Page 44 of Lennon

“I don’t know. I might not have said yes right away. This has all been moving so fast. I didn’t even know the three of you a few weeks ago. I’m no longer running from this thing between us, and I didn’t know it was there before I came to Phoenix, which isn’t your fault. It’s mine,” I admit softly.

“Why did you fight moving here for so long? What made you change your mind and give into Abigail?”

I look out into his room, not really seeing anything while I try and get my thoughts in order. “I had a family up in Seattle and I was happy with them. They gave me a place to feel safe and a purpose. I could help them, and they accepted me without any strings.”

“That sounds like a good thing,” he prompts me gently and I find myself smiling.

“It was a good thing, but I did miss my mom.” I sigh. “I have only ever wanted Mom to be happy, don’t get me wrong, but I think I resented her a little bit because she had to move down here to be happy. It was us against the world for most of my life, but then she found love. I’m glad she did,” I’m quick to add.

“I know you are, love,” he soothes me and gives my hand a squeeze.

My heart fucking clenches because this is the first time he’s given me a sweet pet name. The other guys were so quick with theirs, but not Lachlan. To hear it now, as we’re finding a way forward in patching up the distance between us, is perfect.

I don’t know if I could have heard it earlier than right now.

“She had you three and Albert. I could hear how happy she was every time we talked, and I could see it when they would come up to visit. I don’t know,” I shrug one shoulder and try to put my feelings into words, “maybe part of me didn’t want to mess up what she had. Or maybe I felt like I shouldn’t be part of it all.”

“You have always belonged here with us. I’ve never believed in fate until the day I saw your picture for the first time. Everything changed for me that day. It was like I had something more to look forward to that wasn’t related to the business,” his voice is thick with emotion, and I look over at him to find him staring down at me and drinking me in. “I think we would have found our way to each other whether our parents met or not.”

My eyebrows furrow and I find I can’t look away from his dark eyes as they implore me to believe him. When I search my heart, I find I do.

It’s odd sometimes how life can take you right where you need to be. Maybe our parents meeting was the way the universe found to help me find them. I was just too blind to see it and too stubborn to take a chance when I was scared.

I keep my voice soft, needing to know the answer while knowing he’s going to hate the question, “Why didn’t you just talk to me about moving in here?”

“You resisted coming here for a long time. Then when you arrived, we went about everything the wrong way. You avoided us for days and it was almost more than I could take. I didn’t want to give you the chance to say no. I was afraid of your answer.” He stops talking, but I know he’s not done. He’s just gathering his courage. “You know our mom left us not long after Jordan was born. I think I was afraid that if I didn’t trick you or find a way around you saying no before we could show you how much you mean to us and how much we need you, really need you, then you’d leave.”

I can’t take it anymore and I let go of his hand. His face falls, but then brightens when I straddle his lap and take his handsome face in my hands. “You’ve been the big brother your entire life. You’ve taken care of those around you and felt the burden of that. Your mom did not leave because of you, Lachlan. It was something in her. It was all her. Not you. Not your brothers. Not even Albert, probably. It was her choice to make, and she missed out on finding out what an amazing man you would become.”

Lachlan’s eyes glisten with unshed tears and a lifetime of emotion and feeling inadequate. No, he didn’t make the right choice in trying to take my decision from me, but I can understand where he was coming from. He was trying to get to the end of it all, but life is about the journey more than anything else.

“Don’t do it again,” I state firmly as his hands wrap around my hips and he pulls me just a little bit closer.

“I’m going to try not to,” he grimaces slightly with his words, and I can’t help but throw my head back and laugh.

I don’t expect him to change who he is, and this is a facet of his personality. At least he’s not lying to me about it and promising to never ever make another mistake. He will.

I will too.

And his brothers will too, I’m sure. We’re human.

Which means we have the capacity to forgive just as much as we can fuck up.

I press my lips to his in a sweet kiss and he’s quick to take control right from my fingertips. He grinds my hips down against his rapidly growing cock as his mouth plunders mine. I give myself over to him.

Because I missed him.

Because I need him.

Because I forgive him.

When he rolls us and his large frame is hovering above mine, I feel safe and like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. It’s a glorious feeling, one I’ve been chasing my entire life. One I was scared to trust.

I can understand his fear because I have my own demons. I collected them throughout my life, just like he did. Now I have three men who are willing to stand beside me as I fight mine and I will do the same for any of them.

They’re my home and I love them.

I gasp into Lachlan’s mouth when the realization of just how deeply I feel for my men strikes me like a bolt of lightning. When he pulls back and stares into my eyes, I swear he can hear my confession in the air. He doesn’t call me on it, he simply kisses me softly before he removes my clothes one piece at a time.

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