Page 43 of Fractured Hope
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BODHI
Snuggling into Atticusduring the movie was heavenly. I really couldn’t remember the last time I’d been to the movies. I’d been in foster care for years, and then I’d been too busy fighting to keep my grades up to get into college to have time to go out. Forget about having friends to go with. Once I’d moved in with Derek, he’d never liked taking me anywhere and often avoided it whenever he could. He even limited my control of the TV. The last time I’d been able to use the TV was very early on in our relationship before he’d turned on the password protection. I’d watchedDeadpoolandDeadpool 2while he was at work. Derek had yelled at me that night for messing with his watch list. It was the first time I’d been given a glimpse at therealDerek. If only I’d realized the monster he would become.
Shaking myself out of the past, I focused back on the TV. The movie was good, but really it was Ryan that made it worthwhile. I really would watch anything with Ryan Reynolds in it. He could do it all, comedy, action, romance.
As the movie was coming to an end, I breathed Atticus in. I was secure in his arms, protected, like I’d finally had a safe placeto land, a place where I fit and could just be myself. I didn’t think I’d ever had that before—somewhere that felt safe and like I belonged, all in one. I’d once thought I’d found that with Derek, but it was never like this, not even in the beginning. I felt like I’d found my home, my heart. Tears sprang to my eyes as the realization hit me.
Atticus was my home, my safe place, and he now held my heart. He was something I’d never thought I would find.Family. How could it be that I’d escaped hell to finally find the thing I’d been looking for all my life? The thing I wanted so desperately for as long as I could remember?
I knew in my heart he would never hurt me.
He was so genuine, smart, funny, and sweet. I wanted nothing more than to be with him, talk, argue, joke, and do everything couples did together, for as long as he would have me. I trusted him. That was a big thing for me. This was unlike any other feeling I’d had. I trusted Atticus wholeheartedly and without question. I cared about him so much. Smiling to myself, I embraced the feeling, finding peace in it.
I didn’t want to think about what was waiting for me on Monday. I needed everything to be okay. I couldn’t let Derek ruin this or my life ever again.
I cuddled closer against Atticus and kissed his neck. I still reveled in the fact that he’d done all this just for me. I’d been nearly breathless at the magical wonderland he’d revealed when he’d let me open my eyes. I couldn’t believe the effort he’d gone to, and knowing he’d roped his brothers in made me giggle.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, just thinking about what Lyric had to say about all this romance as he helped you set up.” I waved my hand at the flickering candles as the credits rolled on the screen.
“He was a surprising sap, actually. He’s the one who got all these candles.”
“No way! Really?” I didn’t think Lyric could be serious enough to be romantic like this. “But that’s kind of sweet.”
“Yeah, he’s been different lately. Less shenanigans, showing more responsibility. Showing up to work on time without issue. I’m not sure what changed, but I’m not complaining.”
“Hmm, he has been a little more subdued lately. I haven’t seen him flirt with a customer in weeks.” I moved so I was lying over Atticus’s chest with my chin on my hands over his heart. “Do you think he could’ve met someone?”
Atticus looked at me questioningly as his fingers trailed up my spine. “I don’t know. Lyric tends to flit from person to person, rarely getting serious. If he found someone, I figure we would have heard about it by now.”
“Maybe we could ask Kay. He would know what was up, wouldn’t he?”
“Yeah, Seb and I considered that. It might be a good idea to ask.” He stroked his neatly groomed beard. “Enough about my brothers. How are you feeling after our first date?”
With a chuckle, I shifted to hug him. “This has been a perfect first date.” I leaned up on my forearm. “Thank you for surprising me. I think the only thing missing is a first-date kiss.” Gazing into his eyes, I leaned in and brushed my lips against his. He returned the kiss softly, not allowing it to become too heated.
Pressing our foreheads together, he rubbed his nose against mine in a butterfly kiss. “You deserve it all, Bodhi. I care about you and love to see you smile.”
Beaming at him from my place on his chest, I gently moved the hair off his forehead. “Well, I think you succeeded.” I leaned in to kiss him again, shuffling up and over his body so I was straddling him. I deepened the kiss, nipping his full bottom lip, which caused him to gasp and involuntarily buck against me. He quickly reached up and threaded his fingers through my hair as he kissed me back. Thrusting his tongue into my mouth, hedevoured me and sent little frissons of need through my whole body. I rocked against him, needing to feel more of him.
Atticus sat up suddenly, taking me with him as he ate at my mouth in utter starvation. He reached down to pull my T-shirt over my head, throwing it aside, before kissing across my jaw and nuzzling the spot behind my ear that he now knew drove me crazy. Rocking against him, I could feel his erection grow beneath me as mine throbbed in my sweats. I quickly pulled at his Henley, needing to feel his hot skin under my fingertips. He lifted his arms to fling the shirt off. He barely missed a beat and continued kissing down my neck. Moving his hands to my back, he grabbed me hard, pulling me against him so I couldn’t escape as his mouth came back up to eat at my lips.
We moved together, getting lost in each other’s kisses and roaming touches. He moved his hands into the back of my sweatpants so he could grip my ass cheeks, kneading them to guide my movements on his lap. Dipping a finger into my crack, he tapped on my hole, causing me to gasp and thrust back against him.
“Atty, please.” I breathed the words against his mouth. “I need you. I need to feel you.” With my head thrown back, electricity danced across my skin as desire like nothing before settled in my belly. Atticus kissed down my neck and sucked on my Adam’s apple, causing me to groan even more.
Pulling back, his heated gaze caught mine as he ordered, “On your hands and knees. I want to eat you out.”
“Oh My God.” I groaned as I rushed to do as I was told, and I quickly hopped off his lap and onto my knees with my ass up in the air and my face on my forearms, that barely even hurt anymore. Atticus slapped my right cheek, sending a shiver down my spine and causing my cock to harden even more in my boxer briefs.
Yanking down my sweats and boxers as far as they would go, Atty tapped my leg to get me to move so he could take them off. I fell unceremoniously to the side and helped push them down with one hand while Atticus pulled them the rest of the way off, ever careful of my injured foot. I rolled back into position, feeling raw and vulnerable, yet so desired.
“Beautiful,” he said reverently and rubbed his large hands over my ass, pulling my cheeks apart to expose my hole. He leaned down right then and blew hot breath over my hole, causing goose bumps to erupt all over my skin. “Such a treasure.” He bit my left cheek before kissing over the spot. He rubbed his beard over each of my cheeks, then licked up my taint.
“Oh fuck,” I breathed, practically vibrating in place.
