Not ever.
Except, of course, when he slid on the wedding band that would go under it.
His fingers folded around mine and he lifted my hand to his mouth, bending his neck and touching his lips to my finger above the ring while I watched, a tear sliding down my cheek.
Then he pulled my hand to his chest and flattened it there.
“It’s old, darlin’, not new, not fancy but there it is.” His thumb tweaked my ring. “Happy birthday.”
I ripped my hand from his and threw my arms around his shoulders. Then I went up on tiptoe as the fingers of one hand drove into his hair pulling his head down to me and I kissed him. It was wet and not just because my tongue danced with his but because my tears slid to our lips.
We made out in the kitchen for a long time before Gray finally raised his head but rested his forehead to mine and he whispered, “Say you love me, Ivey.”
“I love you, Gray. I really, really love you, baby.”
He grinned and his arm gave me a squeeze.
Then he let me go but grabbed my hand and, as he dragged me to the kitchen door, he ordered, “Now quit bawlin’. I’m hungry and we don’t have time for you to fix your face.”
Since I had no choice (but wouldn’t chose differently), I hurried after him as he took his long-legged strides toward the front door, my free hand dashing at my face and deep breathing to control the tears. Gray stopped us at the hall tree and helped me put on my coat. I nabbed my purse. Then he grabbed my hand again and dragged me out the door to his pickup where he put me, in my expensive shoes and a dress that cost a small fortune, to take me into town for my birthday dinner.
And as we were underway, even though night had fallen, I noticed that the detritus scattering the floor of the old girl had accumulated again.
It was time to clean out Gray’s truck.
And on this thought, my one hand in my other, my thumb moving over the hard diamond, I looked out the windshield and smiled.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The Wait Was Over
Six thirty in the morning, Christmas Eve…
I woke to darkness with Gray’s hands and mouth on me.
“Baby, it’s Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve can’t we sleep in?” I asked drowsily.
Gray’s hand made it to my breast and curled around as his lips made it to the base of my ear where he muttered, “No.”
Then his thumb slid over my nipple and I decided I no longer wanted to sleep in.
Instead, I twisted my neck, Gray’s head came up then it immediately came back down so he could kiss me.
* * * * *
Seven oh three in the morning, Christmas Eve…
“Need you, baby,” I breathed my plea.
I was stroking him, so desperate for him it was part stroking, part pulling.
His hand was between my legs, two fingers buried, thumb working me. Our mouths were close and we were both breathing heavily.
“Not done,” he muttered, pressing deeper and rolling.
Oh God.
“Baby, I’m gonna be done and I want to be done with you inside me,” I begged, my hips jerking, my hand still stroking and I did this hard, hard enough for him to groan.
I liked that and I was hoping that meant he was ready to move us directly to the final phase.
He didn’t.
Instead, he whispered, “Take you there again.”
Oh yes.
My eyes held his, close up.
“Really?”
He stopped rolling and started finger fucking me.
My head arched back.
His mouth went to my throat. “Really.”
Yes.
His fingers slid out, his hand cupped me and my head righted with a jerk, my eyes locking on his.
“Baby –” I started to protest.
“On your back, Ivey, spread your legs wide for me. I wanna watch you come while I fuck you with my fingers,” he ordered.
Oh yeah, I wanted that too.
So I did what I was told. Then Gray did what he wanted. And when he did, it was so good, my back arched clean off the bed, my head dug into the pillows and my hips ground down on his hand.
“Fuck me,” through the daze of my orgasm I heard him growl, “prettiest fuckin’ thing I’ve ever seen.”
Then he was between my spread legs, his hips drove into mine and he started fucking me.
Hard.
Then he did as promised and took me there again.
It was brilliant.
* * * * *
Eight thirteen in the morning, Christmas Eve…
Gray shoved his plate in the dishwasher I had open, sucked back the last of his coffee, upturned his mug and slid that in then his hand snaked out and tagged me behind the neck.
He pulled me in and up and dropped a light kiss on my lips.
When he lifted his head, he said, “Got shit to do in town. Then gonna go get Gran. You need anything?”
I shook my head.
“Got everything we need from Plack’s?” he went on.