Forged by Fire: A Small Town Second Chance Romance

by Cleveland, Eddie

  Karen lifts her head. Tears streak her cheeks as her soulful brown eyes search mine. “Really?”

  “It’s the God’s honest truth.”

  “Then why didn’t you let me take a year off and we both could’ve gone out together the next year? Why did you hurt me and toss me aside like garbage? Do you”—her voice trembles—“have any idea how much you hurt me? My entire life people have been calling me trash. I fucking grew up in the middle of a goddamned scrap heap, Luke!”

  “Junkyard Rapunzel,” I whisper the hurtful name she confessed the kids had given her when she was young.

  “But the one person who treated me like a real princess was you. And then, as soon as I gave myself to you, what did you do?”

  “Threw you away.” I hate the words. I hate myself even more for doing it.

  “You treated me like the exact same trash you always swore I wasn’t. You chucked me to the curb and never looked back.” Her face crumples and she takes long gasping breaths as she cries so hard she doubles over. She cries like someone who understands real grief, the kind that leaves a black stain where your heart once used to beat.

  “I’m so sorry.” I hold her tight again, but this time she breaks free from my grasp.

  “Don’t touch me,” she yells.

  “You got it, I won’t.” I hold up my hands, trying to surrender. Trying to confess. Trying to make this right.

  “Listen, I was an eighteen-year-old idiot. I didn’t know how to make you go to New York without hurting you. I’m not proud of what I did, not at all, but if I let you take a year off and you got stuck here somehow, I would’ve never forgiven myself.”

  She looks at me with her jaw clamped tight and her lips turned down. Still, at least she’s listening. Even though she looks angry, I continue talking. “Karen, you got into one of the most prestigious university programs out there. Do you remember how excited you were? How could I live with myself if you stayed and didn’t get back in? Or what if I got you pregnant? Or what if you spent one more year here with your family and they wore you down so much that you just gave up on your dream? I couldn’t do that to you. So I made you go.”

  Tears prick my eyes and I can’t face her anymore. I look away as a lump rises up my throat and bobs behind my Adam’s apple every time I swallow. “I loved you so much”—my voice cracks and a tear slides down my cheek—“that I had to lose you. It was the only way you’d be free.”

  I pull the cool air into my lungs and listen to the noiseless night. With each breath, I try to get myself back under control. My emotions are already getting the better of me. The last thing I want to do right now is cry.

  “You did it to help me?” Her voice quivers.

  “I wish I didn’t hurt you. I just didn’t know another way to make you go. What could I have said that would make you leave me behind?”

  Karen pauses and tilts her head. “Nothing. There’s nothing. You’re right. If you didn’t break my heart, I would have never left your side.”

  Her hand inches over to mine and our fingers thread together. I turn into her and wrap my arm around her and press her tight against my frame. “I know I can’t take back those words. I know I can’t undo your pain, but I want to show you how much I still love you.” I cup the side of her face and blanket her full lips with mine.

  She doesn’t move away. Instead, she steps into me, softening against me. She melts in my arms. Our mouths open and my tongue explores hers, frantic and desperate to know every inch of her. Dropping her hand, my fingers run up her spine until they tangle in her blond hair.

  She groans in my mouth and my cock springs to life. I walk her backward to the hood of the car as we kiss. She leans back against it and I help her slide up onto the cool metal. My body is on hers and we’re lost in this kiss, lost in this moment, lost in each other.

  I guess Karen was right, because this is very familiar. But a few things have changed since she left. And I’m about to show her how the boy she once loved is all grown up.

  23

  Luke

  I hold her wrists together, pushing her arms up over her head so she’s stretched out across the hood like one of those models from a car magazine. Karen arches her back so her tits perk up toward the midnight sky. I want to be a gentleman, but the way she’s sprawled out over the hood of my car, well, I don’t know if it’s the full moon out tonight, but I’m turning into an animal. A feral ache swells up inside me, overpowering my better judgment.

  I need her.

  Now.

  Pinning down her arms with one hand, I slide the other up her shirt. My fingertips ease under her bra and I squeeze her full tit, too eager to feel her skin against mine. She grimaces and tilts her head to the side, trying to hide her disappointment, but I see it tattooed across her face.

  It forces me to gather myself. To get some control. I’m literally throbbing with a dull pain just to feel my cock inside her, but none of this is worth fucking anything unless she’s into it. I need to slow down. I manage to pull a jagged breath into my lungs and steady myself. Instead of squeezing her plump flesh, I ease the edge of her shirt up, at first only exposing her belly. Freeing her arms, I lean over her and lick from the ridge of her belly button up to her ribcage. Even though I’ve calmed down, I don’t have the patience to figure out the frills and lace of her bra.

  I push it up over her breasts and waste no time dragging my tongue in a hurried path to her exposed nipple. My mouth covers the tip and I twist my lips around it as I suck it inside the warmth of my mouth.

  “Oh, Luke.” She lifts her hips from the car and grinds her pussy against me seductively.

  I want to rip her pants off and jackhammer her until I’ve coated her insides with my cum. I want to remind her who spent their life protecting her, admiring her, supporting her, and loving her with each deep, penetrating thrust. I want to overwhelm her senses as I shove every rock-hard inch inside her tight, wet box.

  Restraint.

  Breathe.

  I refuse to make our second “first time” anything less than magic. I will fight this animal instinct with everything inside me. I will hold back.

  “Mmmm, baby, if you like this”—I flicker my tongue over the peaked nub of her nipple and she gasps, thrusting her hips up to kiss mine—“then you’re in for a real fucking treat.” I pull her nipple into my mouth roughly, battering my tongue over it. Thrashing against it wildly. She cries out and arches her back like a jolt of electricity is flexing her spine so hard it might actually snap it.

  But that’s not her treat. I fight my smile as I kiss and suck a wet, sloppy trail down her breast, over her ribs, across her belly and I only pause a short second to drive my tongue into her belly button. Karen writhes under me. Her eyes are squeezed shut and she squirms in anticipation of my next touch.

  “I’m going to lick you right here”—I gently graze the back of my hand over the fly of her jeans—“until the only thing you can remember is my name. You’re not going to remember how to talk or walk or think. The only thing you’re gonna be calling out is Luke,” I promise her.

  “Oh yeah?” She leans up on her elbows and tries to be a tough girl, but I can see through it. Karen is so many things: beautiful, talented, sensitive, unique, quirky and even fun. But tough? That’s never going to make the cut.

  “Yeah.” My voice is harder than I want it to be. I can control my body, but I don’t have that much control over the edge in my tone. I ease her back down flat on my car and keep kissing down and down and even farther down.

  My legs slide off the edge of the hood and I stand up as I lean over her and pop the button on her pants. With a tug of the zipper, I can barely stop my mouth from salivating as I shimmy her denim off over her ass and far enough down her legs that I can spread her knees wide-open and expose her glistening pussy to the cool May night air.

  “I, uh, I’m not sure about this.” Her squirming goes from seductive to self-conscious. Karen pulls her shirt back down over her exposed tits and pa
nic flashes over her face as she seems to try to hide from me.

  “About what?”

  “It’s just, well, um, I’ve never had anyone do this before.” Her voice is strained as she tries to dance around it. “I’m nervous.”

  “Do what? Eat you out?” I cut to the quick.

  “Well, uh, yeah …” she trails off.

  “Then I guess this will be another first I give you.” I smirk and plant my lips down on her hip. Karen’s body seizes tight as I drag my tongue to her core. I never did have the balls or the experience to eat her sweet peach before. It was something I always regretted.

  Well, I’m going to make up for those regrets now. I push my tongue into her wet mound, delving inside her until my tongue hits the nub of her clit and she twists beneath me.

  “Mmm!” she moans.

  I start slow, easing my tongue over her clit, teasing her. Pleasing her. Easing her into comfort. Taking it just one lick at a time until she finally relaxes and wraps her legs around my head. Her nerves have evaporated. Now she twists and groans as I flicker my tongue rapidly and enthusiastically at her center.

  “Oh, fuck,” Karen whispers to the night air.

  I won’t stop. Not until she’s calling my name. Not until she’s shivering against me. Not until I’ve given her a pleasure so strong she can never disappear from my life again.

  “Luke!” she yelps.

  I twist and twirl my tongue. I thrash it over her nub until her eyes are rolling and she’s digging her fingernails into the back of my head. Her thighs press down on each side of my skull, threatening to crack it open, but I don’t care.

  This would be an amazing way to die.

  And what can I say, if this is how I’m meant to go, so be it.

  Karen’s ass is lifted clear off the hood of my car. Her back is arched like a rainbow. She’s crying my name in a hoarse voice that can only really be described as some kind of exorcism movie moment. They say if you’re doing your girl right it ain’t pretty and I’d have to agree.

  It’s not pretty.

  It’s fucking amazing.

  Karen’s pussy pulses around my fingers as her orgasm quivers through her. It seems to travel up her entire body and vibrate out her limbs. She pushes my head up. For a second, she just breathes deep and rolls her head from side to side. Suddenly her eyelids shoot open and she sits up straight.

  “That was incredible.” She smiles. “Now, it’s my turn.” She slides off my car and before I have a chance to process any of this, she’s kneeling in front of me and pulling my cock free from my jeans.

  “No, wait.” The last thing I want is for her to feel like she needs to match me tonight. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against watching my cock slip in over her tongue. I’m not against cumming down her throat in hot, frantic spurts. But I don’t want her to ever do anything just to repay me somehow.

  “I can’t wait. I’ve spent four years waiting. Give me one good reason I can’t suck your cock right now.” She kneels in front of me in the dirt, searching my face for a single good excuse.

  I don’t have one.

  “Well, when you put it that way.” I try to be funny. Karen rips open my zipper and pulls out my cock. She doesn’t hesitate, just wrapping her lips around it and sucking it in over her tongue. I pump my hips into her face as I push my cock farther into her mouth. I need to feel her suck me inside, as far as she can. I need to feel the tip edging against her throat.

  Karen coughs and sputters, but she doesn’t pull back or stop. She opens her mouth wide and takes every inch deep inside. I rest my hand on her golden hair and stare down into her tear-rimmed eyes as I thrust into her tight, hot mouth.

  “Get the fuck off your knees,” I demand, and pull her up.

  “What? What’s the problem?” She looks disappointed. Like she might cry, if I don’t clear the air.

  “Problem? The only problem is I’m gonna cum in your hot little mouth right now,” I growl.

  “Okay, what’s wrong with that?” She almost seems offended.

  “Nothing. Not a single thing.” I smirk. “Except I don’t want you swallowing my load. I want to fill you up with my cum until it’s dripping out of you. I want to watch my seed spill down your leg because you can’t take it all,” I murmur. “Are you on the pill?”

  “I am,” she blinks.

  “Then get that sweet ass over here.” I grab her hips tight and flip her over so she’s facedown on the steel car.

  Karen moans as she slides her knees up beside her tits and flattens the side of her face on the hood. She pulls her knees in under her tits so her ass is just swaying carelessly in the wind and her face is shoved down flat to the cold metal.

  “Take me, Luke,” she pleads. “Fuck me. Make me yours,” she begs.

  My restraint breaks. I have nothing left inside that’s forcing me to behave like a gentleman. Everything tying me to decency unravels. Everything that’s kept me grounded so far shreds away and leaves me nothing more than a bundle of raw emotion and nerves.

  My fingers pinch into her hips. I hold her tight as I bring my cock her to her warm, inviting slit. I push the thick head inside her center and easily slide in with the juices coating my cock. Her pussy is so tight, I feel like I’m taking her virginity all over again.

  Karen wails my name and grinds her firm ass back against me, pushing me deeper inside. I hold myself there, enjoying the squeeze of her inner muscles against my dick.

  Fuck, she feels good.

  I hold her ass cheeks open, so I can watch every thick ridge of my cock disappear inside her.

  Karen moans my name over and over like a mantra. She cries it out like she’s trying to cast some kind of spell in medieval times. Her cries are musical almost, like she can’t help herself from singing her pleasure.

  Her joy.

  I bury my cock inside her hard and smack the flat of my palm hard against the plump part of her ass. With my other hand, I sew my fingers into her hairline and tug those blond strands toward me as I fill her deep.

  “Fuck!” She groans the word. It’s only one word, but it speaks volumes.

  “Oh, my, God!” I return. My balls smack against her pussy as I bottom out in her and fill her with the first spurts of my hot, sticky seed. “Take it, Karen. Fucking let me fill you up. Take every last drop, baby.” I slam my hip bones into her ass and fill her tight box.

  “Oh, Luke! Babe, that feels so fucking good.” She almost sounds like an addict trying to get a fix.

  “It’s all for you, baby. All for you.” I slam into her ass and fill her with my cum. “All for you,” I repeat and flip her over, pulling out. “Everything I do is for you, Karen. All my thoughts, my dreams, hell, even the man I try to be in this world, it’s all for you.”

  “Wow, I don’t know what to say.” She looks up at me from under the heavy fringe of her eyelashes. “That was amazing,” she purrs and drags her hand down my arm. “You’re amazing.”

  “Well, I hope you're in for a long night, because I’m just getting started with you.” I drag my fingertip over her lips and she licks it slowly.

  “Is that right?” she teases me.

  “It is.” I dip my finger in her mouth and feel another erection pulsing in my pants.

  “Well then, bring it on.” She smiles.

  Woot-woot!

  Red and blue lights flash in the near distance and close in on us quickly. Before we can even think, two cops are out and blinding us with flashlights.

  “What seems to be the problem here, kids?” one calls out and I nearly swallow my Adam’s apple trying to push away my fear.

  Karen and I scramble off the hood and frantically look for an escape. The lights are so bright, I can’t even see our scattered clothes. I pull Karen into me, hiding her body with mine, and we have no choice but to stand here, totally busted and totally naked in front of two of Pine Grove’s finest.

  Fuck.

  24

  Karen

  Luke shields me, holding me be
hind him between his arms to preserve my modesty while his entire body is shamelessly on display.

  “Would you mind getting the light out of our eyes? I can’t see where my clothes are. I mean, unless you’re just here to enjoy the view,” he calls out.

  The officers chuckle and aim the flashlights at the ground. Now that I’m not blinded, I can see their faces. I think I liked it better when it was just a beam of light pointing at me. At least then I didn’t know for sure that one of the cops is a guy we went to high school with named Elijah. I mean, that’s cringe worthy enough. I think he was my biology partner in eleventh grade. Well, he’s certainly getting a refresher on human anatomy now.

  What’s worse is the other officer is old Mr. Stanford. The same police officer who used to come to our elementary school to give us lectures about jaywalking and “just saying no” is witnessing my shame. Mr. Stanford has been such a staple of our community, at every event, beloved by all of us kids and respected by every parent. God, it’s like getting caught having sex by your sweet old grandpa.

  I groan inwardly and try to curl up inside myself. I’ve officially learned this lesson for the last time. Back when we were eighteen, I tried to give myself to Luke for the first time on the roof of the firehouse. Of course I had no way of knowing there would be a call that night, and I definitely didn’t expect all the guys in my family to respond to it. Luckily, that night, I was dressed before they saw me.

  Not like this.

  This is worse. So much worse.

  “Oh, hello there, Karen.” Mr. Stanford clears his throat and awkwardly looks down at the ground.