Chapter Twenty-Nine

Blake

Five Years Ago

I buried my face into Tommy’s shoulder as the shrill sound of his alarm blared through the room. I felt his arms tighten around me before he pulled away to turn off his phone and then he yanked me back against him. The comfort of his big body, the warmth of his skin, and the way he held me made me feel safe. Like I didn’t have to worry about my mother or what was going to happen in the future.

“I have to get up, Bug,” Tommy murmured in the dark.

I twisted around to face him. “Can’t you stay home just one more day with me?” My voice hitched, and shame slithered beneath my skin.

“Blake,” he murmured.

I nodded. “No, yeah, I get it. You have obligations other than me. I shouldn’t have asked you that.” But I wanted him to pick me today. I needed him.

“Do you need me?” Tommy carded his fingers through my hair. When I nodded, he slid his lips against mine. “Then I’ll stay.”

Tears burned my eyes, and I couldn’t stop myself from wrapping my arms and legs around him like a koala. “Thank you,” I whispered.

Tommy hummed as he held me. He didn’t complain when the tears slipped down my cheeks and soaked into his shirt. He promised me he’d take care of me, that he loved me, and that he would always be there when I needed him. I trembled against him; my body racked with sobs. I couldn’t do this without him. I wasn’t strong enough.

“Bug.” Tommy’s lips brushed my ear. “Let me just go tell my parents I’m staying home. I’ll be right back.”

I shook my head. “No, please.”

I expected Tommy to pry my finger off him, but instead he eased himself onto his back, taking me with him, and grabbed his phone from the table with one hand. I had never been like this before. Clingy, needy, and desperate. I didn’t like it at all. When I finally gathered myself together, my tears drying on my face, I managed to untangle myself from my boyfriend and stared up into his dark eyes.

“You want to talk about it?” Tommy brushed strands of hair from my forehead.

My chin began to quiver again. “While I was at the hospital last night, I spoke with one of the nurses. She asked me what my plans were when my mother came home. What would I do? Would I need in-home care or would a nursing facility be better. There’s a good chance that she might need to learn to walk, talk, or even write again.”

“That’s a lot for you take on alone.”

“I have no clue what I’m going to do.”

Tommy gripped my cheeks with his large hands. “That’s why you were so upset last night.”

“I just... I don’t.... I’m sorry.” I felt sick as my stomach twisted with anxiety.

He shook his head. “You have nothing to apologize for, Bug. You have your entire life ahead of you and shouldn’t be saddled with this burden.”

“She’s my mom, and I love her, even if she hasn’t been the best. We might have had a lot of bad times, but there have been good ones, too. Like for my twelfth birthday, she let me skip school, fed me cake for breakfast, and took me to Six Flags. I know I should have said something to you last night, but I was just so upset and needed you. I still need you.” I ducked my head.

“I know.” Tommy gripped my chin to force me to look at him.

I searched his handsome face. “You’re not mad?”

“Should I be?” I closed my eyes as his fingers stroked over my skin. “Blake, you were obviously distraught over something when you came home. I knew you’d tell me when you were ready.”

I surged forward to capture his full lips. I didn’t deserve Tommy Olson and all his amazingness. He made me feel like the most cherished person in the world. He groaned into my mouth, his hands tangling in my hair, and I didn’t resist when he eased me onto my back, his thick body covering mine. My legs instantly dropped open as Tommy ground against me, his hard cock rutting against mine.

“I love you.” Tommy nipped my jaw. “More than anyone or anything in this world, Bug. You’re my everything.”

I whimpered at his words. “Please.”

“What do you need? Want me to touch you?”

I whined greedily as Tommy slid his palm against my stomach and gripped my dick in his hand with his. My eyes rolled back when Tommy began to pump us together, my body breaking out in goosebumps and lust. I moaned when his finger rolled over the tip, collecting the precum that had started to gather there, and smeared over my length.

“Look at me, Blake. Let me see those pretty eyes. I want to see them when you come for me.” He leaned forward to kiss me, his tongue snaking between my lips.

I dug my fingers into his hips. “Tommy,” I whimpered.

When his teeth sank into the skin between my collarbone and shoulder, I came apart beneath him. Hot cum landed against my chest and stomach, and I saw stars. Tommy’s throat rumbled, and my body released another spurt as his cum mixed with mine.

“Mm.” Tommy moaned, and I looked up to find him licking his hand. “We’re so good together, Bug.”

I stuck out my tongue, and he smirked, then shoved two fingers inside my mouth. When I had finished cleaning them off, he dropped onto the mattress next to me and tugged me to his chest, cum smearing between us. I fell back to sleep with the sound of Tommy’s heartbeat in my ear and the warmth of his big body against mine.

***

When I woke again, I was absolutely insatiable. I wrapped my mouth around Tommy’s cock to wake him and then begged him to put his fingers in me. Then whimpered and cried when he did as I asked, coming all over myself. When Tommy told me to take a shower so he could get us some breakfast, I pouted like a child until he agreed to wash up with me. I ended up face first against the tile, Tommy’s tongue in my ass, and screaming his name when I came again.

I stared at his face when Tommy washed my hair, face, and body, taking extra care of my genitals, his hand fondling my balls and tugging at my cock. He smirked when I mewed and then he kissed me until I couldn’t breathe. He forced me to dry off and get dressed, then practically dragged me to the kitchen, where I sat on a chair as he cooked up something to eat in a pair of loose-fitting sweats that hung low on his hips.

Tommy was so perfect it hurt to look at him. Auburn hair that was still damp from our shower, dark eyes that sparkled with happiness, full, soft lips, and red stubble sprinkled over his jaw. His shoulders were big and broad, his arms strong and thick, the trail of hair that disappeared beneath his sweats enticing. My eyes dropped to his flat abs, his bellybutton, and the v-line hidden beneath his pants.

“Enjoying the show?” Tommy winked.

I gave him a bashful smile once he plated the food and sat across from me. “Thank you.” I blushed.

“You’re welcome,” he told me. “Feeling better?”

I wasn’t, but I wouldn’t tell him that. “Yeah.”

“Don’t lie to me.” Tommy’s brows dipped. “Talk to me, Bug. Or kiss me. If you need my fingers, cock, mouth, don’t ask, take it. Whatever you need, I’m always here for you.”

My throat grew tight. I raised my hand to place it on the table, and Tommy leaned forward to tangle our fingers together. I stared at him, itching to be closer to him, drag my hands through his damp hair, and inhale his familiar scent. When he tugged on my arm, I managed to get to my feet and climbed into Tommy’s lap.

“This is nice,” he murmured. He pressed his mouth against mine before he held up a piece of toast. When I shook my head, Tommy scowled. “You have to eat, Blake. You can’t help anyone if you don’t take care of yourself first.”

I took a bite, and cinnamon and raisin exploded over my tongue. Then I took a second and finished it before Tommy kissed me again. I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my face inside the crook of his neck.

“You’re not alone, you know that, right?” Tommy pulled my legs up over his. “Whatever happens, whatever you need, I’m here for you. I will always be here for you.”

“I love you, Gretzky.”

“I know, and I love you, too, Bug.”

I continued to sit on him, Tommy occasionally feeding me more food. Bacon, another piece of toast, and bites of scrambled egg. He would smile at me, love shining in his dark orbs, nuzzling his nose over mine, and kissing my lips. Warmth hummed through my body. I gazed up at my best friend-turned-boyfriend, wondering how I got so lucky. I touched his face with my fingers, tracing around his lips and nose, before grazing over the stubble on his jaw. Neither of us spoke, but we didn’t need to.

I groaned at the sound of my cell buzzing in my pocket, the moment with Tommy broken. When I saw the caller ID, I nearly dropped it to the floor.

“Bug?” Tommy whispered.

I met his gaze. “It’s the hospital.”

Tommy immediately took charge. “Hello?” His grip tightened around me.

I knew it meant my mother was awake by the look on Tommy’s face as he listened to the caller, nodding and answering when he needed to. His fingers dug into my skin, but I didn’t feel it. Dread had begun to creep into my gut. I wasn’t sure I was prepared for this. That I wanted to handle it anymore. I was twenty years old. I had so much of my life ahead of me.

“Jesus, Blake. You look like you just saw a ghost.” Tommy stood up and carried me effortlessly to the living room. He placed me on the couch, climbed up next to me, and pushed my head down onto his lap. “Breathe for me. In, out, in, there you go.” His nails scraped over my scalp.

I stared up at him. “She’s asking for me.”

Tommy nodded. “I can go with you.”

“I’m not...” I took a long breath. “What if I don’t want to go? What if I don’t want to take care of her anymore, Tommy? I need to finally live my life.”

He gave me a small smile. “Then you don’t. You’re not a kid anymore. There’s no law that says you have to continue to take care of your mother while she drinks herself to death.”

“Does that make me a horrible person?” Tears spilled from my eyes, and I buried my head against his stomach.

Tommy shook his head. “You’re not. You’re human.”

“I should go. To at least talk to her.” I sat up fast and brushed the wetness from my cheeks. “I need...I want...Will you come with me, be my support system?” I reached for his hands.

Tommy squeezed tightly. “Always, Bug. You don’t ever have to ask.”