Epilogue
LENI
One year later.
Together, the three of us sing, “Happy birthday, dear Mom, happy birthday to you.”
“Make a wish, Mom,” Nix urges, standing on one side of the birthday cake.
“I already have everything.” She speaks slowly but clearly after a year of speech therapy. “I’m only worried I won’t have enough breath. Thanks for adding a candle for every year.”
“Here!” I urge as I lean closer. “Do you want help blowing them out?”
“Let me try.” Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath, then blows out every single candle on the first try.
“Way to go, Mom!” Colt leans down to kiss her cheek while Nix kisses the other.
“Hold it, hold it! I have to get a picture of this.” Grabbing my phone, I snap a shot of the three of them—two very happy sons and their deliriously happy mom on her birthday. There’s a twinkle in her eyes now, a brightness to her smile.
“Thank you, Leni,” she beams. “Now let’s cut into this cake. It’s almost too pretty to cut, though.”
“I remembered you always liked cakes with lots of flowers and icing,” Colt tells her while I pick the candles out.
“That’s sweet of you to remember, my sweet boy. Both of you,” she adds, smiling at Nix. “I didn’t think I would ever be able to do this again with you after I woke up.”
“You worked your ass off. That’s why you’re able to do it.” Nix practically glows with pride when he looks at her. He’s right, too. Over the past year in her new facility, she has completely outpaced even the most optimistic predictions.
When she stands—cautiously, but smoothly—she shakes her head at the help Colt offers. “I need to do it myself. We forgot to set out napkins.”
It’s very sweet, the way the guys hover, wanting to help her, but she is determined to do everything she can on her own.
It’s a stubborn streak she definitely passed on to her sons, which is why I think it’s so funny when they get frustrated at her for doing the exact sort of thing they would’ve done.
“So, tell me, how is school?” She sounds like any typical mother on her way back to the table, where I slice the cake.
“I’m loving it.” She gets the first slice, and I make sure to include as many of the frosting lilies as possible. “Classes are going great.”
“It’s so wonderful that you want to help others by becoming a therapist. And sports therapy, too—it’s a perfect fit. Helping athletes develop their mindset and turn their setbacks into strong points.”
“That is exactly what I want to do.”
Because if there’s anything I’ve learned in the years since I was a competitor, it’s the importance of mindset. Being able to pivot when necessary. Turning your greatest pain into your greatest asset. It only sounds corny to someone who’s never been through it.
“And here I was, thinking we could just get free therapy out of you.” Nix smirks while I roll my eyes.
“How do you put up with him?” his mom asks.
“Sometimes I wonder,” I reply, and we share a grin while the guys groan.
“I never make you roll your eyes at me, do I?” Colt asks, hugging me from behind.
“Oh, no,” I tell him with a smirk while his mom laughs. “Usually, you make me grind my teeth. Big difference.”
There’s a particular expression a mom wears when she’s happy for her kids, and I’m glad to see that now.
Our arrangement isn’t typical, but she doesn’t seem to have a problem with it—if she does, she keeps it to herself.
After everything she’s been through, I guess certain things just aren’t worth getting all worked up about. Life is too short for that.
After eating cake, and setting up the new laptop the guys bought for her, it’s time for us to go. “We’ll be back next week,” Colt promises.
With a happy smile, she says, “You know how much I look forward to it.”
Before we leave, I bend down to give her a hug, and her lips brush my cheek before she whispers, “The best gift is seeing them so happy. Thank you.”
I’m a little choked up as we leave. Somehow, she knew exactly what I needed to hear.
On our way home, I try my best to act normal, but I can’t help getting antsy. I have big plans for tonight, and the guys have no idea what I’ve been up to. I grin to myself, thinking about the toys I stashed in the bedroom closet.
“What are you smiling about back there?” Colt asks, looking at me through the rearview mirror.
“Nothing,” I say a little too fast, clamping my hands together in my lap. “I’m just happy. It’s been a great day.”
I’m not sure if he buys it completely but, even if he doesn’t, he lets it go. “It really has been a great day. I can’t believe Mom’s improved so much already.”
“She looked genuinely happy today,” Nix says from the passenger seat.
“You guys looked happy too,” I point out.
“’Cause we are,” Colt agrees, just as he pulls the car into a parking spot in front of our apartment building. I open the door as soon as we’re parked, sucking in a deep breath of fresh, cool air.
It’s dark outside, but the neighborhood is well lit with street lights scattered along the walkways. I shut the door and make my way to the front door, with Nix and Colt falling into step soon after. Together we walk in and up the stairs, where Colt unlocks the door.
We pile into the apartment, and I flip on the lights.
“You sure you’re okay?” Nix questions, scanning my face.
“Actually, I have a surprise for you,” I admit.
“For me?” Nix wiggles his eyebrows.
“For both of you,” I clarify, looking between the two brothers.
“I like surprises,” Colt says, before adding, “Actually, I don’t, unless they come from you.”
“What is it?” Nix asks impatiently.
“It’s in the bedroom,” I explain.
“I definitely like where this is heading.” Colt grins at me, setting butterflies loose in my stomach.
I’m nervous as I lead the guys through the hallway and into our bedroom. Opening the door to the walk-in closet, I grab the bag I stuffed behind the hung up clothes. Nix and Colt stand patiently in the center of the bedroom when I turn around.
I carry the bag to the bed and pour the items inside out onto the mattress. There is a blindfold, a ball gag, a pair of handcuffs, and a small paddle for impact play.
Biting my bottom lip, I look between Colt and Nix, who are both gawking at the pile on the bed with piqued interest.
“Those look fun,” Colt speaks first. He reaches for the handcuffs, picking them up to inspect them. “You didn’t go cheap. These are sturdy.”
“You won’t be able to say your safe word with this,” Nix says, picking up the ball gag.
“I know,” I answer a bit nervously. “But I trust you not to take it too far.”
Nix meets my eyes, his pupils are already dilated, making him look dark and dangerous. My breath hitches when he suddenly eats up the distance between us.
“What are you waiting for? Take your clothes off and put your hands behind your back,” he orders in a gravelly voice.
Excitement fills my veins as I start to undress quickly under the guys’ watchful eyes. When I’m completely naked, I turn around and let Colt cuff my hands behind my back.
“Open up,” Nix demands, holding the ball gag in front of my face.
I part my lips, and Nix forces the rubber ball in my mouth before fastening it at the back of my head. Then Colt puts the blindfold on me. My vision goes black, and I’m left at their mercy.
One of them grabs me by the upper arm and guides me back to the bed. My thighs make contact with the edge of the mattress just as a strong hand pushes me down so I’m bent over. I turn my head, so my cheek is pressed up against the cool sheet.
I can’t see or speak, but I can hear zippers being lowered. I gasp against the gag when someone kicks my legs apart roughly. Fingers find my center, running up and down my slit with ease.
“She is wet for us already,” Nix says behind me.
“Of course she is,” Colt agrees.
Something smooth and cool is dragged up my thigh. I recognize it to be the paddle a second before someone lifts it up and brings it down on my ass with a harsh smack. I jolt forward and yelp against the gag, more from surprise than pain.
The guys chuckle behind me before I’m smacked with the paddle a second time. I’m prepared now, so I don’t jolt as much, but the third impact is hard enough to rip a deep groan from my throat.
The paddle leaves my skin and is replaced with a warm large hand. A palm rubs over my sore spot, taking the ache away immediately.
After I get the same treatment on my other side, my whole ass feels hot.
Someone positions himself behind me to line his cock up with my wet pussy. He enters my body with one hard thrust. I squeeze my eyes together under the mask and bite onto the gag in pain as he stretches me too quickly.
“Fuuuuck,” Nix groans behind me as he grabs my hips to pull me closer to his groin. His thick cock impales me, filling me so deeply I can feel him bumping against my cervix. “This is truly the best day ever.”
The bite of pain is gone quickly and replaced with a deep pleasure. Nix fucks me like this for a few minutes before Colt’s impatient voice rings out. “My turn. Quit hogging her.”
Nix buries himself one last time while giving me two harsh smacks to my ass. He pulls out, leaving me empty and wanting for more. Colt replaces him quickly. Filling me to the brim with his hard cock.
His fingers dig into my hips as he fucks me like a madman. Each bruising thrust burrowing inside of me with force.
My first orgasm hits me out of nowhere. I moan against the gag as Colt brings the paddle down on my ass midst my release. The pain breaks through my orgasm, merging into white hot pleasure. I moan around the gag as my pussy spasms around Colt’s dick.
“Fuck, you squeeze my cock so tightly when you come,” Colt murmurs.
He slows down his pace, lazily fucking me while my sensitive pussy pulsates around him.
Suddenly, he slips out and steps away. I whine in displeasure, making the guys chuckle again.