The Anaconda Downstairs (The Cocky Kingmans, #4)

by Amy Award

Pride swelled in my chest. Even in her darkest moment, my girl was thinking of others.

For fuck’s sake. Now I had to burn the internet to the ground, and I had a feeling Declan was going to help me do it.

“Those vultures,” he growled into my hair. “How dare they suggest we'd distance ourselves from you and Kelsey? As if we're not loyal. As if you're not family.”

Declan rolled his eyes at me and Everett still entwined on the couch. “Come on, I gave you fifteen whole minutes after Kelsey's third orgasm. You need to work on your game, love guru.”

Declan was the first to speak up, his eyes glued to Kels as he did. “Being the biggest guy around, I've had my fair share of body shaming thrown my way too, and I'm a professional goddamned athlete. I think that's part of what pisses me off about this whole thing so fucking bad.”

“No more orgasms, Ev. I need sleep, you sex god monster.”

Taking a deep breath, I decided. I'd be vulnerable, raw, in a way I'd never allowed myself to be publicly before. Because this campaign mattered, more than even Pen knew.

“My mom sat me down and told me something I've never forgotten. She said, 'Everett, honey, people will always try to put others in boxes, to tell you what you should be. Those boxes can hurt if you let them. But the best way to blow those boxes up like firecrackers on Independence Day, and the most important thing, is to be authentically you. That's how you find love in this world—by being true to yourself and loving yourself first.'” My voice cracked on the last words, and I realized I had tears in my eyes. But I pushed on. “She taught me that beauty isn't about fitting some arbitrary standard. It's about confidence, kindness, and being true to yourself. That's what body positivity means to me. It's not just about looks. It's about embracing who you are, all of you, and knowing your worth doesn't depend on anyone else's opinion.”

“I've been trying to tell all of you lovesick fools that you need to be true to yourselves. Stop trying to fulfill everyone else's expectations of what they think you should be or how your relationship should look. All of you need to get your heads out of your asses and go after what you actually want the most.”

That was the real Everett Kingman in there, vulnerable and authentic. That's the man I fell in love with.”

Mr. Kingman moved away to talk to Kelsey, Willa, and Trixie too. None of us were even actually family... yet, and he absolutely treated us like we were. He was the best father figure, and it almost made me want to call my own dad and try to have a better relationship with him.

Mr. Kingman was sitting right next to me, and I literally saw the muscles in his jaw clench. His eyes flashed with a fury that quite honestly scared me a little bit. Without a word, he stood up and strode towards the door.

The suite erupted in cheers and applause. I found myself engulfed in a group hug, surrounded by the warmth and love of this incredible family I'd somehow become a part of.

“For too long, we've let others’ expectations dictate what's beautiful or worthy. This ad and the women behind it, Kelsey, Penelope, and so many others, they're changing that narrative. They're showing that true strength comes from loving yourself exactly as you are.”

He cleared his throat and continued. “I always thought falling in love would be like lightning striking—one big, unmistakable moment. That's how it always seemed to happen to the men in my family. But with you, Pen, it was different. It was a thousand little lightning strikes, each one illuminating another reason to love you.”

“Every lesson, every conversation, every shared laugh—they were all strikes of lightning. And before I knew it, my universe was lit up by you. You taught me that love isn't always a sudden crash of thunder. Sometimes it's a slow-building storm that leaves you soaked to the bone before you even realize it's raining.”

Holy shit, I was so proud to be a part of this family. But as I looked around at them, the lot of them were sharing some looks that meant there was more to this story than I knew. They'd done something.

this was who we were. A family that stuck together, faced fears together, and yes, occasionally plotted elaborate revenge together.

In that moment, I knew with absolute certainty that this—Everett's love, my love for him, and most importantly, my love for myself—was the greatest, most beautiful part of life, and I'd spend the rest of it with this man. The one who my most authentic love would belong to. Forever.

I nodded sagely, biting back a laugh. Oh, little brother. You've got it bad and you don't even know it.