My hands shake as I cup her face, thumbs brushing her cheeks. "And you're mine," I manage, my voice rough with emotion. "Every dark corner, every hidden piece—it's all been yours since we were sixteen."
I capture her lips in a desperate kiss, pouring everything I can't say into it.
"You're so getting lucky tonight," I growl against her mouth.
Her hand slides down, palming me through my pants. "I'm counting on it."
Christ, I love how she does this, takes these intense, soul-baring moments and lightens them without losing their meaning. Being with her feels like coming home, like being seen, wanted, loved in ways I'd forgotten existed.
"Hey, horndogs!" Alisha's voice cuts through our bubble. "Get your asses over here!"
Isabella laughs against my chest as I grab her hand, leading her back to our group. The girls are gathering their purses, trading knowing looks.
"Sorry, boys, we've got to head out," Amanda announces. "Babysitters need their beauty sleep."
"Wait, you all have kids?" Ethan's eyes go wide.
The guys exchange identical shit-eating grins. Nick pulls Emma closer, pride radiating from him. "Two. Charlotte and Liam."
"They're the cutest," Alisha cuts in, shooting Cole a heated look. "But our twins are the best."
"Twins?" Ethan practically chokes.
Cole smacks Alisha's ass playfully. "Yep. And they're just like their mama—double trouble."
"And we've got Chase." Amanda beams while Brian nods. "The best boy in the world."
Ethan turns to me, waggling his eyebrows. "Well, looks like you two are next in line." He rubs his hands together. "Little baby Saints running around..."
I shoot Ethan a warning look. "Not you? You're such a casanova, who knows how many kids you've got running around already."
"Ha, nope." Ethan clutches his chest in mock offense. "I always wrap it before the fun."
Brian nearly chokes on his whiskey. "Oh, even then it still can happen, trust me." His eyes dance with mischief. "Imagine thinking you're living your best bachelor life, the next—bam!—you get a call saying you've got a teenage daughter you never knew about."
Cole nods sagely, and Ethan's grin grows wider. "Yeah, sure. Nice stories—"
"Cole has a teenage daughter, Samantha." Alisha's blunt declaration cuts through Ethan's skepticism like a knife.
I whip my head around to stare at Cole—this mountain of a man who radiates composure and seriousness. He meets my shocked expression with an easy grin that transforms his entire face.
"Best thing that ever happened to me," he says, his voice softening with pride.
Alisha coughs pointedly.
"Well," Cole amends, pulling her closer, "until this firecracker and Samantha teamed up to set my world ablaze." He drops a kiss on Alisha's temple. "Now I'm burning in the best possible way."
"Jesus, Ethan, your face." Isabella's laugh bubbles up. "You look like someone just told you Santa isn't real."
I can't help but chuckle, wrapping my arms around her. The warmth of her body against mine feels right, natural. Like we've been doing this for years instead of days.
Something settles in my chest as I take in the scene, the easy banter, the genuine affection, the way they fold Ethan and me into their circle without hesitation. This is what family looks like. Not the cold, calculated performances of the Saint dynasty, but this messy, loving, real connection.
"You're thinking too loud," Isabella murmurs, tilting her head back to meet my eyes.
"Just wondering if there's room for one more in this family of yours."
Her fingers intertwine with mine. "There's always been a space waiting for you, Sainty. You just had to come home to claim it."
