Epilogue
Izzy
When picturing my life, I never imagined myself living on a ranch with a hot as hell cowboy, but yet, here I am.
Through counseling, I’ve managed to learn a lot about myself in the process, and in doing so, I feel as if I've grown from my past trauma rather than let it hinder me any longer.
I can’t change what’s already done, but I can make choices that affect what’s to come.
Rather than hiding from love in the name of protecting myself, I’ve embraced taking the risks. Risking my heart was no easy feat, but so far, Jett has proven it to be worth it.
As if my thoughts spoke the sexy devil himself into existence, Jett emerges from our bathroom completely naked and freshly showered.
My fingers tighten on the red box in my hand, wrapped up in a white satin bow.
My heart’s pounding so loud I can hear it in my ears. Why am I so fucking nervous? This is Jett. We’ve had sex countless times. I know his body better than my own, and vice versa, but I’ve never given full control of my body over to…. well, to anyone. Ever. But it’s time.
I trust this man. He would never hurt me. Never make me do anything I don’t want to do. But the thing is, I want to do this.
It’s time.
“What’s that?” he asks as he steps toward me, his eyes slowly drinking me in as I sit here on the bed, naked before him.
“It’s for you,” I say, shoving the box into his hands nervously.
His eyebrows pinch together in confusion as he opens the little box. “I know you want control, but no way in fuck sake are you going to–”
“They aren’t for you. They’re for me.”
Jett’s eyes, filled with shock and surprise, shoot up to meet mine. I give him a simple nod, crawling backwards into the bed, keeping my eyes locked on him.
“Iz, are you sure about this?” he asks.
“Positive. I give myself to you, Jett.” As soon as the words leave my lips, the corners of his mouth turn up into an approving grin.
“Is this your way of saying you finally trust me, Beauty?”
“I trust you with every single part of me, yes.”
Not willing to waste another second, he removes the satin bondage ties from the box and makes his way over to where I lay. Gently, he picks up my wrists, one at a time, placing a kiss on each palm before proceeding with binding me to the bed.
“I love you, Izabel,” Jett’s sultry voice whispers softly in my ear as he hovers above me, the head of his hard cock brushing against my clit.
The old me would feel caged in, and out of my element. However, I feel safe with Jett. I actually find myself getting excited for what's to come. Just as my thoughts begin to wander on what his next move will be, he begins peppering kisses down my neck, trailing down my stomach.
“You have no idea how badly I’ve craved to taste your sweet pussy,” he says firmly, his words full of lust as he closes in on my center. “I’m going to devour you.”
Oh fuck.
This has always been off limits for me, but somehow I find myself feeling a rush of pleasure coursing through me at the thought.
Then, his mouth meets my clit, and I’m void of all thoughts.
All I can do is feel. Each sweet swipe of his tongue, every time his mouth clamps down.
The sensation heightens as he plunges two fingers inside my entrance, sending my back arching off the bed.
Due to the restraints, I’m unable to squirm much, and this surprisingly fills me with a sense of thrill.
“Yes, just like that. Harder—” I moan on a gasp.
He pulls back, locking his eyes with mine. “I’m only going to say this once, Beauty, so be sure to listen carefully. Do not tell me how to do my job. Because, baby, I’m about to make worshiping you my religion for the rest of my life. Got it?”
Fuck. Why is that so hot?
“Yes, Sir.”
“Mmm, call me sir again,” he demands, his voice filled with desperation.
“I’m all yours and at your mercy, Sir.” I drag each word out slowly, and Jett’s eyes widen in surprise, right before he lifts himself from between my legs.
Crawling above my body, his gorgeous face hovers above mine.
“Fuck,” he growls, taking me in.
And with that, one of his hands tangles in my hair as the other cups my jaw, and his mouth is on mine. I don’t hesitate to open, inviting him in, just as he wastes no time accepting the invitation.
The kiss is filled with everything neither of us is saying, a symbol of me completely giving myself to him and him happily accepting every part of me.
Not breaking our kiss, Jett reaches over, untying my hands one at a time.
I pull back. “What are you doing?”
“Touch me. Now. I need to feel your hands on me.” As soon as the last word slips free, his mouth returns to mine. The kiss is claiming—claiming my heart as his as I happily give it. Finally.
I don’t hesitate. My hands travel down his body, my nails dragging softly across the skin on his back, managing to pull a little groan from him.
“I need you. Now,” he whispers into my mouth, kissing me between each word.
“Take me.”
As if he needs no further encouragement, he pulls away, keeping his eyes heavy on me.
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he murmurs, grabbing onto each of my legs, rotating me onto my left hip, and draping my right ankle over his shoulder.
He says nothing else, giving no further verbal warnings before the head of his cock taps against my entrance.
His cock slides inside of me, and I swear, I’ve never felt so good. The position he has me in is perfect, hitting the perfect angle each time he thrusts.
“Yes,” I cry out in a moan.
“Perfection,” he murmurs back as he looks down, keeping his eyes focused on where our bodies meet. It’s hot to watch and sends me barreling toward the edge.
He must sense me getting close because he picks up his pace, thrusting harder to the point my legs tremble.
“Fuck, yes, Jett!” I scream, coming apart around his cock, his intent eyes never leaving me.
Slowing his pace, allowing me to catch my breath, he leans in. “Mine?” he asks, as if pleading for it to be true.
“All yours,” I breathe, then pull his mouth to mine.
“What do you mean calm down?” I shout at Jett, beginning to pace the waiting area. “How the fuck am I supposed to calm down? She’s my best friend!”
“What I mean, Beauty, is she’s in labor. She’s not getting mauled by a bear. Asking the nurse for an update every three-point-four seconds isn’t helping.”
I scoff, “The nurse is being a twat-zilla,” then roll my eyes at him dismissively.
“Izabel, you’re a nurse, you know they’re only allowed to—”
“Oh, fuck all that noise. I just want to—”
“Ma’am?” The nurse calls out, the one who's taken my verbal lashings like a champ for the last five hours. Instantly, I spin and run back toward the nurses' station. “You both can come to the back with me now. They’re ready for you.”
I squeal with excitement, turning to Jett, and we both beam with joy. “It’s happening, Jett!”
“It is, Beauty.”
“I wonder if it’s a boy or a girl,” I say quietly as we make our way down the long hallway.
“As long as the baby is healthy, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I still can’t believe they didn’t want to find out beforehand. I wouldn’t be able to wait.”
We approach room three hundred sixteen, and the nurse softly taps on the door. We wait for a brief moment before Ander steps outside the room, beaming with pride.
Jett speaks up first. “Hey, little bro. Congratulations, I’m so proud of you,” he says to Ander as he pulls him into one of their man hugs.
“How is she?” I ask Ander, interrupting their moment. Fuck it. I’m dying here.
He chuckles softly. “Hey to you, too, Iz,” he says, pulling me into a hug.
“Congratulations,” I say shortly. “Now, how—”
“She’s absolutely perfect,” Ander interjects. “She’s dying to see you.”
“Good, let me in,” I beam, shuffling on my feet with joy radiating through me.
Ander smiles and turns to open the door, opening it way too slowly. He’s intentionally trying to make me suffer. Asshole.
Once we’re in the room, I peer past the curtain and spot my lifelong best friend. And although she looks exhausted, she’s glowing with love, and she’s absolutely beautiful. There, on her chest, lies a tiny, perfect little human.
“Oh my gosh,” I whisper, getting closer. “You did it. You’re a mom, V!” I say softly, as the emotions flood through me.
Via and I have experienced every aspect of life together. I cannot wait to stand by her side and watch as she flourishes in the role of motherhood.
“Hey, Iz,” Via says softly, looking down at her beautiful baby, splayed across her chest.
Part of me aches. It’s a moment I never had—a moment I missed out on with my own baby. But instead of being hurt for myself, I decide to embrace getting to witness this for V.
Via’s gaze flicks to mine. “Do you want to hold her?”
“It’s a girl?” I ask, my voice cracking with emotion. “Yes. Give me that baby.”
She smiles as she carefully hands her daughter over to me.
“Oh…” The tears of pure joy begin to flow. “She’s so perfect.”
Jett steps up behind me, peeking down over my shoulder at his niece as he lovingly rubs his hand across her tiny back.
“Aren’t you going to ask them what her name is?” he whispers in my ear, causing me to look up at him. He gives me a knowing smile and nods, as if encouraging me to ask.
“What’s her name?” I ask, to no one in particular, staring down at the beautiful little girl in my arms, not wanting to take my eyes off of her.
After a brief pause, Via speaks up. “Her name is… Natalie Izabel Cole.”
“What?” I ask in surprise as my eyes dart to Via and then to Ander. Then back to Via. Via just nods, with the proudest smile I’ve ever seen grace her face. “Oh, V.”
“She’s named after the two girls whose love for me managed to change my life.”
My heart.
“Olivia Cole, don’t you dare make me cry,” I say, sobbing.
“Too late,” Jett says sarcastically, earning him a swift kick to the shin.
“Ow.”
“Suck it up.” Looking back down at the bundle of joy in my arms, I stroke her cheek with my thumb. “Natalie Izabel Cole. You are so incredibly loved, beyond measure.”
We stay like that for a few minutes, and I soak up every second.
That is, until my rude ass boyfriend cuts in and says, “Mind giving me a moment with her, baby hog?”
“Ugh. Fine, if you insist.”
“I do.” He throws me a sweet wink.
I hand Natalie over to him, completely expecting to have to explain the proper way to hold a baby, but there’s no need. He supports her head and holds her just right, and my heart melts even more for this man.
Seeing him holding his niece for the first time will forever be imprinted on my brain and my heart.
I take a moment and walk over to Via’s bedside, scooting in next to her and wrapping my arms around her.
“I’m so proud of you,” I say softly, trying not to cry again.
“Just as I’m proud of you, Iz. Really, take a moment and look at us. All of us. We’ve all come so far. Together.’
I let out a breath, not speaking, just soaking up the moment with my family.
“So,” Via says after a few quiet minutes pass between us.
Jett is still holding Natalie, refusing to give her up, as he and Ander sit on the couch across from us, talking amongst themselves.
“So, what?” I ask, curious.
“How are things? You know, with you and Jett?”
A wide smile pulls at my lips, just at the mention of us. The fact that there even is an us to begin with is a miracle in and of itself.
“Things are truly perfect, V.”
As the words leave my lips, I’m hit with the realization of just how true they are. Jett’s and my path to get here was so far from easy, it isn’t even funny, mainly because of me. In the words of Taylor Swift, It’s me. Hi. I’m the problem, it’s me.
But we made it.
Life after losing Maverick wasn’t easy. I still hold a lot of guilt, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever fully forgive myself.
That being said, in my heart, I know he’s still with me. I know where I was always meant to be. I know that I’m truly, purely happy.
Life.
It’s a wild ride.
One moment, you can be complacent, walking down a path thinking it’s right, even though, deep down, you know it was never your path to begin with. And the next, you’re yearning for the life you’ve always wanted but never thought you deserved.
Our story isn’t ideal.
It’s messy, it’s sticky, it’s been tested, but ultimately it’s… us.
I wouldn’t trade it for anything.