by Karen Deen
After tucking them all in the cab I turn to Grant.
“Please tell me you didn’t book a hotel room tonight?”
He laughs out loud.
“Not a chance in hell, I’m taking you home and you know exactly what’s about to happen.”
He swats my ass telling me to lead the way.
“I can’t wait. Maybe I need to be a little naughtier on the way there. Make sure I really get a good spanking.”
“You be careful what you ask for. Tomorrow you will struggle to dance if you keep going like that.”
We ride the subway with me snuggled up against his chest. He has his arm wrapped tight around me, as much to claim me as to protect me from anyone who might look twice. It obviously hasn’t occurred to him yet that I do this every day by myself. I’m sure that lecture will come later.
“Just so you know, my apartment isn’t much. Just the one bedroom but it suits me. Well actually, it’s just one room, plus the bathroom. The rent here is crazy, and I am not here very often.” I look up at him, slightly embarrassed as I open the front door.
“As long as you’re safe and happy I don’t care where you live. As long as you are here, then it’s home to me.” Once again, I melt against his body as he stands close behind me.
I give the door a final push and we enter with Grant shutting and locking it behind me. I flick the lamp on just inside the door and I feel his fingers run down the back of my neck. Shivers run across my skin. I want this, but we need to talk. I need to be strong for just a little bit longer.
“Grant, we need to talk first. I want this too, God, I want it so bad, but I need to be certain we are on the same page. I can’t go through this again. It hurt too much last time. I don’t know if I could get back up again. I’m scared.”
“Beautiful, I wasn’t joking when I said one day I’ll marry you. I am never letting you go again. I just can’t take that hurt either. It was like a part of me had died. I don’t know how we will juggle this long distance but there are a few things you need to know. Firstly, I want you to keep dancing for as long as you want to. Even if that’s years. You are to never give that up, unless it’s your choice. Secondly, I will fly out as much as I can. Hopefully every weekend. If not, I will promise you will never go longer than two weeks without being in my arms even if it’s just for one night. Any longer than that and it will kill me. Thirdly, you call the shots here. You tell me what you need from me, when and where you need it. And lastly, you better get ready for lots of phone and skype sex, baby. This man has been on a drought and I’ve some catching up to do.”
He always does that. Tries to break the seriousness of a moment with humor, even though I know he’s dead serious.
“Are you sure you want to do this? We could be talking a few years, Grant. That’s a long time and a lot of money in flights. You are sacrificing so much for me. I don’t know if I am worth it or deserve it after what I’ve put you through.”
His hand reaches around the back of my neck and pulls me slowly forward until we are a breath apart.
“I will fly to the end of the earth for you with my last dollar. Time is irrelevant. Two years seems a long time now. After we have been married for fifty years, it will be a small blip in our life story.”
It’s time to surrender.
For everything I fight against, it’s time to let go.
I lift my hand to his cheek and run my thumb down his jawline.
“I want that life with you, too.
“I’m yours, Grant. No turning back. No regrets.”
“I’m yours.” I bat away the happy tears. My body is on fire with emotion.
“I love you, Grant. I never stopped.”
With a low growl, Grant’s on me. He devours my mouth with his. His tongue has already pushed its way into my mouth and is claiming every single part of it.
He pulls back. “Say it again!” he demands. “I want to hear it on those hot lips of yours.”
“I love you.”
His smile lights up his face. “Louder, baby, tell the whole world.”
“Grant Stevenson, I love you with everything I am,” I shout.
Looking like the happiest man on the planet, he picks me up and carries me over to the bed. Carefully placing me down on my back, he climbs over the top of me.
“I know I said you were in for it tonight, but that will come later.”
Our bodies quiver with the intensity of the moment. Grant takes my hand and places it over his heart.
“This belongs to you, Zara, and you’re the only person who has ever owned it. I love you, too, with everything I am and everything you make me. Tonight, I just want to show you how much I love you. So, every time we are apart you will never forget how I feel. Tonight, I want to worship you. God, how I’ve missed you.”
“I want that, too. I’ve missed you so much. I ache for you.”
“Please tell me under all these clothes you still have on the underwear from the photo. I want to be the one to strip them from you.”
“Perhaps you better start undressing me to find out.”
As much as we try to take it slow, there’s just so much urgency building in us both, that it’s proving difficult. As Grant slides his hand over my breast and massages it, I lay back moaning. His mouth takes over and I’m in heaven, leaving his hands free to explore the rest of my body.
The first swipe of his finger through my wet core has me arching off the bed. My breath racing. I want all of him, right now.
“Grant,” I moan. “I can’t wait. Claim me now. Make me yours. Make love to me. Show me what a life with you will be like.”
I’m not sure where it came from, but Grant is already sheathed and pushing into me before I have time to think.
“Ohh, that feels so good,” I mumble in between him slowly pulling out and pushing back in.
“You are mine, beautiful. Never again will we be separate. Tonight, we are joining our bodies and souls. I am yours forever.” He loses his control and the thrusts get harder and faster as we both near the edge of what’s going to be an intense orgasm. We release everything we’ve been holding on to for months, it’s all coming out as we let go. We both moan and start to come at the same time. It is the joining of our broken souls and healing them back together.
The night of hot sex does not stop there. I’m punished just like he promised, and it’s the hottest sex I’ve ever had.
We love the slow, sensual sex. But fuck, the hot hard sex is mind blowing. I want it all with Grant. Every single part.
Grant
When I left the office today to get on a plane, without telling a soul, I had no idea how it would turn out.
Now, I’m here. In New York, laying with my girl in my arms. Naked, hot, sweaty and definitely satisfied.
Life doesn’t get much better than this. Tomorrow, I will share with the family where I am. Tonight, I just want it to be about us.
Zara is exhausted. Today has been huge for her, her eyes heavy.
“Sleep, baby. I will stay right here all night, just loving you with my body wrapped around you.”
“How long do I get to keep you?” she murmurs while slipping into her sleep. I know she means when do I have to leave for home, but my answer means so much more.
“Forever. You get to keep me forever.”
As her first sleepy breath leaves her body, her smile tells me she heard my response as she slips into her dream.
“Tonight, you lived your dream. Now, I get to live mine. I love you, Zara.” I lightly kiss her lips.
“Me too, Grant, me too.”
With that final whisper, she’s sound asleep.
For the first time, I know deep in my heart when I wake in the morning, she will still be here, in my arms, where she’s always meant to be.
We are both home.
Finally, we are dancing to the same tune.
33
Zara
“Don’t even think about it, Zara,” Grant growls in my ear.
I giggle a little as I try to squirm out of his arms.
“Let me go, I need to pee. I can’t wait any longer.”
“Nope, every time I’ve woken up in the morning, you’ve run. I’m making sure this time, I don’t let you go.” He still has his eyes closed.
“Grant, really, please! If you don’t let me up, then I am going to wet the bed. How does that sound?”
“You have one minute to be back in this bed with me or I am coming looking for you.” Still mumbling, he finally releases me. Jumping up from the bed, I nearly trip over the clothes that are strewn over the floor from last night. There wasn’t much care taking once we started stripping.
Dashing to the toilet, I can finally feel relief for my bladder.
“Forty-five seconds and counting,” Grant calls out from the bedroom.
Far out. I can’t even pee in peace.
“You’re such an idiot. Lucky, I kind of like you,” I scream back.
Washing my hands, I hear him stretching in my bed as he’s starting to fully wake up. I know how he’s feeling, with stiff muscles. Last night was a workout harder than any gym session. It’s the sweetest kind of ache.
Opening the door, I find his eyes staring straight at me. He takes his time scanning my whole body. I’m still completely naked, and he takes full advantage of what’s on show for him.
“Have you finished gawking?”
“No,” he answers without hesitation.
“You’re running out of time. You have five seconds left to be back in this bed before you’re in trouble.”
“What happens if I don’t make it? What’s my punishment?” I feel moisture between my legs at the thought of Grant punishing me last night. If that’s how this is going to go, then I’m not moving an inch from where I’m standing.
“Not what you think it will be, Zara. I don’t want you sore to dance today. Let’s just say you would actually be better to move that sweet ass back to bed before time is up so I can give you the appropriate good morning wake-up.”
“Five…four…three…two…”
I take off across the room jumping on top of Grant just in time.
Before I have time to blink, he spins my body until I’m pinned under him. His forearms rest either side of my head, caging me in so I can’t move, his legs on either side.
“Now, I have you right where I want you.” He lowers his head and touches my lips ever so softly. It’s not what I’m expecting. He holds back from devouring me. The kisses are like butterflies along my jaw to my ear. He sucks on my earlobe and I feel tension build between us.
“Good Morning, Zara,” he whispers in my ear. It sends shivers running down my body, a soft moan escaping my lips.
“Grant.” I feel a shiver while pressing closer to his body, wanting to touch as much of him as I can.
He’s strong and hard. Rubbing myself against him is just making me want him more. He knows exactly what he’s doing.
This is my punishment. He knows I want it hard and for him to control me. Instead, he makes my body sing and ache for him by making me wait.
“Now, let me see? Are you going to be cheeky to your boyfriend again, Zara?” he asks as he slowly grinds his hard cock against my body. He makes me moan and continues to chase that relief from the pressure building in my body.
“No, never. Please, Grant. Stop being cruel.”
“You think I’m cruel? Maybe I should just stop touching you now.” Starting to pull back, I scream out.
“No. For the love of God, Grant, fuck me now or you will find out what a bad morning person I can be!”
“Love it when you get fiery,” he growls as he thrusts straight into me. No foreplay is needed. He knows I’m wet and ready.
“Ohh…” I can get used to this every morning.
A slight sadness starts to fall over me as we both start to come down from the high of our orgasms. I’m not going to have that with Grant. He’s here now but tomorrow he’ll be gone again. I will be surviving on memories most of the time.
I want him in my life. I want him to be mine. How we get through this is going to be a different matter. I know I can’t live without him anymore but how I’m going to live with him in my life remains to be seen.
Laying on his chest, I listen to the sound of his breathing while I try to work it all out.
“Zara, stop stressing about this.”
“I’m not.”
“Bullshit. I can feel the tension in your body. You need to talk to me, baby. Don’t let it all build up in that gorgeous little head of yours until you get scared and run again.” He turns my head, so I’m looking up at him. “Promise me, no more running. This won’t be easy, but we will work it out together.” I feel the tears building behind my eyes. “Just promise that, okay?”
I nod my head slowly. I know if I try to speak the tears will escape and I’ve cried enough over this problem. I should be happy. I have to believe in Grant, that we will make this work. We have no choice. We can’t keep living the way we have been.
“As much as I could stay here with you all day, I’m starving, and you need a decent breakfast. You have two shows today, so you need to be ready. Can’t have you tanking on your second day and your boyfriend getting the blame. Where is good for breakfast around here? I want to take my girlfriend out on a date.”
This makes me giggle. I love the sound of Grant calling me his girlfriend and being taken on a date. I think I just need to live in the moment and take each day as it comes.
Breakfast is amazing at a little café just down the block from my apartment. I’ve had smoothies from there a few times but never took the time to sit down and order a meal. This is what it would be like to live a life with a boyfriend. Being able to enjoy the simple pleasures with someone. This is what I want in my life.
It takes me back to the old couple in the café, watching them enjoy the simple things in life together. That is what love is about. Moments like this. It doesn’t always have to be the big moments. It can be ones just like this.
Grant reaches across the table and places his hand on mine. “What are you thinking about?” he asks, wanting to get in my head to see what’s going on.
“Just how happy I am, right here in this moment. With you.”
His face lights up like he’s won the most important prize of his life. I love to see him smile. You don’t get it often but when you do, it’s beautiful.
“Well, I’m so glad about that, but I am sorry I have to break the moment. We need to get back home so you can get to the theatre. Did you hear back from the box office if you can get me another ticket for the matinee before I have to fly home.”
Doesn’t that feel like a punch to my gut? I don’t want to think about Grant leaving when I only just got him back.
“Not yet, but I’m sure we can get you in there somehow. Can you possibly stay another night? I am not sure I am ready to let you go.”
He pulls me up from my seat and into his arms and wraps me up tight to numb the pain in my eyes.
“I wish I could. I really do. However, I have a big meeting tomorrow on the signing of the new project we are starting down in Whitehall Parade. It’s the project down near the Wharf. This will be the biggest project we have ever tackled. I need to be there. I can’t trust the others with this on their own.”
“Always the controlling CEO, aren’t you? It’s okay, I understand,” I say against his chest.
“I have already pushed my flight back to the red eye, so I can see the matinee again. I want to watch you. I don’t think I really got to appreciate the show last night because my eyes never left you the whole time. I wanted to rush up and take you from that guy’s arms. Many times.”
I look up a bit startled. “Who, my dance partner? He’s harmless.” I rub my hands over his chest to soothe the tension that’s building.
“Maybe so, but it doesn’t mean I have to like how he gets to touch you.”
“He’s married and has a baby. To me, he’s just the guy
who catches me and stops me from falling.”
Grant
It comes out a little harsher than intended but it has been bugging me a little since last night. It feels better getting it off my chest and maybe give her the hint at how hard it will be for me to know she’s here being touched constantly by other men while I am hours away from her.
This is really going to test my control.
“Don’t be silly. Now let’s get moving so I’m not late for call time. I have a very important guest in the audience today and I want to look my best on stage.”
“Who?” I growl.
“My boyfriend, you idiot.” She slaps my arm and starts to drag me to the door with her.
Fuck, I love hearing her call me that. Only one thing better than that will be the day she calls me her husband. That day can’t come soon enough for me where I get to claim her for the world to see.
There’s no way I’m letting her go without making love to her one more time. That has to last me a few weeks, so it needs to be one she will remember. I’ll make sure to taste every part of her body and leave her with no doubt who she belongs to. She’s mine and I’m not letting her go. Not now, not ever.
Sitting back in the theatre today seems different to last night. I was full of nerves and anxiety last night, wondering what would happen when she finally saw me. But today, I just want to sit back and relax, watching Zara dance her way into the hearts of the audience. This is what she’s worked so hard for, so I want her to enjoy every minute of it.
With her call-time being an hour and a half before the show, I have time to take a walk through the shops around the theatre. I stumble on a tiny shop that has some interesting statues and clothing in the window. I’m not sure what draws me in, but I’m glad I see it. I find found something for Zara that I want to give her before I leave. It’s perfect, just like her.
Now sitting in my seat in the third row, I can see so much more than where I sat last night. I had purposely purchased my ticket further back last night in the dress circle so there was no chance of Zara seeing me from the stage. I didn’t want to put her off her performance if she saw me for the first time in months.