inside me like an overinflated balloon. For as long as I’ve known Colton, this is all I’ve ever wanted. And now, finally, after all these years, I have it.
I have him.
He’s mine, and I’m his.
“I’m glad you feel that way,” I tell him, “because I have no plans to let you go either.”
Epilogue
Colton
Three years later...
I roll over and stretch out an arm, only to find the space next to me empty and the sheets already cooling. I crack open a blurry eye and glance around the room. The sun is just peeking over the horizon, painting the vast stretch of sky with pink and purple strokes.
Where the hell did that girl disappear to?
I toss off the covers and pad over to the bathroom.
Empty.
Since it’s just the two of us, I don’t bother to throw on any clothes. I surprised Alyssa with a weeklong vacation at the beach. One of my father’s friends owns a house on Kiawah Island in South Carolina, right on the ocean. We can hear the crash of the waves from our bedroom window. It’s the perfect sound to fall asleep to with Alyssa tucked in my arms.
Once I hit the first floor, the scent of fresh-brewed coffee permeates the air. The door to the patio is open. I should have known she was out on the deck. We arrived a few days ago, and she can’t get enough of the salty breeze. I push open the screen door and find her sitting at the small, iron table, staring out at the water in the distance. There’s something hypnotic about the waves as they roll onto the sandy stretch of shoreline.
“Hey,” I greet, stepping onto the wooden planks, “you’re up early.”
Her eyes flicker to mine before widening when she gets a good look at me. A chuckle escapes as her lips quirk. Her gaze skims down my naked body before settling on my cock. That’s all it takes for me to stiffen right up. “Decided to forego clothing, I see.”
I arch a brow. “Is that a complaint?”
I’ll tell you what, there was nothing but satisfied moans coming from Alyssa when I was buried deep inside her last night.
“Nope.” As if to prove her words, she leans forward and presses a kiss against the tip of my erection. “Not at all.”
Damn. The feel of her warm breath feathering across my flesh only stirs my arousal.
“Good.” My voice drops, turning raspy as I scoop her into my arms and settle on the chair she’s been lounging on. “It’s not a secret that I love you naked. Speaking of which,” I grab the hem of her thin tank top and pull it over her head before tossing it onto the deck, “you’re a little overdressed for the occasion.” Then I hook my thumbs into her panties and slide them down her hips and thighs before tossing them over my shoulder.
At ease with our nudity, Alyssa settles against my chest, her head resting at the crook of my neck. We fit perfectly together. A sigh of contentment leaves my lips as we watch the sunrise over the water. It’s magical.
I almost shake my head at such a strange thought.
Five years ago, I never could have imagined feeling this content with another person. The ghosts from my past were still too fresh. They had a grasp on me that I never realized. All right, so maybe I did, but I never understood how much they were holding me back. How much I was missing out on until I made a conscious effort to face them head-on.
That meant—yup, you guessed it—therapy. Spilling my guts to a dude with glasses and a beard who eventually helped me realize that Candace’s decisions had everything to do with her. Not me. Alyssa has been there every step of the way—holding my hand when I needed it, taking a step back, and giving me space when I asked for room.
Without question, she is my person.
And to think I almost lost her.
Thankfully, I pulled my shit together before that could happen.
Every day I make a conscious decision to live in the present and only look back at the past when I think reflection can help. I’m sure that makes me sound all enlightened, but like everyone else, I’m just trying to figure out the baggage I’m stuck with and get through life the best I can. Alyssa likes to joke that I’m now Colton 2.0.