I stood in front of the mirror in the hotel room and adjusted my tie. I’d worn them every Sunday since I was a kid—graduating from a clip-on when I was twelve—but this wasn’t the same. No matter how many times I tried to convince myself that I was at home, getting ready for church, it didn’t work. This was the biggest day of my life so far, and nothing could keep the nerves from strangling me.

Nothing but Ellie.

“Here, let me get that.” She came up behind me and fitted herself between my body and the full-length mirror attached to the wall. I didn’t need her help—although, it was nice to have it anyway. Having her here made everything better. “You look so handsome.”

I wanted to laugh, roll my eyes, or tell her she was crazy, yet I couldn’t do anything other than stare into her vibrant, blue eyes. She had on makeup, which she rarely wore, but she’d claimed she felt the occasion called for it, and I hated how it covered the light spattering of freckles along her forehead, cheeks, and across the bridge of her nose. Dark liner traced the top lids, nothing on the bottom, and her black-painted lashes seemed much longer than normal. I appreciated the lengths at which she went to dress up for my event, except all it did was scream at me how unusual tonight was. It was a reminder this wasn’t Sunday morning, and I wasn’t headed off to church.

It was the First Year Player Draft, and my agent anticipated an early pick. I refused to believe it, so I tried to ignore all the talk and hype surrounding the event. Even my dad had caught himself a few times speaking as if it were a done deal. The only person who acted like it wasn’t was Ellie, even though I was sure it was just a ruse to placate me.

“Why do I have to be so dressed up for this? I feel like I’m going to my own funeral.” That thought made my stomach roll and tighten.

“This is nothing like that, and you know it.” Ellie pressed her palm against my chest to flatten my tie. “Even if you don’t get picked, what do you lose by being here? This is a dream most players don’t get to fulfill, and here you are. So what if your name isn’t called, or called another night? We’ll go home, enjoy our summer, and then head off to college like we’ve been planning our entire lives. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

“Other than attending our high school graduation,” I reminded her, to which she waved me off with huffed laughter.

The draft fell on the night of our ceremony. I’d already decided I wouldn’t forgo our last high school festivity in order to be rejected by the pros, but that hadn’t been a decision I’d made on my own behalf. Ellie would’ve gone anywhere I did, which meant if I went to the draft, she’d be there, too. In all fairness, I couldn’t do any of this without her, but I refused to let her give up the chance to walk across the stage in a cap and gown. She’d worked too damn hard to miss it. But Ellie insisted she had no desire to spend one more day with the same people we’d gone to school with our entire lives—living in such a small, one-train-track town meant you grew up with everyone there.

“We’ve already talked about this, Coby. If we were home right now, we’d be in your room watching a movie while stuffing ourselves with popcorn. We’d be left out of the parties and celebrations, just like we always are. So, aside from walking across a stage and accepting a diploma we’ve already earned, we’re not missing anything. And I can’t speak for you, but I’d so much rather be here, in New Jersey, than in Podunk.”

I already knew I wasn’t missing out on anything, but I never wanted to hold Ellie back. Honestly, I wouldn’t have even been here—in the draft or Secaucus—if it weren’t for her. She truly was my best friend in the world.

“Well,” I started while slipping on my sports coat, “you probably shouldn’t slam DeArmanville too much considering we’re headed back there in the morning.”

“So you’ve made up your mind? If you aren’t called tonight, you’re not staying for the next round?” Her brilliant eyes lit up in surprise. We’d talked about this endlessly, yet I hadn’t made my final decision until just now.

“No. There’s no point.” I patted my pockets to make sure I had everything—for the millionth time. “If I don’t hear my name tonight, my decision is made.”

Her lips curled, but it was obvious even to a stranger that it wasn’t genuine. Ellie had the kind of smile that could light up a room, and this one didn’t even flicker. She wanted me to make it big so I could prove all the haters wrong and have a reason to metaphorically laugh in their faces, but she didn’t seem to comprehend how little importance a pro career was to me. Sure, playing ball with the big boys would be anyone’s dream come true. I’d love to stand on that mound on any given night, the lights bright and cheers louder. The thought of my name on the back of a jersey excited me as much as the next guy. But I wasn’t about to hang my hat on that dream. Not having that wouldn’t be the end of my world.

Although, I worried it would be the end of hers.

I feared not making it big would change the way she saw me.

That was absolutely absurd. I shook my head, relieving myself of the stupid thoughts that seemed to overtake me in times like these. Times when everything could change in a split second, and I had no control over any of it.

Just then, a knock sounded on the door to our hotel room. Ellie answered it while I took one last look in the mirror, making sure my glasses weren’t lopsided, or my hair wasn’t sticking out all over the place. I had a bad habit of pulling on the pieces in the front when I grew anxious, most of the time having no idea I’d even done so.

“You ready, son?” my dad called from behind me.

When I turned around, we both stopped moving and just stood there, staring at one another. The pride that swirled inside him radiated through his eyes, the same light brown of my own, and his mouth curved into a smile that seemed too big for his face. This had been more of his dream than mine, but over the years, I couldn’t help taking part in his aspirations for my future. Simply knowing how proud he was of me, of getting here, of even having this opportunity, made it all worth it.

Even if I didn’t hear my name tonight.

I had to keep telling myself that—that I wouldn’t be picked in the first round. If not, then the crash of disappointment would be hard, and I’d feel down in the end. Whereas, if I told myself it wouldn’t happen, and that I was only here on vacation with my dad and best friend, then my trip home in the morning would be an easier pill to swallow.

“Yeah, I’m ready,” I answered and walked to the door on unsteady feet.

Ellie fell in line behind me while the three of us filed out of the room and down the hall to the elevator. We had a car waiting for us downstairs that would take us to the studio at the MLB Network where the draft would be held.

The entire way there, my chest constricted and I couldn’t breathe. With my dad in the passenger seat, Ellie sat in the back next to me. Sensing my apprehension, she reached across the middle and took my hand, but when I turned to look at her, I found her staring out the window, not paying me any attention aside from her fingers laced with mine. It was enough to settle my nerves slightly.

The car came to a stop outside the studio, and my dad got out. I, however, remained seated in the back, needing an extra moment to collect myself. The sheer number of broadcasters standing along the sidewalk leading up to the building stifled my ability to inhale properly, causing me to practically hyperventilate in the back of the Town Car.

“You’ve got this, Coby.” Her soft, confident voice drifted across the seat and settled over me, blanketing me with the kind of comfort only Ellie could give. When I turned to face her, I noticed her pointing at me with one finger. My finger. Our finger. I touched it, mimicking her, and she said, “Either way, you’ll always be my MVP.”

I couldn’t hold in the laughter. It bubbled out just as my dad opened my door and the driver opened Ellie’s. By the time we were both on the sidewalk, we were in a fit of hysterics, to which my dad gave us each a questioning stare.

“You’re such a dork,” I whispered to her.

“Takes one to know one.”

During the walk into the building, through the hallways, and into Studio 42, everything became a blur. There were the flashes of light from the cameras outside, the blast of cold air inside, and murmurs from other players and their families filling the room as if they had it on surround sound. It felt like a dream, like it wasn’t happening to me. It was akin to sitting on the sidelines and watching it all happen to someone else.

But it wasn’t.

We were here for me.

It was all so surreal.

Suddenly, the commentators—who were at their desks in front of the cameras along the side of the room—started the introductions for the viewers. My heart climbed up my chest and settled into my throat, choking me to the point my tie squeezed the life out of me. But like always, Ellie was at my side, seated next to me, with her palm against mine.

The commissioner took the podium and announced the first pick coming from the Tuscaloosa Titans. They were notoriously the worst team last season, which solidified their spot at the head of the pecking order. As much as I wanted to play for a decent team—or at least one that didn’t have the highest loss-to-win ratio by a landslide—I had kind of held my breath for the Titans. It made the most sense with Ellie attending the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. That way, we would be stationed in the same place, even though being a Titan would put me on a National League team where I wouldn’t have a designated hitter. Then again, beggars couldn’t be choosers.

Realistically, even if I did get picked up, I’d more than likely spend a year or two on a farm team, which would take me out of the area to hone in and develop my skills. However, the Titans were one of the few with their Major League and Minor League teams stationed within driving distance of each other—yet another reason why I would’ve been okay with landing on the Titan’s roster.

“With the first selection of the First Year Player Draft, the Tuscaloosa Titans select…” he said, reading from a piece of paper on the podium in front of him. Except that was all I heard. After that, the room broke out in whistles and jeers, alerting me that he’d called someone’s name.

Then, Ellie nudged me with her elbow. Turning to face her, I noticed her wide eyes, shining like a beacon of light over a dark horizon. Her mouth hung slack and her grip on my hand tightened until I could barely feel my fingers. I glanced around the room, wondering whose name had been called…and noticed everyone watching me.

Me.

My dad slapped me on the back, grabbing my attention. His mouth moved, words came out, but I hardly recognized anything he said. Although, when I tried to read his lips, he appeared to be telling me how proud he was of me. He stood, then Ellie followed, and I realized I needed to get out of my seat before the cameras caught me sitting on my ass like a dumbstruck fool. I hugged my dad, then swooped up Ellie into my arms and held her for a beat longer before making my way to the front of the room.

The coach for the Titans met me first, and shook my hand, welcoming me to the team, and then he handed me a cap with the image of a golden, three-pronged staff embroidered on the front above the stiff bill. Mindlessly, I curved the bill in my hands and put the cap on my head. Once I made it to the stage, the commissioner—dressed in a tan suit that looked older than me, his head full of white hair slicked back on both sides—wrapped his arms around me and offered me a T-shirt with the same logo across the front.

I unfolded it and held it against my chest for the cameras, feeling like a moron vacationing on cloud nine. Eventually, I’d wake up from this dream, although while I was still in it, I figured I needed to enjoy it. The break of dawn would come too soon.

Finding Ellie’s smiling face in the crowd, I held up my index finger in her direction. Anyone else would’ve thought I simply pointed at her, but she understood what it meant, proven by the way her finger hung in the air, directed at me.

The announcers along the side of the room droned on, as well as the commissioner at the podium. Lights flashed, people continued to share in the excitement, and the world just kept on spinning, wrapping me up in this fairy tale I knew better than to believe in.

Everything was a whirlwind after that moment, the next few hours happening in a blur. I’d tried to memorize it all, lock it away in my memory box for a rainy day, yet my brain couldn’t seem to catch up to the reality. One minute, I was in my seat, flanked by my father on one side and my best friend on the other. The next, I had strangers in my face, shaking my hand, some giving me hugs without much warning. Questions were tossed at me, assumptions were made behind my back, but through it all, Ellie was there.

* * *

Neither the chatter in the dimly lit room nor the aroma of a well-cooked steak could pull my focus from the night I just had. After the completion of the first two rounds of the draft, my dad had the driver of the car take us to a nice restaurant to celebrate.

“Your mother would’ve been so proud of you—no,” he corrected himself, shaking his head. “She is proud of you. I can feel it. She was with you tonight, in that room. I have no doubt about that.”

Dad rarely spoke about my mom. When I was younger, he’d brought her up often, always making sure she was in my life, even though she wasn’t physically present. He instilled in me that she would’ve been there every single day if she had been given a choice, and that she’d loved me with her whole heart even before I was born. I didn’t once doubt it. But as I got older, he talked about her less and less. I didn’t mind, because I figured he’d told me everything I needed to remember, and he’d done a sufficient job at making me aware of her unconditional love. So to hear him bring her up now, seeing his eyes mist, meant far more than anything else.

“I know, Dad.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. “I had all the important people by my side tonight, physically and spiritually. I don’t doubt that.”

To my surprise, when the waitress came by for our drink order, my dad requested a bottle of champagne…for the table. The woman turned her wire-rimmed gaze to Ellie and me, but after a second of hesitation, she left to fulfill his request. She must’ve assumed we were of age, doubting a parent would’ve ordered an alcoholic beverage for his underage children.

“This calls for a celebration.” He held up his glass, waiting for us to lift ours. “To the next step in our lives. May this only be the beginning of dreams coming true and the start of everyone’s happily ever after.”

The clink of glass concealed my groan. “Dad, it’s not a sure thing yet. They could defer the contract. More than likely, I’ll get placed with their farm team and never see the real mound.”

“You also didn’t think you’d hear your name tonight, despite your agent preparing you for it. And you were the first one called. Even if you have to spend a season or two in the Minors, there’s no way they won’t see what you can do and not give you a spot on the big roster.”

“I guess we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?” I muttered under my breath.

He more than likely heard me, but at least he didn’t come back with more sickeningly optimistic words that would only further prove to upset me when they didn’t follow through. Instead, he continued to dream. “At least you won’t be too far away. And you’ll be close to Ellie, too. Although, this will be the first time in your lives you’ll be separated.”

“Dad,” I warned with a pointed stare. “We won’t be separated. We’ve already talked about this—about the possibility of us not attending college together. But I got the best deal out of everything by getting in with the Titans. Sure, we’ll have to spend more time apart than we’re used to, yet it’s not like we won’t see or talk to each other.”

“No, I get all that, son. I’m talking about birthdays and such. You two have spent every holiday together since you both were born. And since your birthdays fall within the baseball season, that could mean being away from each other. I don’t doubt you guys will remain close, although I guess this will be the first real test of your friendship.”

Everything stopped.

The world quit spinning, the air refused to exist, and my heart ceased to beat. In all the scenarios I’d played out in my head or with Ellie, not once did I ever contemplate the possibility of us not being physically together during major milestones in our lives. I had no idea what would happen from here, but I had always assumed Ellie would be by my side through it all, and now, I was smacked in the face with the likelihood she wouldn’t.

The last thing I wanted was for my life to interfere with hers. She had worked hard to get into the University of Alabama, and she deserved to be there. She deserved to live the college life to its fullest, and now I worried that my career would hinder her goals and aspirations.

“It’s not like we can’t call or Skype. Not to mention, it’s technically not the first time we’ve spent celebrations away from each other,” she pointed out, setting her glass down after drinking half of it in a few gulps. “Remember when we turned ten? I left for camp on my birthday.”

I hadn’t forgotten, but it also wasn’t a valid comparison. Even though she left that day, I’d still seen her that morning. In fact, I’d slept at her house the night before and woke her up by jumping on the bed. So really, we hadn’t spent the day apart—at least, not all of it.

However, I didn’t argue. I simply nodded and pretended it didn’t bother me, even though it killed me inside. “We’ll be fine, Dad. Nothing can come between the two of us.” And I meant it, too. I refused to let anything separate us. We’d been through too much together to allow a silly sport to break up our unity.

“That’s good to hear, son. Keep your head on straight, your eyes ahead of you, and you’ll navigate this life better than the rest.” Without admitting it out loud, he feared the possible consequences of this decision. He’d followed baseball all his life—as well as almost every other sport—so he was well versed on the demands that came hand in hand with a high-profile sports career.

Ever since he’d hired an agent for me to handle the draft, he’d preached about remaining grounded if—and when—I ventured into the world of Major League Baseball. He worried more because of my sheltered life and quiet personality. It’d started when the scouts had pried into my personal life, asking anyone who’d ever so much as taken a glimpse at me questions most couldn’t answer accurately. The truth was, I was a very private person without many friends. Aside from my dad, Ellie, and her parents, no one really knew me. And I was perfectly okay with that. My agent explained how the teams needed to make sure I wasn’t a hazard or liability, and that my unpopularity could haunt me. With the amount of money these teams paid for players, they needed to ensure they didn’t “buy” a lemon. Those were his words, not mine. But I figured as long as I had Ellie by my side, I wouldn’t have a problem.

She grounded me.

Three steaks and a bottle of champagne later, we were back at the hotel, ready to call it a night. My dad gave us both one last hug, telling me for the hundredth time how proud he was of me, and then retired to his room, leaving Ellie and me to ourselves.

“Can you believe it?” she asked, giggling all the way into the room.

Her laughter quickly turned into a satisfied moan as soon as she kicked off her heels, which only made me chuckle with her. I’d never seen her in anything other than low-top Converse sneakers. In an instant, we collapsed onto one of the beds in hysterics, neither of us sure what was so funny anymore.

She’d never looked more beautiful than she did at that moment. The glow of her excitement coupled with the grin on her face sent an ache straight to my core, and I wondered how I’d survive without her on a daily basis. The laughter died on my lips as she rolled onto her side to face me.

My silence must have triggered something in her as she, too, quieted down and stared at me. “What’s wrong, Coby?”

I hated being the cause of the fear in her voice. “Just thinking about how different life will be without you around to help navigate.”

She propped her head on her hand. “What are you most afraid of?”

I laid down beside her, the same way we’d done countless times before, and pondered my response. “I’ve spent my whole life in a bubble. A tiny hick town with more dirt roads than paved, and aside from the last couple of weeks, I couldn’t tell you the last time I met someone new.”

“So you’re going to meet a ton of new people…is that so bad?”

I wasn’t explaining myself properly. “That’s not the part I’m worried about. Did you see those other guys there tonight? Ellie, they were more…mature than I am. They had confidence in the spotlight, the women hanging around outside after the draft picks were announced, the cameras. I was the only awkward one in the bunch.”

“But, Coby, none of them were picked first. You were the only one whose name was called for that slot. You’ll figure the rest out. You always do.” She giggled and poked me in the side. “And just think of all the female possibilities. The Courtney Hunters of the world will all be vying for a night with you. You get to live the dream of duckling to swan…or whatever the equivalent of that is for a guy.”

“Ellie, I’ve never even kissed a girl—unless you count your mom’s cheek, which is just weird. What eighteen-year-old guy has never so much as made it to first base?” I turned my head to face her and wait for her response.

Her pupils dilated, and the warm blue I was accustomed to seeing softened to a shade so pale it was almost white, while the ring around her irises darkened. Her pink tongue slowly made its way across her full lips, and I watched, awestruck, as it left behind a moistened trail. Not once had I considered Ellie anything more than my best friend, but in the heat of the moment, I realized just how stunning she truly was, yet it was a quiet, unassuming beauty.

She inched toward me, hesitating. Her eyes searched my face, probably waiting to see if I backed away, but when I didn’t, she leaned in, closing the gap between us. Frozen with the possibility of her mouth meeting mine, I closed my eyes and prayed I hadn’t misread her signs. Our lips melded together in an initially awkward exchange. The moment I shifted to a more comfortable position and took her cheek in my hand, her tongue traced the space between my lips, and I opened for her. The exchange started as an inquiry but quickly turned into an exploration. One I’d never thought about taking with my best friend, although now I couldn’t imagine sharing it with anyone else.

Her tongue was soft and unhurried, turning with mine as though dancing to the beat of our hearts. The serenity was overtaken by the stirring in my pants when she put her thick thigh over mine, hooked her knee behind my own, and then pulled me to her, eliminating what little space remained between us. I had no clue what to do with my hands or if she even wanted them on her, but when hers untucked my shirt and slipped onto my bare skin, I decided to follow her lead.

We were both virgins—neither of us had a clue what we were doing. I probably should’ve questioned the wisdom behind our being together this way, yet nothing had ever made more sense. She pressed her body against mine and ignited parts of me that had been dormant my entire life. The warmth of her fingers on my chest sent chills down my spine, and I longed to touch her porcelain skin.

I gathered the courage to reach out and mimicked her touch. The instant my hand found her velvety side under her blouse, she moaned into my mouth. The soft, sensual sound spurred on my pursuit. I became desperate to hear more of that but didn’t have a clue how I’d solicited the response to begin with. The desire to touch her everywhere at once sent my mind into overdrive, and my dick ached for relief. Instinctively, my hand slid over her hip and down to her round ass. My fingers curled and pulled her core against me, providing myself—and her—with the friction I desperately craved.

My eyes flew open when she broke the kiss, but hers remained closed and her jaw hung slack. With her head tilted back, she gasped for breath and then rolled her hips against me again. Her heart beat in the vein along her neck, and without thought, I leaned in to kiss the pulse. Locks of her auburn hair fell against my face, and I nudged them out of the way to clear a path down to her collarbone. My lips left a trail of affection as I continued my pursuit. Every time Ellie moaned, her hips met mine, further fueling the fire burning inside me. I didn’t want to let go of her ass—I needed both hands to undo the buttons on her shirt.

I assumed she’d halt this game before her clothes came off, yet to my surprise, she not only didn’t stop me from removing her shirt, but in return, she took mine off, as well. The two of us had never been shy with each other, though we’d definitely been modest. There were unspoken lines neither of us had ever crossed. I had no idea what Ellie looked like without clothes on, even though I’d seen her in a swimsuit a thousand times, and she’d seen me shirtless on more than one occasion.

But somehow, this was different.

Intimate where the other had been casual.

She turned away, and I worried I’d gone too far. Then she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood a few feet away.

“Ellie?” I sat up and scooted to the edge of the mattress.

She didn’t respond with words, and instead, shimmied out of her skirt. With her back to me, my eyes went wide and my mouth hung open. My best friend stood before me in nothing but a bra and lacy underwear. They weren’t the skimpy things I assumed other girls wore, but the lace was sexy. The cut of her bikini panties accentuated her full curves, her perfect hourglass figure. There wasn’t a hard angle on her body, each flowed perfectly into the next, and suddenly, the crease beneath her ass became my favorite part of a woman.

Her fingers unclasped her bra, and she let it fall to the floor. I waited with bated breath to see if she wanted from me what I would’ve died to give her. Then her thumbs hooked the lace still on her bottom, and in seconds, that scrap of fabric met its match near her feet. My heart raced with anticipation, and I silently begged God for her to turn around.

Nothing could have prepared me for the sight of her when she finally did.

My eyes darted to her face where nervous anticipation lingered in her expression. She chewed on her bottom lip as my gaze took a leisurely stroll down her neck, hovered over her perfect breasts, down her flat stomach to the little strip of hair, and landed on her painted toes. I needed to say something to ease her worry, tell her she was beautiful, anything other than stare like a prepubescent teen.

“Holy fuck.” Not quite the sentiment I had in mind, but my brain seemed to be functioning in my dick instead of my head. I only hoped the smirk I couldn’t wipe off my face told her more than the words that came out of my mouth.

Her head fell back and the sound of her laughter ensured me all was right in our world. But here stood my best friend, naked as the day was long, while I still had on far too many clothes. I couldn’t tear my stare away to do anything to rectify the situation. While I gawked like a moron, she reached out and unbuckled my belt. In seconds, the two of us were awkwardly aware of just how exposed we were. It took everything in me not to press my palm against my erection to stop its protrusion. To occupy my hands, I reached out, gripped Ellie’s hips, and pulled her body flush to mine.

We’d never talked about sex. We hadn’t avoided it, but it never came up. Neither of us dated in high school, so the topic never presented itself. And yet here we stood, on the cusp of a monumental decision, and as much as I hated to ruin the moment, I had to make sure we were both on the same page.

“Are you sure?”

Her hair fell in her face when she nodded, and then she tucked it behind her ear. I needed to hear the words.

“Ellie?”

She captured my face with both of her hands, responding by taking my breath away in a single, passion-filled kiss. “Does that answer your question?”

I couldn’t quite remember what I had asked, and the only thing that came to mind tumbled out of my mouth. “I don’t have a condom.” Of course I didn’t. No dork who’d never dated carried a condom in hopes of getting lucky. That shit would expire before getting used.

“I’m on the Pill.”

Those four words stunned me. There was no way she could’ve been on birth control and never told me about it. I refused to consider the why behind her truth. But once again, I spoke before thinking.

“Why?” It came out as condescending instead of confusion.

“My doctor put me on it sophomore year for my cramps.” She explained this as though she were telling me the grass was green, coupled with a bit of a shrug.

“How come you never mentioned that before?”

“My menstrual cycle doesn’t really rile me into a verbal frenzy.”

Her laugh was cute, but it died when my lips crashed into hers. I’d never been so thankful for PMS as I was at this moment. Carefully, I laid her down on the bed and crawled between her legs, mindful to keep my weight from crushing her. Ellie and I had never kept secrets—well, except for this whole birth control thing, except I wasn’t counting that—and I refused to start now.

So I told her the truth. “I don’t have a clue what I’m doing here, E.T.”

“Me either.” She offered me a kind smile, the one that had comforted me throughout life. Her thighs fell open, then her feet hooked on my ass. “We’ll figure it out the same way we do everything else…together.” And she gently applied pressure with her heels to pull me closer.

The head of my cock hovered at her warm entrance. I was terrified and exhilarated at the same time. I wanted nothing more than to sink deep inside her; however, I knew this was going to hurt. Her, not me. I hoped if I took it slowly, she’d adjust to my size, but I met a barrier with only a couple inches in. My body shook with pleasure and restraint. I’d never felt anything so glorious as the warmth of a woman, yet I was aware of what came next.

“It’s going to hurt.” I stared into her eyes, dreading a change of heart.

She nodded and let her lids fall closed. Tears slipped down the sides of her face when I tried to ease my way in. I couldn’t stand the thought of causing her pain. “I’m sorry,” I whispered into her ear as I clenched my ass and forced my way through.

Her back arched, her fingers dug into my sides, and she gasped for air. Kissing her neck and stroking her head, I waited for her to relax. My thumbs brushed the wetness from her face, and after a moment, she started to move. The rhythm was awkward—she’d pull away at the same time I did, and then we’d painfully bump together. Then, after a few minutes, our bodies fell into the synchrony they naturally existed in.

I tried to hold off my orgasm, but it felt too good. Every time she moved, the way she clenched inside, hugging my cock like it was made for her, brought me closer to the edge. I wasn’t going to last, and I’d done nothing for her pleasure. “I-I’m going to come, El.”

To my surprise, she worked her hand between the two of us and rubbed circles on her clit while I continued to move inside her. Distracted by the way she pleased herself, I withheld my explosion until she pulsed around me. Her hand moved faster, and she held her breath just before she called out my name.

“Coby…”

My God, that was a sound I could die peacefully after hearing. It was as if angels had sung a two-syllable chorus in my honor. And then my own fireworks detonated inside her. The bursts of color behind my eyelids were brilliant. But when I finally glanced at the clock, I realized my moment of sexual glory had lasted roughly four minutes.