I race off before they can keep us waiting any longer. Mom and Dad are probably already outside near the Caruso home, and I really do not want to keep them waiting.
With her arms tightly wrapped around my body, I sway from left to right down the mountain slope, feeling renewed. Reborn.
I came so close to death that I could almost taste the afterlife, but it was her devotion that kept me grounded, kept me near to where her heart and mine had entwined, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Her hand snakes around my belly, slowly sliding down as she settles her chin on my shoulder, her fingers splaying near my bulge, which twitches against the fabric of my pants.
Goddammit.
She’s making me hard as a rock.
I race even harder to try to get to the location fast enough before I burst out of my pants.
When we’re finally near the street her parents live on, she takes her hand off my package, and I groan in both frustration and pent-up desire.
She giggles in my ear and hops off, so I park my bike, grab her wrist, and spin her back to me, pinning her to the bike.
“Be careful where you put your hands, Firefly …” I tip up her chin. “Or I will fuck you on my bike on the way back home.”
She grins and leans in, pressing a kiss right beneath my ear. “Please …”
Oh, fuck me.
My eyes nearly roll into the back of my head.
She casually saunters off toward the house, while I’m left adjusting my pants to hide the massive boner before anyone sees.
Aspen goes inside first. I figured it’d be more appropriate if she said hi to her parents first without me. My parents, as well as Nathan and Milo, my mom’s other lovers, approach me. I clear my throat and greet them. “Got here safely, as promised.”
Mom narrows her eyes at me. “Did I just see Aspen jump off your bike?”
“No,” I say, smiling.
She rolls her eyes, but Milo places a hand on her shoulder. “Give him a break, Lana.”
“He’s been through enough,” dad adds.
“I can’t fucking wait for this conversation,” Mom mumbles.
Nathan beckons everyone. “C’mon, let’s go.”
We all walk to the front door, and Dad rings the doorbell.
After a while, the door opens up with Alistair King, Penelope’s third lover, standing in the doorway. “Come in.”
We walk inside, but it’s already awkward as hell.
“Hey, is that a new painting?” Milo asks, looking at the expensive paintings on the walls like he hasn’t been here before, when things were still amicable.
“You noticed.” Alistair grins. “You like it?”
“It’s brilliant,” he replies.
“Thanks, my daughter made it, so it’s extra special to me.”
“Nice,” I say. “I didn’t know Melody could paint that well.”
Mom elbows me to stay quiet and keep a low profile, but I’m done hiding. They can either accept me back as a human or they can fuck off and let me be.
