I slam the door and put my back to it. “Yeah?” I cross my arms over my chest. “What exactly did you mean by it, then?”
“I meant that I shouldn’t have kissed you, not like that…I just couldn’t help myself.”
“Right. That clears it up.”
He grits his teeth and then runs his hand through his shaggy, sandy-colored hair. Last night it was pulled back into a ponytail off his forehead. Today it looks like a wild, well-fucked mess.
I curse myself and my stupid girly emotions. The stupid things he awakened in me when he touched me earlier always land me in trouble where Grayson is concerned.
“What I meant…” he says, taking a step forward.
I’ve caged myself in. I have nowhere to go when he looms over me and places his hand on the fridge, above my head.
“…is that I meant it when I told Sarah I’ll take you however you want to give yourself to me. Whatever that is. I shouldn’t have assumed you’d want me touching you.” His lips twitch and his eyes darken. “At least not yet, anyway.”
I squeeze my eyes closed. My breath is coming in quick, small pants and I have to get control of myself.
I jump when his thumb wipes across my cheek. “I didn’t mean to make you cry. Or hurt you. I’m afraid I will, though.”
“Why?” I ask and hesitantly open my eyes.
He stares at his thumb on my skin as if he’s trying to memorize the feel of me. My stomach flips at the thought.
I have to soak up these memories just as much, too.
“Because that’s what I do. But you’re too important for that.”
I shrug. “Then I guess we should say goodbye now.”
“I don’t want that either.” He looks at me, his light blue eyes the color of the ocean. I feel as if he can see straight into my innermost thoughts. “Do you?”
Do I? It’d be safest for both of us.
I can’t, though. It’ll hurt when he leaves, but I’ve missed him, too, even if I haven’t admitted it yet. Grayson has been in every thought I’ve ever had for the last six years.
I’ll take him however I can get him, too. Even if my heart will be cut into a hundred jagged little pieces once he’s gone.
“No.” I shake my head. “I don’t want to go.”
“Friends then?” he asks, one side of his lips tilting into a hesitant grin.
I lean forward, running the tips of my fingers down his cheek.
He shivers beneath my touch, and I can’t hide my smile. “I don’t want that either.”
“Thank fuck,” he mutters, right before his palms press against my cheeks. “I really think the smart thing to do would be take this slow, talk it out…”
I can’t stop staring at his lips. “You’re right, that’d probably be best.”
“I also really need to kiss you again.”
His lips twist into a smirk, and his hands slide down until he’s cupping my shoulders, holding me still as if he can’t bear the idea of letting me go.
“Then do it.” I can’t think of anything I want more in this moment. We’ll talk. Eventually. Right now, I just want the reminder of how he makes me feel alive.
He pulls me to him, our chests connecting right before our lips meet again.
This kiss takes my breath away immediately. He makes me feel like I’m flying. Like I have the power to launch myself out the windows and soar hundreds of feet in the air by my own strength. His kiss is unrelenting, his lips soft but firm.
His calloused fingertips press into my cheeks as he pulls me against him, taking what he wants….
Devouring me.
He swallows my groans this time, dropping a hand to my waist, and then he picks me up, twisting us at the same time.
The cool marble slides against the backs of my thighs, making me shiver. I part my legs, allowing him to press against me.
His erection is firm and large when he pushes, rocking against my dampened center like he can’t get enough of me.
It’s thrilling. He’s intoxicating, and I’m able to forget about everything.
All my anger. All my hurt. He steals away all of my fears, leaving me only with the best pieces of myself that I want to fully offer to him.
And I want to heal him. Just the thought of what his dad did to him makes me want to cry. It doesn’t change everything, but it at least helps me understand where his mind was when he took off.
My hand slides through his hair, and I hold him to me as our kiss continues. I can feel his chest, his quickening breaths pulsing against my own.
I’ve never wanted anyone more than I’ve wanted Grayson. And I suddenly want him, for as long as he’ll let me.
I’ll figure a way to mend the broken pieces he’ll leave behind when the time comes.
“Well, well, well.”
A deep, amused voice snaps me back to reality. I jerk my mouth away from Grayson.
He drops his head, eyes closed, chest heaving.
I lick my lips when he turns his head and glares at the intruder. “Lynx.”
“Landon,” the man says, shooting Grayson a look.
Grayson grins. “I don’t give a fuck. Get out.”
“No can do, asshole. You need to eat and that’s my job. Take your fling to the bedroom.”
I feel Grayson’s growl in his chest before it leaves his lips. “Watch yourself.”
Landon tosses his hands up and smiles wide. “Just fuckin’ around. But seriously, it’s not sanitary to cook on a counter you’re going to have sex on, so move the show somewhere else.”
Embarrassment floods my veins and my skin turns hot. Looking away from Landon, I bury my head in Grayson’s chest as he growls at his friend again. His hand holds me to him and I like how strong he is.
I melt into him, not wanting to be anywhere else when his hand is back on my ass, lifting me. I wrap my legs around his waist and clasp my hands together behind his neck. Not that I think he’d drop me.
“Good morning, again,” Sarah chirps, skipping her way into the kitchen. Her hair is disheveled and her lips are swollen. She’s got that freshly fucked glow on her cheeks. I bite back my smile. She’s been gone ten minutes, maybe.
The girl moves fast.
Apparently so do the twins.
She smacks Landon’s butt when she dances by him toward the coffee. “Hello to you, sexy.”
“I’m not Lynx,” Landon grumbles, shaking his head.
I can’t help it. I throw my head back and laugh.
“I know that. Lynx is in bed. I wore him out.” Landon makes a gagging sound and Sarah turns to me, fresh cup of coffee at her lips. She winks and my cheeks flush crimson. “Looks like you two got things figured out.”
My grip on Grayson tightens at her implication.
We haven’t figured anything out except get us within three inches of each other and we can’t keep our hands or our lips to ourselves.
He must notice my concern because he whispers in my ear, “We will, don’t worry.”
I try to swallow down my doubt, but it’s difficult. There are too many unknowns, too many things still left unsaid. Too many things he’s sure to hate me for once he learns about them.
“We’re going to go talk about that now, actually,” he says, turning away from Sarah.
I wave at her from over his shoulder as he leaves the kitchen and begins carrying me toward a staircase that must lead to his bedroom.
“Eggs will be ready in ten!” Landon shouts as we walk away.
“I can walk by myself, you know.”
“I know.” He smiles down at me. It makes me want to drop my panties to the floor. “But then I don’t get to feel your ass in my hands, and I like it.”
I blush from his praise and bury my head back into his chest.
I can do this.
I can have fun with him.
I just have to remember that’s all it is.
A few days of hanging out, laughing, maybe some making out and some hot sex.
Then we part ways and go back to our real lives.
I just have to remember it’s not permanent.
Six
Grayson
What in the hell am I doing?
I smell Kennedy, or see her, and my brain goes haywire. My dick has no problems, though, as I walk to my bedroom, her arms and legs wrapped tight around me. That’s not true. My dick does have a problem—it’s that he’s not inside her yet.
Which is exactly where I want to be.
Last time, I knew I would hurt her when I walked away. I could blame her for changing our rules, but it’s a bunch of bullshit. I could have manned up and put it in the past. I could have tried to see if we could get past it. But when shit gets hard, I do one of two things: fight or flee. It’s too ingrained in me.
I just don’t want to flee this time.
Kicking open the door to my room, I keep walking until I can turn and sit on the edge of the bed.
I don’t loosen my grip on her ass.
“You can let go now.”
“Nope.” I shake my head. Something heats my skin when she smiles at me. It’s dazzling.
And when in the fuck do I use words like that?
No way am I letting go. I like her ass. It’s plump and sexy as hell—especially since she’s still in the skirt she wore last night. It’s not tight, but it shows enough leg and it’s thin enough that I almost feel like I’m touching her skin.
“I’m in town for three days,” I tell her. I also meant what I said out in the kitchen. I want to work this shit out so she’s not doubting or wondering what’s going on.