His cock leaks at that, and he lets out a half cry, half groan.
“You like the sound of that, Uncle Josie? Like the idea of fucking me too?”
“Oh,fuck, yes.” His voice is full of lust, eyes overflowing with his need and desire for me. I know if I could see myself, I’d reflect the same for him.
The base of my spine starts to tingle, heat pooling low, and I know I’m getting close. Bringing my hand up to my mouth, I spit into my palm before wrapping it around his cock again, stroking faster, fucking him harder, bringing myself and him closer to the finish line.
“I’m almost there,” Josiah moans, the rasp in his voice sending me over the edge.
“Me too…fuck!”
Josiah goes first, hot ropes of cum covering my hand as he cries out. I follow behind, emptying myself into the condom, stars erupting behind my closed lids. The orgasm wrings me dry, and I collapse on top of him, his arms wrapping around my middle as I bury my face in his neck, the sweet scent of his sweat and musk hitting my nose.
It’s right there on the tip of my tongue. The urge to say those three little words.I love you.But something stops me. Fear, or maybe the unknown, for what tomorrow will bring. Whatever it is, I chicken out, pressing several kisses to his skin instead. We lie in each other’s arms under the stars for a long while, soaking up this moment.
“Thank you for coming with me,” I say softly. “I don’t know if I would’ve had the courage to do it otherwise.”
Josiah peers up at me, his gaze overflowing with adoration and what I hope is love. “I’d do anything for you, Segan. I hope you know that.”
Yeah, I think I’m finally starting to see and believe that.Emotion clogs my throat, so instead of saying anything back, I pull him in for another short, sweet kiss.
41
SEGAN
Ithink I’m going to be sick. I woke up this morning with this weighted pit in my stomach that seems to be pushing all my anxiety over seeing my mom into my throat. Josiah and I woke up pretty early, but I took my sweet time showering and eating breakfast, trying to put off the inevitable. Going back home and not trying to see her at all is still an option, but I already flew all the way here, so I may as well just get it over with.
If my dad still works the same job as he was when I left town, he should be at work, and I won’t even have to see him. Which is what I’m hoping for.
Josiah and I are driving over to their house now. The ride is completely silent, and I swear, you could cut the tension with a butter knife. I know my emotions are radiating off of me. When I left for Nashville, I truly expected to never see my parents ever again. They were as good as dead to me as Utah faded away in my rearview mirror.
We pull into the driveway, and Josiah puts the truck into park, but doesn’t turn the engine off yet. He shifts in his seat, and I feel the weight of his stare on the side of my head. Dragging my eyes up to meet his, there’s so much care and empathy looking back at me, it makes my throat ache.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” he asks softly.
I nod, my pulse kicking up, making it hard to breathe at even the thought of going in there without him by my side.
Josiah reaches over, sliding his hand into mine, giving it a squeeze. “Okay, I’m here, and I’ll continue to be here for as long as you need.” Something about those words makes me think he’s not speaking about just right now. It comforts me in a way I didn’t know I needed. “And remember, you’ve made a great fucking life for yourself back in Tennessee. Your parents, or really, anybody, don’t own you or control you anymore. You made something out of yourself—all by yourself—and you have absolutely nothing to prove to anyone, especially them.”
Biting down on my lip, I try to think of something—anything—to say back. I come up blank. His words hit me right in the chest.
When I don’t say anything, he asks, “Wanna go in now, or give yourself a minute?”
My mouth is dry, tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth as I try to speak. I’m a fucking wreck over seeing her, and I don’t know how to get it under control. But I know the longer I sit here and put it off, the worse it’ll get. “Let’s just get it over with,” I reply, reaching for the handle to the door.
The sky is overcast and gray, looking like it could downpour at any moment. Seems fitting.
We step up to the porch, but before I can ring the doorbell, Josiah’s hand wraps around my upper arm, spinning me to face him. He takes my face between his hands, thumb rubbing absentmindedly across my cheek. I don’t think he even realizes how soothing and grounding the touch is.
“I got you, okay? If it gets to be too much, we can leave. You aren’t alone, you understand me?”
I nod, my eyes filling up with moisture.
When he leans in, pressing his lips to mine, my body immediately relaxes in his hold, and I allow myself to melt into his touch. Allow myself to take the strength he’s offering me in the only way he knows how. When the kiss ends, we don’t pull away right away. Josiah rests his forehead on mine, holding my gaze as if to silently tell me I can do this.
Dragging in a deep breath, I hold it in my lungs for a moment before exhaling. I do it one more time for good measure before turning and pressing my finger into the doorbell, my heart in my throat while we wait. A short, petite woman who looks familiar answers the door. I can’t place how I know her, but my guess would be she’s with the church my parents attend.
Her eyes widen as she looks at me before dragging her gaze over my shoulder to Josiah. “Segan, I’m so surprised to see you here,” she exclaims, wiping her hands on the front of her apron before pulling me in for an awkward half-hug. When she lets go, she must see confusion on my face because she chuckles. “You probably don’t remember me. It’s been, what, a decade at least since you’ve been back?”
