“I’ve planned dinner and I need to talk to you about something else as well. So please get your sexy arse on the chair,” I order, watching Bennett pull out the one right at the head of the table. The need to shock her, leaving her speechless is one of my favorite things to do, because I know she’ll play right into my hands.
When she finally settles, I take in her appearance. Her body is perfect as she grows with our baby. Her eyes are glistening with happiness. Both Bennett and I take our seat on either side of her.
“What did you want to talk about?” she asks, running her fingers through her long blond hair. She’s perfection in its purest form and I know I’ll never get my heart back because this woman has consumed every fiber of my being.
Pulling the champagne from the ice bucket, I unwrap the foil and pop the cork. Grabbing two crystal flutes, I fill them with sparkling golden liquid. I’ve made sure it’s free of alcohol so she isn’t drinking while being pregnant.
“There’s something we need to celebrate.”
She cocks her head to the side, regarding me and my best friend as I hand her the glass. It’s warm outside and the moon lights her in its blue light, making her ethereal. Like an angel. Sweet and beautiful. Innocent, yet not.
It hurts me to know what she endured. What vile things her life has shown her, but when I look at her now, the strength she’s shown has given me the courage to do this.
It’s allowed me to see the heart of who I am, and what I want. Our dinner is on the table, ready to be devoured, but I wonder if she’ll see the surprise before I have a chance to ask her. I never planned it, but when I spoke to Bennett, he gave me the go ahead. The reasoning is simple. I love her, but I also want our child to know that even though there are two men who are father figures, that legally, she isn’t a single mother.
“What are we celebrating?” she questions quietly.
“There’ve been many times over these few months that I’ve wondered why you’re still here. We’re not the easiest men to put up with, but when we almost lost you something in me shifted. There was always a connection between us, but something hit me the day we found you. The idea of losing you cut into me like a blade slicing through my still beating heart.” I push up off the chair and position myself in front of her. “I spoke to Bennett and we’ve agreed that I should be the one to do this. You’ve embedded yourself in our minds, and even though you have us both here, loving you, wanting you, giving you all you need. My soul needs yours to survive, Princess. I need you. So, I’d like to ask if you’d perhaps want to make it legal?”
“I agree. I want this for you both. I’m not going anywhere. Don’t take this the wrong way. But you need a legal husband to ensure our children are safe. And I can’t think of a better man than Carter.”
She glances between us. Her face is a picture of elation and shock. I pull out the ring Bennett and I bought her. It’s two rings, for both of us, twined into one. Since only one of us can marry her, it’s a symbol of both our love for her.
“Of course, yes, yes,” she mumbles through tears. She pulls us both into her embrace and I know this is my happily ever after.
The monster has been slain. With Carter, Bennett, and Ella living their forever, they believe nothing can hurt them anymore. But, things aren’t always as they seem. They may have killed one monster, but in the darkness lurk so many more.
Can the three hearts who have now become one find their way through the murky shadows that haunt them?
Or will their forever be as fragile as innocence stolen?
Acknowledgments
I started this story in 2016 as part of a series I was planning, but something felt wrong. it wasn’t working. I put it on the back burner and late last year, Carter and Bennett started shouting at me. Ella then pushed me into the cave and told me her story.
It was difficult to write at certain points. Some of the scenes made me cringe, brought tears to my eyes, but I needed to write it. And in the end, I fell in love with these three.
I need to thank my BETAs, for taking a chance on this story with me. I know most of you will never look at a snow globe the same way again, and I apologize for that. But you stuck by me and even fought over who was claiming Carter and who wanted Bennett. You loved Ella’s strength and that to me meant everything. Thank you, Sheena, Melissa, Cat, Caroline, Joy, Amy, and Allyson for everything!
To the amazing Emily Lawrence, of Lawrence Editing for taking my story and polishing it. Your input is appreciated. I can’t thank you enough for everything.
My Decadent Dolls street team, thank you for pimping my work EVERYWHERE. You ladies rock!!
My reader group, Dani’s Darklings, thank you for being a place for me to escape the craziness and just have a laugh. And thank you for all the support for my books and loving my alphas.
To all my author colleagues, thank you for always sharing, commenting, and supporting me. I appreciate every one of you. Having a support system is important and you ladies provide that and so much more.
Readers and bloggers, from the bottom of my little black heart, THANK YOU. All you do for us authors is incredible. Reading and reviewing is demanding on your own time and you do it with a smile. Thank you so, so much. You are valued and appreciated for taking time out to show us so much love.
* * *
If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review. I’d love you forever. (Even though I already do!)
About the Author
International Bestselling author in BDSM & Erotica.
A proud member of the Romance Writer's Organization of South Africa.
Dani is a fan of dark romance that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. It's from this passion that her writing has evolved from sweet and romantic, to dark and delicious. It's in this world she's found her calling, growing from strength to strength and hitting her stride.
On a daily basis, she has a few hundred characters, storylines, and ideas floating around in her head. From the feisty heroines she delivers to the dark, dominant alphas that grace the pages of her books, she promises light in a world filled with danger and darkness.
She has a healthy addiction to reading, TV series, music, tattoos, chocolate, and ice cream.