Page 121 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

I gasp and shove him, but he falls while still wrapped around me, making me laugh. We get settled again and watch the fireworks together. It was always my favorite part of summer, but as I grew up and realized I wouldn’t have what all the other teen girls had – someone to kiss and make eyes at – it became my least favorite.

It’s romantic and sweet, and while Bonnie has never made me feel alone on any holiday, I felt like something was missing anytime I sat under the sparkling embers. Turning to look at Ash, seeing the fireworks reflect in his eyes and his lips part in wonder, I kiss his neck.

He’s the difference. Because I don’t want the fireworks to end. I don’t want to move, even when some of the soot lands close to us. I just want to hold onto this moment – my boyfriend, the man I dreamed about being mine for as long as I could remember, is right here.

“Pinch me?” I ask him.

Ash pulls his focus from the booming overhead and looks down at me. “Why?”

“I feel like I’m dreaming. This is too nice,” I admit, nuzzling his neck. “Having you, having all of this. It’s perfect, and … and I’m not convinced it’s real.”

He chuckles and lifts my chin, kissing me once, then again, his tongue gently teasing mine as we draw out one kiss into a whole make out session. Tingles spread over my skin as I thread my fingers through Ash’s hair and meet every flick of his tongue with mine.

Just before I can lose myself completely, he pinches me. I gasp and draw back, looking at his fingers on my side. “Ow.”

“Guess it’s real,” he hums, pecking my lips. “I guess you’re stuck with me.”

I cuddle closer. The words are on my tongue, but they feel like they’re coming too soon. I can’t love him after such a short time. I can’t love him this much after we just got back together. It’s just the puppy love stage or the honeymoon phase. Whatever it is, it can’t be real, right?

It’s just because today has been perfect.

So, I bite my bottom lip and just watch the different colors bursting overhead, watch the streaks of light as they rain down over us and cover my ears like a little kid when it gets too loud. Ash keeps me close, covers me when the embers graze too close, and steals me behind our parents to devour my mouth properly, to make sure that I know how much he loves me without him having to say a word.

I smooth down his chest when he draws back and cups my cheek in his hand. “No more fighting for … let’s say a month?”

“Sure,” I murmur. “Just keep kissing me like that, and we’ll be fine.”

“Keep talking to me.” He runs his fingers through my hair. “Tell me everything important when it happens, text me, keep being you and don’t push me away.”

I shove against his chest. “What, like this?”

He growls and jerks me back to nip my bottom lip. “Behave, baby, or I’m going to spank you.”

“I like you,” I murmur before kissing him again as the big finale threatens to blow out our eardrums and end summer early. “Which means I can’t behave.”

Chapter 37

Ashton

Over the next week and a half, everything is amazing. It’s almost impossible to believe. I get why Sky asked me to pinch her on July 4th. Our sex life has had to slow down now that Dad figured things out and gave me a talking to about the right way to treat a lady, and her dad isn’t blocking out the world.

But other than that, we’ve been in bliss. Things are still a little tense between Peter and Sky, not because she hasn’t forgiven him after his sincere apology, but because she wants to make him sweat a little more. We’ve gone bowling with him and Bonnie. Chase even joined in on a video game day – although I’m pretty sure that’s just because her dad insisted on us having a chaperone.

Things are going well, too well. The talent scout had shown up for the grand finale match, and from his discussions with Frank, there’s a chance I could get signed to a minor league that will give me more exposure. My skills in the ring are getting even more advanced, yet I’m convinced something, anything is going to go wrong. At the end of training, the day before Peter is leaving for college, I linger.

Something tells me, I don’t want to go home, but I can’t figure out what. And I’m greedy. I don’t want my bliss to end.

Groaning, I’m about to give in when I turn and see my girlfriend step into the ring. She has on leggings and a crop top with her hair in a pony. At least six other guys are blatantly staring at her ass.

Ah. Here’s the hell. I have to survive not blinding every person in the gym. I wrap a possessive arm around Sky and haul her against my sweaty body.

“Eew!” She squeaks, obviously wanting to push against me but not being willing to touch me.

“Come on, gotta give me a kiss,” I tease. “Or I just won’t let you go.”

She squeals again but gives me the quickest peck before I let her go. She throws a towel at me, and I dry myself off before hugging her again and kissing her hungrily. “What are you doing here?”

“We did hiking and movies and stuff with friends. Teach me to box.”

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