Her breath caught, knotting in her throat until her chest felt like it would explode.
And then she let go.
And as Liam had promised, he was there to catch her. He gathered her in his arms, holding her close as Noah thrust into her harder, faster.
Liam arched his body upward, his muscles as tight as hers had been. Strain was evident in his face, but his eyes never left her face.
Then Noah lunged forward one last time. With a shout, he thrust deep and then remained there, his body jerking spasmodically against hers. Liam’s muffled curse rose and then he groaned harshly, his body bowed, straining under hers and Noah’s weight.
Both men were breathing hard, plastered against her. She was sandwiched between them, one heartbeat against her back, the other against her cheek. Never had she felt safer or more loved than she did right now in their arms.
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
LAUREN, 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.
PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF
MAYA BANKS
“If I ever wanted to be adopted into a fictional family, it would be the Kellys . . . I am devoted to the Kelly brothers.”
—Fiction Vixen
“[An] action-packed story.”
—The Mystery Gazette
“Fast action is the name of the game . . . If you’re looking for a sexual, sensual, romantic suspense story, look no further.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Great twists and turns.”
—CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
“An intriguing mix of military action and sizzling romance.”
—Publishers Weekly
“This is a new series by Maya Banks and she’s got herself another winner . . . This story is action-packed.”
—Night Owl Romance
“Suspenseful, sinfully sensuous and straight-up awesome”
—Joyfully Reviewed
“Wrought with a sensual tension.”
—Romance Junkies
“Sizzle, sex appeal and sensuality! Maya Banks has it all . . . This book is on the inferno side of hot, and it shows on every page . . . You will not want to miss out on this story.”
—Romance Junkies
“An enjoyable tale of [a] second chance at life.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“Maya Banks never fails to tell compelling tales that evoke an emotional reaction in readers . . . Kept me on the edge of my seat.”
—Romance Junkies
“Surpassed all my expectations. Incredibly intense and complex characters, delicious conflict and explosive sex scenes that fairly melt the print off the pages, Sweet Persuasion will have Maya Banks fans, new and existing alike, lasciviously begging for more.”