Catching Fireflies

by Terri E. Laine

  He lifted my foot and stared straight up into my eyes. The question was plain on his lips even though he hadn’t said a word. I pointed my toes like a ballerina in answer, making it easier for him to free each leg. In anticipation, I lifted the other foot once I gained my balance again on the other.

  There was reverence in his eyes when that part was done. I stood before him with arms at my sides, not hiding my slightly rounded belly. His hands roamed up the slides of my legs until he reached the last scrap of fabric to cover me. The rosy pink lace didn’t have a prayer of survival. Yet, slowly he slid them down, making me bare as I stood before him.

  “Lie back,” he breathed.

  Shifting slightly, I sat first before lying back, leaving my knees bent with my legs hanging over the edge of the bed.

  He moved between my thighs, and a shiver raced through me. The fine hairs on my arms rose.

  “Don’t be afraid. I’ll never hurt you,” he said.

  Bobbing my head was my reply. He parted my thighs wider using his hands. I sucked in air as a cool breeze filled the space between.

  His eyes held mine for a long time until he dipped his head to kiss my lower lips where no man had gone before. His tongue caused me to forget that oxygen was important for living. He sucked on a place that had me levitating off the bed like a woman possessed.

  My moans grew loud or so it sounded from the tunnel I was currently in. But it had to be me because he blew out a shh that fanned between my thighs. His tongue added to the excitement as he delved inside, breaching that part of me, but not far enough to erase my virginity.

  The flicks and thrust of his tongue drove me mad to the point I clasped either side of his head, fisting his hair. I lost myself as I reached the highest point of pleasure I thought possible, crying out from the overwhelming sensation.

  When I came back to myself, I let go of his hair and felt incredibly embarrassed. Covering my face with my hands, the bed shifted beside me.

  “Don’t hide yourself from me. That was nothing short of hot and nothing to be ashamed about.”

  His words aside, warmth, most likely the color of a ripe tomato, heated my face.

  “Did you like it?” he asked.

  His question had to be rhetorical based on the smirk filling his face. But there was also a hint of vulnerability in his question. Nothing I’d ever experienced compared.

  “It was amazing.”

  On my back again, this time from the perch of the bed, I honed in on a spot in the ceiling, praying the ache in my balls would end. I tried and failed not to replay in my head the sexy sounds Brie made. So consumed by my thoughts, I missed her straying hand. So quickly, she slipped it under the waistband of the shorts I wore and wrapped it around my dick.

  “Fuck,” I drew out the word as if it had twenty syllables.

  She moved like a stealthy ninja to claim my mouth. “I think it’s your turn.”

  Her tits were heavy and round with beaded pink nipples that made my mouth water. Added to the visuals was the grip she held on my dick. After such a long time waiting for this, for us to be together this way, I confessed, “I’m not going to last.”

  An expression of determination and need to finish me off consumed her.

  “Tell me what to do,” she pleaded.

  Her soft words were like lube, liquid and eased the way. I covered her hand with mine as I kissed my way down to her breast while moving our hands together. Her soft skin and my firm hold made my balls draw tight. I sucked in her tit hard and flicked my tongue repeatedly over her nipple. She liked that, grazing her nails over my scalp and fisting her hand tighter around me. True to my words, too soon I was locked in a moment of incomprehension. Nothing moved in my chest as I came for what felt like forever.

  Keeping her hand in mine, I found her lips and made love to her mouth for a time until we needed to come up for air.

  Seeing her smile at me after I’d gotten her off and she me, gave me smug satisfaction.

  “I should eat your pussy more often,” I joked.

  “You should,” she teased before she playfully jumped off the bed. “I think we need a shower.”

  I didn’t disagree. I followed, knowing I would go anywhere she led me.

  Later that night, I woke with Brie in my arms. As much as I liked having her there, I needed some air. Untangling myself, I left the room wearing just a pair of shorts. Several pizza boxes littered a table near the fancy kitchen set-up. I grabbed a slice when I noticed the sofa was empty. Ashton must have come to his senses and gone to sleep in a real bed. Either that or the sofa was as uncomfortable as it looked.

  With thoughts of my dad heavy on my mind, I headed for the sliding glass doors that led out to a balcony. They eased open without a whisper of sound. I took the couple of steps to the railing and glanced over. The drop was a significant one, and I let all the shit in my head leak out as I ate the cold pizza.

  Dad had been amenable about going to the treatment center. He’d been as spooked as I was about the seizures, though we hadn’t talked about it. The call I had to make to his boss to explain he wouldn’t be at work had gone as well as fumbling the football at the one-yard line.

  I had to argue with the man when he tried to fire him over the phone, claiming too many missed days from work. What were you thinking, Dad? It took a lot of coaxing on my part and threats of lawsuits, threats I wasn’t sure I could make good on, before the man let up about letting him go. He did require that when my father returned to work that he bring a doctor’s note like he was twelve and needed it for the principal.

  Although I wasn’t jealous or begrudging of Kelley’s opportunity to enter the draft sure he’d be picked, I needed that break badly. I wasn’t sure my father would last another year. He didn’t have much in savings. If he lost his job, we’d end up homeless. And something told me asking Sawyer to let my dad move in with us wasn’t something even he would do for me.

  “Hey.” Brie’s small hand touched my back.

  She pulled me into a hug. When she danced out of my grip, I watched her smile and bite her lip before she spoke. “Why are you up? I missed you.”

  My eyes traveled down the length of her body to her bare legs, remembering what she felt like, tasted like. “I wanted to see you in my shirt.”

  Her cheeks turned pink, and my dick stiffened in response.

  “Sorry, it’s just I always wondered what it would be like to wear a guy’s shirt. I’ve seen it in movies and read it in books.”

  I moved to sit in the patio chair, snagging her hand along the way. “You don’t have to be sorry. It’s damn sexy seeing you in my clothes, though I prefer you naked.”

  She followed my tug and straddled me on my lap. “Naked is good. There is more of that to be had if you come back to the room.”

  It was the distraction I needed. I was about to stand when she stopped me.

  From out of thin air she produced her phone. She held it up so we were framed in the screen. Then she said, “Say cheese.”

  I complied, and before I could see the results, she started typing on her phone.

  “Are you going to show me?” I asked, curious.

  She moved the screen into my line of sight. There on the app, she captioned our picture with the word #myboy.

  How long had I waited for this? Finally, it felt like things were starting to go right in my life. Grinning like a lunatic, I stood with her wrapped around me. I was careful not to topple over this time as I made my way back inside with one hand supporting her ass and using the other to close the door. When we were back in the room, I let her fall from my arms gently to the bed.

  “So, are we going to do this now?” she challenged.

  There was no fear in her expression as she spoke. She wouldn’t regret anything we did. And I wanted nothing more than to bury myself inside her. I sat on the bed and propped my arm back so I could look at her when I responded.

  “No.”

  When she sat up in protest, even I couldn’t believe
I’d used that word.

  She was cute as she pouted. “Why not?”

  Why not indeed?

  “Because I care about you.”

  She folded her arms, not believing that answer was good enough.

  “And that douche bag said some fucked-up things to you. I know you’re strong. But that had to have hurt. The Brie I know wouldn’t be so unaffected.”

  She scooted to sit next to me as her legs dangled over the side. She took a moment and thought about what I said.

  “You’re right and I did cry at the time. Hell, I ugly cried because it certainly wasn’t pretty.” She laughed with little humor. “But I’m over it.”

  “And I’m not,” I declared. “I don’t want what happens between us to be marked by that asshole. When we do, and I seriously plan to be the one to do the deed, I want it to only be about us.”

  Brie was a smart and rational girl. And I watched as she processed what I said and began to see my side of things.

  “But that doesn’t mean we can’t do other things,” she said wickedly.

  In one move, I had her flat on her back. “It certainly doesn’t.”

  Then I proceeded to kiss every inch of her body twice and made her come the same number of times.

  Game day arrived with Sawyer all smiles, waking everyone with fake rooster calls. It was a monumental feat that I was able to get out of bed with Brie’s soft and warm body curled around me. I cursed when she ducked her head and put her mouth on my dick and I had to leave, unable to let her play. The cold shower was necessary to wake me up and shock my senses out of the fantasy that played in my mind.

  To say Coach wasn’t happy when we showed up having not made it to practice the day before was an understatement. Red-faced, he gave us shit about how we jeopardized the team in so many ways, including not reporting to him when we arrived in town and not staying at the team hotel. He threatened to bench us for the game, and I waited for him to say Kelly and my scholarships were at risk, but he didn’t. Eventually, the idea of losing this one and missing our chance to make a bowl game or playoffs had him backing down.

  It didn’t end there. On the field we were blamed when we were on the sidelines for our team getting a smack down on every defensive play. Our merry band played offensive, but I couldn’t blame Coach. He was pissed, and we were his outlet. Besides, the game felt like war and was brutal, considering both sides were evenly matched. I relished when our defense was on the field, so I could catch my breath.

  Back on the line, we were down by one because our kicker had missed an extra point early in the game. It was fourth down with not much time left on the play clock, and we were going for it. We didn’t have a choice. If we punted, the other team could potentially run time out. I felt like I’d been in a brawl, and maybe I had as every muscle ached.

  The play Coach called was a double fake to me. Kelley would first fake a hand-off to our running back. Then he would pretend like he was throwing deep. I would have to rid myself of the other team’s defensive safety and give us an open shot downfield or at least another first down.

  It was my opportunity to be a hero. I’d been that guy in high school, but not so far in college. When Kelley called out the count to set us into motion, my world slowed. It was like an out-of-body experience.

  I let the wind carry me to the pre-appointed spot we’d practiced many times before that day. And everything was going well until my cleat got stuck in a patch of turf and I had to tug too hard to keep my momentum. That was when I felt the snap in my ankle. There was no way I could go down. Like the warrior Coach wanted us to be, I didn’t break stride. I ran like my life depended on it. When I turned, Kelley had nailed the throw. The ball sailed in my direction like a guided missile. All I had to do was reach out. It landed perfectly in my hands, and I cradled it much like a baby as I heard them gunning for me.

  The other team’s defense herded toward me like a pack of wild animals on a stampede. The crowd’s chanting started to spill through the haze I was in, and I heard them yell for me to run. My ankle screamed with every step. The end zone was within sight but felt like it was a field and a half away. I had to dodge hands that tried to yank me down. I leaped over falling players diving for me.

  When I finally crossed the line, all noise invaded my senses. People in the stands had gone wild. I stood there until my teammates were there hiking me up. The game wasn’t over, but I’d helped give our team a chance. And wasn’t that ironic.

  Once they put me down, my ankle shrieked in protest. My hopping on one foot had our medical staff riding out onto the field to cart me off.

  Outfitted with crutches, I sat in the locker room while Coach gave his speech, congratulating us on our win. I was grateful I hadn’t broken anything. It appeared to only be a sprain, but it hurt like a son of a bitch.

  “And this game ball goes to Abbott.”

  My team joined in with shouts. And as sappy as it sounded, I got each and every one of them to sign the ball. Who knew what the future would hold? And that moment might be my only one. I only wished Dad could have been there. I hoped he was able to watch. Though I had the ball to share with him and would get game film from Coach to show him if he hadn’t seen.

  The girls waited for us outside. It had taken longer for me to exit because of my impromptu autograph session with the team. Other game ball recipients joined in, including Kelley.

  Brie surprised me when I saw her. She was wearing my practice jersey. Somehow it was tight around her body with extra mesh fabric tied in a ball at her back.

  “You keep wearing my clothes and I won’t be responsible for what happens.”

  She giggled and pressed herself against my side as I kissed her.

  “And you say that like it’s a threat. I see it as a promise.”

  “Keep talking like that and your first time will be in the back of this minivan with an audience.”

  “Promises, promises,” she teased, bouncing off.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off her sweet ass and wondered for the millionth time why I had to care so damn much about her. If I didn’t, I could take her virginity without a second thought.

  Ashton held back with me as I hobbled over to the minivan. Everyone was hanging around it or sitting on the floor from the open side door like we were tailgating. When he spoke with an uncharacteristic amount of words, everyone listened.

  “I’m going to ride the bus back to campus with the team.”

  We all glared at Sawyer, who only shrugged.

  “Ash, I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but you can’t break up the party now,” I protested.

  He pointed to my foot. “You need to stretch out, and there aren’t enough seats to go around.”

  “Don’t put this on me, man. You could sit shotgun,” I pleaded with him. Sadly, his head just shifted side to side, killing that idea. “You and Sawyer need to squash this.”

  Ashton spoke to me, but his eyes were on Sawyer. “No need to worry. It’s already settled. I’m moving out.”

  Everyone but Sawyer was stunned by the revelation. So much so, we were speechless as he jogged off to get on the team bus just before it left.

  Kelley sparked to life. “Fuck, man, go fix this shit.”

  Sawyer looked cool, but his eyes were focused in the direction Ashton disappeared.

  “There’s nothing to fix. He’s made up his mind and maybe it’s a good thing. We don’t have to be each other’s shadow anymore.”

  Open-mouthed, we watched Sawyer get in the van and turn on the radio before we all traded glances.

  “I’m going to talk to him,” Kelley declared.

  Brie reached out and stopped him.

  “You can’t fix this. Sawyer and Ash need to work this out on their own. All you’ll end up doing is adding fuel to the fire. None of us know what’s really going on.”

  “I think it’s obvious,” Kelley said, vibrating with anger.

  “It might be more than Ash being in love with Sawyer o
r the other way around. It might not even be romantic, because let’s face it, that’s what we’re all thinking.”

  She paused and stared into each of our guilty eyes.

  “There. I said it, if you can’t. But maybe it’s two guys that have been friends forever and haven’t done anything without the other in so long they don’t know who they are apart anymore. Maybe Ash just needs time to be his own man. Maybe he feels like he’s Sawyer’s shadow, and I know that’s what Sawyer wanted to say but didn’t. We’ve all seen how Ash sits in the background and lets Sawyer be his mouthpiece. I think it’s a good thing. It sucks for us, but maybe it’s time.”

  She was right. Ashton had no identity without Sawyer that any of us knew. But it felt like losing a family member. Shit just wasn’t right without all of us together.

  Brie looked unsure when no one spoke. I saw her mouth turn to a flat line as if she felt like she’d overstepped. Only she had voiced things we all thought.

  She wasn’t far from me. I tugged her closer so I could drape a protective arm over her shoulder. “And there’s my girl, a future psychiatrist.”

  Hesitantly, she smiled up at me.

  Kelley, still sporting a mad expression, growled, “Yeah, you better be right.”

  His frustration wasn’t aimed at her. Still, I glared at him, warning him not to take his anger out on Brie. We all hated what was happening. But what she said was true. We didn’t have all the facts, and there was nothing we could do to straighten that shit out.

  With Sawyer’s fake cheer to get the show on the road, we piled into the van for the trek back. Brie made Sawyer stop at a gas station to get ice for my foot. I let her play doctor on me as I whispered how I would play doctor on her once we were alone.

  The ride back was full of melancholy. There were some laughs here and there, but everything was overshadowed by Ashton’s absence. We made a few stops along the way. One of which was letting Chance check in on his dad at the rehab facility.

  When he came out, we were all outside of the minivan, waiting and stretching our legs. He tried to look upbeat, but the frown lines on his face were hard to hide.