Page 106 of Ice Cold Hearts
My heart feels ready to burst as I take in the men before me—Alexei, strong and unflappable, with dark features that hide the warmest heart I’ve ever seen, Oliver’s light features and sunshiny demeanor with a soul tucked underneath that’s desperate to be loved, and Ian with his fiery auburn hair and expressive temperament that covers the most genuine and empathetic person I’ve had the privilege to know. These men are good men, and most importantly, they’re my men, and I’m never going to let anything come between us again.
The fact that Ian and Alexei would even offer to bow out gracefully so we can be a conventional family threatens to bring tears to my eyes. It’s not something I’ll ever want, but the fact that they’re willing to put their own happiness aside for me just proves how truly wonderful they are. I don’t think there will ever be enough words to fully encompass the depth of love I feel for them right now.
And Oliver? The fact that he believes me, that he trusts me, that he picked me over Liza, is enough to keep my feet from ever touching the ground again. I promise myself right then that I will do everything in my power to help mend the hurt I caused by keeping this from him for so long. Instead of shoving me out into the cold, he apologized to me for the damage his agent caused us and still wants to be in my life.
I’ve never felt so light or so free. I’m not sure whether I want to laugh or cry.
“Do you need some time alone to think about it?” Alexei asks finally. “It’s okay if you do. None of us want to rush you into anything. We want what you want, whatever that ends up being.”
I can’t help it. I fly across the room and practically pounce on him, peppering every inch of exposed skin with kisses.
“You three are the most wonderful, most considerate men in the entire world. I love you all so much,” I say between kisses.
“But Emily, what—” Ian starts.
Still straddling Alexei’s lap, I turn and cut him off by dragging him to me for a kiss. His hands find my hair as his tongue explores my mouth. I shiver as Alexei traces his fingertips across the tops of my thighs. Electricity prickles through every inch of my body as Oliver tucks his chest into my back and reaches around to cup my breasts. I moan as he teases my nipples through the silky fabric of the pajamas that I keep here.
“Stop,” Alexei orders, stilling his hands.
I disentangle myself from Ian and huff in disappointment as Oliver removes his hands from my body.
“I’m sorry,” I say as anxiety floods my brain. “Did you not want this? Was I reading the room wrong?”
“No, Kitten.” He smiles. “This is wonderful, and you? You’re everything I could have wished for.”
“Then what is it?” I ask.
“I can guess at what your answer is by the way you reacted, but we need clear communication for this to work. Informed, enthusiastic consent, remember?” he says, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “We just saw how keeping things from each other makes things worse, and on a more selfish note, I need to hear you say it. I think we all do. So, Kitten, what do you want?”
“Everything. All of you for forever, or as long as you’ll have me. I want us to work. I want our little family of five to be together,” I confess.
“You’re just saying that because you don’t want to have to go back to putting Audrey to bed by yourself,” Oliver teases.
I turn my head and wink at him. “That’s definitely a major perk.”
“Anything else besides everything and forever?” Alexei asks dryly.
I smile. “Hmm… I don’t want you to ever stop making me laugh with your sharp wit and sassy observations.”
“Sassy?” He frowns. “I think you meant biting social commentary.”
“Same thing,” I tease. “Ian, I want you to keep telling me all the wonderful things in your heart and noticing when I’m not okay and not letting me hide from it. Oliver, I want you to continue to keep me from being serious all the time and enjoy the fun things in life together. I want to get married someday, if you don’t get sick of me. I want to open my own private physical therapy clinic. I want to add a slide to the pool, and maybe add some extra children into our family to use it. Not for a good handful of years yet, mind you. We haven’t even managed to get the one we have to bed in under two hours.” I laugh. “But more than anything, I just want you to keep loving me.”
Alexei nods. “I think we can do that.”
Ian smiles. “Absolutely.”
“Seems reasonable,” Oliver says.
I yelp as Alexei grips my waist and spins me out to face Oliver.
“I think you’ve done quite enough talking for the evening, Kitten, don’t you?” he murmurs in my ear.
I press my lips tightly together and nod.
“Good girl,” he praises.
One hand wraps around my waist, pinning my arm against my side and holding me to him. His other hand grips my free wrist like a vise. Heat builds in my center from the sensation of being restrained.