When my ass needed a break, Spence rode me until he was spent. Watching this buttoned-up man come undone on my cock is a kind of euphoria I don't have words for.
And now there's kissing in the mix. So much kissing. Sometimes that's all we do. Just kiss. Slow. Deep. Endless. It's glorious. I will never get tired of his lips.
Today is the first time we've seen the light of day since the benefit. We're on our way to visit the Bettys before heading to Anthony and Chance's for family dinner, and Spence has one hand on the steering wheel, the other laced with mine across the center console. This. This right here is what I knew I was missing. This is what my heart was yearning for. Not fame. Not football. Not money. This. A hand in mine. Someone choosing me. Someone who looks at me like I'm the best thing that's ever happened to him.
I lift our intertwined hands and press a kiss against his knuckles. His head turns briefly. Even behind the dark lenses of his sunglasses, I can feel his eyes on me. That crooked little smirk appears. God, he's beautiful.
“Eyes on the road, handsome,” I tease.
“Stop distracting me.”
A huff of laughter escapes me. “I'm distracting?”
“Obviously.”
A few minutes later he pulls into the retirement village parking lot. My chest does that familiar warm thing it always does when we come here. The Bettys have become family.
After parking, we climb out and quickly find each other's hands again. I hold the door open for him. He lets me. Spence brushes his shoulder against mine as he passes, and my stomach flutters like an idiot. I can't wait to tell the Bettys about us.
The second we step inside; I spot Clara behind the front desk. Usually, she lights up the moment she sees me. Today she doesn't. She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. My steps slow. Something's wrong. The warmth I'd been carrying all morning begins to cool.
Clara comes around the desk slowly. When she reaches me, she wraps both arms around my waist and squeezes. Hard. Much harder than usual. Then she rocks me gently, back and forth, like she's comforting a child. My stomach drops.
When she finally pulls away, I grip her arms and look down at her. Confusion and concern spread through me. “Clara?” The word comes out small.
She reaches over and rubs Spence's arm. “Hi, Spencer.” He gives her a polite smile, but he looks just as confused as I feel.
Clara doesn't answer my question. Instead, she walks toward one of the benches in the lobby and lowers herself onto it. Then she pats the seat beside her. “Come sit, baby boy.”
My pulse starts racing. My skin prickles. Something inside me already knows. I just don't want it to.
I walk over and sit beside her. Across from us, Spence remains standing. Watching—alert, and ready. Clara takes bothmy hands in hers. They're warm. Steady. Her eyes fill with sympathy. “Miss Betty passed last night, Ryan.”
Everything stops. My eyes close as pain punches through my chest. When I open them again, the world is blurry. A tear slips down my cheek. “Which...” My voice breaks. “Which one?”
Clara wipes away the tear with her thumb. “Betty with a Y, sweetie.”
The dam breaks. A sob tears out of me. I fold forward as tears spill freely down my face. Spence moves. Fast. He drops into a crouch in front of me without hesitation. One hand lands on my knee. The other rubs slow circles over my thigh, grounding me, keeping me here.
“Oh, honey,” Clara murmurs. She shakes her head slightly. “The heart on you, boy.” Her eyes soften. “Too good for this world.”
Spence squeezes my leg. “Don't I know it.”
That just makes me cry harder. I drag in a shaky breath. “What happened?”
Clara rubs my arm. “Old age, baby.”
A watery laugh escapes me. Of course. Still hurts. Still feels unfair.
Clara smiles sadly. “She went peacefully in her sleep.”
I nod. A fresh tear slides free. “That's good.” My voice shakes. “I'm glad.”
Clara hums softly. “I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner. Like I said, she only passed last night, and we have protocols we have to follow.” She squeezes my hands. “I didn't know you were coming today or I would've—”
I immediately shake my head. “It's okay. I'm glad we're here.” I wipe at my face. “I want to see the others.” Another shaky breath. “Offer my condolences.”
“Of course, Ryan.” Her eyes glisten.
