“Sure, because he knows all the answers on Jeopardy,” I recited.
“That and because the only one who’d blow him was a toy he built himself.”
“Better the puppeteer, Geppetto, than the puppet. At least I can get it up without the assistance of pharmaceuticals,” Noah said.
“You know, when you brought Bo to the movies, Mike thought you were a couple,” I confided. This made both Noah and Bo laugh.
Bo leaned toward me. “I have slept with Noah before, Grace. He snores, just an FYI.”
I turned to Noah. “Is this true?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t ever been awake while I’ve snored. But I wouldn’t trust anything Bo says. He’d sleep through revelry played right in his ear.”
I turned toward Bo for confirmation.
“True. I was a bad Marine,” Bo said. He didn’t look too sorrowful about this. Amy used this opportunity to lure Bo’s attention back to her by asking when he got out.
Pulling Noah’s head down to mine, I boldly told him, “I’m ready to go home.” Instead of swiftly carrying me to his truck, he groaned a little and cuddled me closer. I snuggled into him and waited, but nothing happened.
So I pressed up against him a little and rubbed my hands down his T-shirt. When I got to the bottom, I slipped my hands underneath the cotton so I could enjoy the feel of his skin against my palms. Instead of allowing my exploration to continue, however, Noah pushed my hands out and loosely held my two wrists in one of his hands while he bent down to place my bottle on the floor.
He looked at his watch and said, “Time to go?” I nodded eagerly. Don’t hide. Be happy. Don’t worry. Be happy. He looked over at Bo and said, “You got her?” pointing to Amy. Bo lifted his chin in agreement.
“Alright, baby,” Noah said. “Let’s get you to bed.”
Instead of heading off to bed, though, Noah went over to Jack and Lana. “I’m taking Grace home, Lana, and I’d like to take you home as well. Bo will make sure that Amy gets back safely.”
“Um,” Lana looked to Jack, and Jack shrugged.
“I’ll see her home.”
Noah shook his head. “Can’t do it. I brought her, and I need to see her home.”
“I live close by, mind if I catch a ride?” Jack said.
“Fine,” Noah turned. “Ready?”
I nodded eagerly. I was ready. Very ready. I turned and gave Lana a sly wink but apparently everyone saw it because they all shook their heads at me.
Noah
Getting Grace into her apartment would’ve been easier if she’d been passed out. Then I could have just slung her over my shoulder and carried her to bed.
Instead, inebriated Grace was handsy, dipping her fingers under my shirt and underneath the waistband of my jeans. At this rate, the wood in my pants would be so hard by the second floor that I’d have to rub one out just to be able to make it up to her apartment without being crippled by my hard on.
I figured that not taking Grace tonight would be another of those Twelve Labours of Hercules. I had to be close to accomplishing them all by now.
On the third floor, I picked Grace up to avoid her wandering hands, but when she started licking a sensitive part of my neck, I began wondering at my own restraint. Would it really be so bad? After all, Grace was a virgin. Maybe having her drunk would make it hurt less the first time. I could really make it good for her the next day.
I quelled my thoughts. I wanted Grace to remember our first time together. And I would make it good for her that time and every time after.
Lana unlocked the door and stumbled in. Jack followed close behind. I was going to have to kick Jack out, given that Lana wasn’t able to walk a straight line.
First things first. I carried Grace to her bedroom. It was the first time I had been in her room, although I saw a brief glimpse of it when I had picked her up for breakfast that first morning.
It was all white, but there were flowered curtains and a huge bed with a white comforter that looked like it had lace or something around the edges. Huge. Like I think I could have fit a platoon in that bed.
“You have a big bed.” I stood her up while I pulled back the covers.
“All the better for you to sleep in it with me.” Yeah, Grace was really drunk. She wouldn’t be so forward unless she had a few too many tonight. I liked it, though. I wondered if, over time, Grace would lose her inhibitions without alcohol. I certainly wouldn’t mind her rubbing against me like a cat against a scratching pole if I could actually do something about it.
I laid her down and stroked my hands down her legs to pull her sandals off. I saw that the straps had made red marks in her feet, and I massaged them a little, trying to rub circulation back in. She moaned and said, “That feels soooo good.”