“I’m on birth control, and I don’t want anything between us.”
He freezes. “Are you sure? I’ve been tested. I haven’t been with anyone in years, and I’ve always used a condom. But if you’re not ready for this, we can wait.”
I’m left speechless by his admission. He’s implied that he hasn’t been with other women in a while, but hearing it outright stirs something deep inside me. The thought of being his first without protection, and of him wanting to share such an intimate moment with me as much as I want to share it with him, fills me with a quiet certainty that this is right.
I give him a warm smile. “I want this, Walker. I want tofeelyou inside me.Allof you.”
“I want that too,” he murmurs.
What started as a temporary arrangement shifted along the way, leading us to cross a line, and what we share now goes far beyond him teaching me how to flirt, building confidence, or exploring intimacy. I want to show him just how much he means to me without any barriers between us.
Walker licks my pussy one last time before he pulls away, and I feel the absence of his touch like a brand. I don’t have long to overthink it as we switch spots. He lowers himself to the blanket, pulling me down to straddle him. I loop my bound wrists over his head and rest my hands on his shoulders as I sink onto his cock, my pussy clenching around him. Our mingled moans drift through the stillness around us.
Walker grips my hips as he guides me to rock against him in smooth, controlled movements.
“I’m your first and last, baby.”
“First and last,” I echo.
I sense that his declaration carries a deeper meaning, but I’m distracted as he shifts his hold to my ass, guiding me as I slide along his shaft. My back arches with every thrust, and I rake my nails over his heated skin as we push toward our shared climax.
“I’m so close, Walker.” I moan as small tremors wrack my body.
He reaches between us and circles his thumb over my clit—a move that leaves me gasping for air. My hips shift in time with his fingers, every motion edging me toward release.
“Come for me,” he commands.
As I clench around him, on the verge of letting go, he gently pinches my clit, sending me careening over the edge. I toss my head back, pulsing around him as a broken cry escapes me. And within seconds Walker reaches his peak, grunting as he comes inside me, the feel of us joined together with nothing separating us leaving me lightheaded.
In the moment, a single thought crosses my mind.What if Walker really could be my one and only?
I stir to the sound of buzzing, and nuzzle further into Walker’s chest, determined to ignore it. After our date at the lake, we came back to my place to feed the kittens and check on the other animals. Somehow, we ended tangled up in bed for round two, staying awake far too late.
Walker rubs my back, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Sweetheart, your phone is ringing. Want me to see who it is?”
I groan. “That’s alright. I’ll get it.”
My phone goes quiet for a beat before the buzzing starts up again. I squint at the clock—it’s 4:37 a.m. It’s most likely an animal rescue call or someone trying to reach me about Mama. My stomach drops when I see it’s Tess, and I steel myself for the worst before answering.
“Hi Tess, is everything okay?” I blurt, unable to hide my urgency.
She exhales shakily over the line. “Thank god I reached you. Your mom’s been admitted to the hospital, and I wanted you to hear it from me. The ambulance woke the whole neighborhood, so the news will spread fast, even at this hour.”
I bolt upright, tossing the comforter aside as I scramble out of bed. “Wait—Mama’s in the hospital? What happened? Is she okay?” I bite back my next string of questions, realizing I’m firing them off without giving Tess a chance to respond.
“She was congested yesterday and woke up around midnight short of breath and disoriented. The doctor thinks it’s pneumonia,” Tess explains, a muffled announcement crackling from an intercom in the background.
I frown, pulling a T-shirt and shorts from my dresser. “Pneumonia? Are you sure?”
“It’s not as common this time of year, but it can happen, and it’s especially serious for someone medically fragile, like your mom,” she replies.
“Does the doctor think she’ll be okay?” I choke out.
“They’re optimistic,” Tess assures me. “They’ll keep her in the hospital to treat her with antibiotics and monitor her oxygen levels. If all goes well, she should go home in a few days. For now, she’s in good hands—I promise.”
Tears well in my eyes as I step into my shorts, trying to steady my hands. “Where’s my dad?”
He should be in town, but with his demanding work schedule, he still has a nurse stay overnight to watch over Mama—just in case something goes wrong, as it did tonight.
