“Josh?” I choke out, concern and worry drenched in my voice as he reveals something inside him that I’ve never seen before.
Vulnerability.
The next thing I know, our lips crash together in a hard, fast, and unforgiving embrace, and it’s as if a thousand-pound truck barrels into a stone wall covered in pillows.
We grip each other’s faces like lifelines as our mouths connect on a level so much deeper than I’ve ever experienced. He’s kissing. I’m kissing. And our bodies are heaving with need as everything we’ve ever felt…every emotion, every thought, every physical sensation pours into this embrace and into each other.
I have no damn clue who started the kiss. This isn’t what we’re supposed to be. But right now, this is what we need to be. And now that it’s begun, I never want it to stop.
My legs spread, pulling him closer, touching, feeling, needing him all over me. He thrusts his groin into my center, and I squeeze my thighs around him, wanting more, and less. Less clothes, less limits, less rules. I want nothing between us. No secrets, no boundaries, no worry…just flesh on flesh. The same way we created the life inside me.
He moves one hand into my hair and grips it by the roots, pulling my head back and deepening our kiss. It’s a claiming just like when we first met. It’s unrelenting and pressure-filled. His tongue plunges and begs for mine to give in to him, and I do. I do because it feels natural to be his like this. To let him possess my body like this. I crave it.
His mouth moves to my neck, his breath hot on my skin as I fumble for his jeans, my hands shaking as I try to unbutton them without jostling my wound. Finally, I shove them off his ass and fist his cock in my hand, squeezing the silky hardness of him as he groans loudly onto my neck. His hand slides up between my legs, and his fingers slip inside the crotch of my panties. With a grunt, he tugs on them so hard, they rip, exposing my wet center to the cool air. His finger teases my opening, and I open my mouth to cry out when suddenly, a knock sounds on the door.
“Joshy, is your little friend okay?” Lana’s voice echoes off the tile walls, and we both freeze, our mouths hanging open as our labored breaths mix with one another. When Josh doesn’t answer, she knocks again. “Joshy?”
Josh presses his forehead to mine, squeezing his eyes closed as I slowly release his dick from my hand and he pulls his hand away from my clit and takes hold of my thigh.
He clears his throat, and calls back, “Yes, Mother, she’s okay. We’ll be out soon.”
“Oh good,” she coos. She may literally be pressing her lips to the door. “Sue gave me some aloe vera from one of her hydroponic plants I thought you might like to try.”
Josh exhales through his nose, trying to steady his breathing before responding, “Maybe later, Mom.”
“O-okay,” she stutters, and then taps her nails lightly on the door handle before adding, “I’ll just slip it under the door in case that’s what Lynsey’s used to using for burns.” A little green stem in a clear sandwich bag suddenly emerges under the door. “Let me know if you need anything else, okay?”
“Okay.” Josh’s jaw ticks with agitation.
When Lana’s footsteps retreat, I can’t help the laughter that bubbles up my throat.
“Fucking hell,” Josh says, shaking his head and pulling away from me.
“Those hydroponic plants can be a real cock block,” I chortle, covering my mouth to hide my amusement.
Josh finally relaxes, the corner of his mouth quirking into a small smile as he steps back and presses himself against the opposite wall. Biting his lip as if in pain, he tucks himself back into his jeans and sets about fixing his appearance.
My dress has ridden all the way up, and my panties hang on by a thread, so I gingerly press my thighs together, ignoring my flush as I attempt to pull my skirt down.
Josh presses a hand to his chest. “I’m sorry, Jones. I shouldn’t have—”
“I know,” I finish his thought, flinching slightly at the feeling of rejection coming off him.
He watches me warily for a moment as though he doesn’t know what I’m thinking. I don’t even know what I’m thinking. Physically, I want him. No question about it. I want to finish what we started and maybe never stop. But I can see a wall going up on his face and that vulnerability he showed mere moments ago is completely gone, and I don’t know how that changes my feelings.
Josh exhales and slides his hands into his pockets. “I’m sorry I lost it on you before. Hearing your mom…seeing you get hurt…I was right there and didn’t stop any of it.”
“You couldn’t have stopped it,” I reply soothingly and glance at my bandaged wound. I offer him a reassuring smile. “I’m sorry I thought tonight could be anything but a shitshow.”
He nods thoughtfully for a moment. “At least we got the job done.”
I huff out an incredulous laugh. “Only had to put out one little fire,” I reply—and I’m not referring to the chicken.
Josh’s eyes hold mine for a moment as though he knows exactly what I’m talking about, but then, just as quickly, he replaces the mask and pushes himself off the wall. “I’ll give you some privacy.”
He moves to head out of the bathroom, pausing at the door like he’s going to say more, but then he must think otherwise. Once he’s gone, I slide off the counter and turn to gaze at myself in the mirror.
What the hell is my next move now?
By the time I come out of the bathroom, the kitchen is cleaned and our parents are all putting on their coats to leave. It’s a welcome sight because I can’t even stomach the idea of sitting through an entire dinner after everything that’s happened tonight.
My mother hugs me, trembling in my arms as she holds back her tears. When we pull back, she touches my cheek. “I think this is going to be wonderful for you, Joshy.”
I reply with a silent scowl, refusing to feed into her hopes and dreams for me. If she thinks this baby and Lynsey are going to change everything, she’s going to be disappointed. I shake my dad’s hand, waiting for his comment because he’s always been known for busting my balls, and tonight was no different.
“You’re not an idiot for living in the moment, Josh,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder and pulling me in for a rare hug. “But you’re an idiot if you don’t do right by this girl, you hear me?” He pins me with a serious look that presses a heaviness on my shoulders that I haven’t felt the entire time I’ve known Lynsey.
Just then, she emerges from the bathroom. I clear my throat and walk my folks outside to give her some privacy with her parents. They clearly took the news harder than mine, and I don’t need her feeling pressure from my parents and hers.
By the time I say my goodbyes and walk back up the front steps, Lynsey’s mom steps outside.
She says, “Are you sure you won’t come home with us, Lynsey? I think Father Tom could come by in the morning and have a good talk with you.”
Lynsey stands at the door and offers a wobbly smile to me. “I’m sure, Mom.”
Darren joins Sue on the stoop and offers his hand to me. “Just remember that Jesus is watching.”
“Yes,” Sue exclaims, pinning me with a threatening stare. “Lynsey showed me her separate bedroom, but you should still know that having a baby out of wedlock is a sin.”