Page 72 of Risks

“Yes,” I grind out through grittedteeth, tightening my grip on the sheets as an explosive orgasm rocks my body.

I convulse like a maniac while hekeeps going, and soon after, he starts to quiver in his own bliss, slamminginto me as his hot seed shoots up inside my asshole.

Both panting hard, I flatten on mystomach, and Varen collapses over my sweaty back, kissing my cheek amid tryingto calm down.

“Mine,” he rasps.

I catch my breath and tell himsoftly, “Yours.”

33

I’m not sure why my heart’s racinglike an overachiever who got one question wrong on a test.

It’s my mom. She raised me.

Yet as she opens the front door andI see her big brown eyes sparkle, my stomach twists into knots, and I considerleaving.

“Toya…I’m so glad you came.” Herarms jerk outward as if hoping for an embrace.

I hug myself instead. “Mmhm.”

It’s been three months since herfall at the apartment. She looks better. Daniel mentioned she still has somediscomfort in her ribs and wrist, but the latter no longer has a bandage aroundit.

Mom utters a soft breath and slantsfor me to enter the house.

I step past her, careful not to touchher.

“How did you spend your birthday?”she asks, turning to me after shutting the door. “Did you enjoy the day? Itmust have been hard since it’s your first in California.”

I shrug. “It was all right.”

“Did you like my gifts? You didn’tlet me know.”

“Yeah, Mom. They were fine.” Thesting in my voice causes her smile to waver. Reeling in the rudeness, I say ina polite tone, “Thank you.”

She nods. “Let’s go in the livingroom.”

I follow her through the doorway, sinkinginto the sofa while she sits in the armchair.

Silence holds us captive until Mombreaks it. “I miss you, baby. It hurts not seeing or speaking to you.”

“Oh really?” I say with sheersarcasm. “Like it hurt me when you refused to speak to me after I went to livewith Varen and after my eighteenth birthday? You didn’t even reach out on thenight of my prom.”

She clicks her tongue. “Toya, thatisn’t the same thing, and I’ve apologized.”

“You’re right,” I hit back. “It’snot. After what you did, lying about Jesiah, I have every right to ignore you. Icould leave now and never see you again.”

A gasp slips out, and her eyes beginto water.

Mom drops her head, breathing along, deep breath before lifting it again. “You don’t mean that. You’re upset,but you won’t shut me out of your life forever. You wouldn’t have come.”

Huffing, I look out the sliding doorsat the calm water.

It’s quiet again, not a sound in thehouse.

“I love you, Toya,” Mom says in aclose whisper.

Those three words incite a swell ofjoy, making my heart thump harder. They appease the little girl in me.

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