War and Roses by Kat Baxter
Epilogue
Bethany
I’m so excited, I can hardly contain myself. I can’t wait for Jacob to get home so I can show him. We had talked about me doing this—in fact, it was his idea—but when it came time to get it done, I wanted to surprise him. We have a month to go before we get married and I wanted this to be all healed up in time to wear the dress I found with the sweetheart neckline.
We would have eloped, but since his sister did that, his parents begged us to fly to Oregon to have the wedding up there. Now that his dad’s health is back to normal, they want to celebrate. I think part of it is also because Selina and Austin are due with their first baby in a couple of months. So they want us all there for a big party.
At the moment, I’m lounging on our bed in a black negligée that’s so low cut it’s like it’s not even pretending to cover my body. But it frames my new tattoo perfectly.
I never thought I’d be one to get a tattoo, but one of Jacob’s buddies from work actually designs tattoos for an amazing artist in Corpus Christi. Brick works with so many veterans that he’s become kind of a specialist when it comes to tattooing over and around scars.
“Sweetheart? Where are you?”
“In our bed. Waiting for you.”
“Oh, fuck yes,” he mutters and I’m pretty sure I hear a piece of clothing hit the ground. His footsteps become louder as he heads towards me.
And then he’s in the doorway, shirt gone, and his jeans are unbuttoned. He toes off his shoes and then he looks up at me. His mouth gapes.
“Bethany,” he whispers. His steps are slow and quiet as he moves to me on the bed. And I swear his eyes are glassy with unshed tears.
Oh no! My heart sinks. “You hate it, don’t you?”
His brown eyes meet mine, and he swallows hard. “No. I love it. I love you. It looks perfect. So damn gorgeous. I mean, I already thought you were perfect. But look at you, laying out on the bed in some sexy lingerie waiting for your man. You feel sexier, don’t you, sweetheart?”
I realize I’m crying so I just nod.
“Did Brick do this?” He takes one lacy strap off my shoulder, and then the other and the black confection pools at my waist.
“Yes.”
“He didn’t stare at your tits, did he?”
I choke on a laugh. “No, growly bear, he didn’t. I kept my girls covered.”
“Some of the leaves from the vine crawl up on the swells of these beauties. Which means he did touch you.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re ridiculous, you know that? You have nothing to be jealous about. Brick is an attractive man, but he’s not for me. Besides, I don’t really like guys with facial piercings.”
He looks back at my chest and I glance down with him. The green of the vines and leaves and the shades of red of the roses intertwine up my cleavage and I can barely see my scar.
I look up at him and know I have more tears in my eyes. “I feel pretty.”
“Do you need to sing a song about it?”
I smack him in the arm, but he does make me laugh. Every day. “I love you, Jacob."
“I love you, Bethany. And I love that you got your tits decorated for me. You are so thoughtful.”
I roll my eyes again.
“Can I touch?” he asks.
“Not the tattoo, I have to keep it cleaned and covered with a barrier cream, but my boobs are fair game.”
“Score,” he says, like he doesn’t get to touch them all the time. He lays down next to me and lightly traces his fingers over the outer curve of my right breast, then my left.
“Think your parents will freak out if my wedding dress shows off my ink?” I ask.
“My sister is covered in ink. You’ll be fine. And if they do care, then I’ll tell them we won’t let them hold our children.”
“Jacob! You will not.”
“I might. But they won’t say that. They already love you.”
“Video chats are not the same thing as in person.”
“Stop worrying and stop talking about my parents so I can play with your tits.”
