Fighting Shadows

by Aly Martinez

  Flint blew out an exasperated sigh then leveled me with a glare. “Ash, just get naked.”

  I took my shirt off before I asked, “Seriously?”

  He pushed to his feet. “I’ve had the worst day imaginable, and you for some reason have zero grasp of that. You seem to apologize best naked, so I’m cashing in the angry fuck.” He grabbed his dick, which was suddenly bulging from the front of his athletic shorts.

  My tongue snaked out to lick my lips. “I do like those kind of apologies,” I whispered, reaching back to unclasp my bra.

  “Go get in bed. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  I continued to stare as his hand disappeared into the front of his shorts. Then I walked over, stopping directly in front of him. “Can I help with that?” I guided my fingers down over the ripples of his abs and under his waistband.

  When my fingertips brushed the head of his cock, a firm hand landed against my ass. I dropped my forehead against his chest. Sparks sent blood rushing to my clit, and a strangled moan flew from my mouth.

  He removed my hand from his shorts but taunted me by pulling his hard-on out and continuing to stroke it between us. “I said. Go. Get. In. Bed.”

  “Okay. Okay.” I relented, sauntering away.

  “You better be naked when I get there, too.”

  “Bossy, bossy, bossy,” I chanted, but I started shimmying out of my jeans before I’d even turned the corner down the hall.

  After toeing my shoes off, I hopped into the bedroom, tugging my jeans down my legs. My panties quickly followed as I climbed onto the bed.

  Not even a full minute later, Flint entered the room, dragging one of his kitchen stools behind him. He walked straight to the nightstand and retrieved a strip of condoms.

  I tossed him my best sultry smile, but he hadn’t been kidding about the whole angry thing.

  He.

  Looked.

  Pissed.

  “Flip over and put your ass in the air,” he demanded, stopping at the foot of he bed. Upon taking his crutches off, he tossed them to the other side of the bed. After dropping the condoms on the bed next to me, he pushed his shorts off and settled on the stool. “And back up.”

  I didn’t argue.

  Holy shit. Angry Flint is hot.

  Grabbing both of my thighs, he dragged me to the edge of the bed. I was propped up on my elbows with my ass at his eye level, completely exposed in every possible way. But I was with him. Nothing else mattered.

  He inched up his stool until it was flush against the mattress. I peeked over my shoulder just as he dragged a finger over my opening and down to my clit. My breath hitched when he looked up into my eyes; his were burning with a mix of anger and desire.

  I was turned on by the anger but terrified by the desire. It wasn’t the way he usually looked when he was turned on. It was different—and fierce.

  “I thought you’d left,” he said, holding my eyes and pushing a single finger inside.

  As he slowly removed it, I groaned from the loss. “I just went shopping.” A hand landed on my ass and his finger darted back inside, mixing the most amazing combination of pain and pleasure.

  “I fucking thought you’d left,” he growled, deliciously curling his fingers before they were suddenly gone again.

  My knees went weak, and I followed him down with my hips, chasing his hand for more. His hand wasn’t what I got at all.

  “Ass up,” he demanded, leaning forward and raking his teeth over the ass cheek.

  Chills spread over my body, but I lifted my ass as high as possible. His tongue laved over my core before darting inside.

  I rocked back against his face, but just like with his fingers, his mouth disappeared.

  “Flint, please. Stop teasing me,” I huffed

  “I was scared to death, Ash. Looked like a bitch in front of my entire fucking family. All because you didn’t leave a goddamn note.” He pressed back inside me.

  “I’m sorry,” I breathed.

  “I will never go through that again. Never. Do you hear me?” He twisted his hand back and forth, pushing deeper every time.

  My release built. “Oh God. Keep going,” I begged.

  He stilled his hand as he once more bit my ass. “Never again.”

  “Okay! I’m sorry!” I cried. “I get it.”

  “No, you really fucking don’t,” he gritted out, but his fingers began an unrelenting rhythm. “I need you to come now, Ash. I’m about to fuck you, and I can’t swear that you’ll get off. So this part is for you—the fucking is for me.”

  “Stop talking,” I whispered, rolling my hips against his hand.

  “Hurry up.”

  I can do that.

  Flint added his other hand into the mix, tapping and circling my clit while he pumped his fingers in and out of me. It wasn’t long before I was stepping off the edge of climax, calling his name on the descent.

  I collapsed face first onto the bed, lost in the post-orgasm fog.

  I vaguely heard the crinkle of the condom behind me. The next thing I knew, Flint had lifted me off the bed, settling me on lap. He was still sitting on the stool, but he had shifted backwards so his legs had room between the stool and the mattress. His chest was to my back, and one of his arms was wrapped tight around my waist.

  “Close your legs and put your feet on the bed,” he ordered, lifting me to hover over his waiting cock. He guided the tip inside me as I followed his directions. No sooner had my knees touched than he roughly slammed inside me.

  “Oh God,” I cried as he filled me deeper than ever before.

  He folded his other arm over my chest so his forearm rested between my breasts and his hand gripped my shoulder. Then he once again lifted me before roughly forcing me back down.

  “You do not run from me.” He bit the base of my neck.

  “Fuck.” I angled my head to give him more room, moaning with his every nip. “I wasn’t running.”

  He slammed into me again. “You will not do that to me again.”

  Up.

  Then down again.

  I dropped my head back against his shoulder, turning to capture his mouth. Flint’s tongue was rough and demanding, and his stubble rubbed against my face.

  He released my mouth in order to shift me for another deep thrust.

  I was on top, but there was no mistake that Flint was absolutely fucking me—using his upper body to do the work his legs were incapable of.

  “You have completely fucked with my head. I’m a goddamn mess, waiting for the day when you choose to leave again.”

  Up.

  Down.

  “Ahhh,” I cried as he leaned forward, changing the angle. He wasn’t as deep anymore, but it was even better.

  “Rock,” he demanded, kissing my neck.

  I threw a hand up, gripping the back of his hair and used the bed as leverage to move against him. My legs were closed tight, and my clit was squeezed with each movement.

  “I need to know if you’re planning to stay.”

  “Flint,” I breathed.

  “Just fucking tell me!” he yelled, starting a frantic rhythm inside me. His fingers were painfully biting into my hips and my shoulder with every thrust, but his cock was driving me toward the brink of release. “Answer the fucking question. Are you here to stay?”

  “Yes!” I cried.

  Planting himself to the hilt, he cursed while his cock jumped and twitched as he came.

  Out of breath, he panted, “Say it again.”

  “Yes. I’m staying.”

  His chest heaved from exertion, but it was his heart pounding against my back that exposed his anxiety. “Swear to me. I need to hear you say it.”

  What I said probably wasn’t what he’d expected to hear, but it was more honest than any oath I could have ever made to him.

  I wasn’t ready for the rejection I was so frightened I would receive, but I was sick of running from the only thing I’d ever truly wanted to keep.

  I’d decided the night
before that I was starting over with my life. I was doing it without fear. And hopefully, I was doing it with him.

  “I love you, Flint. I’ll stay for as long as you want me.”

  His shoulders immediately relaxed, and his hands loosened their grip. “Forever.”

  My eyes began to swim even as a smile crept across my face. Reaching up to my shoulder, I placed my hand on top of his and intertwined our fingers. Then I crossed my arm and did the same with his hand at my hip.

  “Then I’m staying forever.”

  He exhaled a relieved breath. “I don’t know how to trust you.”

  “I think that’s something we’re both gonna have to learn, but I’m willing to try if you are.”

  “Even if things get bad, Ash, just talk to me instead of taking off. Don’t assume anything. I’m not always going to say the right thing. I’ll probably fuck up—”

  “Flint.” I looked back, interrupting him.

  His gorgeous, blue eyes were nervously searching mine.

  “Stop talking.” I smiled.

  He rested his chin on my shoulder but kept talking. “This whole thing between us is absurd. People don’t fall in love in a month. And they definitely don’t stay in love for three years with no contact. But Jesus Christ, Ash, I love you so fucking much.”

  I swallowed hard, trying to lock away the tears that were threatening to escape.

  He loves me.

  Me.

  “Stop talking,” I choked out.

  “I do want to get to know each other again. But I need you to know that it won’t change anything. I love you. I always have, Ash. Always.”

  The tears finally spilled from my eyes, but my smile stretched wider.

  Always.

  “Stop talking,” I repeated through my tears.

  He sighed contently. “Did I hurt you?” he asked as he softened inside me.

  I knew he was talking about sex, but starting over meant full disclosure. “Yes. When I was sixteen, you broke my heart and said some shitty things that made me doubt who I was as a person. For years, I tried to figure out how to be someone you could be proud of, but ultimately, I just learned to hate part of myself.” I sucked in a deep breath. “Flint, this is who I am. I may be crazy and quirky, but I’m a good person. And that’s something I’m proud of. I can’t worry about what you think anymore.”

  “What I think? I think you’re an amazing person who deserves more than I will ever be able to give you. But, dammit, I’m going to try anyway. That shit I spouted before you left was about me and my issues. Never you. If you’ll just stay with me, I’ll spend a lifetime proving that to you. Ash, I’m so fucking sorry.”

  He reluctantly released me as I stood up. I didn’t go far though. Spinning to face him, I climbed back onto his lap, locking my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.

  “It’s okay. I forgive you.” I kissed him then whispered, “I may have overreacted. I mean, who runs away for three years?” I winked, and a small smile quirked the side of his mouth. “I’m sorry about this morning too. I wanted to look nice for our fresh, new start as a couple. No one’s really worried about where I was before. I didn’t even think about letting you know where I was going.”

  He nodded, chastely touching his lips to mine before leaning away to catch my eyes. “Why’d you take my book? That’s what freaked me out the most.”

  I laughed. “First off, it’s my book, not yours. I stole that fair and square before I reformed my ways.” He rolled his eyes. “But I wanted to write. I had a lot to catch up on over the last few days.”

  “What color?”

  I knew exactly what he was talking about. I just didn’t know how he knew what he was talking about. “Excuse me?”

  “Pink or green? If it was blue, I’m gonna be pissed.”

  I slapped his chest. “You read my book?”

  “No, I read my book . . . that you graffitied with highlighter.”

  “It’s not your book! It’s mine.”

  He thought I was joking, even as I jumped off his lap.

  He pushed to his feet, snapping the condom off and knotting it before settling on the edge of the bed. “Ash, I’m not a total asshole. You can borrow it anytime you want.”

  I gave him an evil side eye. “Wheels, I just told you that I love you. Do not make me regret it. That book is mine.”

  “Come here.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me to stand between his legs. “Say it again.”

  “It’s mine,” I told him.

  He gave me an unimpressed glare. I knew what he wanted to hear; I just really liked fucking with him.

  “The other thing, smartass.”

  I wanted to keep going, but as he looked up at me through his thick black lashes, I wanted to hear him say it again too. “I love you.”

  “And,” he prompted.

  “And no more running.”

  His lips split into a smile, and the corners of his eyes softened.

  Lifting my arm, he kissed the Flint tattoo on my side. “I love you too.”

  I closed my eyes as he repeatedly whispered it against my skin.

  I was so genuinely happy for the first time in my entire life that I couldn’t even pretend to stop the awkward bubble of laugher that escaped.

  He looked up at me with a questioning expression that I only answered with a shrug as I continued to laugh.

  He loves me.

  Shaking his head, he said, “Fine. You can have the book, but only if you don’t give me shit about reading it.”

  “You can take your deal and shove it. That’s my book, I don’t need you to give it to me.” I backed away and crossed my arms over my chest.

  He barked out a laugh, retrieving his crutches off the floor. “Get dressed, baby. It’s date night.”

  “It’s my book,” I repeated because, well, he needed to understand.

  “Absolutely,” he confirmed, walking to the bathroom. “For as long as I let you borrow it.”

  I could hear his laughter continue as he shut the door.

  I wasn’t mad. I couldn’t have cared less that he was delusional enough to think it was still his.

  I was staying.

  Forever.

  With Flint.

  IT WAS TRULY INCREDIBLE THE way one weekend changed the trajectory of my entire life.

  Ash and I had skipped our date in exchange for takeout food and the weed garden. It was far better than whatever cheesy and clichéd date I could have taken her on. It was us. And with her promise to stay, there was officially an us again.

  Ash spent the entire night tucked into my side, never letting me stray out of her reach—even while we were eating.

  It was incredible. For the first time in my entire life, I wasn’t nervously waiting for the sky to crash down on me. The world could have slipped into another Dark Age and I would have been fine. I had a home, a job, money in the bank, and a woman who didn’t need any of it.

  She just wanted me.

  My life had officially begun.

  And it was gloriously uneventful.

  Ash and I quickly fell into an easy routine. I drove her to work at the salon in the mornings then picked her up at lunch only to drop her off at the college, where she had enrolled in a high school refresher course. She didn’t need it. She was insanely smart. However, she was nervous about failing the high school equivalency exam she needed to take in order to start college courses.

  I was proud of her for going back to school. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to major in, but she was so excited about attending actual classes that it didn’t matter. The only problem was she needed an ID before she could enroll and Ash had nothing. We spent weeks tracking down her birth certificate and then her social security card before she finally went to the DMV to get a driver’s license—something else she was excited about. Her newsie list was dwindling as she crossed things off left and right.

  “Oh my God,” Ash gasped as I walked into the DMV. “You came. In a suit!” She left Quar
ry and Mia sitting in the folding chairs and rushed over to me.

  “I had a big meeting with a potential client at noon, but I came straight here afterward. My woman’s getting her driver’s license today. This is a big deal.” I leaned down to take her lips.

  Her eyes flashed surprise as she dodged my mouth. “Oh shit. Let’s go.” Grabbing my arm, she pulled me toward the door.

  “Where are we going? Did I miss your test already?” I asked, doing my best to keep up with her as she dragged me toward the door.

  “No. But you need to see a doctor. I think you had a stroke.”

  I threw the brakes on, stopping just before we exited the building.

  “Don’t stop! I can’t have you dying on me! Who will nag me about leaving my shoes in the middle of the floor if you croak?” She bit her lip, but the smile escaped around it.

  “I’m missing the joke, funny girl. I’m gonna need you to explain.”

  “You said something was a big deal. Clearly, you have some neurological issues going on.”

  “It is a big deal.”

  “No. It’s just a driver’s license. I’ve been driving for years.” She shrugged before adding, “By the way, you look hot in a suit.”

  I shook my head at her randomness. “You’re insane,” I told her, wrapping her in my arms and kissing the top of her head.

  “I think you’re insane. You relearning to walk again after spending years in a wheelchair was nothing. But me getting a little plastic card that allows me to legally do something I’ve been doing for years is a big deal?” She folded her arms around my hips, hugging me tight, before sliding her hand down into the back of my slacks.

  “Would you stop?” I laughed, swatting away her hands.

  “What?” she whined innocently. “It’s the suit. I can’t help myself.”

  “Right. What was it last night when you jumped me in kitchen?” I quirked a questioning eyebrow.

  “Uhh . . . I’m sorry, but sweatpants leave nothing to the imagination. If you don’t want to be sexually assaulted by your girlfriend, then you should really put on something else.”