Epilogue
Cole
Umbrella by Rihanna blasts through the speakers at the very second I stomp the tip of my umbrella against the stage floor. Excitement and nervousness are both flooding through my body at the realization that I’m finally able to do this.
I have no idea how I did it, but I was somehow able to convince Caleb to let me copy the Tom Holland lip-sync battle performance.
He was skeptical at first because he worried about all the water, which to be fair is an honest worry.
But Oak somehow figured out a way to create some pool-like structure that would capture all the water.
Plus, we pushed back the first row of tables just so no customers would get soaked.
It took months of planning, but standing here on the stage, seeing the shocked faces of customers and my coworkers, it was worth it.
Declan let me borrow one of his corsets, a gorgeous blue lace one that cinches my waist tightly. I wasn’t sure I would enjoy wearing such a tight garment, but after having it on, I’m thinking of buying more. Not to wear at Peaches-that’s Declan’s thing- but to wear at home. For Oakley.
He’s sitting in the very front row, of course.
There was no way he was going to miss this.
As much as I’ve talked about wanting to do this, it’s like I’m having a small dream come true.
And of course, he’s my biggest supporter.
He’s been hyping me up all day, and from the largest smile I’ve ever seen on his face, he’s so damn proud right now.
Realizing I was in love with Oakley was the easiest transition I’ve ever made in my life.
Not many things changed between us, apart from sex.
It’s still wild to me to know I have a sex drive.
After years of either trying to fit in and enjoy or not trying to do it at all I’ve realized something new about me.
I’m demisexual.
Bash helped me realize that sexuality is not just black and white.
It’s a wonderful spectrum of colors, and after researching different things, I’ve come to accept that I’m someone who needed to have an emotional connection before the sexual awareness came out.
Which is why I never wanted to do anything with any of my exes.
I was never close enough to them to care about them or to let them care about me.
But with Oak, it was effortless. I’ve loved him for as long as I can remember. So, once we started adding sexual activities to our relationship, it not only strengthened it, but helped me realize who I am.
And I’m damn proud of who I am.
Some may not understand it. And that’s okay. I’m not here to impress anyone or to make them understand me. All that matters is that I know who I am.
And right now, all I care about is making Oakley mine forever.
We’ve talked here and there about what we want from the future, but I’m hoping by the end of the night, we’ll make it official.
I want everyone in the world to know that we belong to one another.
I want to see a ring on his finger and for us to make this even more official than it already is.
The spotlight turns on, blanketing me in brightness and heat. My eyes zero in on Oakley as I take a deep breath getting ready to dance. God, I love this job.
Oakley
Oh, my fuck.
Cole looks amazing on the stage. I’m always proud of him, but seeing him up on the stage, his body moving seductively to the music is beyond what I even could have imagined.
Helping him build the set for this routine wasn’t as hard as I originally thought it would be. Plus, Jensen helped a lot which made the time go by faster. But seeing it all come together is mesmerizing.
It might have taken me a long time to realize I was sexually attracted to men, but fuck, ever since that dam has opened, I’m realizing how little I knew about myself.
I’ve always been a sexual person; that was no secret.
But the feelings I felt for Cole was something I should have realized was more than friendship.
I still have no idea how I didn’t see it before.
Because of course that’s all I notice now.
How damn sexy he is, the small little happy trail that leads straight to his cock makes me feral.
The way his legs flex when he moves on the pole.
The whimpers he makes when he’s sucking my cock or riding my dick.
Everything about Cole turns me on. But even now, I’ve always known I’ve loved him.
Even before realizing how deep in love with him I was.
Which fuck, I am in so damn deep. Our moms casually tried to bring up us getting married, and when Cole didn’t freak out or immediately shut it down, I knew it was something I wanted for both of us.
It just needs to be the right timing. But I have no doubt that he’ll yell yes any time I ask him.
There’s a chorus of groans and whoops in the crowd, and my gaze drifts back to Cole who’s rolling his hips against the umbrella.
Knowing the big finale is coming up, I sit up straight in my seat, giving him all of my attention.
Cole pops open the umbrella, giving it a spin before throwing it off to the side.
The moment the umbrella hits the floor, a shower of water falls down on Cole as he continues his dance.
He throws himself down on the floor, doing a seductive belly roll, before moving toward the chair as another splash of water drowns him.
Looking around the club, I have the biggest smile on my face seeing how much everyone is loving them. From what I heard, no one has ever attempted a performance like this, and I’m so damn proud of Cole for doing it.
Once the song ends, he rushes off the stage, heading straight for my arms. The lights and sounds from the club die down as the only thing that comes into focus is Cole.
Fuck, I love this man so much. And if he’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life loving him fiercely and giving him everything he’ll ever want and more.
He jumps up on me, my hands grabbing him quickly and keeping him close to me.
It’s not every night he’ll let everyone know he’s mine, but a few times he’ll head straight for me, and I can’t help the pride that fills me to know he wants to get as close to me as he can as soon as he’s done with the stage.
“I love you,” he tells me, pulling my head closer to him and kissing me passionately. When we finally pull away, he adds, “Marry me?” Excitement etched all over his sweaty face. His endorphins are running high; the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face.
“What?” I ask, taken aback. “You can’t ask me to marry you. I wanted to ask you to marry me.”
“Fine. Then ask me.” He bounces in my grasp, my hands tightening to make sure I don’t drop him onto the floor.
“Not here,” I murmur, glancing around at all the people staring at us.
“But don’t worry, it’s coming.” Besides, I want to make it special for both of us.
And getting engaged in the middle of Peaches is not how I want to propose to the love of my life.
We deserve better, but more importantly, Cole deserves better.
He deserves to have everything he wants and more.
And I can hardly wait to give it to him.
“Oh, I can’t wait. I love you. Thank you for everything.”
“I love you, too.”
The End