Epilogue II
Colt, 6 months later…
When I wake again, it’s barely morning. The sky is a dusky blue outside my window and I have the greatest view. Lyric, sleepy, warm, and just starting to wake up. She turns her head, sensing my stare, and smirks.
“Enjoying the view?”
My lips lift in a crooked grin. “I love seeing you when you wake up,” I tell her, my arms wrapping around her.
She turns over, so she’s facing me. “Sorry I passed out on you last night.”
I shrug, remembering how obsessed I was with filling every hole on her body, practically rutting her into the mattress. “Just means I did something right.”
Her hand shoots out to playfully slap my shoulder and she giggles. The sound is sweet and innocent compared to the feelings I’m having about her. I want her again already, but I know she’s probably sore. The pent-up energy I’m carrying around needs to be let out. Today is the day.
I run my fingers through her hair, pushing the strands out of her face. “I love you more than anything, you know that?”
Her throat bobs with emotion. “I know. I love you, too.”
“Thank you, baby,” I whisper against her hair and press a kiss to her head. “Alright, I promised you a date today and we need to get going.”
Her face lights up in a smile and she’s quick to get out of bed. We shower and get ready, and I try to keep my cock under control when I see the tight, blue jeans she’s wearing with a cream-colored sweater. My dick practically weeps when she throws on the leather jacket I got her for Christmas.
“You kill me, baby. Always so perfect,” I tell her, hugging her from behind.
We have an unusually warm day for March, and I want to take advantage of it. In the garage, I start to back out my motorcycle when Lyric whoops. We only got a few rides in over the fall before the snow. I help her on the back and hand her her own custom helmet. She straps it on and her arms glide easily around my middle. The little minx even squeezes my torso with her hands and I practically growl in response.
Hitting the gas, we take off and drive out of town and up the scenic route I love. Last time we drove this way, we stopped at the inlets and gazed out over the town, the water of the river, and the fields. When we get to our favorite place, we take a break. I help her off the bike and we both stand and look. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her into me.
“Remember the day I asked you to be my girlfriend?”
Lyric stiffens and turns to look at me. The pain of our past mirrors mine, but there is the gleam of good times too. She nods her head. “Colt, that tree…”
“Hey, we said no more getting sad over the past. This is a happy day,” I tell her and bend down to kiss her lips. “That tree was a sign of our young love. It’s a sign of your pain and growth as well. But I really hope,” I say, while reaching into my pocket and pulling out a chunk of wood. Silently, I hand it to her. “I’m hoping it can be a sign of our future too.”
Her fingers shake as they grab it. My last time home, I found the stump and enlisted my dad and AJ to help get a chunk out of it. I carved it into the shape of a heart, much like the one I carved into the bark years ago. On the inside of this new piece, I added our initials, C.S. + L.T.
“Colt,” she says my name, her voice full of emotion.
Taking her hand in mind, I kiss her wrist and her lips. “Loving you was the best decision I ever made. It kept me alive. It made me grow. Being with you is my dream, Lyric.” I slide the sparkling band with the emerald cut diamond on her finger.
“Lyric, I will love you forever. I may never deserve you, but I will work every day to be the man you can trust, depend on, and the one who will be with you through anything life throws at us. Will you marry me?”
Her eyes are shining and she wears a beautiful smile when our eyes meet. “Yes! Colt, I love you so much, yes.”
She jumps into my arms and I catch her effortlessly. She grabs my face and our mouths collide in a kiss that sends my heart racing and sets my soul on fire. She is perfect; she is everything.
I pull back and set her on her feet before dropping more news. “And just so you know, your mom did help me pick out this ring.”
“You talked to my parents?” she asks, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Of course, babe,” I respond, kissing her knuckles. “It’s important to them and you. Your dad gave his blessing.”
Lyric jumps up and down, and we make the calls to our families to tell them the good news. After a while, we ride back into town and park on the main street to eat and celebrate. I take her hand in mine and lead her to the restaurant when she pulls me back.
“Colt,” Lyric calls my name, and I turn to look at her. There’s a mischievous smirk on her lips.
My brow rises. “Yeah, baby?”
“This ring is gorgeous, but don’t you think I need something a little more permanent? To show I’m yours?” Her eyes flick left, and I follow her gaze to the neon pink sign that reads TATTOOS in the window of the tattoo shop.
I stalk over to Lyric, and my hands graze her sides. Her body trembles and I grasp her hips tightly, pulling her body into mine. “You want to ink your skin for me, baby?”
“Mhm,” she murmurs, her lips lightly grazing the skin on my neck. “I want your mark on me.”
Holy fuck. Those have got to be the sexiest words she’s ever said to me. Bending down, I shove my shoulder into her side and lift her over my shoulder to carry her across the street.
“Oh my god, Colt!” She laughs and swats at my back.
People passing by us either smile or look concerned and I manage to wave. “It's okay, she said yes, we’re getting married,” I tell them. My words are met with congratulations and clapping after that.
At the door, I set her down and grip her chin, forcing her eyes to mine. “Are you sure?”
“Are you sure you want to marry me?” she quips back, and I can’t help but smile.
“Come on then, baby.” I usher her inside.
We each tell the artist what we want, and I do mean we. If she’s getting ink for me, I’m definitely getting something done for her. Mine will take longer, I know it, so I make sure she goes first.
Lyric barely flinches and soon a cursive “C” is on her ring finger. The end of the letter loops slightly, and I notice it forms a “K.” Colt. Karma.
I go next, and after, I ask him to let Lyric in before he wraps it. She’s frowning when she comes back. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just want you to see.” Turning, I show her the side where my scar is from the knife.
Her hands jump to her mouth and her eyes widen, looking at the design. “It's beautiful. You did that for me? I love you so much.” She grabs my face and kisses my lips hard.
Her name is over the scar, surrounded by red roses. “Love. You are love to me, always, baby.”
“Always, Colt,” she promises right then and there.
This is how we promise our future to each other. This is our symbol of commitment. Our vows. This is our forever, inked with love.
The End