thumb, and pushes his tongue inside. I fist the covers as my eyes roll in my head and my thighs clamp around his head. We move together. Harsh breathing and the wet sounds that follow with giving head the right way fill the room. I bury my fingers in his hair and take what he’s giving me. He’s got me immobile and ready to go off. My body trembles as the wave of release starts low in my belly and explodes, moving thorough my muscles in a starburst pattern. My body trembles and my mind travels to a place full of light, love, and pleasure. “You back with me?” He places gentle kisses on my face. “I think I just had an out of body experience,” I whisper. “I have just the cure for that, an in body experience.” His thick cock parts my lips as he pushes inside me inch by inch. Stretching me deliciously. It’s been almost a month and my body takes a second to yield. I love the pleasurable pain. I wrap my legs around his waist, hooking my ankles as I dig my nails into his flesh. “I want this every day,” he says into my ear. I tilt my hips crying out as he bottoms out over and over. “I want to see you change. Feel the first movement, and keep you safe. I need to be that man for you. For myself.” His words and movement blend together in a life-giving performance that obliterates my walls. “Oh—Tritt.” My voice catches as he grips my hips hard. “Is-is it okay?” I can feel the strain in his body as he holds back from giving me everything he has to offer. “Yes.” He’s a blur of motion as he pulls out, hooks my legs to the side and thrusts home, slamming into my G-spot. I swear I see actual sparks fly between us as my body is engulfed in by the flames of desire licking at my skin. I flex my pussy, and he growls. Our bodies glide together slick with sweat. My heart pounds and something cracks open inside me. I want him here for all of this. My body shakes and tears spill from my eyes as the abyss rushes up to greet me. I tumble over sobbing his name and bucking. He yells out seconds later filling me to the brim with his essence. He strokes my hair back from my face as we lay on our sides still connected. “Can I have this with you, Ruthie?” Reality tugs at my conscious. “There are things we both need to discuss.” “And we will. Don’t avoid the question.” I close my eyes. “Yes, Skull. You can move into the spare room for now.” He kisses my forehead. “Thank you.” I peer at him. This is a new side of Skull. It makes me hopeful, and guilty. He’s opening up and I’m still hiding. I close my eyes and push the troubling thoughts aside. I want to bask in this moment, lock it into my memory and hold it close to keep when it everything eventually splinters around me. Exhaustion takes over. I fight to keep my eyes open. “You sleep. I’m going to get started on the move.” “Okay.” My tongue feels thick as I form the word. He laughs. I feel his lips on the top of my head and then my body goes into hibernation mode. *** “I see you haven’t told them about your dirty little secret.” “Dad?” I narrow my eyes and take in the man I haven’t seen in person in the last three years. His face is thin and gaunt. His cheekbones protrude from sallow flesh. The drugs and alcohol are ravaging him. His six foot one frame has become stooped. He slowly makes his way toward me. “You know you can’t hide me forever. I didn’t raise you to be a coward.” “You didn’t raise me at all,” I snarl. The daddy issues are starting to spill over. I know people say you think about your own relationship with your parents when you’re about to become one. That’s bad news for me. If Rochelle went through this, she never mentioned it. Then again, she’s four years younger, and doesn’t remember half the shit our old man put us through. There’s a reason he never got partial custody and had to stick with supervised visitation and when we were older, weekends here and