Page 70 of Austin

I ride it out to the end and am rewarded doubly when his girth expands within me as he gives in to his own release. If I thought Austin was sexy before, I was mistaken. His euphoric face as it drops back against the seat is the only thing I want to see for the rest of my life.

Austin was right. The third date was the cooldown. This moment, the calming of the engine, is total bliss. Now, it makes me wonder what the finish line will be like.

He leans up and softly kisses me. “What am I going to do with you?”

While there are many things that come to mind, only one feels right. “Take me home.”

17

AUSTIN

The air is black. Thick ebony smoke billows against the clay walls.

“Get down!” a voice echoes.

My eyes are heavy, so heavy I could shut them again. It would be easy. So easy.

Clear. It was clear.

Bullets spit. Footsteps pound. The vibration of the earth moves beneath my head.

“We gotta get you outta here,” someone is yelling.

I lift my eyelids and see a man covered in soot with a green helmet blending in with his blemished face. He’s pulling me by the arms; my weight is lead.

“Jimmy,” I call out, but it comes out scratchy. My mouth is dry, like parchment, so I repeat my plea to make sure he can understand what I’m saying, “Upstairs.”

“There’s no time.” He lifts me up, pulling me with a firm grip.

A searing pain radiates up my spine. It burns.

“Jimmy.” It goes unheard.

Walking.

My weight is falling despite the tug on my hand.

Smoke. More smoke. Flashing light.

Burning. Sharp, shooting pain with every step.

Loud. So loud.

The guns. The men. The screams. The cries. The wails.

Jimmy.

Austin.

“Austin.”

“Austin,” she says soothingly, a hand on my head, gently rubbing it along the brow. “Wake up. You’re having a bad dream.”

My body jolts with the opening of my eyes as I get my bearings to see where I am—in Jalynn’s apartment, in bed with my girl.

She places her hand over my shirt-covered chest, which is dramatically rising and falling. I blink my eyes and adjust to the dark and the faint light coming from the alarm clock that illuminates her face.

“Breathe. Take one slow breath and relax.”