At that moment, Foster entered the room. “Good morning, sexy,” he said. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw that he was still naked, and I took several long moments to appreciate the sight.
“It’s a great morning now,” I replied, licking my lips. He grinned and closed the distance between us in order to give me a gentle kiss before I left the room.
I was quick to take my shower and get ready. The evening before, Foster and I had already discussed getting breakfast in town and then heading to a nearby recreation area, where a short hike would lead to views of an impressive waterfall.
Once I’d joined Foster in the living room, we were about to head out when I heard the sound of a car pulling up in front of the cabin. Glancing at my stepfather in confusion, I walked over to the window and couldn’t suppress a startled cry. Then I looked over my shoulder at him. “Mom’s here,” I said.
“What?” His voice was sharp, edged with alarm. He came to stand beside me, and I saw his expression darken. “Fucking hell,” he muttered.
As soon as Mom started to get out of the car, Foster strode to the door and then went outside, and I hurried to follow him. I noticed that he didn’t let Mom get close to the cabin; instead, he positioned himself to block her way, resting his hands on his hips. Meanwhile, my heart was furiously beating in my chest as I thought of what Mom would find if she managed to get inside. Only one bed, and a bottle of lube on the table beside it…
I felt sick with dread while I stood at Foster’s side. Mom didn’t even give us a chance to speak before she demanded, “What the hell is going on? I’ve tried to call you both a thousand times, and you wouldn’t answer! I’ve been worried sick!”
“The reception is shitty up here,” I began, immediately falling into the role of the obedient son, quick to avoid conflict.
“How did you find us, Cassie?” Foster suddenly demanded, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Mom. My own eyes widened in shock; I’d been so flustered by my mother’s arrival that I hadn’t even thought to wonder how she’d tracked us down.
Mom tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, keeping her gaze lowered, and I realized she actually looked guilty. She seemed to be at a complete loss for words while shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
Foster must have noticed her suspicious behavior as well, for he said in a dangerously low voice, “Did you put a tracker on my car?”
My mouth dropped open, and I had that horrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, the way I always did when they were about to fight. Except this time, I knew it was going to be so much worse than ever before.
Mom finally raised her head, her expression a little defiant. “Only recently,” she began. “I just wanted to…”
Foster didn’t let her finish. “Get it off the fucking car right now, Cassie!” His voice rose with each word he spoke, and for once, my mom backed down and didn’t argue. Instead, she walked sheepishly over to Foster’s car, toward the left rear wheel well. I watched, incredulous, as she felt along the inside of it and then dislodged the tracker, holding it tightly in her hand.
“You left me no choice!” she told Foster, her voice thick with unshed tears. “All those nights you said you had to work late, I wanted to make sure you were actually at the office.”
“As if you had any goddamn right,” he growled, “when you’re the one who’s been fucking around!”
Mom suddenly advanced on him, ready to deliver a slap to his face, for she knew he would never raise a hand to her.
My reaction was instant. I stepped between the two of them, my eyes flashing a warning at my mother. “Don’t you fucking dare,” I told her in a low voice that trembled with barely contained rage.
She gasped, her blue eyes widening in shock and fury. “Don’t you talk to me that way, Landon!”
“You need to go,” I said firmly. “You walked out on the two of us, and you can’t just show up anytime you want. I haven’t heard a damn word from you since you left!”
Mom looked over my shoulder at Foster. “I know what you’re doing,” she spat at him. “You’re trying to turn my son against me!”
“You’ve managed to do that all on your own,” I told her.
Mom snapped her head back, as if I’d struck her. For a moment she struggled to speak. Then she straightened her spine and gave me a cold stare. “If you take his side in this, Landon, you are dead to me.”
I only shook my head. “So be it,” I replied. “You’re fucking toxic, and until you change, I want you out of my life.”
A wounded cry escaped her lips, but to my surprise, she didn’t have a vicious retort for me. She only stormed to her car and got inside, slamming the door. I watched as she sped away. Then my shoulders slumped while I released a heavy sigh.
Foster rested his hand on my back. “Let’s go inside,” he said softly.
We walked back into the cabin, and I sank onto the couch, still reeling from what had just happened. Foster sat down next to me, clearly struggling to process it all as well. “I’m so sorry, Landon,” he finally said, and I saw the pain in his eyes. “I never wanted to come between you and your mom.”
“You didn’t,” I insisted. “Throughout all of this, you’ve tried to defend her, but we both know she’s a manipulative narcissist. It’s not healthy for me to have a relationship with her unless she’s willing to change, and I’m certainly not holding my breath waiting for that to happen.” Foster flinched at my words, but he knew I spoke the truth. Moving closer to him, I grabbed his hand. “You’re all the family I need,” I whispered. “You’re the only real family I’ve ever had.”
Foster brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. “Landon,” he breathed, and the way he said my name, with such deep emotion, made me blink back tears even as I smiled.
“I love you,” I said. “More than anyone else in this world.”
He pulled me to him then, his mouth seeking out mine. His kiss was fervent, almost desperate, and I welcomed that need, surrendering to it completely. I wanted to be close to him, wanted to chase away the pain and sadness my mother had caused.
His lips traveled to my neck, and I closed my eyes, moaning faintly as Foster gently suckled the tender skin there. “Let’s go to the bedroom,” I whispered.
“Mmm, yes,” he murmured, his hands sliding over my body. “And this time, I want you inside me, Landon.”
Slowly I pulled away from him, my eyes wide as I studied his face. “I never imagined you’d want to do that!” I said. And it was true; in my wildest fantasies about Foster, I was always the bottom, being taken, and I was perfectly happy with that.
Foster raised an eyebrow, giving me a playful grin. “You seem to enjoy it so much, you’ve made me eager to try it,” he said. “And your fingers have done some exploring, checking out my ass while you’ve gone down on me. Don’t tell me you’re not even a little curious.”
I was suddenly flustered, hardly able to get the words out. “I didn’t… I mean, I am, but…”
Foster’s gaze was full of warmth when he came to my rescue, saving me from my own uncertainty. Leaning close to me, he said in a low voice, “I got up early this morning so I could spend extra time getting ready for this.”