“Finally,” I say, releasing a heavy breath. “I’ve been waiting forever to have you in my arms all night.”
“Forever,” she repeats dramatically.
“Exactly,” I say, turning into my driveway. “You better call Aspen and let her know you’re not coming home.”
She nods and pulls her phone out of her purse. I expect her to call, but as her fingers fly across the screen, I know she’s texting her instead. I was hoping to hear that conversation, knowing that Aspen would more than likely have something hilarious to say about her sister finally staying with me. Those two could not be more opposite, yet they are so alike in many ways too. I know without a doubt they share a bond, much like the one my brothers and I share. I know they will always have each other’s backs.
That’s why I’m not worried about what they’re texting. I know Aspen is team Grant, and they both know that I’m team Aurora—whatever that looks like. I’m all in for whatever she wants or needs.
“All set,” she says, sliding her phone back into her purse.
Reaching up, I hit the button to close the garage door and climb out of the SUV. She meets me at the door to enter my condo. “Are you ready for bed?”
“Yes,” she says, covering another yawn.
“Come on, sleepyhead.” Holding her hand, I lead her to my bedroom. “I’ll get you something to sleep in.” Digging through my drawers, I find an old Riggins Enterprises T-shirt and hand it to her. “Bathroom.” I point to the door on the right-hand wall. “There are toothbrushes I get from the dentist in the bottom drawer. Make yourself at home.” She nods and disappears into the bathroom.
As soon as the door closes, I begin to pace. She’s in my bathroom, stripping down. I’m a gentleman, but I’m a man—a man who is insanely attracted to his girlfriend. I’ve been giving her time. I know that she’s been hurt in the past, and I don’t know what he did to her. She said he didn’t hit her, but still, she’s skittish, and she’s getting naked.
In. My. Bathroom.
The door opens, and she appears looking like the fucking goddess that she is, in nothing but my T-shirt. “Thanks.” She looks down at the shirt that comes to just above her knees.
“I’m going to change. Make yourself at home. If you’re hungry or thirsty, you know where the kitchen is. You can put your clothes wherever. Wait.” I stalk to my dresser and pull out a stack of shorts and toss them in the chair in the corner. “Use this drawer. I’ll clean out more so you can leave stuff here or whatever,” I say, rambling like a nervous teenager.
“Thank you, Grant.”
I nod in response, grabbing some sleep pants and disappearing into the bathroom.
I brush my teeth and change into a pair of pajama pants. I usually sleep in nothing but boxer briefs, but I’m not sure how comfortable she’ll be if I do that. So, pajama pants it is. I can look past it knowing that I get to sleep next to her.
Turning off the light, I open the bathroom door to find my sexy girlfriend standing next to my bed, staring down at it. “Everything okay?” I ask, stopping to stand next to her. I place my hand on the small of her back, just above her ass. I itch to slide my hand under her shirt. To feel her skin under my fingertips.
“Do you have a side?” She points to the bed.
“Whatever side you’re on.” A smile tilts her lips. “Climb in, baby. I’ll get the light.” I force myself to walk away from her to the other side of the room to hit the light switch. My legs carry me back to the bed, navigating my bedroom in complete darkness. I go to the side of the bed where she was just standing and feel around tapping her legs, her thigh, working my way over her chest and her face, ending on her head.
“Grant.” She laughs.
“What? It’s dark in here.”
“Get in bed, crazy.” She chuckles.
The tension eases from the room as I carefully climb over her body. I don’t bother moving to the other side of the bed. Instead, I settle in close, wrapping my arms around her. We’re both quiet for several minutes. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but for me, I’m in awe of how good this feels. To have her lying next to me. This is a giant step forward for us, one I’ve been craving, and deep down, I know that she has been too.
I need more of her. I just need to feel her skin. Taking the risk, I slide my hand under my shirt that she’s wearing and rest my palm on her belly. She immediately freezes in my arms. “Rory?” I whisper. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Her reply is short, and her tone is laced with worry.
“Talk to me,” I say, gently drawing circles with my thumb against her soft skin.
She sighs loudly, and when she opens her mouth to speak, I never could have guessed where this conversation was headed. “I’m waiting for you to freak out.”
“What? Why would I freak out?”
“No man, especially not a man that looks like you, wants the chubby girl.”
Anger, red hot anger like nothing I’ve ever felt before crashes through me. I’m not mad at her, but whoever made her feel this way. “Aurora.” My voice is strong and firm as I try to rein in my anger. I don’t want to scare her, and the last thing she needs is to feel worse about herself. I roll out of bed and turn on the lamp that sits on the bedside table, on what I guess is now my side.
I walk around to her side and drop to my knees. “Look at me, baby.” I wait patiently as she forces herself to open her eyes and look at me. I can see the shimmer of tears. “I don’t know who hurt you, but I want to kill him. You are not chubby.” I toss back the covers and, with my eyes on hers, pull up my T-shirt. My hand goes to her belly once more. “You’re perfect.”
“I’m not. I bake all day, and it’s hard to not taste them, and it’s quality control. I cut back as much as I can, but I’ll never be model skinny. I never have been. That’s just not who I am.”
“Babe, I don’t want you to be anyone but you. Model skinny is overrated. I love your curves.” To prove it to her, I let my hand roam, tracing said curves while my eyes remain locked on hers. I want to watch the path my hand is traveling. I want to memorize every inch of her, but there’s time for that. Right now, I need her to know she’s here because I fucking crave her. All of her.
Her eyes are closed, and her bottom lip quivers. That doesn’t stop me. No, it fuels me to show her how I see her, how every red-blooded man in the damn city sees her. I’ve walked into the bakery on more than one occasion to find some asshole chatting up my girl. I won’t stop until she sees herself as I do.
“Do you trust me?” I ask her. Her eyes blink open slowly, and her reply is a subtle nod. “You hold the power, Aurora. If you want me to stop, I will.” Another nod. That’s all I need to explore her. To lavish her body with the reverence she deserves. “Sit up for me,” I whisper. She hesitates for a few seconds before sitting up, her hazel eyes watching me intently. “Lift your arms for me.”
More hesitation.
“You can say no, but I want to see you. All of you.”
She pulls in a deep breath and slowly raises her arms over her head. I jump into action, sliding my T-shirt up her body and over her head, dropping it to the floor. She’s still wearing her bra and panties, and although I want her naked, I know I need to take this slow. “Lie back,” I instruct. This time there is no hesitation as she lies back on the pillows.