Fifteen
I slide into the back of the Town Car and bark out an order to Tony to drop me off and head back to get Gracie. I should be pissed, I should be furious, and I was, but now I’m just stunned. Why is Aaron here? I left him a voicemail the morning of the merger. I told him I’d be in touch when there was anything that impacted his end of the business, but until then, it was business as usual. But to walk into the office, see him, hear his voice, and observe the way he was looking at Gracie sent me back to a place of rage I never expected, and in the process, I hurt Gracie.
My stomach rolls when I think of her falling to the ground, injured because of me. I clench my fists and take some deep breaths as I try to force back my rage. Then the logical side of my brain kicks into gear. Tomorrow morning, first thing, I need to call an all-staff meeting. I need to introduce Aaron to the team.
I check my email and I’m suddenly grateful everything else has fallen into place without any complications. The condo will be ready and furnished sometime on Friday. We’ll move in that day or night, depending on when it’s ready. We’ll, I think to myself. Everything is moving so fast with Gracie and I see her fear, I see her concerns, and I see her bravery for allowing me to take control of this…of us, but I still worry. I worry she’ll run away from me, and I can’t let that happen.
As we pull up to the Four Seasons, I let myself out, reminding the driver to go back for Gracie. Instead of heading up to the room like I should, I find myself at the bar, ordering a double shot of whiskey, neat. I follow that shot up with another, and then another. Six shots later, my stomach burns, but I’m numb. To Aaron and our history, but I’m not numb to the fact that I hurt Gracie.
I throw two one-hundred-dollar bills on the bar and grab my briefcase, heading up to the room to catch a quick shower before Gracie gets back. I let the hot water burn my skin as it hits my back in a massaging pattern, and my head gets fuzzy from a combination of the steam and whiskey. Pressing both of my hands to the cool tile, I hang my head low, allowing the hot water to consume me.
When I actually feel myself getting dizzy, I quickly shampoo my hair and wash my body. Stepping out of the shower into the bathroom that hangs with steam, I dry off and wrap a towel around my waist.
I find Gracie standing in the bedroom when I exit the bathroom. She stands still, looking at me, her hands at her side and the blouse she was wearing in one hand. She promised me she’d come and she did. I try to gauge her mood by her body language. I snapped today and I’m so fucking ashamed. I don’t think I’ve ever been this ashamed of myself. She’s never seen this side of me, but then, it’s only been a week. There’s a lot she doesn’t know about me and a lot I don’t know about her. Guilt rolls through me, and instead of saying anything, I need to show her how I feel.
“Come here,” I tell her, but she doesn’t move. She doesn’t recoil either, though, as I step toward her. That alone gives me some relief.
Stopping in front of her, I reach for the blouse in her hand and take it from her, tossing it to the floor. Her eyes flit to it as it lies in a heap at our feet before coming back to mine. Finally, they fall to my chest. She watches a drop of water roll down the middle of my chest, right between both pec muscles and down my stomach, where the towel catches it at my waist.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her. I know I apologized earlier, but I need to say it again. I need her to know how truly sorry I am. Her eyes hold mine, but she doesn’t react to my apology. She simply bites her lower lip and watches me.
Her chest rises and falls quickly as I reach for the strap of her white lace bra, sliding it over her shoulder and down her arm. Her breathing hitches as I do the same to the other side, pulling her bra completely off and adding it to the pile with the blouse on the floor. Her breasts hang heavily, her nipples pebbled into little peaks.
“Drew.” She mumbles my name as I cup her breasts and watch her head tip back. I love the sound of my name falling from her lips. Reaching down, I unbutton her dress pants and they fall off the curve of her hips. She steps out of them without me even urging her. She’s telling me she needs me as much as I need her. Her panties are last. I waste no time sliding the matching white lace bikini down her long legs, taking the opportunity to press my lips to the soft flesh of her inner thigh as I guide them off.
Standing up, I drop the towel from my waist, and it joins her pants on the floor. Naked and needy, we stand in front of each other, our eyes speaking what our mouths can’t or won’t. I’m sorry, I tell her with mine. Touch me, she says with hers. And I do. Without hesitation, I guide her to the bed and ease her onto the center of it. Her dark hair spills out from underneath her head and I hold her face with both of my hands as I lower myself between her legs. As much as I want to take her hard, I need to show her that I will always be gentle with her. That I’d never hurt her or harm her physically, on purpose.
In one deft move, I sink into her and she releases a long moan. I capture her lips with mine and feel her warm breath on my lips. Her fingers claw at my back as I move inside her with long, languid strokes. Slow, methodical, careful. I press into her and almost pull out of her completely each time. With each thrust, she moans and her eyes roll back before she closes them completely. Her body reacts to mine with every move, every touch, every kiss. She bites her bottom lip as I press my pelvic bone to her clit, grinding into her.
I can feel her nipples pebble against my chest and her hips begin to buck. I know she’s getting close and I want to see her eyes when she comes on me. “Look at me,” I ask of her, and she does. I make love to her with such need, my throat tightens. Her hazel eyes hold mine as I slide in and out of her. “I love you, Gracie.”
I said it. Those three words I never thought I’d say or feel again. “I love you,” I tell her again, my voice hoarse with emotion.
Her eyes mist over as I plunge into her, stroke after stroke, again and again. I want her to feel my love. She doesn’t say it back, but I’m not worried. I feel it in her body. I see her heart, I hear the words she can’t say.
Gracie arches her back and I feel her legs tighten around my waist, pulling me deeper into her. Her right hand cups my ass and she holds me still inside her as I feel her body pulsing around me. She’s holding back her release.
“Roll over,” she says suddenly, taking control. I roll my hips and we stay connected with her now on top, straddling me. Gracie rides me, up and down. Slow and fast, and it feels fucking amazing. Her breasts bounce with each plunge she takes. I roll her taut nipples between my fingers, twisting the hardened little peaks. With each plunge and each pinch of her nipples, her head falls back. With her face pointing to the ceiling, she moans in pleasure with each descent. She’s fucking gorgeous. Her pussy finally clenches around me and she gasps loudly.
“Drew!” She calls my name as she descends one last time on top of me. I know she’s going to come. She’s wet and her body quakes around me. Reaching around her, I grab her hips and hold her still while thrusting myself into her over and over again. Her soft, wet pussy is tight around me. It takes only a few pulses and I’m spilling my release inside her.
She falls forward on top of me, panting heavily with her cheek pressed to my chest. I come down from my own release, but we stay connected. Fuck, I could live inside her.