Page 30 of Embers of You (Amity #1)

Sutton

I’m lying awake in bed, the very same bed where Jameson made me see stars in a way I never have before. I haven’t dared wash the sheets yet, so they still smell like him. Even though it’s late, I pull out my phone before I can think too much about it and text him.

Sutton: I’ve never ridden a horse before.

I don’t expect him to respond, but he does almost instantly.

Jameson: Lucky for you I have several in case you want to change that.

Sutton: Why are you awake?

Jameson: Why are you?

Sutton: Because I was really thinking about how I’ve never ridden a horse, duh.

Jameson: How weird, I was really thinking about how you’ve never ridden a horse either, great minds, huh?

Sutton: Or creepy?

Jameson: I’m on shift, barely sleep when I’m here.

Jameson: So, probably creepy since I’m basically a zombie.

Sutton: I don’t think I’d want a zombie saving my life in an emergency. I actually think their goal is the opposite.

Jameson: I’m one of the good ones. I’d always save your life, zombie or not.

Sutton: How sweet.

Jameson: That’s my middle name, how’d you know?

Sutton: Guess I can be creepy too.

Jameson: I don’t get off shift until Thursday, but if you want to come over I’ll give you a riding lesson.

Sutton: …

Jameson: On a horse, jeez, get your mind out of the gutter, Sutton.

I laugh, and it’s so loud in my quiet bedroom, I bite my bottom lip to try and stifle it, even though no one’s around to hear me.

Sutton: We’ll see, maybe I’ll take you up on that offer, cowboy.

Jameson: Let’s not start that. I much prefer fireboy.

I bark out another laugh, and Bennet looks up at me, like he’s mad at me for disturbing his sleep.

“Sorry.”

He huffs, resting his head back down at the foot of my bed.

Sutton: You have to earn that title, I haven’t seen you take on any fires.

Jameson: You also haven’t seen me wrangle any cows.

Sutton: Fair point. Goodnight, Jameson.

Jameson: Goodnight, Sutton.

I swear I can hear his voice as he says it, something about the way he says my name when we say goodbye, it’s become our thing and it gives me the same reaction every time. The deep timbre of his voice settles between my thighs. The way his eyes stare into mine like I’m all he sees.

The way he cares for my body, bringing it so much pleasure. The way he takes control, and isn’t soft with me, but can be when he needs to. He’s perfect. Too perfect it’s scary.

I settle deeper into my bed while I try to talk myself out of whatever is going on but all I can seem to do is replay our night together over and over until I can’t help but to slip my hand into my shorts, trying to recreate his touch.

His voice plays in my mind, his every move is burned into my brain, but my own hand does not do it justice and the orgasm I give myself is nothing like the one he gave me. I’m frustrated, but end up drifting to sleep knowing deep down I won’t be able to stay away.

“Do you think God actually wants his followers to be virgins? I mean, if there even is a God…wait, are you religious?” Lily races through her thoughts like she usually does.

“No, I’m not.” I chuckle. “And I don’t think if he or she is real that they want everyone to be a virgin because they need to produce more followers.”

“Good point.” She points finger guns at me.

“What brought this up?” It’s a dangerous question when it comes to Lily because sometimes there’s a reason, and sometimes it takes me down a rabbit hole of her mind, which is more complicated than figuring out an illusion at Disneyland.

“I heard something about the Pope and it made me think about how he’s probably a virgin, right? Because they have to start out as a priest and then get to be a cardinal or something, right?”

“Sure.” I shrug, really not sure about any of this.

“Right, so they go their entire lives without boning and then I thought about…well can they masturbate? But I don’t think they can watch porn, so do they even know what a naked woman looks like?

What would they fantasize about if they don’t?

Do they just go their entire lives without coming because that sounds unhealthy. ”

I don’t know whether to be horrified or laugh. Especially when she continues.

“Seriously, decades of pent up ejaculate just there? That has to cause some sort of blockage or something.”

I burst out laughing. “Did you just say ejaculate?”

“Is there a word you’d prefer? Jizz? Splooge? Baby batter?”

I double over, holding my stomach in laughter, unable to stop. Jerry Lee takes advantage of the moment, and starts squawking out a new word in between barks, “Jizz.”

During the chaos, Trish walks in at the exact moment Jerry Lee screams out, “jizz!” And she gives the bird a questioning look.

“Who taught my bird the new word?” she asks lightly.

“That would be me. Sutton didn’t like the word ejaculate so I gave her other options, and Jerry Lee picked his favorite, apparently.”

“I don’t think I even want to know.” Trish shakes her head.

“Oh, I’ll tell you, Auntie.” Lily bounces after her, already back on her tangent once again. I shake my head, getting back to sweeping up the dog fur around my station from my last client.

I look out the window that faces the fire station and notice the truck getting pulled out, and Jameson stepping out from the driver’s seat. My eyes stay locked on him as he moves around doing whatever he needs to with the truck.

The other guy that came here, Parker, comes outside and they start talking and Parker pushes on Jameson’s shoulder while they laugh. I’m so focused on watching them I don’t notice Trish until she speaks from behind me and I jump, pretending like I wasn’t just gawking out the window.

“Told you there was a good view,” she says.

“Huh, what?” I finish sweeping up the fur on the ground, not looking at her so she doesn’t see the blush that’s surely covering my face.

“The view. It may not be your typical one, but it’s pretty great.”

“It’s fine.” I work to make sure my cheeks return to their normal color before I dare face her. When I do, she’s smiling at me like she knows everything I won’t say out loud.

“How’re you liking it here? I haven’t gotten to check in much with you, but you seem to be handling Lily pretty well, which is not always the easiest.”

“I heard that,” Lily calls out from the other room.

“Then you know it’s true,” Trish calls back. “Anyway, you’ve been busy which is great.”

“Yeah, most everyone has been nice, and I do really like it here. Lily is…entertaining.”

“Heard that, too!”

“That’s a nice way of putting it,” Trish says quietly just between us. “I’ve heard someone has been extra nice to you.”

“Who?”

She raises an eyebrow.

“Jameson has been welcoming, but how do you know?”

“Hot guy, Jameson.”

Thank you, Jerry Lee.

“Welcome to living in a small town,. She winks. “And Jerry Lee. Are you done for the day?”

“Yeah, just cleaning up, unless you need me to do anything else.”

“Nope, you go enjoy the rest of your day, and maybe spend some time with a certain someone.”

“He’s on shift.” I chuckle.

“Oh is he?” She starts humming as she walks away and I want to explain, but realize there’s nothing to explain. I’m sure anything I say will just get twisted and shoved into the gossip mill around here anyway. Seems to be the case for a small town, if Trish is actually hearing things.

Though, I guess she probably just heard from Lily since she seems to share stories about anything and anyone all the time. I mean, how else would I have learned about her friend having a nice ducking time with bondage duck man, and her thoughts on popes masturbating.