Page 20 of Kneeling to Candy

Candy must take my lack of response as a rejection. Her eyes drop, like the bedding has suddenly become way more interesting than my face. She lifts a dainty shoulder, saying, “I mean, I get we’ve only started talking to each other. It’s fine if you don’t feel comfortable being that close?—”

“I want it,” I blurt, panicked she’ll retract her offer.

Smooth, Penn. Can I appear any more desperate than I already am?

Her head pops back up, eyes wide with uncertainty. “Are you sure?”

There’s no hope of holding back my smile. “Of course, Goddess. I’m happy you trust me enough to seek my comfort.”

“Okay,” Candy says in a slightly higher voice. Is she nervous like me? “Cool.”

Before she can change her mind, I quickly stand to climb onto the bed. Candy diverts her attention to the ceiling, holding her palms up in front of her.

“Um, would you mind putting something on?”

Huh? I glance down, noticing I’m still naked. My junk is right at her eye level.

Emboldened, I give Candy a wicked grin. “Are you sure?”

Laughing, Candy snags one of my pillows and smacks my torso with it. “Yes, I’m sure.”

Such a damn shame, though I won’t let it sour my mood. Tonight isn’t about my needs anyway. Only hers. And right now, she needs a cuddle partner who’ll make her feel safe and cherished.

With my happy-as-fuck grin still plastered on my face, I snag my shorts off the hardwood floor and yank them up my legs.

Candy scoots up the bed, making room for me to join her in the center. Seeing her sitting there, patiently waiting for me, feels surreal. When you’ve wanted this—dreamed of this—for as long as I have, you don’t want to rush. You want to savor the moment, let it fill you up. I drink in her image like a man quenching his thirst after walking days in the desert, unable to get enough of the sight of my woman inviting me in.

Part of me wants to take a picture of this moment on my cell, something to look back on. As much as I’d love a reminder of this night, whipping out a camera seems invasive when we haven’t agreed to any kind of relationship yet.

Patience, I remind myself.

My body practically vibrates with happiness, crawling into my bed with the woman of my dreams waiting for me to snuggle against her. My dick twitches, ready to spring into action. I bite the inside of my cheek, forcing my greedy cock to settle down. There’ll be no getting wet tonight.

Like an old habit, my arms open to her, letting her sink against me before I wrap her in an ironclad embrace. She sighs, laying her weary head against my chest. Her body naturally molds around mine, like it was always meant for her to be there.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence in the dark of my room, I ask her, “You’ve given me your now. Will you give me your future?”

It’s a bold appeal. She’s only just let me enter her orbit, and I can’t help requesting more. I’d ask for her forever if I felt it wouldn’t scare her off.

Candy’s eyes go a little glassy, focusing on something I can’t see. She plays with the coarse, short curls on my chest, looking contemplative. “I’m ashamed to admit I don’t know what to do with myself.”

I’m a little bummed she misinterpreted my question. Although, her contemplating other factors of her future is something I want to be part of, too.

“The possibilities are endless. What do you wish to do with your time? Do you want to go back to school? Get a job? Volunteer for a cause? This club will support you in whatever you choose.”

“But that’s the problem. I don’t know where my interests lie. I don’t want to go back to school when I don’t know what I’ll do with my education. I could get a job, but I don’t have any work skills, other than what I’ve done to help in the club. And volunteering is nice, but I don’t know which cause I’d like to help. I just don’t know.”

The dejection in her tone has me wanting to help settle her worries.

“Then we investigate your interest,” I say, reassuring her before adding, “we’ll do it together.”

“You want to help me?” she asks, her voice startled yet hopeful.

“In any way you wish,” I vow. “You don’t need to have all the answers at this moment. Take your time to think about it.”

Several minutes pass with Candy lost in her thoughts. I lazily run my hands along her spine over her shirt, enjoying the feel of her underneath my fingers as I comfort her.

Candy tilts her head back, looking deep into my eyes. “All I know for certain is, I want to get better. I want to work on myself in therapy.”

---