17. The Sweet Sixteen, Beau

July 4th

The moment was just as ideal as I imagined it to be, and my expectations had been high. Making love with Dash fulfilled me physically—man, did it—but the emotional elements cinched me to him like a life force, holding us together.

The whole adventure was made better with Dash's pretty face and hooded brow staring up at me, encouraging me to continue as his length bounced with every one of my thrusts. I prayed I gave him as much pleasure as he gave me.

I had also studied for today, implementing my newfound knowledge. I prepared him for what was to come.

Then, as we grew closer to the end, I somehow managed to get him off with my fist. My instincts were razor sharp, but it was all lost when my hips began to piston wildly. I couldn't hold them steady. My release came with a carnal sounding growl.

What I needed was a quick catnap, then to figure Dash out. Make sure he liked bottoming as much as he seemed to. I fell on top of him and gathered him in my arms. My eyes closed as my forehead hit the pillow and darkness edged in the periphery. Visions of Dash during the act played like a slideshow through my head.

He held me close, keeping me wrapped in his arms. My guy was a cuddler, and a talker. The embedded image of seeing Dash naked stirred me, I tingled to life again. I had no idea I'd recover so quickly, wanting to do it again, and again. I grinned into his hair.

"I can't breathe." His husky tone hissed, sending a chilled shiver running through me. The labored puffs against my neck spoke to the truth of his struggle. Even then, I didn't want to let him go.

Apparently, he didn't feel the same way, and wiggled out from underneath me. After the briefest struggle, I eased my hold to let him go.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, rolling to his side next to me. The palm of his hand rested on my cheek. "I contemplated death so I didn't have to move, but I wanna live so we can do it again."

Oh man, my guy was sweet. I stayed still, staring at him, our faces close to each other. The quiet between us felt peaceful, a feeling I cherished. His thumb gently swept across the skin underneath my eye, tenderly caressing there.

"Did you enjoy it?" I whispered.

"So much," he said quietly, giving One of his many dashing expressions that enchanted me, fitting of the nickname I gave him. "You have the grace of a wildcat. It's entrancing to watch you move. Your muscles are fluid together… Promise me you won't cut your hair. Let it grow for me. I like running my fingers through it."

Then he did that very thing, moving the long pieces off my forehead and face. They probably didn't stay where he put them, which was fine, since it meant he'd touch me again.

I took in everything about his face. His lips looked plumper than usual, probably due to all the kissing we did. He also kept his bottom lip between his teeth as we made love. "Did I hurt you?"

"Hurt me so good," he teased, his tone sated and relaxed. The thigh he had wrapped around my waist tightened as he came closer, enough to press his lips tenderly against mine. "The way you dropped to your knees and swallowed me deep was a major turn-on. I think I'll remember it always."

We were inches apart, but I couldn't hold his stare and looked down at his chin. "I didn't know what to do. When I was digging through the junkyards, I found an old box of VHS tapes. One was gay porn. I secretly swiped it and watched it. I tried to pick the sexy parts out that I thought you'd like."

His giant grin had me doubting the wisdom of revealing that truth.

"I did the same thing." His lips reached out to touch mine again. "I told you I wanted to do both ways, but I picked bottom first because it looks so alluring. You didn't disappoint. That prostate rub, so good." My gaze lifted to his again to gauge the truth. "I guess it was selfish. I should've let you go first. That just occurred to me. I'm sorry."

The worry had me feeling special, but I wasn't ready to bottom. Someday, not now. I trailed a finger down the bridge of his nose to flick his bottom lip.

"We should shower. I'm a mess. I felt you coming inside me," Dash said.

"We should've used a condom," I murmured.

He shook his head hard at me, looking like I was the dumbest person on the planet.

"I felt the pulsing when you came. We were one person. Condoms aren't for monogamous relationships. We won't ever have to use them…" Dash stopped speaking and rolled away, off the bed. "I feel energized. The room seems brighter and bigger doesn't it?"

He went to the en suite bathroom. The term Dash used when giving me a tour of his room before tackling me to the bed.

His warmth was missed.

I stared at the ceiling. He called the decoration up there ornamental. I called it fancy. The entire room was stunning and spacious. The bed might be the most comfortable I'd ever slept in, though I hadn't actually slept. His perfect ass bounced as he jogged to the bathroom. "I think we should come out tonight at the fireworks show. Nothing's going to change between us. Might as well get it out to the world."

Those words didn't freak me out like they should have. With my eyes closed, I thought of the only obstacle we had in our way: my grandparents. I figured they'd disown me for being with Dash Richmond more so than being gay. Probably my father was too far away to know anything about it. Besides, what could he do? My mom had put me in a safe place.

"Are you paying attention?"

No, I wasn't and popped myself up on my elbows to see Dash poking his head around the corner of the bathroom. My heart skipped a beat. His disheveled hair, his pouty lips slowly returning to their normal size, his gaze adoring as he stared at me… How had I gotten so lucky?

"Yes, I did. I think we should wait until my grandparents calm down."

He gave an exaggerated eye roll and disappeared. The shower faucet flipped on. The unexpected sound of pitter-pattering feet came running toward the bed. They didn't stop until he jumped directly on top of me.

"Umph." I jackknifed up, my hands covering my privates, the last part of my body I wanted to hurt right now.

Dash playfully bounced us on the mattress.

"Quit turning me down. I refuse to hear no another day." His smiling expression was in direct contrast with the severity of his tone. "I told you my dad's gonna take care of your grandparents. He promised."

Yeah, I had all sorts of responses to give. Where did I even begin? I confidently lay back, tucking my hand underneath my head, saying the first of my counterargument. "If you want me to spend the night with you when your parents leave, my mom better not find out about us. She'll never allow it."

Understanding dawned and his expression changed. He leaned back on his heels, his shifting eyes giving a peek into his mind. He quickly went through the different scenarios to find any other possible angles. He was so smart. I'd gotten to know him well. Seconds later, I saw the moment that I had him.

"I win."

"Perhaps you did or maybe you didn't," he remarked, the gears in his head whirling again. "So you're saying you'll spend the night with me after my parents leave?"

"If my mom says it's all right," I answered, but I'd probably sneak out. We both knew I would. "But she might want to talk to your parents."

He looked horrified at the suggestion and scooted around on his ass until his feet were back on the floor. "I need to shower. Stay here, just like this."

"I won," I called out to drive the win home.

"Not yet." The sound of the shower door clicking closed echoed in the quiet of the suite.

I often couldn't believe how well Dash and I connected. After today, I'd describe us as missing pieces to each other's puzzles. Once I was comfortable with Dash, we'd never had any awkwardness between us. Not in our first time to hold hands, not during our first kiss, and not after today.

Rolling out of bed, I took account of my body. How had everything about me changed yet stayed the same? Sex might honestly be my new favorite pastime. My brain switched gears as I went for my T-shirt. How hadn't I hurt him? And I could swallow, I was sure of it.

If Dash and I were innately close, then bathroom privacy was likely a non-issue. Somehow, that made it okay to at least join him in the bathroom. I grabbed a hand towel and washed my chest and my junk then ran water over my hands and through my long hair, pushing it off my face as Dash opened the shower door.

Dash was uninhibited with his body. Which eased me with my own. I watched him through the mirror—a mirror that came with a defogger. Seriously fancy. He was the image of perfection. And here I was again, committing his body to memory.

"Toss me a towel."

I did from the stack below the sink.

"Since you're dashing all my hopes and dreams…"

"Dash, is my word, and I'm only being practical."

"Practicality doesn't belong in our relationship," he said and ran the towel over his body. "So here's my counter. I want some sort of PDA tonight to let me know you're thinking about me on my birthday. Then spend the night tomorrow after your shift as my birthday present."

I cut him off, going for my underwear and shorts while pointing to the gift sack sitting on Dash's desk. "I brought you a present. You haven't opened it…"

He continued as if I hadn't spoken. "You can shower here when you get off work. My parents are leaving this evening. Amelia's coming in the morning. She'll believe you're my friend. Then as soon as my dad talks to your grandparents and they agree on a plan, we come out. It's a safe plan no matter what argument you come with."

He slung his damp towel over one shoulder. The other one propped against the door frame. The David had nothing on Dash. Overwhelmed, I took a seat on the edge of the bed. I'd grown so hard so fast I rammed the heel of my palm into my groin to stop the insanity.

"We'll talk about it when you're dressed. You're making it hard to think straight," I said.

His sweet smile and soft chuckle had me unsure of what he'd do next. Luckily, he ducked behind the door. "Maybe I need to stay like this in front of you all the time. It might give me a few wins every once in a while. Let me dry my hair. Then we're going for a ride in my Ferrari."

I dropped back on the bed as the hair dryer roared to life. My hand came to my heart. I was way over my head with that one.