Bonus Epilogue
Ezra
CHRISTMAS EVE
Two Years Later
I kneel by the Christmas tree in the corner of the cabin and lay a shiny green box beneath. I had it specially wrapped by Amanda because I'm shit at wrapping gifts.
There's a creak on the stairs just as I'm standing up. Madison yawns when she reaches the living room. "Cora is finally sleeping. I thought I'd fall asleep before she did."
As soon as she's close, I pull my wife into my arms for a deep kiss. She's still sexy in one of my flannels with her long, dark hair piled into a messy bun. We've been married almost two years, and I can't keep my hands off her.
Madison hums in pleasure and smiles at me. "What are you doing down here?"
"Helping Santa."
"Oh yeah?" She looks at the pretty packages under the tree and gives me a questioning look when she spots the box.
"Another gift for Cora!"
"A gift from Cora." I was going to wait until tomorrow to give this to Madison. Now seems like the perfect time.
"Open it."
Madison gives me a bemused smile and kneels beside the tree. I sit beside her, savoring this moment. The fire is crackling in the hearth, lighting the room while colored lights glow on the Christmas tree.
Coop and his girlfriend, Duchess, are curled up together on their dog bed. She's an Irish Setter with a regal bearing. Coop was smitten from the start. They've been inseparable ever since.
"Should I wait until Cora is awake to open it?"
"Not this one."
Madison tugs the gold bow off, then opens the box. "Is this...?" She lifts out the delicate item within.
"My grandmother's Christmas angel." The one I put on our tree every year while we listened to carols and drank hot cocoa.
"When you said it was from Cora, I thought you meant our daughter. You meant your Grandma Cora." Madison smooths the angel's black hair. "She's beautiful."
"Just like you, angel. The first day we met, you reminded me of her.” I found it in the storage boxes I packed up from my grandmother's house all those years ago. Until recently, I hadn't wanted to confront the old memories. Especially knowing these boxes were filled with all the things my grandma treasured before she passed. But it was past time to bring the last of my family home. "Can we put her on the tree?" We have a gold star, but it doesn't have any sentimental value. Not like this angel.
"Of course!"
Madison hands me the angel, and I gently swap the star out for her.
When I found the angel in one of my grandmother's hat boxes, there was a letter with it dated the week before she passed, addressed to me. In it, she wished for my happiness—that one day I would meet my own woman with the heart of an angel. That I would have the everlasting love that she and Grandpa Cooper found. Looking at my beautiful wife, I think Grandma would be happy for me.
"Thank you, Ezra," Madison says. "It's the sweetest gift."
"I love you, Madison."
"I love you too." She kisses me, and like always, the kiss turns molten.
My hands roam over her sweet curves, admiring their fullness after having our baby. She's even sexier now with the beautiful glow of motherhood.
"Maybe we should take this upstairs," she says against my lips.
Palming her ass, I lift her up and wrap her legs around my hips, grinding her hot core against my cock. I'm already hard for her, and the little gasp she gives at the contact makes me harder.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I get us quickly to our bedroom and push my wife up against the wall.
"Baby monitor?" I ask, lips against her throat.
"It's on. We'll hear her if she stirs."
"Good." I make fast work of the buttons on the flannel, baring her body. "Fuck, you're gorgeous." Sucking one of her nipples into my mouth, I brace her against the wall with my hips and undo the button on my jeans. Madison's hands are there, pushing mine away. She unzips my fly, then pulls my underwear down enough to wrap her hand around my cock, giving it long strokes. In seconds, I'm bucking into her hand.
"Hurry," she says, gently squeezing my dick.
"With pleasure." I line our bodies up and thrust into her wet heat. Fucking heaven. Wrapping one arm around her waist, I slip my other hand between us to stroke her sensitive nub. I pound her hard, slamming into that sweet pussy while rubbing her clit.
Madison's legs tighten around me, and she cries out against my neck. "Yes! Harder, Ezra. I need you."
"Anything you want, my love. Any way you want."
"I want you. Forever," she says.
I slow my strokes, teasing her as I slide in and out of her wetness. "You have me, Madison. Heart, body, and soul."
"Mmm," she murmurs. "That's good, because I have plans for this body."
"Oh yeah?" I thrust into her hard. Once. Twice.
Her back arches, offering up those sweet breasts. I lower my head to them and lick her nipples until she’s trembling.
“Make me come, Ezra. Then… then it’s your turn.”
With a promise like that, I grip one of her hips harder, anchoring her against me as I ruthlessly pound into her. Reaching between us, I flick her swollen clit with my thumb, back and forth, until she comes apart in my arms, crying out as her inner walls squeeze me tight.
“Fuck, angel. I can’t get enough of you,” I pant.
Madison scrapes her teeth down the side of my neck and laughs softly. “I think it goes both ways.”
Three more pounding strokes and my orgasm rips through me, whiting out everything around me for a few seconds.
Our breaths mingle, which I find so erotic in these moments.
Madison wriggles out of my arms and lowers to her knees. She tugs my jeans down to my knees and grips the base of my cock. Her blue-green eyes find mine, framed by those thick sooty lashes. One side of her mouth quirks up in a slight smile. Then she sucks my cock into the hot depths of her mouth. She pulls off with an audible pop. “Your turn,” she says in a sing-song voice.
I just came so I might need a few minutes, but my wife is happy to help me along. Fisting my hand into her dark locks, I savor the warmth of her mouth. This woman and our little girl are everything I could ever want in this life.
Madison
Ten years later
“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” Amanda says as she brings another box into Mainlined. “When Sasha decided to get married and move to Hawaii, I thought she’d sell the store. I never considered you’d be the one to buy it. You said you didn’t want to work in restaurants?”
“I don’t,” I say, surveying my new space. “But this isn’t a restaurant. It’s a coffee shop. Better yet, it’s got a great kitchen. I can keep doing my videos when I want and try out some new recipes for quick breakfasts and lunches.” My little instructional video I created on a whim all those years ago when I first met Ezra took off. Although I’ve had multiple offers to make my own television show again, that was the last thing I wanted. However, I did publish five cookbooks over the years. The best part has been feedback from the fans, telling me how my easy recipes have changed their lives. They cook at home more, and it’s brought their families together.
“Mommy!” Two little girls cry out as they barrel into the shop. Ezra is right behind them, carrying our two-year-old son, Max. I pull them all into hugs and save an extra kiss for my husband. He’s a little grayer in the temples and it’s hot as fuck.
“And that’s my cue,” Amanda says with a laugh. “Maybe I should take the kids with me so you can break the place in properly?”
I flush. “Stop.” The idea has merit, though. Maybe instead of our regular date night on Friday, we can come here…
Ezra winks at me, and I know he’s thinking the same. After ten years of marriage, we’re closer than ever.
Amanda laughs again. “Have fun, you guys. I’m going home to Roland and my own babies.” She looks around the shop and shakes her head. “The day you came to White Falls, I had no idea that our lives would change so much.”
“For the better.”
My best friend gives me a hug. “Definitely for the better.” She hugs and kisses my kids, and then waves to Ezra.
When she’s gone, he pulls me flush to his body and drops a kiss on my lips. “To the start of a new venture.”
No. “To the continuation of an amazing life.”
“And an everlasting love.”