I couldn't hold on anymore.
Her climax pushed me over, and after a few more thrusts, I came inside her, my groan rough with her name as I flooded her and it rushed in around me and spilled out of her with every backward pull of my dick.
I glided in and out of her a few more times before leaning down to kiss her softly, then pulled out and lay down next to her.
The couch almost wasn't deep enough for both of us, but she clung to me, tangling our legs until I was anchored next to her with our bodies aligned knees to shoulders.
I sighed, content in the quiet intimacy of the moment, but my phone rang from somewhere on the floor or in my pants pocket, shattering the peace.
I considered ignoring it, but the ringtone told me it was my mother.
"I should take this," I said apologetically.
I didn't want to leave her side, but if I didn't answer the call, she'd just call again and again, or worse, she'd send my father to find out why I hadn't answered.
Ember nodded, pulling the couch throw from the back of the sofa around herself.
I sat up and rifled through my pants to grab the phone and answer. "Hey, Mom."
"Nathan, finally. I've been trying to reach you all afternoon." Like normal, her tone had that motherly feel. "I saw the news coverage from the hospital. Those protesters were appalling."
"It was handled." I kept my voice neutral, aware of Ember listening beside me. She didn't need to feel revictimized again.
"Are you alright? Is that young woman alright?" I winced at her question. Ember wasn't "that young woman." She was someone I deeply cared for and couldn't openly admit right now.
"We're both fine," I told her.
"Nathan, I need to ask you something directly, and I want an honest answer."
She paused, and I heard her take a breath. "Are you in a relationship with your assistant? Not for show, not for the Hearthkeeper role, but genuinely involved?"
I glanced at Ember, who'd gone very still. I could tell she heard what my mother was asking. "Yes. I am," I answered boldly because I didn't want Ember to think for a second that I was having second thoughts.
"I see," she said softly.
"Mom—" I started, hoping to stop any lecture from arising.
But she surprised me when she cut me off.
"Then I suppose I should prepare myself for grandchildren sooner rather than later." Her tone had shifted and she sounded almost playful.
Not at all what I expected from her, given the way my father was reacting.
I chuckled despite the tension. "I'll keep that in mind," I said, "but we're not really talking about having children so early in the relationship."
I turned with a smile toward Ember, but she'd already gone white.
Before I could ask what was wrong, she bolted upright and scrambled off the couch, one hand pressed to her mouth.
She made it to the bathroom and slammed the door just as I heard the unmistakable sound of retching.
I stood and grabbed my boxers, my heart racing as I followed after her. "Uh, Mom, I have to go, okay? I’ll call you later."
I hung up on her and felt bad, but Ember needed me more. I knocked on the bathroom door. "Ember? Are you all right?"
The only answer was another round of vomiting, followed by the sound of running water.
She swore to me that she was fine, but she clearly wasn't.
