Chapter 88: Pull My Zipper Up?

~“Strong hands, thick skin, and an open heart. You saw through the pain, saw through the mask. You never gave up on me.” —Sia.~

Chapter Theme Song: “Love Me Back To Life” by Sia.

HARMONY

As morning light filters in, I blink my eyes open to see Blaze, still asleep beside me. His hair is tousled over his eyes, and his lips are slightly parted. It’s a sight that makes my heart flutter.

The events of last night feel like a dream, but the tender ache between my thighs reminds me it was all too real.

It was the most incredible experience of my life, and I’d give anything to relive the intimacy of that moment.

I think about waking Blaze, but decide against it. He must be exhausted after last night, and it’s only 5:50 in the morning.

We have an English class together at eight, so a few more minutes of sleep won’t make us late.

I carefully get out of bed and tiptoe to the bathroom. I’m grateful my mom packed my toothbrush, though it’s still strange to me that she let me stay here overnight.

I haven’t seen my mom trust someone like she trusts Mr. Blake in a long time.

After brushing my teeth and changing into fresh clothes, I quietly leave the room, careful not to wake Blaze, who’s now sprawled on his stomach, deep in sleep.

Downstairs, I hear movement in the kitchen and the mouthwatering smell of bacon wafts up to me.

Mr. Blake must have gotten up early to make breakfast. I decide to offer my help—it’s not in my nature to sit around while someone else is working.

As I descend the stairs, Mr. Blake turns from the stove at the sound of my footsteps and greets me with a warm smile.

“Good morning.”

I return his smile. “Good morning. Can I help with anything?”

“No need.” He waves me off with a fork. “I’m almost done. Please, have a seat.”

He turns off the stove, and I take a seat at the kitchen island, drumming my fingers on the countertop as I take in the immaculate surroundings.

“So, did you sleep well?” he asks, placing a piece of perfectly toasted bread on a glass plate.

I smile, remembering the night. “Yeah...I did.”

The memory of Blaze’s arms around me and his lips on mine makes me blush. The ache between my legs has faded, but I feel different somehow. Like I’ve given a part of myself to Blaze.

“Ah, I can tell. Too bad I barely got any sleep because of you and Blaze and all the noise you two were making.” He turns to place the plate in front of me, a small smile playing on his lips.

~Oh God, did he hear us last night?~

I clear my throat, pretending to be confused. “S-sorry?”

He chuckles. “I’ve been around long enough to know what a rattling headboard sounds like.”

~Jesus~. I’m mortified.

What if he tells my mom? They seem to be good friends. I know they talk when I’m not around, and I have no idea what they discuss.

Panic starts to set in. My mom would kill me if she found out I had sex.

I bury my face in my hands. “Please don’t tell my mom,” I whisper, and he chuckles.

“Why would I? If I did, she wouldn’t let you come back here, and I think Blaze could use your company. Just don’t tell her I let you sleep in his room; she might not like that.”

“Yeah, she wouldn’t...” I say, gritting my teeth. “But the guest rooms were occupied, so we didn’t have a choice...”

Mr. Blake chuckles softly, shaking his head. “The guest rooms were fine.”

I stare at him, dumbfounded. “They were?”

He scratches his temple. “Uh, yeah... I’m sorry for lying, but I thought you two needed some time alone. I noticed the tension between you at dinner last night.

“I could tell something was off, so I thought maybe some alone time would help.”

That’s the coolest thing a dad could do. It’s a shame Blaze doesn’t realize how great his father is. I hope one day he will.

My shocked expression makes him look guilty. “Um, I know I shouldn’t have done that, but I need you around my son. He’s different when you’re with him.”

He smiles slightly, as if remembering a special moment with Blaze. “I like who he is when he’s with you, and I love that he shares things with you...things he wouldn’t share with me, and that’s okay.

“You keep him grounded, and that’s all I want for my son. That’s why I asked you to stay last night. Blaze is only truly alive when you’re around.”

I smile, touched by his words.

“I’m glad you feel that way,” I say. “It’s nice to know I can offer him that comfort.”

He smiles back, but his eyes reveal his deep concern for his son. He cares for Blaze, even though Blaze’s condition makes it hard for him to empathize. I can’t imagine how hard that must be for Mr. Blake.

“What’s for breakfast?” Blaze’s voice echoes in the room as he walks in, and Mr. Blake ends our conversation to serve Blaze his breakfast.

“Good morning,” Blaze whispers in my ear, making me giggle.

“Good morning.” I blush as he steals a quick kiss before his father turns around.

His breath is minty fresh, a sure sign he’s just brushed his teeth.

He plops down next to me with a sigh. “What’s that you’re eating?” He reaches for my fork, but his dad swats his hand away.

“Get your own food.”

I can’t help but smile as he serves Blaze his breakfast, then dishes up his own plate and joins us.

We eat in silence for a bit.

Under the table, Blaze’s hand rests on my bare leg, exposed by my shorts. The simple touch sends a spark of desire through me, but I keep my cool and focus on my food.

Then his hand starts to wander up my inner thigh. I jump at the sensation, and Mr. Blake looks up at us.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

I nod. “Mm-hmm.”

He goes back to his food, and I shoot Blaze a questioning look. He doesn’t meet my gaze, just keeps eating with a small smile on his face.

Slowly, his fingers start to trace the curve of my thigh, where it meets my body, and I hold my breath as he slips a finger under the edge of my panties.

I puff out my cheeks. What the hell is he doing?

When his finger finally touches my bare skin, I grip my fork tighter, my breath hitching. I squirm and squeeze my thighs together, trapping his hand.

I glance at him, and see a blush spreading across his cheeks. But he still won’t look at me.

He starts to stroke me, slow and torturous, and I have to squint against the overwhelming pleasure.

The sound of Mr. Blake’s phone ringing startles me, and he quickly pulls it out of his pocket. Blaze doesn’t stop what he’s doing, instead using the distraction to speed up his movements.

A smile spreads across his dad’s face as he looks at the caller ID, then he clears his throat and answers.

“Hello, Haylee.”

I look up at the sound of my mom’s name, and Blaze’s finger freezes inside my shorts as he gives his dad a strange look.

“She’s eating. Yeah, she’s fine,” he says. “Okay...yeah, I’ll take them to school soon. Okay.” Then he laughs, and I see Blaze roll his eyes and slam his fork down, clearly pissed.

“You okay?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at him. He just nods and looks away, pulling his hand back.

Okay, he’s definitely not okay. I know him well enough to know when something’s bothering him, but I decide to give him some space to sort it out.

“Yeah, okay. Sure, I’ll call you back later.” Mr. Blake ends the call with my mom, then turns to me with a smile. “That was your mother.”

“What did she want?”

He chuckles. “She was wondering why you aren’t at school yet.”

“Oh!” I say, smiling. “I should go get ready then. Thanks for breakfast, Mr. Xander.”

“Don’t mention it, dear.”

I hop off the stool and head back to the stairs.

BLAZE

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Blake snaps. “Is the food too salty or something?”

I lean back with my arms crossed, my annoyed expression not changing. “You know damn well why I’m looking at you like this. What’s going on with you and Harmony’s mom?”

He rolls his eyes. “Nothing’s going on; she’s just a friend. Can’t I have friends, Blaze?”

“Yeah, but that smile on your face when you talk to her isn’t friendly. You better not be messing around with her.”

“Don’t be crude, Blaze.”

“Crude?” I scoff. “You’re the one acting like a horny teenager, so I think I have every right to be suspicious.

“I can’t believe you managed to convince a strict mom like Harmony’s to let her daughter stay the night. She must really trust you.

“Do you guys hang out a lot?”

He frowns and stands up. “I don’t have to answer that.”

“Answer the question, Blake,”

He turns to me and sighs. “Yes, we see each other a lot, but it’s not what you think. We’re both widowed, and we talk about the challenges we face, that’s all.

“I wouldn’t do that. I know how you feel about Harmony, and I love seeing you two together, so I wouldn’t do anything to mess that up, Blaze.”

I narrow my eyes at him, and he frowns. “God, you know how to ruin a good morning.” I clench my jaw as I glare at him. “You better keep your word, Blake.”

He sighs heavily as I get up and head for the stairs.

I know him better than he knows himself. He’s more of a womanizer than I ever was. That’s what tore our family apart, and I won’t let him ruin the one good thing I have left.

HARMONY

The door opens, and I turn to see Blaze walking in. He looks upset, but when he sees my smile, he quickly wipes the anger from his face.

Still, I can’t help but be curious. He’s been acting weird ever since his dad’s phone rang.

“Are you okay? Is something bothering you?”

He shakes his head. “No, I’m fine. It’s just my dad.”

“What did he do?”

He shrugs and shakes his head. “Nothing, don’t worry about it. I don’t want to talk about negative stuff right now.”

I can’t help but smile a little. “Alright, let’s drop it. I’m glad you came up, though. I could use some help with my dress. Can you zip me up?” I turn around so my back is to him, and he steps closer.

“I have a ton of summer dresses. My mom just loves buying them for me.” I laugh a bit, but Blaze doesn’t respond to my random chatter.

I sense him moving closer, and instead of zipping up my dress, his warm hand slips into the open back of my dress and starts to explore my waist.

I gasp. “Wh-what are you doing?”

“Shh...” He whispers, his lips brushing against my earlobe. I close my eyes, my breath coming in short, uneven bursts.

His hand starts to slide into my underwear, and I quickly grab his wrist. “Blaze...”

“Don’t speak, Harmony,” he murmurs. I let go of his wrist and squeeze my eyes shut.

“Are you feeling better? After last night?”

I nod. “Yeah, it’s not so bad...”

“Good...” Without any warning, he slides his finger inside me. I squirm, my knees buckle, and I almost collapse, but he wraps an arm around me to keep me upright.

“Be careful.”

“Your dad...” I take a deep breath. “He’s right downstairs.”

“I honestly don’t give a fuck,” he mutters, and I feel him add another finger. The sensation of being stretched returns, and I gasp, gripping his arm as he moves inside me.

He’s not as gentle as he was last night. His movements are rough, assertive, and I struggle to keep from falling against him.

The pleasure builds quickly, and I dig my nails into his arms as my eyes squeeze shut from the intense sensation spreading through me.

My muscles clench as the orgasm ripples through me, and I bite down on my lower lip to keep from making a sound.

When I finally come back down, my knees are weak, and I’m struggling to stay standing.

He smiles against my ear as he zips up my dress. “You might need another shower.”

I look at him with tired eyes, and he smirks as he backs away, heading for the door. “Don’t take too long, or you’ll need two showers.”

My cheeks are as red as tomatoes as he leaves the room. Next time, I should probably think twice before asking him to zip me up.

Or maybe not?