Chapter 37

chapter

thirty-seven

Two Months Later

Zak and Anna’s house glowed against the cool December evening, the warmth inside spilling out onto the patio where fairy lights twinkled above the gathering. The scent of woodsmoke curled through the air from a fire pit set up near the lawn, mingling with the saltiness of the nearby ocean. Guests bundled in jackets and scarves lingered with steaming mugs of cider, laughter rising and falling like music.

Zak stood by the grill, flipping burgers with practiced ease while balancing a spatula in one hand and a non-alcoholic drink in the other as he traded barbs with Donovan. Anna floated through the crowd with their new son on her hip, the toddler’s cheeks pink from the cold as he babbled happily. They’d named him Kian, meaning “king” in Dari, a nod to Zak’s and the boy’s Afghan heritage. Poppy was enamored with her new baby brother, as was Bella, who was home from college for winter break. Their joy at completing their family was palpable, radiating warmth even as the temperature dipped into the forties.

Rylan stood apart from the crowd, leaning against the railing of the porch. Valor sat at his feet, ears perked up at the occasional sound of laughter, nose twitching at the scent of grilled meat wafting through the air. As Sasha had predicted, Valor didn’t seem to notice he only had three legs now. He was the same dog as before—demanding, comforting, protective, goofy, courageous—he just now had one less leg and an impressive scar to show for his courageousness.

Rylan had missed the dog with a surprising ferocity while in rehab. When he was released a few days ago and picked up Valor from the rescue, he’d cried and promised he’d never leave him like that again.

He planned to keep that promise.

The past two months had been a blur of therapy, routine, and learning to live with his demons instead of letting them control him. He’d made progress, but the work was far from over. Some days, the darkness still threatened to swallow him whole, but he was learning to reach for the light.

Like this party.

He was here tonight because of Zak and Anna—because they were family, and this adoption had been a hard-fought victory worth celebrating. Watching Kian toddle between guests, his tiny hands reaching out to anyone who would hold him, made Rylan’s chest ache with a bittersweet longing for something he wasn’t sure he’d ever have.

He searched the crowd, but he knew Izzy wasn’t there yet. He wanted to ask someone where she was or if she was even coming, but he didn’t want to come across as desperate or lovesick.

Which, yeah, he was both.

He hadn’t been allowed visitors in rehab, and although they spoke once a week when he had phone privileges, he missed her. He wanted— no, needed to see her.

He knew the moment she arrived with Ash, his gaze drawn to her like a magnet. They were both dressed in uniform, but she now had three chevrons on her collar to reflect her new rank of sergeant.

He was so damn proud of her.

She stopped near the fire pit to talk to Cal and Ellie, her dark chestnut ponytail catching the flickering light when she laughed at something Cal said. Her amber eyes sparkled like the flames, warm and bright, as she caught his gaze from across the patio. She smiled, and his breath hitched.

God, she was beautiful.

It took every ounce of control he had not to run to her and kiss her senseless.

Finally, she excused herself from Cal and Ellie and headed in his direction. “Hey, stranger.”

“Hey,” Rylan said, his voice coming out rougher than he wanted. He cleared his throat, trying to gather himself. “Your new rank looks good on you.”

Izzy’s smile widened as she stepped closer. “Thanks. It still feels a bit surreal, to be honest.” She reached out to brush her fingers along his forearm. “You’re looking good, Ry. Really good.”

“I worked out every day,” he said and then hissed out a breath when he realized how stupid it sounded.

She laughed. “I can tell. How do you feel?”

His skin tingled where she touched him, even through the fabric of his Henley. “Better,” he admitted. “Still have bad days, but at least now my first instinct isn’t to take a drink.”

“Progress, not perfection, right?”

“Something like that.” He nodded toward the party. “Quite the turnout for Kian’s big day. I knew Zak had a big family, but…“ He looked at the Hendricks clan and watched as Zak’s brothers teased him while his sisters fawned over the baby. “That’s a big fucking family.”

“Bigger than mine, but only because none of my siblings have kids yet.” She smirked. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if Mateo and Monica end up at the altar soon. He’s smitten with her. And with Grace and Noah. So maybe Abuela will finally have some great-grandkids to spoil.”

“How do you feel about that? I know you were conflicted.”

“Like you were with Pierce and Rhiannon?”

He searched for his sister and her fiance and spotted them standing with Zak’s parents. Rhiannon was showing off her ring, and it made him smile. “I got over it.”

Izzy followed his gaze, her smile widening when she saw who he was looking at. “I did, too. Mateo’s happy. Monica’s happy. Grace and Noah are happy, and they deserve it after what they went through. So how could I not be happy for them?” She glanced at him, her expression softening. “We all deserve a chance at happiness, don’t we?”

His heart stuttered in his chest. He wanted to reach for her, pull her into his arms, and never let go. But he held himself back, unsure if she was ready for that. If he was ready for that.

“We do,” he agreed quietly. “Sometimes it’s hard to believe we can have it, though. That we… that I… deserve it, after everything.”

Izzy turned to face him fully, her gaze searching his. “Rylan. You absolutely deserve happiness. You’re a good man. One of the best I know.” She hesitated, then reached out to take his hand, twining their fingers together. “I know I hurt you. I’ve been trying to make up for it, but sometimes it feels like… I don’t know. Like I can’t.”

The distance between them was unbearable. He stepped closer until their bodies touched, and it still wasn’t close enough. “Because you don’t have to make up for anything. Not with me. What happened wasn’t just on you. I was angry, yeah, but I never stopped—” He paused, his throat tightening. “I never stopped caring about you.”

Her eyes lifted to meet his, wide and searching. “You mean that?”

“Yeah,” he said, the word carrying the weight of every sleepless night spent thinking about her. “I mean it. You’re the reason I made it through those six weeks in rehab. Every time I wanted to quit, I thought about you. About what it would mean to finally be someone who deserved you.”

Her breath hitched, and tears glistened in her eyes. He hesitated, then reached out, brushing his knuckles against her cheek. She leaned into the touch, her warmth anchoring him in a way nothing else could.

“You already deserve me, Rylan,” she whispered. “You always have.”

Her words broke something open inside him, and he let out a shaky breath. “You’re my… everything, Izzy. I didn’t realize it until you weren’t there. And I don’t want to go another day pretending I don’t need you.”

Izzy’s tears spilled over, but her smile was radiant. “Then don’t.”

It was so simple, so raw, and it left him feeling like the world had shifted beneath his feet. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her, to tell her she owned every broken piece of him if she’d have it.

But he held back, knowing this wasn’t about rushing—it was about laying the foundation for something solid and real.

They stood there for a long moment, the sounds of the party fading into the background as the mist thickened around them.

She was the first to break the silence. She smiled up at him, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Do you want to get out of here?”

Anticipation and desire crackled through him like a live wire. “Yeah. Definitely.”

Izzy sank down on him and let out the sexiest sound Rylan had ever heard. She moved, her sweat-slicked skin glistening in the soft light of his bedside lamp. It was the second time tonight, and still, he couldn’t get enough. Would never get enough of being buried balls-deep in her sweet heat. Her muscles clenched around him as she rode, each glide of her body stoking the fire building at the base of his spine. Rylan gripped her hip and fought the urge to take control, to flip her over and drive into her the way his body demanded. But he’d taken off his prosthetic and wouldn’t have the balance he’d need.

Besides, tonight was all about relearning each other after so much time apart. He’d already taken her the way he wanted to the first time, hard and fast the moment they stepped through the door, half-dressed and desperate, with her bent so far over the couch she bit the cushion to muffle her screams since the front door was still hanging open.

Now it was her turn, and if she wanted to torture him with this slow, maddening rhythm, he would gladly submit to her delicious torment. His gaze locked onto hers, the deep amber of her eyes darkened with lust and an emotion he dared not name. Not yet. Not until he was sure they could move past the hurt and betrayal that had torn them apart.

Izzy leaned forward, her hands splayed on his chest as she rolled her hips, taking him deeper. Rylan’s breath hissed out between clenched teeth. His hand slid up her sweat-slicked back to tangle in her chestnut waves, pulling her down for a searing kiss. She opened for him, her tongue sliding against his in a sensual dance that mirrored the movement of their bodies.

“Rylan,” she gasped against his lips, her voice a breathless plea. “I need... I need...”

“I know, darlin’.”

She tugged on her lower lip with her teeth. “Mm, when you call me darling that in the slow Southern drawl, even in public, I get so wet.”

“I can feel that,” he growled, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of her hip as she rode him harder, faster. “You’re so damn wet for me. So tight and perfect.”

Izzy whimpered, her nails raking down his chest, leaving red marks in their wake. Rylan reveled in the sharp sting and surged up, wrapping his arm around her waist and capturing her lips in a heated kiss. She moaned into his mouth, the sound vibrating through him. She clenched tighter around his length, drawing him deeper into her silken heat. She was trembling.

He tore his mouth from hers and trailed kisses along her jaw to the sensitive spot below her ear. “You like it when I talk dirty to you, darlin’?” he murmured, his voice a low rumble. “When I tell you how good you feel wrapped around my cock, so hot and tight and perfect?”

She shuddered in his arms, her nails digging into his shoulders. “Rylan, please...”

“Please what, darlin’? Tell me what you need.”

“You,” she gasped. “I need you. I’ve always needed you. I’ve always wanted you.“

Something deep inside him cracked open at her raw, honest confession. The last vestiges of his anger and hurt dissolved, replaced by an overwhelming surge of love and desire.

“I need you too, Izzy. I never stopped needing you, even when I tried to hate you.”

Rylan crushed his mouth to hers in a bruising kiss, pouring every ounce of pent-up emotion into the slide of his lips and tongue against hers. She met him with equal fervor, her fingers threading through his hair to hold him close.

He thrust up into her, hard and deep, swallowing her cry of pleasure. Picking up the pace, he drove into her again and again as she rocked against him, their bodies moving in perfect sync.

Then she stiffened and her inner muscles tightened around him like a fist. She broke the kiss with a sharp cry, her head falling back, her body shuddering as her orgasm crashed. Rylan groaned at the exquisite sensation of her climax rippling along his length, gritting his teeth against the urge to come.

The sight of her lost in passion, knowing he was the cause, sent a primal surge of satisfaction through him. He wanted to brand himself on her body and soul, to claim her in a way that went beyond the physical.

He held her close while she rode out the aftershocks, whispering words of praise and devotion against her damp skin. “That’s it, darlin’. I’ve got you. You’re so beautiful when you come for me.”

Izzy collapsed against his chest, her breath coming in ragged pants. He smoothed his hand down her back in long, soothing strokes, savoring the feel of her soft curves molded to his harder planes. He was still achingly hard inside her, but he forced himself to remain still, giving her time to recover. When her breathing steadied, she lifted her head and met his gaze, her eyes soft and sated. She lifted a hand to cup his bearded cheek, dragging her nails lightly through the short hair.

“I love you, Rylan,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “I never stopped loving you, even when I thought I’d lost you forever. I’m so sorry for what I did, for how much I hurt you. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you’ll let me.”

His heart clenched at her heartfelt apology. He cupped her face in his hand, his thumb brushing away the single tear that escaped down her cheek. “I forgive you. Honestly, I forgave you the moment you walked back into my life. I was just too damn stubborn and proud and… lost, I guess, to admit it. I love you, Isabella. All of you. The good, the messy, the parts you think you need to hide. I love your fierce heart and your wicked sense of humor and your dedication to your family. I love the way you fight for what’s right, even when it costs you everything. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, and I was a fool for denying my attraction to you. But I’m done with that. I don’t deserve you, but I’m not letting you go ever again. I’ve never wanted anything more than I want us.”

Izzy’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she searched his face. “You mean that? You really forgive me?”

“With all my heart,” Rylan said, his voice rough with emotion. He pulled her down for a tender kiss, pouring all his love and longing into it. His hand slid down her back to cup her ass, pulling her tighter against him. She gasped as the movement shifted him inside her, reminding them both that he was still hard and aching.

“Rylan,” she breathed, rocking her hips. “You didn’t...”

He groaned at the exquisite friction. “Wanted to make sure you were taken care of first, darlin’.”

“Then let me take care of you now.” She pushed him back to the mattress and lifted herself up only to sink back down on him in one smooth motion. She set a punishing pace, her hips rolling and grinding against him with desperate intensity. Rylan met her thrust for thrust, his hand gripping her hip hard enough to bruise. The room filled with the sounds of their ragged breathing and the slap of flesh on flesh.

Rylan’s head fell back against the pillow with a guttural moan. “Fuck, Izzy…” He wanted to watch her come undone again, to see the pleasure flush her face as she shattered in his arms, but his own climax was building fast, unstoppable. “I’m close.”

She leaned down, her breasts brushing against his chest as she nipped at his earlobe. “Let go,” she whispered, her hot breath sending shivers across his skin. “I’ve got you.”

With a guttural moan, he surrendered, arching off the bed, burying himself deep inside her. Pleasure exploded through his body as he spilled himself inside her, his vision going white at the edges. He vaguely felt her inner muscles flutter with another, softer orgasm and heard her breathy gasp as she trembled through it, but he was too lost in sensation to enjoy the sight of her coming undone again.

Rylan came back to himself slowly, his heart pounding and his breath ragged. Izzy was draped over him, her face tucked into the crook of his neck. He could feel her rapid pulse against his skin, her body still trembling with aftershocks. He wrapped his arm around her, holding her close as they both caught their breath.

“Holy shit,” Izzy mumbled against his throat.

Rylan chuckled. “Yeah, that about sums it up.”

“That second one caught me off guard.”

“Caught me off guard, too,” he murmured and gave her ass a gentle smack. “You about sucked me dry. Not that I’m complaining.”

Izzy lifted her head to meet his gaze, her eyes shining with warmth and a hint of mischief. “I’d say that was a pretty damn good start to making up for lost time.”

“Start, huh? You planning on keeping me busy all night, darlin’?”

“All night,” she confirmed, trailing her fingers down his chest. “And well into tomorrow if you’re up for it.”

His cock twitched inside her at the promise in her words. “Sweetheart, when it comes to you, I’m always up for it.”

Izzy’s laugh was rich and throaty. She shifted, wincing slightly as she disentangled their bodies. “But first, I think we both need a little recovery time.”

Rylan immediately missed the heat of her wrapped around him, but he knew she was right. He reached for the tissues on the nightstand, cleaning them both up before tossing the used ones in the trash.

When he lay back down, she curled up against his side, her head pillowed on his chest. He stroked her back, reveling in the silky feel of her skin beneath his fingers.

“I missed you so much,” she whispered, tracing his jawline with her fingertips.

He turned his head to press a kiss to her palm. “I missed you too, darlin’. More than I can say.”

She snuggled closer, draping her leg over his. “I know we still have a lot to talk about, to work through...”

“We do,” he agreed, delving his fingers into her hair. It was so soft, and he loved the way the strands felt like silk between his fingers. “But right now, I just want to hold you. We’ve got time for all the rest.”

Yes, they had time. Time for long talks and heart-to-hearts, for apologies and promises and plans. Time for healing and forgiveness. Time for rediscovering each other and building something stronger than before.

A whole lifetime’s worth of time, if he had any say in it.