“I don’t have a problem with them as long as I don’t have to change diapers or lose sleep over them. I’ll play with them, feed them and hand them over to the rest of you for night duty or diaper detail.”
“Some mother you’ll make,” Evan said. “I’m kind of with her on diapers. It’s why I wanted to have a vasectomy years ago.”
“Did you really?” His confession just pissed her the hell off. “Why would you consider something like that without a woman in your life?”
“Too much sex with all the wrong girls,” Braden said. “He didn’t do it, by the way.”
“Great,” she said. “Spare me the details.”
“Honey, I hope you’re not jealous. Considering I’m going to share you with these two, I think-”
“By the way, that reminds me.” She stood up with her hands on her hips. “Kane proposed marriage. Where does that leave you two?”
“That was for legal purposes, in case you didn’t figure that part out,” Braden said. “We want you to marry all of us.”
“That won’t work.”
“Why not?” Kane demanded.
“Because, you already act like you have a stronger hold on me and eventually these two will feel like you do. I don’t like it, and it will never work.”
Braden chuckled. “Then what will?”
“Hmmm, I guess we’ll just have to think about it and take some time to figure it out.”
“While you’re thinking on it, give some thought to a different career option too. Once you enroll in school, you need to declare a major so you don’t waste your time on courses you won’t need.”
“Kane, I’m becoming a nurse.”
“Peyton, over my dead body.”
“Braden, hand me your gun. I can shoot one Cartwell and still have two of you left.”
Kane crooked a smile. “You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you?”
“Smart enough to land the three most eligible bachelors in town. I’d say I’m anything but a dumb blonde.”
“I’d say you’re right, Miss Peyton Storm Cartwell. I’d say you’re right.”
Epilogue
Six Years Later
Kane and Braden took turns with the baby after they brought the little one home from the hospital. In true Peyton-form, she kept up her end of the deal. She wasn’t going to share diaper duty or lose sleep when the little darling cried. She made the promise six years ago, and she never led the men she loved to believe anything different.
“Trixie needs a change,” she said as she handed the little beauty off to Braden. Trixie’s biological father was Kane but no one ever planned to tell her until later in life, if and when she asked.
“What time do you get off tonight?” Evan asked as he poked his head in the nursery.
“I guess whenever I tell her she can get off,” Kane said with a flirty wink. “What the hell are you thinking asking her a question like that?”
Trixie cooed at Braden, and he cooed back. Everyone laughed.
“See, even Trixie knows you ask stupid questions,” Kane said as he leaned over and kissed Peyton. “She’s a smart girl like her mother.”
“I don’t know. Right now, Peyton’s intelligence is up for a little debate. The deal the two of you cut doesn’t sit well with me,” Evan said.
“I bet it will,” Braden said without looking away from Trixie. “She’s in training for all of us. Not just Kane.”
Evan stared at them blankly. “You mean…”
Kane grumbled. “Part of the deal.”
“Maybe you two should explain this deal you made,” Evan said.
Peyton wrapped her arms around Evan’s waist. She looked up at him and kissed his mouth before she backed away. “I’ll let them explain. I have to get to work.” She made her rounds and kissed them all goodbye. “I think you’ll like the details.”
Kane waggled his eyebrows. “I’m sure you will, little brother. It’s like this. Peyton gets to go play nurse three days a week and three days a week she submits to us as a submissive in training. It’s a sweet deal all the way around.”
“She agreed to train as a true submissive?” Evan studied his brothers.
“With Trixie, we don’t want anything too elaborate. I mean, we’re not going to put a collar and leash on her for crying out loud. All bets are off behind closed doors, and three days a week, she will submit to her Master for the night.”
“So it’s more games than going back into the lifestyle?” Evan sounded disappointed, and Peyton smiled to herself as she listened to them chit-chat. She strained to hear everything they discussed but she found herself almost as excited as she’d been the first day she made love with all of them. There was something about submitting to them. It made her pulse race and her heart flutter an extra beat.
“If that’s the way you want to imagine it, then that’s fine but I can tell you one thing, Braden and I have talked and there’s little she’s going to get by with when she’s in my bed. I’m making a sacrifice for her to work at the hospital. When she submits to me, I’m going to make sure it’s worth the exchange.”
“You feel the same way, Braden?”
“You’d better believe it.” He picked Trixie up and handed her off to Kane. He held her out and studied the child. “She looks like Peyton.”
“She acts like her too,” Braden grumbled.
“She’s going to give us a run for our money, isn’t she?” Kane asked.
“Not if we get her mother under control first. She’s going to follow her lead. Wait and see. She looks at Peyton like she’s the only one in the room. She adores her. She’ll be exactly like her.”
Peyton giggled and stepped back inside the nursery. “You guys are so funny. I wish I had a tape recording to play back to you someday. Poor Trixie doesn’t stand a chance, do you, sweetheart?” She tickled the little one’s toes, and Trixie cackled.
“Okay, I’m off. Try to behave until I get back,” she said.
Kane grunted. “You’re the one who needs to behave.”
“For sure,” Braden said.
“Oh please step out of line,” Evan said. “I love to spank your little round behind, and I can hardly wait to see you with your nose in the corner again.”
“Dream on, Evan, dream on. If we’re playing these games now, I want the real thing. The whips and chains, and the whole shebang. You boys better get online and buy some new toys. I’m all grown up now. I’m not eighteen anymore.”
“Thank, God.” They all chimed in at once and even little Trixie laughed right along with them.