I hold on to the edge of my orgasm as it pulls me through another dimension, and I feel Colson’s cock still inside me.
“I’m never getting over you. I hope you fucking know that,” Colson groans, kissing me hard and promising.
He’s not the only one.
twenty-five
Colson
Mymomhadacouple candles around the house, ones that have never been lit. I find a matchbook in a drawer and hand them to Sadie, who starts lighting the ones she can find.
You’re not supposed to open a fridge or freezer when the power goes out but luckily, I don’t really have any food that can go bad. I pull out the block of cheese and preserves, and get to work on the one thing I can really offer Sadie: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich plus cheese and crackers.
Once a few candles are lit, she sits on the counter, legs swinging, watching me like this is the most interesting thing she’s seen all day.
“PB and J?” she asks, amused. “You really know how to impress a girl.”
“Careful,” I say, spreading peanut butter like it’s a sacred ritual. “This is acraft. Balance matters.”
She laughs, the sound warm and easy. The room shifts as the glow spreads, casting soft shadows, gold light catching in her hair. It feels quieter somehow. Like the house is holding its breath.
I line up the cheese and crackers on a plate, then add a spoonful of preserves on the side.
“Now, the real question is,” I can hear the smile behind her words, “what is your preferred sandwich shape?”
I hold the knife above the sandwich, stretching out the answer like it’s something that holds weight.
“The right way,” I say as I cut the bread diagonally. I offer her a plate; when she goes to take it, I pull it away and lean in. My lips find hers and she laughs into it.
Sadie hops down from the counter and takes the plate, her fingers brushing mine briefly, but it’s enough to send a spark up my arm.
“Thank you,” she says, quieter now. She takes a bite, eyes closing for half a second like she’s really savoring it. “This is perfect.”
I lean back against the counter, watching her eat, feeling like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. If you would’ve asked me two months ago where I’d be in July, there’s no way I could’ve called this: my mom’s summer house, in the middle of a storm, with a woman who is like sunshine incarnate.
Sadie wears one of my T-shirts, baggy on her, and a pair of my socks. That’s all she requested. I need someone to tell me how this woman looks this fucking drop dead gorgeous in my kitchen right now. Her hair is damp, towel dried, and she’s fresh faced.
I swear, it’s like Sadie can soften the edges. All the things I’m uncertain of, all the shit I haven’t dealt with yet—it feels less when she’s around.
“Don’t forget about the charcuterie.” I nudge the cutting board in her direction, which has a single type of cheese and cracker.
She doesn’t hesitate when she eats a piece of cheese and exclaims, “Ah, you got the good stuff.” Her brows lift and push into her forehead as she continues to taste. “This is definitely from Tom’s.”
“No, it’s from—” I stop to look at the wrapper on the counter. “The Cheese House,” I declare, proudly showing her the label.
She laughs and nods. “Yes, that’s Tom’s place. He’s the owner and the only cheese monger Golden Harbor has to offer. Did you get it from there or from the store display?”
“Cheese monger?” I laugh at her. I know it’s the formal title for someone who runs a cheese store, but again, I didn’t expect the conversation to go to Golden Harbor’s residential cheese monger.
Shaking my head, I continue. “Damn. You seem to know everyone.” I put a piece of cheese on top of a cracker and pop it in my mouth. “I grabbed it at the store.”
“Oh, Colson.” Sadie’s hand goes to her hip; the way she says my name has me paying extra close attention. “You’re missing out. Samples! We have to do a cheese tasting.”
We.
I’d be lying if there wasn’t a warm feeling running through my chest, reaching my fingertips and stretching down to my toes. She’s making plans.
Wind howls and whips around outside, slamming branches into the windows. It makes Sadie jump. I pull out my phone to check the weather app, and see the same types of alerts. I show the screen to Sadie.
