Page 76 of Level Up

“It’s a good thing you’re holding me because I could seriously float away right now. That’s how you make me feel. The lightest I’ve ever been.”

“I love that… I love you,” he said.

The words settled over me like petals from a velvety red rose. The words bubbled up to my lips without any second thoughts. “And I love you. Like, a lot.”

“A lot, a lot?”

“Like ‘risking getting stuck in a split on your dick’ a lot.” More laughter. More easy feelings and warm comforts. I’d go wherever Ryan took me, no matter how crazy it seemed. I wanted to be his shotgun rider for the rest of my damn life. I kissed him, closing my eyes and allowing the clouds underneath me to float me away.

We lay in that beautiful moment for a while longer, teasing each other about who was the more perfect one, painting up fantasies for our future. Trips to Europe, renting a place together, graduating together, making a life together.

It was beyond perfect.

“How did you… how did you feel at the lake today?” Ryan asked, his breath soft against me as we cuddled.

“At first? Scared, nauseous, upset. But, I dunno, something came over me. A really deep sense of calm. I never felt that before. It was like a switch had been flipped. It felt like my dad was there, and everything was alright.” I smiled as Ryan held me a little tighter.

“That’s beautiful, baby. It’s the kind of healing you needed.”

“It was.” Then came the next surprise of the night. “I’ve decided to go to the protest tomorrow. I don’t want to stay home.”

Ryan sat up. I could still make out his features in the dark shadows of the bedroom. The jut of his strong chin, the sharp lines of his cheekbones, the broad shoulders. “Really?”

“Really,” I said.

“I’m so proud of you. So fucking proud.” He kissed me, the bedroom lighting up with sparks as bright as that chamber inside my chest.

This was everything I didn’t even know I needed. And everything I’d always, always wanted.

Peace, hope, excitement, love.

We kissed for a little more, our hands exploring each other’s bodies with a delicate, soft kind of touch.

The night couldn’t go on forever, unfortunately, and exhaustion from the day began creeping in. Especially for Ryan, who’d run an entire damn race and won only a few hours ago. His stifled yawn said enough.

“Alright, let’s get some sleep,” I said, my eyes already drifting shut. “Tomorrow’s a big day.”

I didn’t want to talk about the protest too much. I didn’t want to pressure Ryan into feeling like he had to show up. I understood the reasons why he wouldn’t, and I couldn’t hold that against him. It wasn’t worth it.

“It’s going to be great,” Ryan said. He kissed me in the cloak of the dark bedroom, the sweet scent of our sex and love still filling the room.

“I hope so.” I couldn’t fight off the sleep any longer.

Thankfully, I didn’t need to fight off the sweet dreams of bliss that enveloped me.

It was the day of the protest.

I woke up minutes before my seven-o’clock alarm went off, still wrapped up tight in the arms of a naked Ryan. His morning wood pressed into my back, giving me a warm reminder of the night we spent together.

And now I could confidently say I could do a split on a dick.

I began to wonder how could I turn that into an award-winning performance on America’s Got Talent…I snapped my thoughts back to the day ahead. I couldn’t get distracted, even when Ryan’s twitching cock was warm against the small of my back.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand and turned off the alarm. Ryan started to rustle, turning onto his back and stretching out underneath the comforter. It was clearly tented where Ryan’s throbbing cock was also waking up.

“God, I really want to lay in bed with you all day,” I said. I pulled off the comforter and revealed his sexy and naked body. I kissed the ridges of his abs, earning a delighted and still sleepy-sounding groan. He rubbed my head gently, his fingers feeling nice as they threaded through my bed head.

“What time do we have to be at the beach?” he asked, smiling.

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