She shakes her head. “I need you, Colton,” she breathes, resting her forehead against mine, her eyes dark with longing. And to prove it, she starts moving her hips again, grinding her hot little pussy against my jean clad dick that was about to bust through my zipper. Her hand reaches down, finding the hard ridge beneath the denim, and gives it a knowing squeeze. A guttural groan rips from my throat. “Please, Colton.”
Swallowing hard. My patience snapping, I say, “Take what you need, Firefly,” I rasped, my hands instinctively gripping her hips. I move her body, guiding her back and forth, over my aching dick. Her breathing quickens, a soft gasp escaping her lips. Suddenly, I feel her body tense, and she throws her head back with a moan, her eyes squeezing shut. As she arches her back, I bring her tight against me and begin raining hot, desperate kisses down her exposed neck, inhaling her sweet scent.
When her breathing relaxes, she looks down at my hard dick, her fingers already reaching for the button of my jeans. But I place myhand over hers, stopping her. I shake my head, my gaze locked on hers. “Not tonight, Ember.”
Her eyes widened, surprise mingling with the lingering haze of desire.
“Tonight was about you,” I explain, my voice thick with longing, but firm. “And I want to wait. As much as I want nothing more than to lay you down right here, sink inside you and feel you wrapped around my cock, I want us to take our time. I don’t want to rush anything with you. We have forever.” My thumb stroked her thigh, my other hand still cradling the back of her neck.
Closing her eyes, she rested her forehead against mine again. “Ok,” she says.
Chapter 24
Colton
The magic of that kiss still lingered between us as we cleaned up.
There was a comfortable silence between us as we packed up the cooler, deflated the air mattress and portable screen, and gathered the blankets. The string lights still twinkled, casting a soft glow around us, making it feel like we were in our own private world.
“So,” Ember said, breaking the comfortable silence as she folded a blanket, “Sunday’s the Fourth. You know the town’s annual event is happening, right?” She glanced at me, a hopeful, expectant look in her eyes. “My family still sets up a stand for Mom’s homemade goods. I was hoping… maybe you’d come help out? And then join us for the fireworks?”
My heart began to race and I felt my chest tightening. Just that word, fireworks hit me like a physical blow. A cold knot formed in my stomach. Loud noises. Explosions. Suddenly I had a flood of memoriesflash through my mind – the smell of burnt fuel and the screams of my friends. My scars, both visible and invisible, seemed to throb in protest. I normally avoided crowds, loud noises, anything that could trigger the flashbacks.
I nodded, my stomach tightening. “Yeah, I know.”
“You know my family always goes all out. And this year with us doing the cooking videos and other new things, Mom really is excited to do it,” she continued, oblivious to my growing anxiety. “Mom’s been baking like a madwoman. I was hoping… I was hoping you’d come with us.” Her eyes, soft and hopeful, looked up at me.
“Ember, I… I don’t know,” I started, trying to find the right words, to explain the suffocating anxiety that gripped me. “The fireworks… it’s just, they can be… a lot. Sometimes the loud bangs…”
Her face fell, a shadow of disappointment clouding her features. Her smile faded, and she looked down at her hands. The sudden sadness in her eyes twisted something inside me. The last thing I wanted was to disappoint her.
“Oh,” she said, her voice small, looking away. Then, she looked back up at me, her eyes filled with a new kind of concern that erased the disappointment. “Colton, no. You don’t have to. Seriously. If they’re going to be too much for you, then don’t come. Your wellbeing is more important than fireworks. Maybe we can watch them from inside my car, or skip them entirely. Please, don’t put yourself through that if it hurts you.”
That look of genuine concern, the way she instantly put my needs above her own, was like another punch to the gut- but a good one. My resolve, which had been crumbling, solidified in a different way. “No,” I said quickly, my voice rough. “No, it’s fine. I’ll come. I’ll help. And I’llwatch the fireworks with you.”Fuck.I had no idea how I was going to manage, but seeing her face brighten with that knowing, understanding smile was worth it.
“Colton,” Ember began, her voice a little nervous, her gaze softening. “I’ve been thinking about everything you told me the other day. And then tonight, with the fireworks…” She hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip before continuing gently, “Have you ever… have you ever tried talking to someone? Like, a professional?”
I sighed, a dry chuckle escaping me. “My dad just suggested the same thing to me.”
Ember nodded, her eyes earnest. “He’s right, Colton. He really is. Maybe it could help.”
After dropping Ember off at her farmhouse, I drove home, the previous joy of the date slowly being overshadowed by the rising dread about Sunday. I found Dad in the kitchen, reading the newspaper, a bottle of beer beside him.
“Hey, Dad,” I said, tossing my keys onto the counter, grabbing a beer for myself.
He looked up, his brow furrowed slightly. “Everything okay, son? How was your date?”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. The memory of Ember in my arms, her touch, the sounds of her moans when she came. “Yeah. Yeah, it was good. Really good.” I paused. “Ember asked me to go to the Fourth of July event. To help at their stand and then watch the fireworks.” Pausing again to take a swig of beer. “I told her I’d go, but… I don’t know if it’s a good idea. The noise, the crowds…”
Dad folded his newspaper, his gaze steady as he searched my face. He must’ve sensed my fear because he said, “I see. And you’reworried about the fireworks. The loud noises.” It wasn’t a question. “Colton,” he said, “you need to do what’s best for you. If it’s too much, it’s too much. Ember will understand. She’s strong, and she cares about you. She wouldn’t want you to push yourself if it’s going to put you back in a bad place.”
I ran a hand over my jaw. “Yeah. I just… the noise. It’s a lot. I don’t want to… I don’t want to screw things up.” Leaning forward in the chair, I felt the familiar tightness in my back. My scars felt itchy and there was a shadow pain of a dull throb in my side.
He nodded slowly. “Son, you need to do what’s best for you,” he repeated. “If it’s too much, it’s too much. The last thing you want is a setback. You’ve come so far in the last couple weeks.”
His words were meant to be reassuring, but they only solidified the conflict within me. I wanted to be strong for her. I wanted to be the man she deserved. And that meant doing this for her.
Sunday arrived, bright and incredibly warm. Despite my earlier resolve to back out if it felt too much, the thought of disappointing Ember again gnawed at me. So I sucked it up and got in my truck to head over to the lake.
