“I’m not legally supposed to say that I’ve had the same thought for many years, but woman, if anyone can get me to break the law, it’s you because I’ve been dreaming of tasting your sweetness for years.” A sexy blush creeps up her cheeks.

  Without a word, she pushes me to my back and leans forward to flick her tongue across the tip of my cock. The innocent act is so fucking erotic my balls feel ready to explode.

  Gathering her hair in my hands, I hold her tight as my entire body strains to maintain control while her lips stretch around my girth, slowly descending down my shaft. The heat of her mouth and the sweet exploration of her tongue along the thick vein drives me crazy.

  With nothing else to concentrate on, I know I’m about to give her a mouthful if she doesn’t stop. Lost in the euphoria of Lola’s sensuous delight, I sit up quickly to grab her hips and move her so she’s sitting over my face.

  “This is what I call fair, woman.” I mutter the words against her panty-covered pussy seconds before gripping the sides of the material in my hands and tearing them from her body.

  “Theo!” she gasps, pulling off my cock, the cool air making me shiver.

  Ignoring her protest, I drag her down over my mouth and flick my tongue across her tiny bundle of nerves. Excitement pulses through me when her head drops onto my thigh. Dragging my tongue languidly across her lips, I savor the sheer bliss rushing through my veins as I experience her for the first time.

  “Heaven. You taste just like it.” Her mouth begins to tentatively move again on my cock as I spread her pouty lower lips with my fingers, kissing the sensitive flesh. She squirms, and I have to hold her still as I slowly work a finger into her tight hole.

  “Fucking virgin,” I moan. I knew. Or I thought I knew. I fucking wanted it to be true, but as the tip of my finger reaches her hymen, and she jumps, I realize just how much I needed it to be true.

  With one last kiss to the inside of her thigh, I move, pulling her up with me until she’s flat on her back again. “This isn’t going to be easy, kitten. You’re so fucking tiny, and I’m huge. And I need you so fucking bad it physically hurts.”

  Rubbing her hands up my chest to cup my jaw in her hold, she stares at me for a moment before saying, “I’m yours, Theo.”

  A throaty, possessive growl bursts free, and I capture her lips in a kiss of outright ownership. There’s no room for interpretation as I push my pants off completely.

  Spreading her silky thighs, I reluctantly pull back from her mouth. My gaze washes down her body in slow motion as I align our bodies.

  Raising her arms above her head, Lola grips the pillow at the head of the bed as I brush my cock through her soaked folds. Her back arches and her eyes close, and I know that’s my cue.

  Pushing the head of my cock into her body is rough at first. Everything in her tells her to push back, but she doesn’t, she takes steady breaths and relaxes her body. It takes a few minutes for my dick to hit her hymen, but when I do, her eyes pop open, and tears fill her orbs before she nods her consent.

  Leaning over her, I reach for her hands, clasp our fingers, and push the rest of the way through. A silent scream breaks free of her chest, and her tears roll down her temples, but a smile overtakes her face.

  “I always knew it would be you, Theo.” Her confession makes my heart swell.

  “I’ve never really had anything of my own, Lo. You’re mine now. I’ll never let you go.” Burying my face in her neck, I breathe deeply before moving my hips. Each thrust is like a message to my heart.

  I fucking love this woman.

  Lola

  The pain was explosive. Radiating through my entire body, setting me on fire.

  Until…

  There was just the fire.

  The burning desire for Theo to wholly own me.

  I want the pain to remind me of this moment. This first time we came together with nothing between us. No restrictions. No cover. Just us.

  Me and Theo.

  “Theo.” I whisper his name. His pulsing cock inside me fills me to the brim, and he’s all I discern. Each stroke, in and out, leaves me craving so much more.

  “We didn’t,” I gasp when he thrusts forward harder than before, “we didn’t use protection.” I couldn’t care less. I’m ready for everything with this man; I want it all.

  Marriage.

  Babies.

  Tears.

  Love.

  Theo. I want Theo.

  He pauses mid-stroke. And as he pulls back to look at me, I think he’s going to pull out and panic until a grin the size of Texas spreads across his face.

  “No, we didn’t.” His hips pump forward. “You want me to, Lola? Or are you ready for everything we are? For all the things we will be?”

  I shake my head, and he frowns. “I don’t ever want anything between us, Theo. Not ever.”

  “Good.” He leans forward to kiss me, and his hips sway again. Rapidly. Pushing, pulling, taking everything I have to give and so much more.

  When my orgasm finally hits, it’s so powerful that I blackout, barely feeling when Theo let’s go of his own release. I lay limp as he chuckles and moves us up the bed.

  If I’ve died and gone to heaven, I don’t ever want to leave.

  Lola

  “Take Me Home" by Restless Road & Kane Brown

  “Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.”

  The words echo through my mind like a cannon. Exploding against the grief I carry to my marrow.

  With the pastor's parting words, I hesitate to move with the masses exiting the church where my best friend lies in an open casket at the front of the building. I observed from the beginning as Sam’s friends and family, even perfect strangers, stopped to say their goodbyes to my friend.

  I haven’t been able to do it.

  I can’t bring myself to move closer than the last row of pews near the exit. Which also means that everyone glances at me, Theo, Ryder, Foster, Codie, and Evie as they leave, wondering who we are and why we’re here.

  I tense as Charlie and his parents hesitantly make their way forward toward me. When they’re only a few feet away, I drop my head and turn into Theo’s body, trying to hide.

  I’m unsuccessful.

  “Lola?” Mrs. Dane’s sorrow-filled tone forces me to acknowledge her.

  “I’m so sorry,” I whisper. I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know if they blame me like Charlie does. If they hate me. Do I remind them of the child they lost?

  Mrs. Dane drops down beside me and pulls me so tightly into her arms that I can’t breathe. I don’t care. Her hugs have always been that one thing I’ve been missing my entire life, and if I never got another one again, I think I might crack.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for.” Charlie snorts. “You were the light of Sam’s life. Even when he was a pain about becoming your friend, he cherished you so deeply.”

  Tears fall heavily at her words. “I’ll never forget him,” I tell her, and she smiles softly.

  “You should come for dinner next weekend; we can sort through some of his things. I’m sure there’s plenty he would love for you to have.” Her offer warms my heart.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Charlie all but yells. His father glares at him and drags him from the building.

  “Maybe that’s not such a good idea,” I say. I’m not sure I’m ready to be surrounded by Sam’s life yet anyway.

  “He’s just angry. Charlie feels guilty, and if I know you as well as I think, I suspect you do too.” Her frail fingers grasp my hand.

  “You’d be right,” Theo says as he pulls me a little closer to his side. The possessive hold he has on me isn’t missed.

  “Well, that’s a change.” Her gentle smile lights up her sullen face. “Both of you, please come. Perhaps we can all gain some closure.” She nods like it’s a done deal before kissing my cheek and taking her leave.

  Everyone around me stands, and I realize the church is empty, except for Sam. He’ll be alone as soon as we leave.

  Like the night he died.

  Alone.

  “How am I supposed to leave him?” I stare up at Theo, tears streaming down my face.

  Strong fingers caress my jaw, catching the tears as they fall. “You don’t leave him, Lo, you carry him in your heart forever. His spirit lives on through you. If you let him.”

  Getting to my feet, I step into the aisle and stare at the doors, wondering if I can leave without seeing him one last time. Wondering if I can see him without breaking down again.

  I’m torn with no direction to go.

  Codie takes the choice from me when she hooks her arm through mine, and we walk slow and deliberate steps towards the casket.

  “When I lost Lucas, I didn’t want to hold him. I thought that if I saw him, touched him, his death would become real. But it already was. And I needed the closure of saying goodbye to him to move forward.” My throat is tight as she talks of the son she lost.

  “How do I move on, though?” We’re five feet from Sam, and I can see his hands crossed over his chest, and I feel lightheaded.

  “You lean on your loved ones. You allow us to carry whatever burden you need.” Leaning forward, she kisses my cheek.

  Before she’s gone, I feel Theo’s powerful grasp encircle my hips, holding me close to him. I place my hands over his, rest against him, and close my eyes while taking a deep breath.

  “What do I say?”

  “Whatever you want or nothing at all.” His warm breath against my neck gives me a tiny bit of strength I need.

  Stepping out of Theo’s hold, I take another step and another until I’m staring down at Sammy. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way. We were supposed to grow old, have rocking chairs, bitch about the neighborhood kids and their damn baseballs, Sam.”

  His hair is too neat. He hated neat hair. Reaching forward, I don’t hesitate to ruffle it, so his dark tresses are a mess. Like he just rolled out of bed.

  “I’ll miss you, Sam, and I hope, one day, you’ll forgive me for not understanding the depth of your pain.” Bending over the side of the casket, I kiss his cold cheek, squeeze his stiff hand, and pray that he is at peace. That he’s free of whatever haunted him in this life.

  Theo

  We spent the weekend in bed. Emily was picked up by Codie on Friday before we were supposed to go camping, so we were responsibility-free for two days.

  Until the service for Sam today.

  Lola was robotic most of the morning. As soon as we entered the church, her tears began, and she couldn’t control them. I held her through the beautiful service, saying goodbye to her friend, and on the way home.

  She hasn’t said a word since changing into one of my t-shirts, and if it weren’t for the fact that she reached for me every time I entered a room, I’d be worried.

  She’s processing, though. Accepting the little bit of closure from Sam’s mom helped ease her guilt a little. But Charlie’s words still haunt her.

  “I should go back to school tomorrow.” I don’t respond because I know she’s just verbalizing her thoughts.

  Dragging her over into my lap as we watch some cheesy flick on Netflix, I rub my hand up and down her back.

  “I need to get back into the swing of things, Theo. Sam would be pissed if I held back because of him.” I nod. My new assignment begins in the morning, so I’d be leaving her alone anyway. If going back to school is what she wants, I won’t try to stop her.

  Doesn’t mean I won’t worry like a son of a bitch, though. Her mental state is fragile right now and spending time in a place where they spent so much of it together is going to affect her.

  “Promise me something then?”

  Her shadowed gaze stares up at me. “Anything.”

  “You’ll call me if you feel like you did the other day, no matter what. I don’t care what you think I’m doing, you call me. Okay?” Gripping her chin, I don’t let her go until she answers.

  “I’ll call. I promise.”

  “Good.”

  Drawing her head closer, I seal the agreement with a soft kiss that quickly turns into something more. My body heats up for Lola as her hands clasp my shoulders, massaging the muscled flesh with her fingers. Running my hands down her back and cupping her ass cheeks, I pull her into me.

  Rubbing my aching cock against her heated center, only my shorts and her thin panties keeping us apart, I make quick work of pushing my shorts down and sliding her panties to the side. As soon as my dick touches her hot pussy, I’m ready to explode. This woman does things to me I’ve never known before. I could live inside her body for eternity.

  For once, we’re quiet as I enter her body. Soft moans, meaningful stares, and a connection that will last a thousand lifetimes infuse us as her hips rock gently over me. Our mouths crash in a collision course of lust, need, and love.

  I hold Lola in my arms as she comes apart for me.

  She kisses my neck as I release inside of her.

  Together, we savor the result our journey has brought us on.

  Theo

  “American Bad Dream" by Kane Brown

  “Ma’am, I’m Theo Burkhart, this is Foster Halsey. We’re your escorts today.” I shake Senator Millicent Gibson’s hand as she eyes us up and down.

  “Navy boys?” her soft voice asks as she meets our eyes.

  “Yes, ma’am.” I’m sure she’s looking for more, but the truth is, ninety-nine percent of our Navy assignments were confidential, and we can’t divulge details.

  With a curt nod, she accepts the simple answer. “Alright, then. Please call me Millie; ma’am makes me feel so old.” Her personal protection detail rolls their eyes. “Nothing from you, boys, now,” she snaps at them playfully.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I agree. Respect for her and her position means I won’t call her that while on the job.

  Shaking her head, she watches Foster. “You’re a quiet one.”

  “Theo’s got enough chatter for us all.” Asshole.

  Light laughter rents the air as she shakes her head again. “You two are going to keep me on my toes.” We both shrug. “You know the itinerary? Let’s get to our first stop then, shall we?”

  The morning is dull. Board meetings about their budget and shortfalls at a hospital Gibson contributes to yearly is the first stop. The next, we hit the school's board of trustees, where she is a co-chair. They also talk about budget, and just as I’m wondering what the point of us being here is, my phone begins to vibrate in my pocket.

  Discreetly grabbing the device, I glimpse the number and don’t immediately recognize it, but there’s a niggling in my gut that says I should answer it. Gibson’s eyes laser in on me. I hold up the cell, indicating I need to take the call, and she nods her head.

  Exiting the room, I answer, “Hello.”

  “Theo? Theo Burkhart?” a feminine voice questions.

  “Yeah.”

  “This is Karen Dane, Samuel’s mom. I don’t know if you remember me…”

  “I remember you, Mrs. Dane. What can I do for you?” Her call is surprising.

  “Well,” she pauses and clears her throat. “It’s Charlie.”

  I’m all ears. “What about Charlie?”

  “I’m afraid”—she sniffles—“I’m afraid he’s about to do something horrific.”

  Before I can ask what, the door opens, and Foster is stepping out. I put the phone on speaker so he can hear too. “Mrs. Dane, Foster Halsey is here as well. He knew Sam too. Tell me about Charlie,” I urge her.

  “He left a note. So much has been going on in his life. Not just Sam. He was kicked out of school for fighting and put on probation at his job for the same thing. I don’t know my own children anymore.” Her tear-filled confession is shattering. “That’s not all, though. The gun safe is open.” We’re both immediately on high alert.

  “What type of guns do you own, Karen?”

  “A revolver.” I sigh. He’s likely contemplating suicide like his little brother. “The thing is, he took the entire box of bullets.” That’s more worrisome.

  “How many were in the box?”

  “Nearly one hundred. It was a brand-new box.”

  “Did his note indicate where he might be going?” Foster asks as my phone vibrates with a text from Lola, and the Senator pops her head out of the board room, devastation on her face.

  “The college,” I mutter, already figuring that Lola sent an SOS. Quiet permeates the room as we enter to see the news on the TV in the corner.

  “Reported shots from inside…” My ears ring.

  Lola.

  Lola

  Bang!

  I jump from the sound, my daydreaming brought to an abrupt end. I’ve been unable to focus all day. Thankfully, I’m not missing anything in my ethics class that I don’t already know or I can’t read about later.

  Bang!

  I sit up straighter in my seat as the sound becomes clearer.

  Bang!

  And more distinct.

  There’s a shooter.

  Bang!

  He’s coming closer.

  Ms. Phelps rushes to close and lock the classroom door.

  Bang!

  Ms. Phelps falls to the ground, blood pouring rapidly out of her chest. While everyone else cowers down under their chairs, I don’t hesitate or think, I react. Rushing to her, taking my flannel shirt off as I fall to the ground, I put pressure on the wound.

  She is cold, pale, and barely conscious. “Ms. Phelps, hang on. You’ll be alright. Everything will be fine.”

  “Run,” she gurgles as the life leaves her body.

  Glimpsing out in the hall, I see another body on the floor, blood oozing from a wound in the head. He’s dead.

  So much death.

  It surrounds me.

  A pair of legs steps into my vision, and as my eyes roam up the body, I brace for a bullet of my own.

  Gasping at the knowledge that I recognize the shooter, I crawl backward, away from his lethal weapon, his rage-fueled stare.

 

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