Page 58 of Room One Hundred and Eleven

“And I think that’s our cue to go.” Gunner stands up as everyone exchanges a round of hugs.

I see them out before bounding up the grand staircase to our primary suite, where we have a bed big enough for all four of us to cuddle…or start practicing for the next of the ten babies Aiden is already looking forward to.

CHAPTER 21

Carter

TEN YEARS LATER

When I was young, my ambitions were strong. I pictured myself as a CEO, a billionaire, and all the other things I’ve become in my professional life. But I never saw this coming.

Here we are—Poppy, Aiden, and Knox—huddled around the mangled remains our nine children left of a disgustingly sweet cake drowning in rainbow sprinkles. A gold banner overhead pronounces it “Family Day!”

Aiden started the tradition.

Each of our kids has the spotlight on their individual birthdays, then together we celebrate Family Day on the anniversary of the day we first adopted.

Our children know they’re special. And that they were chosen.

All of them are equally loved.

By us all.

It shouldn’t have surprised me that after falling in love with not one, but three partners, we’d be happiest sharing our love with as big a unit as we could create.

That includes our extended family too.

Uncle Gunner and the rest of our honorary relatives—along with families of their own—have just gone home. Surveying the mess in the kitchen, the shredded wrapping paper, and the monitor showing the kids all tucked in bed soundly asleep, Aiden sighs, his vision finally fulfilled. “You think we’ve had enough?”

“I don’t know.” I stroke my chin. “Maybe we should try for just one more…”

“I’m in.” Knox gives a fist pump. Baby-making turned out to be his favorite game.

“What do you say, beauty? An even number sounds nice…”

Poppy laughs. “That’s Doctor Beauty to you.”

“Well, I’m still your beast, and I’m never going to let you go.” I faux-roar as I pursue her around the kitchen island, letting her evade me for a few seconds before I capture her, my arms banding around her petite waist. Secretly, I love it even more when she grows for us.

She squirms until she spins in my arms, hopping and wrapping her legs around me.

I catch her, squeezing her ass as Aiden and Knox cage her in.

If we’re not careful, we’re all going to end up covered in crumbs, icing, and those damn sprinkles. I hoist our beauty up, tossing her over my shoulder like I did all those years ago. She still goes nuts when I manhandle her.

My boys are hot on our heels as we sprint up the stairs to our bedroom with sound-deadening insulation, and lock the door behind us.

I toss Poppy on the bed.

She’s barely finished bouncing when she shoves her dress up to her hips and drags one finger down toward her core. She’s no longer innocent, or shy, and she uses every bit of her seductress tendencies to drive us wild. “Come on, Daddy. Fill your good girl up and give her another baby.”

Aiden and Knox turn on me too, and I know there’s no sense in trying to resist.

I can never say no to any one of them, never mind all three at once.

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