Page 45 of Hooves & HeartStrings

He leans up on his elbows watching me.

“What are you doing, Ma?—--”

His shaft twitches under the touch of my tongue as I lick a path up his cock.

“I wanted to taste you.” I lick my lips. “You’re so damn yummy, Luci.”

He drops back against the mattress. “You’re going to be the death of me, woman.”

I slip from the bed and grab a rag that’s folded nicely on the small dresser. Wiping myself up, I then clean Luci up before tossing the rag into the hamper and crawling back into the bed next to him.

He pulls me to him instantly and wraps his arms around me.

We lie tangled in each other’s arms, the silence filled with unspoken words. His fingers trace patterns on my skin, soothing and comforting.

“I’ve been thinking,” he says, his voice serious. “About us, about the future. I want to be with you, truly and completely. No more running away. No more hiding. Just us, facing whatever comes together.”

My heart swells with emotion. “I want that too,” I reply. “But we need to take it one day at a time. We have to rebuild the trust, piece by piece.”

“I love you,” he whispers.

My heart is full, but I can’t make myself say the words yet. I do love him, I haven’t stopped. But a part of me is afraid of getting hurt again

Despite everything though, the pain and the hurt, I really do love him. And maybe that’s what matters most.

* * *

In the days that follow, the tension between us eases, and we fall into a new rhythm, one filled with open communication and a deepening bond. There are still moments of doubt, still memories of the summer that haunt us, but we face them together.

Sawyer and Stacy are a constant presence, their support unwavering. They listen patiently as I talk their ears off about Luci, offering insights and advice.

“The mate bond is powerful,” Sawyer says as we sit in my dorm room, sipping on the wine Stacy brought home. “Even for humans, it’s a connection that’s hard to ignore. But it’s also a choice. You can choose to let it guide you or fight against it.”

“I don’t want to fight anymore,” I admit, and mean every word. “I want to be with him.”

“Then be with him,” she says simply. “But make sure he knows that he can’t take you for granted. You deserve better than that.”

“I agree. You’ve been in a good place since you rode him like a pony in his dorm.” Stacy laughs. “No pun intended…okay maybe a little.”

I throw a pillow at her and Sawyer laughs.

“But seriously, Marley. You’ve fucked him twice. He’s apologized and so have you. You love each other. It’s time to let the summer go. Just be with him now in the present.”

Her words resonate with me. The end of summer was rough, filled with silence and hurt feelings, but we’ve both apologized and grown from the experience. Now, we’re learning to trust again, to build something stronger on the foundation of those apologies

The road ahead won’t be easy. There will be challenges and obstacles, moments of fear and uncertainty. But we’re in it together, and that’s what matters.

Plus, with Sawyer and Stacy by my side, and with Luci’s love and commitment, I feel ready to face whatever comes next. The past may haunt us, but it doesn’t define us. Our future is ours to create, and I’m determined to make it a beautiful one.

twenty one

Things between Marley and me have been going good. We’re not quite where we were this past summer, but I think it’s safe to say we’ve passed the friend zone.

Every day, I pick her up at her dorm and walk her to class. I hurry to leave each of my classes so that I can meet her and walk her to the next. And in the one class we share, any time there’s been partners, we’ve teamed up. So we’ve been able to spend time studying together. Also, it’s been nice that our individual friend groups all have slowly started becoming friends with each other.

So, for the most part, we’re all hanging out together. Life is good, but it’s not where it should be. Where I know it could be.

We’ve been a lot more intimate with each other, even if it’s just been stolen kisses in public and having make-out sessions that have me ready to embarrass myself in my pants, I have no complaints. But, I want more. I love this woman, but I understand we’ve had a rocky start.

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