I nod. “By everyone’s best guess, I was in there for two hours before my mom noticed she hadn’t seen me in a while and went looking for me. They called an ambulance because I couldn’t get my breathing under control. Adam freaked. He knew I was missing but didn’t think it was a big deal, so it really hit him harder than anyone. He didn’t leave my side for weeks.” Heath’s hold tightens around me and I snuggle into him. “I know I probably should have gotten over it by now.”

“I don’t think fears work like that. I think they hang on until you face them in one way or another, poking holes in the pain and letting good shine through.” He pulls the sheet up over our heads and smiles at me in the near darkness. “Let’s make some good memories in the dark.”

The thin sheet doesn’t really block out the light of the TV, but it’s a step and I take it.

32

HEATH

I disappear from under the covers long enough to grab a condom and then hurry back underneath where a very eager Ginny is wiggling out of her clothes. I had big plans for undressing her with my teeth, but I’m too busy appreciating the view to complain.

“You’re so beautiful.”

Her smile, even in the near dark, is bright and genuine. She eyes the condom in my hand. “I’m on birth control. We can…” She hesitates. “I mean, if you’re comfortable going without, so am I.”

My already throbbing cock is now harder than it’s ever been. I pull my shirt over my head and Ginny works on unbuttoning my jeans. Together we push them and my boxers down and before I can kick them off, Ginny’s mouth is covering the head of my dick.

“Oh Jesus. Slow down, babe. I’m never gonna last, like that,” I tell her, guiding her head up and down my length. Her warm mouth is heaven. She comes off with a pop and I groan at the loss. I pull her up and swipe a hand over her lips. She looks a little uncertain and I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

“You sure you wanna do this?”

“I do, but I’m a little nervous. I might suck at it.”

“Well, in that case, you can just keep sucking me with your hot as fuck mouth.” I wink so she knows I’m joking and shift so I’m on top of her, holding most of my weight off her slender frame. “Babe, don’t take this any other way than I mean it—a compliment—but there’s no way you’re bad at sex. You’re the sexiest, most enthusiastic partner I’ve ever had.”