never satisfied. I’ll always want more of you.” I confess. “I’m afraid of closing my eyes and all of this being a dream.” The five brothers drop their wood and come closer. “I’m afraid I’m still at that airport waiting for my flight to Hawaii. I’m afraid that when you go to Dallas, something will change between us.”
I’ve been avoiding thinking about it, but it’s the honest truth. I’m afraid that when Luca, Mikhail, and Adrian leave for Dallas, things will change between us. What if they start thinking rationally about how crazy a polyamorous relationship is? What if some woman comes into their lives and makes them reconsider sharing me?
“Pepper?” Sebastian opens his arms, calling me, and I don’t think—I just go to him and hug him. “You’re forgetting something very important.”
“Am I? What?” I ask, my eyes burning.
“We love you. You’re the woman of our lives.” I let out a long breath—this is the first time I’ve heard one of them say the word love. “I love you, Pepper, and nothing and no one will separate us. We have a life to build together and many dreams to fulfill.”
Before I can answer, his mouth is on mine, and I quickly lose myself in his kiss. Soon I feel hands wrapping around my waist, pulling me away from Sebastian, who doesn’t try to stop it—on the contrary, he’s smiling. I look at Mikhail and swallow hard when I see the depth in his gaze.
“I love you, redhead. You’re the most loving, crazy, provocative, hot, troublemaking woman I could ever have the honor of calling mine. Don’t think for a second that what we have will change—because it won’t. Actually, it will—it will change into something stronger, more intense, and more lasting.”
“Hey, brother, that troublemaker is ours,” Adrian says, stepping beside us, and I let out a laugh through my tears. “I love you, redhead, and there’s nothing to fear—not when we’re talking about our future.” His hand strokes my cheek, guiding my face closer to his. “We’re going to make all your dreams come true.” Then he kisses me, sealing not only his declaration of love but a promise.
I feel Mikhail’s hand slide into my hair, claiming his kiss. I pull away from Adrian and offer my mouth to him, and he accepts. His tongue is a gentle caress in the whirlwind of certainties beginning to fill my heart, because that’s what they’re giving me—certainty.
“Come here, you wicked woman. Let me silence your fears with my love.”
Mikhail and Adrian release me, and I walk toward my bossy caveman.
“I love you. You’re my favorite bitch. You accepted us, and now you need to accept that there’s no going back.”
“Promise?” I ask, just to be sure.
“I promise. You’re ours. There’s no escape anymore.” His hand comes to the back of my neck, his grip firm—even in a declaration of love, Luca imposes the dominance I love so much. “Give me your mouth.”
I close my eyes and cover his mouth with mine, giving him the sweetest, most tender kiss I can. This time he doesn’t assert his dominance; instead, he lets me love him with my mouth. When we part, his eyes reflect the promise of our future.
“Are you forgetting someone, minx?” I roll my eyes and turn to my wild caveman, who isn’t wild at all—Dominic is a sweet and caring man. It took time for him to show me that side, but he did.