Page 2 of Forged Forever

Alex has classical music playing softly in the background as he drives. Looking out the passenger window, I’m still not used to the brown landscapes surrounding me. Skeleton trees, dead grasses, and the odd pop of green from the pine trees pass us. Christmas this year was a strange experience whenever I saw the outside world. I’ve never not had snow during the holidays. In the odd year, there wasn’t much white on the ground in Virginia; snowy mountains surrounded us with frosty, nose biting cold. I loved the Thanksgiving and Christmas we had here, surrounded by people I cared about, but there was definitely something missing. It didn’t feel like the holidays, but I was able to forget if I didn’t see the landscape. Hopefully, I’ll get used to it as time goes by.

When Alex parks, I see Bay’s car beside us. Hopping out, Alex opens an umbrella to protect us from the chilly drizzle that's started, and we walk side by side into the building and up the elevator. Unlocking the door, I holler a hello as we enter. Ray pokes his head out of the kitchen with a smile. “Hello Summer, Alex. Come on in.”

“Happy New Year, Ray,” I smile. Walking towards Jake’s room, I find Bay playing a video game while Jake naps in his bed. Bay is dressed in a light blue dress shirt that makes his blue-green eyes pop, and jeans. Waving, I take a seat on the edge of Jake’s bed and run my fingers through his thick brown hair. He needs a haircut, but I admit I love his longer style. His hair curls around his ears and at the nape of his neck, making him somehow more handsome.

Jake mumbles something, turning his head towards me, before his sapphire eyes blink open and he sees me. A big smile breaks across his face. “Hi handsome.”

“Hi Sum.” His eyes take in my outfit and face. “You look gorgeous.”

“Thanks. How long have you been asleep?”

“A few hours, I think?” He looks at his nurse, Janus, who nods from her corner chair as she knits what looks like a scarf.

A knock at the front door sounds, which I assume is Seb and E, so Janus and I help Jake sit up straighter for company. I turn on the New York tv special as Seb and E join us. After hugs from both, the guys stand by their pictures to make sure Jake recalls who they are. Seb hands out shiny hats, light-up necklaces, and blowers from a bag he’s carrying, and Ray brings in extra chairs, so we all have a place to sit.

We enjoy an evening of laughter and food as we watch the television special. Ray prepped wings, hot dips, tortillas, and veggies for us. Bay leaves us around 10:30pm to meet Penny at a party, so I give him a hug goodbye and wish him a happy new year. Bay gives me a sad-looking smile, but when I raise an eyebrow, he just shakes his head and waves to everyone else. I hope he and Penny are okay.

When it’s almost midnight, the guys move the armchair out of the way and wheel Jake’s bed close to the patio doors so he can see the fireworks. I climb into bed beside him as the guys go onto the patio with Ray and Janus. Seb opens the door and turns up his phone. It's playing the Charleston radio station that synchronizes with the fireworks show so we can celebrate together.

We count down from 10, and the Charleston skyline lights up with explosions of color through the misty rain. I turn towards Jake to wish him a happy new year, and he puckers his lips, so I lean up on my elbow to meet him for a kiss to celebrate. Gosh, even though he’s been back for weeks now, I can’t help but treasure this kiss, although brief. I thought I'd forgotten what kissing him felt like, but it’s still so familiar and makes butterflies erupt in my belly. Pulling back before it gets too heated, I stare into his baby blues. “I love you, Jake.”

“Love you, Sum. I can’t believe I’m here with you,” he smiles as big and bright as the sparkling fireworks down at me.

When the show's over, I give hugs to everyone when they come back into Jake’s room. With another kiss to Jake’s cheek, I tell him I’ll call him tomorrow. He’s half asleep already. This is probably the latest he’s been awake since his coma.

Downstairs, I hop in with Alex to drive to his house. “The fireworks were really great tonight,” I comment.

“Yes, they were. Not quite as many as on the Fourth of July, but wonderful all the same,” Alex replies.

His house is mostly dark when we arrive, except for the front door lights and the garage. Hopping out, I grab my bag from the back seat. As I shut the door, damp arms wrap around me from behind. “I didn’t get my New Year’s kiss yet, Sunshine.”

Smiling, I turn around and get up on my tiptoes. Seb wastes no time in picking me up under my butt so that we're at eye level. With a mischievous smirk, he leans closer to give me a slow, passionate kiss. His tongue sweeps across my lower lip, and I allow him access into my mouth. His tongue tangles with my own as I feel him quickly harden against my body, and my heart rate picks up. There’s a party in my lower belly as my hormones ramp up. I thread my fingers through his black hair as Seb squeezes my butt in his large hands. When I’m gasping for air, he sets me back on my feet with a genuine smile. “That’ll do for now.”

Slinging his arm over my shoulders, I catch my breath as he steers me towards the house where Alex and E are patiently waiting for us. It strikes me again how small our group is without Nick and Bay. I hope they're both having an enjoyable night wherever they are.

Once we’re inside the apartment, I tell the guys I’m showering. Texting Dad quickly that I’m here and safe, I get under the hot spray. I feel unsettled, and I’m not sure why. Tonight went great, and there was no awkwardness as the new year began. I momentarily felt nerves during the countdown, worried Seb would want a kiss in front of Jake, but it quickly left because I knew Seb wouldn’t do anything to make me uncomfortable. So where's this feeling coming from? Is It Nick? He still feels like a missing limb despite the months that have passed.

As I’m pondering what's going on with me, Seb slips in behind. “Sunshine, what’s wrong?” he asks as he wraps his arms around my moist waist.

“Not sure, Hurry. I feel…off. I don’t know why.”

Seb’s brows furrow as he looks me over. “No idea what’s bothering you?”

“None,” I shake my head.

“Hmm,” Seb leans down and kisses my wet shoulder. “Let’s take your mind off things for a while.” His hands glide up my wet, warm skin to cup my breasts.

My head thuds backward, landing on his muscular chest as he plays with my nipples, and a soft moan slips from between my lips. The tips of his fingers circle them until they harden, then he lightly pinches and pulls.

Reaching behind me, I grab his hard velvet cock in my hand and give him a swift pump. Seb groans, his teeth clamping onto my shoulder without breaking the skin. His dominant hand slides down my belly, swiftly spreading my lips and zooming in on my clit as he rubs gentle circles. He kisses and nips at my collarbone and neck as he plays me like a fiddle.

I increase my strokes in time with his circles on my nub as we both start rocking our bodies back and forth. My mind blissfully blanks from worry as my pulse speeds up and my pleasure builds.

I find a drop of precum as my hand slides up to the tip of his cock, and I spread it around to better lubricate my stroking, and another groan leaves Seb. I love having this effect on him. Being able to bring him euphoria is something I cherish.

We both pick up our pace as we get closer to oblivion. Seb switches it up and slides a thick finger into me, using his thumb to continue rubbing my nub. My back arches with the pleasurable intrusion as the cliff looms closer. “Come for me, Sunshine. Let me feel you clamp down on my finger. Moan for me,” Seb whispers into my ear.

His warm breath combined with his fingers has me plummeting off the mountainside into bliss. I use my fist to muffle the sound of my moan as tingles spread through my body from my center to the tips of my toes, all the way to my hair.