There’s so much truth to what Colton said the other day – I shouldn’t let people who don’t matter upset me.
After school, we go pick up Mom then stop at the bank so I can open an account and deposit the check with them. The process takes forever, but I know it has to be done. The instant we get home, I change into comfortable clothes, and taking my art supplies, I go sit on the floor in the living room. I position my sketchpad and pencils on the coffee table, and soon, I’m lost in my drawing.
Colton comes to lie on the couch with a book, and it makes the corner of my mouth lift.
This is nice. Us just doing our own thing.
When it begins to grow dark, Mom turns on the light. She gives us a loving smile then goes to prepare dinner.
I manage to complete the sketch minutes before dinner is ready and stretch my arms out above my head.
Then I hear Colton say, “Wow, you’re definitely winning with that sketch.”
I look at what I’ve drawn, then grin at Colton. “Yeah? You think so?”
“I know so,” he states as he gets up from the couch. He holds a hand out to me, and when I place mine in his, he pulls me to my feet, then folds me in a hug. “I have a talented girlfriend. Lucky me.”
I glance at the kitchen, and seeing Mom’s back is turned to us, I quickly steal a kiss before we set the table.
Mom places the lasagna on the table, and once we’ve all scooped some into our plates, she asks, “I think you should both go check out the campus before you decide to enroll.”
“That’s a good idea,” Colton agrees.
My gaze darts to him. “Mom said both of us. Does that mean you’re going to study further?”
He thinks about it for a moment, then answers, “Yeah, but I have no idea what to study. Definitely nothing office related. I’ll die if I have to sit at a desk and stare at the screen all day.”
“What about something where you get to work with people?” Mom mentions.
“You’ll be great with people,” I comment. Excitement builds in my chest, and then I begin to ramble, “I’ve dreamt about opening an art healing center. You know, a place where people who have difficult home lives can come to express themselves? Maybe if you study something along the lines of social work, then you can help them?” I suck in a deep breath of air and finish, “Like you helped me.”
Mom and Colton stare at me, and then a smile begins to spread over Colton’s face. “I really like the sound of that.”
“Yes,” Mom agrees. “And you have the money now to get the art healing center off the ground.”
I grin like a happy fool, and we all begin to mention ideas of how we can make it happen. We discuss what the center can look like and suitable areas we can look at property.
My heart feels like it’s going to burst as my dream begins to take shape with Colton and Mom’s support.
COLTON
It’s been two weeks since I decided to study social work, and we’re taking Mom’s advice to visit the campus before we enroll.
Yesterday, Mom and her lawyer left to attend a settlement meeting in California. Hopefully, they can come to an agreement, and the divorce can be finalized. I’d hate for it to be a long dragged out fight in court. I wanted to go with, but Mom wouldn’t hear of it, saying this is a battle she has to fight on her own.
I still don’t like it, but I take some comfort that the lawyer will be with her. Also, I get to be alone with Brie. Last night I made us nachos, and we started binge-watching The Flash.
Fine, so we spent most of the night making out and didn’t take in much of what was happening on TV. It’s just… I can’t get enough of kissing Brie, and my emotions keep growing stronger. But I want to take things slow with her. I want to enjoy every kiss, every touch, and not just go from one to one hundred in a single day.
I want to treasure what we have.
Driving to the university, I pick up Brie’s hand from where it was resting on my thigh and press a kiss to her knuckles, then ask, “Are you excited?”
She grins, her blue eyes sparkling like sapphires. “Yes! I can’t wait. This is going to be so amazing.”
I let out a chuckle, loving her reaction. It’s infectious, making my heartbeat speed up. “I’m glad it’s close enough to home, and we don’t have to leave Mom alone.”
“Yeah, we can commute like we’re doing with school now,” Brie agrees.
“We’ll save money by not having to pay for housing,” I add.
Brie nods, and when I steer the truck into a parking area, her eyes dart over our surroundings, murmuring, “It’s massive.”
Once I’ve parked the truck, we climb out and interweaving our fingers, we both grin happily as we walk to a vast expanse of lawn.
“I love all the trees,” Brie gasps as she continues to drink in our surroundings.
“I think that’s the administration office,” I mention as I gesture toward a modern building to our left. Entering the office space, there’s a line, and we have to wait five minutes before we can get brochures and find out where the relevant classes are situated on campus.
Our enthusiasm keeps growing as we walk around, taking in all the students and getting swept up in the feel of college life.
We spend our entire Friday afternoon on the campus and even stop at the coffee house to each get a bagel and cappuccino.
“I can get used to this,” I murmur before I take a bite.
“Mmh-hhm,” Brie mumbles around her food, and then she groans, “So nice.”
Like a typical guy, one eyebrow pops up at hearing the sound, and all brain activity is redirected to my cock.
I have to shake my head and clear my throat to get out of the trance, long enough to mutter, “When you’re done, we can head home.”
“Okay.”
I scarf down the rest of my bagel, and the instant Brie’s done, I discard our trash and drag her to the truck.
When I open the passenger door, Brie asks, “What’s the hurry?’
“It’s our last night before Mom’s back,” I explain. I wait for Brie to climb in, then shut the door and walk around the front. Sliding behind the steering wheel, I continue, “Which means it’s our last night to make out.”
A burst of laughter explodes from Brie. “Now, I get it.” While I reverse the truck, Brie scoots closer to me, and making air-quotes with her fingers, she teases, “So we’re watching ‘The Flash’ again?”
“Not a chance in hell,” I chuckle.
I manage to regain control over my hormones during the drive home. That’s until Brie leans back against my chest. We’re sitting on the floor, and my back is resting against the couch. Shit, I can’t focus on The Flash even if my life depended on it.
I pull one arm free from where it’s wrapped around her and placing my hand on her shoulder, I lightly run my fingers down to her wrist, just wanting to touch her.
She’s so damn soft. Like silk.
I lower my head, and when my breath skims against her neck, goosebumps spread out over her skin.
With the show totally forgotten, I drink in her every reaction to me touching her.
Again, I trail my fingers up and down the length of her arm. My lips curve up when more goosebumps follow my fingers. I move my hand to her hip and brush it along the side of her leg, to her knee, and then back again.
I’m entranced by her response to my touch. I pull my other hand free and bring it to her jaw. Turning her face toward me, I let my breath fan over her jaw.
Her hands drop to my thighs, and she grips hold of the fabric of my sweatpants.
My mouth brushes down her neck to where her pulse is racing, and I groan, “I want to touch you.” My hand moves from the outside of her knee to the inside. “Can I?”
Brie nods and murmurs, “Okay.” As I slide my fingers down between her legs, her breaths flutter over her lips.
When I cover her mound, the heat I feel coming from her makes my eyes drift shut. I begin to rub my palm against her, and as her b
reaths start to come faster, I move my other hand to her breast.
Awareness of how womanly she is, shudders through me. It’s taking all my control to keep my touch gentle, and I clench my teeth.
An overwhelming need to consume her almost robs me of my self-restraint, and for a moment, my touch grows harder. I squeeze her breast, and my palm rubs feverishly between her legs.
By some miracle, I manage to regain some control over the need coursing through my veins, and I slow my movements. Knowing it’s the first time she’s being touched like this, I want to make it special for her.
I press a kiss to her pulse, and feeling how madly it’s beating, I move my hand to the band of her sweatpants and slip it under the fabric. Brie’s breaths race over her parted lips, her eyes hooded by her lashes. I let my fingers run along the seam of her panties before I push beneath them.
When I cover her again, Brie’s breaths hitch in her throat, and her eyes drift shut. With no clothing between us, the heat coming off her scorches my willpower to ashes.
“God,” I groan from deep in my throat.
Brie’s fingers dig into my thighs, and she tilts her head back, exposing all of her neck to me and thrusting her breast into my palm.
I quickly move my hand under her shirt, and pulling her bra out of the way, I palm her breast. Feeling how hard her nipple is against my skin makes a shudder ripple through my body.
I’m so hard for this girl, and I’ve passed the point of caring whether she can feel it against her lower back.
Spreading her, my fingers glide over her clit, and it sends another shudder filled with need through me.
Brie begins to rub her hands up and down my thighs, and I wish she was rubbing something else.
“Shit, you feel so good,” I murmur before my mouth latches onto her pulse, and I begin to suck at her skin like a starved man.
Slipping my hand further down, I slowly push a finger inside her, reveling in how tight she feels.
All mine.
I rub my palm hard against her clit as I push in deeper.
She’s all mine.
A soft moan drifts over her parted lips, and she turns her face to mine. I trail kisses up her neck and over her jaw, then soak in the amazing feel of her breaths rushing against my mouth. Seeing the pleasure on her face is my undoing.
I massage her breast while rubbing her clit harder and pushing my finger in deep before curling it.
Brie’s back arches and her thighs begin to quiver. Knowing she’s close, I keep up the pace. She gasps and then holds her breath as her hips jerk, and then she starts to rub herself against my palm. It strips me bare and fills my chest with an overprotective feeling.
While I watch Brie orgasm, it feels like she’s burning an imprint of herself on my soul. I love her with all of my heart. No one will ever compare to her.
Once her body has shuddered through the last of her orgasm, I remove my hands from under her clothes. Pushing an arm under her legs, I lift them over mine, so she’s cradled against my chest.
My eyes lock on her blue ones, and the intensity I feel for her overpowers me.
Brie wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me tightly. When she pulls back, I lower my head to hers and press a tender kiss to her mouth.
“I love you, Brie.”
A happy smile spreads over her face. “I love you, too.”
A matching smile forms on my face, and then I press my mouth to hers, kissing her with everything I feel.
Chapter 27
BRIE
Dear me,
Life is… perfect.
It feels like I’ve known Colton and Mom forever, and my past is just a distant dream.
I love him so much! And I’m so excited about our future together. We’re going to make a difference. I just know it.
B.
Walking into the art class, I go take my seat and open my sketchpad. I’m working on a drawing of how I imagine the art healing center will look.
Once everyone has taken their seats, Miss Snow gets up from behind her desk and says, “I have some good news.” She picks up an envelope, then continues, “One of you won the art competition.” She waves the envelope in the air, then she gestures in my direction. Like an idiot, I glance at Julie next to me, but then Miss Snow says, “Brie, you won.” She claps her hands as I turn my wide gaze back to her.
“Really?” I gasp.
“Yes. Come upfront and claim your prize.”
In total shock, I ask, “I won?”
“Yes,” she laughs.
I slowly lift my hands to cover my mouth as the realization hits.
Oh my god. I won!
I’ve never won anything before, and an overwhelming sense of pride begins to fill my chest as I struggle to stand up because my legs feel like Jell-O.
Walking to the front, a smile begins to spread over my face, and my eyes mist up. This is so surreal. Yeah, I did my best, but I didn’t think I actually stood a chance.
Miss Snow hands me the envelope, saying, “I’m so proud of you, Brie. Your sketch was amazing, and you deserved to win.”
“Thank you.” Taking it from her, I hold the envelope to my chest as my smile widens.
Gosh, I’m so happy.
“Open it,” Miss Snow encourages me.
My fingers tremble as I tear the side off and pull the paper out. I fold it open, and my eyes dart over the words.
Ahhhhh!!!!
I begin to jump up and down and thrust the paper at Miss Snow. “I got accepted!”
Miss Snow reads the acceptance letter and then gives me such a proud look, it makes emotion well in my throat. “I knew you could do it.”
She hands the letter back and I go take my seat again. It’s impossible to focus on class because I can’t wait to tell Colton. The second the bell rings, I dart out of my chair and wave happily at Miss Snow before rushing out of class.
I run down the hallway, and when I see Colton standing by his locker, I yell, “I won! Colton, I won!” His head snaps in my direction, and he manages to turn toward me just in time as I jump and throw my arms around his neck. “I won the competition,” I gasp in his ear. The happiness inside me becomes too much to keep in, and a sob escapes my lips as I whimper, “I got accepted.”
Colton holds me tightly and pressing a kiss to my neck, he says, “I told you they’d be crazy not to pick you.” When he sets me down on my feet, his hands move up, and he frames my face. “Congrats. I never doubted you’d kick everyone’s butt.”
Standing on my toes, Colton meets me halfway, and I don’t care that we’re kissing in the middle of the hallway where everyone can see.
No one else matters.
When we pull away, laughter bubbles over my lips. “I won. I won. I won.”
All my excitement makes Colton chuckle, and seeing how happy he is for me only makes me love him more.
Time keeps flying, and I can’t believe it’s Colton’s birthday already. The past month has been incredible.
Luckily his birthday falls on a Friday, and we can spend the entire weekend celebrating it.
I didn’t know what to buy him, and instead, I came up with something sentimental. I’ve just finished writing the last message on a piece of paper and fold it in half before counting all the notes to make sure I have ten. I want to give him one every hour.
Gathering the ones I’ll need for school, I neatly tuck them in my pocket and grabbing my bag, I leave my room.
When I walk into the kitchen, Mom’s already busy making breakfast, and the smell of bacon hangs in the air.
“Morning.” I walk to the coffee pot and pour myself a cup. A wrapped gift on the kitchen table catches my eye. “I can’t wait to see what you got him.”
She cups her hand by her mouth and whispers, “Books.”
Grinning, I reply, “The way to his heart.”
Colton comes walking in, asking, “The way to who’s heart?”
“Happy birthday,” Mom shrieks, and dropping the spatula on t
he counter, she rushes to give him a hug. “I can’t believe my baby’s nineteen already. It feels like just yesterday I was still changing your diapers.”
I wait for Mom to step back before I hug Colton. I press a quick kiss to his lips, then say, “I hope you’ll have a wonderful birthday.”
“I’m sure I will,” he grins, then he glances at the gift, and he darts over to the table. “Can I open it?”
Mom lets out a burst of laughter and nods.
We watch as Colton tears the paper off, and then the smile on his face broadens as he looks at the books. “I love them.” When he gets to the final one, and he opens it, his eyes widen and snap to Mom. “No way! How did you get it signed?” His gaze instantly goes back to the autographed copy of Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston.
“I ordered it on his website,” Mom replies, looking pleased that Colton loves his gift.
“Now, I’m going to reread it.” Colton walks to Mom and gives her cheek a kiss. “Thanks, Mom. This is the best gift ever.”
I walk to the table and clear the discarded paper before I take the first note out and place it on Colton’s plate. Walking to the trashcan, I dump the paper then make Colton a cup of coffee.
“What’s this?” I hear Colton ask, and glancing over my shoulder, I watch as he picks up the note. My eyes are glued to him as he reads it, and then the most gorgeous smile spreads over his face.
He glances at me then reads the quote out loud, “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. Dr. Seuss,” Glancing at Mom, he explains, “I gave Brie quotes of encouragement when we first met.”
“Aww…” Mom pulls a cute face, “That’s so special.”
COLTON
Today is hands down the best birthday ever.
I take my seat in English, and then Brie places another note on my desk. A grin tugs at my mouth as I fold it open.
Not My Hero: Black Mountain Academy Page 19