Babies? I gave him a look. Our babies?
“Hold on, not that I mean we should be trying to get pregnant. It was more of an expression. You know…”
Laughing I reached out and touched his arm, attempting to reassure him. “It’s fine. I’m fucking with you. I get it. It’s not something people at our age take lightly.” Despite my words, it did plant ideas into my head. What kind of future could we have together? As quickly as the idea came to my mind, I dismissed it. I was fast-forwarding way too quickly.
I hoped that we could get back to what we’d almost shared before we were interrupted by Brooklyn, but it was no use. Magic moments don’t come very often and she’d ruined it.
“Let’s keep going?” Taking my hand, Grayson led me from the plot. I gave a quick look over my shoulder at the beautiful fountain and frowned. Next time.
~*~ TT ~*~
Grayson
Of all the times for Brooklyn to come bursting into my life, it had to be when Riley and I were about to have a romantic, memorable kiss. Now it was going to be memorable, but it was going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.
For fuck’s sake.
Just when I get a romantic idea, it goes down the fucking shitter—just my luck.
I saw the look of suspicion in Riley’s eyes. I knew her well enough already to know that she was a little broken and was something of a scared rabbit—one wrong move or one whiff of something off and she’d be out of my life in one snap of the fingers and that would be that. I doubted once she was gone, I’d ever get her back.
Can’t say I blamed her in this instance. Even though I didn’t really keep up with Brooklyn I still knew her pretty well; we’d kept up with each other over the years and made contact from time to time—normally whenever she was single and looking for a shoulder to cry on and occasionally a dick to ride, but I wasn’t interested in that with her. Not anymore, quite frankly I hadn’t been interested in her in that way for a long time.
“This one looks promising.” Keeping Riley’s hand firmly planted in mine, I opened the cute white picket gate which led to the plot. Allowing her to enter before me, I followed behind, my eyes drifting to her round ass, covered in a pair of tight dark blue denim jeans. It had just enough jiggle to it to make my dick leap in anticipation.
Whoa, boy… The last thing I needed was to have my mind clouded by an unruly cock. In my defense I hadn’t gotten laid in over six months, which was horrible considering I had the sex drive of a goddamned sixteen-year-old! I was just grateful that women our age were at their sexual prime, so it worked out nicely—at least it did when I was dating someone. When I wasn’t dating it was a lot of hands-on work, with porn being my best friend.
I was conflicted as to whether I should face the issue of Brooklyn head on or pass it off as no big deal. Riley ended up taking the decision away from me.
“So what’s the deal with the Brooklyn chick?” she asked, clearly attempting to appear nonchalant as she bent to get a better smell of the red roses in front of her. The question was hardly casual though; she had picked up on something and was looking to be reassured.
Stuffing my hands into the front pockets of my jeans, I shrugged, even though she was turned away from me and couldn’t see the gesture. “There’s not much to tell, really. I thought she was the one close to twenty-five years ago. She wasn’t and I got on with my life. We do the normal chit-chat via social media from time to time, that’s about it.”
Riley straightened and turned to look at me. “So there hasn’t been anything between you two since high school? She seemed to give off the impression that it was kind of an off and on thing.”
Damn her for being so astute.
I grimaced. “I’m not sure what you want to hear from me.”
She raised a brow at me. “The truth.”
“Okay, well, over the years we’ve hooked up from time to time, but it’s been a very long time and I have no interest in her.”
“She seems to have an interest in you. Forgive me for saying but she gave me a pretty clear I’m-the-enemy glare, while talking to you. Normally I’d brush it off as me being paranoid or clingy or insecure. You know, the gauntlet of emotions that men would claim were unjustified, but I promised myself not to ignore those feelings and so here we are. I’m not interested in competing with old flames.”
Stepping forward I took her upper arms in my hands and gave her a reassuring smile. “Look, I assure you that I do not have any interest in her in any way shape or form. I will admit that in the past we’ve gotten together a few times over the years and each time it was a disaster. I’m a sucker for punishment—I suppose. I will say that it’s been a long time since we’ve hooked up and it’ll never happen again.”
Her beautiful blue eyes narrowed at me a moment. “Is that what you said all the other times you tried it and it didn’t work?”
I had to laugh over that. She had me there. “Touché. But I promise this time it’s not bullshit. She’s not the type of woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I’m serious when I’ve said I want to find a woman to share the rest of my life with. I have a daughter, but I’ve never been married. I sometimes wonder if it’ll ever happen. That said, the time I do spend with someone has to be with someone that I think has potential.”
Maybe I was being too honest with my emotions. Throwing out how I felt like that left me very vulnerable, and I can’t say I enjoyed that feeling. But I felt it had to be done; giving her the power of hurting me showed her that I was serious. Sure, we had only known each other for just short of three weeks, but I felt those weeks were valuable. More valuable than being in a longer relationship, but with someone with whom I didn’t talk about topics of substance.
Her expression softened as she looked up at me and a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She was definitely feeling the connection that was thriving between us. “So you think we have potential?”
“I most definitely think we do. More than with anyone else I’ve even felt in my lifetime, if I can be completely honest without causing you to run like a scared bunny.”
“I wouldn’t do that.” Despite her words, I didn’t believe her. She may not even know herself how jumpy she was, but from what I’d experienced already and from the hours upon hours of conversations we’d had every single night since we’d first made contact I was firm in my assumption.
It occurred to me that this was our new moment. Perhaps even better than before. It felt like we’d turned a corner when it came to trusting each other and that couldn’t be anything but positive.
Taking another step toward her I closed the distance between our bodies and lowered my lips to hers. As our lips met it felt like lightning ignited my dick as it sprang to life in my jeans. Holding her tight I deepened the kiss while she wrapped her arms around my neck. I thoroughly enjoyed the fruity flavor of her lip gloss along with the hint of mint that lingered on her tongue from her toothpaste.
My hands moved to her lower back as I pulled her pelvis against my thickening erection, though the pressure only caused the feelings surging through me to intensify. She moaned against my lips, sending my mind into a frenzy. It was taking every ounce of power I had in me to not strip her down and take her right there and then on the marble bench that was sitting mere feet from us.
I could bend her over the bench, pulled her jeans down and indulge my cock in her moist pussy. And it would be amazing, I knew that instinctively. Lowering my hands from her lower back, to her ass, I gripped her soft, round bottom, making her moan again.
Tearing my lips from hers, I began to place a string of kisses along her jawline and to her neck. Her fingers gripped into my shoulders, digging into the flesh as I teased her neck with my teeth and tongue all the way down to her collarbone.
“Oh Grayson!” she gasped rocking her hips against me and driving me wild.
Releasing her left buttock, I worked my way back up her neck, slipped my hand to the back of her head and kissed her agai
n. This kiss wasn’t in the least bit tender but was heated and intense. I was on the verge of losing my restraint.
“Hey mommy, there are roses over there, remember?”
The voice of a young girl coming from not too far away was like a bucket of cold water being thrown on my penis. Releasing Riley, I stepped away quickly, feeling my heart beating rapidly in my chest.
We looked at each other, both with guilty expressions on our faces. This public indecency stuff was becoming quite a habit.
Clearing my throat, I took her hand and gave her a lopsided grin. “Let’s check out the next one, shall we?”
7
Riley
“Mom, I think we need to talk.” Frowning, I looked up from my computer screen to the twins who were looking down at me from the other end of the sofa. They were stealthy little monsters, I hadn’t even heard them walk up! This wasn’t a very welcome interruption, since Grayson had gone back to work, I’d been working like a madwoman on my next novel—call me inspired if you will. He was coming back home in the morning and I’d offered to pick him up at the airport and I was hoping to get as much done as possible before he arrived home so I’d have free time to see him.
“This had better be good, I’m on a roll and you know how I hate being interrupted when I’m working. This is like every other job a person has, it’s just that I do it at home—”
“On the couch, in front of the television,” Christian interrupted.
My brows raised as I met my son’s stare. “Come again?”
Christian cringed. “I didn’t mean to be rude. I’m just saying that you’re home.”
“Exactly. You two have been really lucky that I have a job that allows me to be home with you guys. But that’s beside the point. What do you two want that you felt the need to interrupt me?”
It was Violet’s turn to speak. It was like they had the lines rehearsed beforehand, but they had a weird twin thing where at times it seemed like they shared the same mind, even though they were fraternal, not identical twins. “Well, Mom, we’re concerned that you’re getting a little too involved with Grayson.”
“Emotionally involved. We’re scared you’ll get hurt, Mom,” Christian added.
Okay, this was confusing. Saving my work, I minimized the Word document and turned to face them, giving them my undivided attention. “What do you mean by that? We’ve only seen each other a couple of times and we talk on the phone each day, but it’s not like I’m hearing wedding bells or doodling his name on my binders for heaven’s sakes.”
“No, we know that.” Christian stepped forward and sat on the sofa beside me, Violet taking the armchair directly in my line of vision. “But we’re concerned about you going away with him this weekend. What if he kidnaps you?”
I wasn’t sure if I should be touched or burst out laughing at the thought of Grayson kidnapping me and taking me away somewhere.
“Well, first off, I highly doubt he’s about to kidnap me. I’m going willingly. He has a daughter named Chyna that he normally has living with him when he’s off work. He kinda likes his kid from what I can tell so kidnapping me might interfere with his spending time with her—especially if he’s caught. And he has a clear criminal record.”
“How do you know that?” Violet asked.
I opened my mouth to tell her about the incident where the police had caught us making out then thought better of it. That was need-to-know information. The kids and I had a very open and honest relationship, but I figured them knowing about my run-in with the law with Grayson wouldn’t ease their minds.
“I just know. That’s all you guys need to know about that. Come on now. What is going on? He’s a wonderful man. I’d have thought you’d be happy that I’m excited about someone.”
“But that’s the thing, Mom,” Violet persisted. “Have you two even established you were a couple? For all you know he’s seeing people other than you. Have you asked?”
My heart sank a little. I hadn’t asked. I’d just kind of assumed. Violet did have a very valid point and it was something that I had to resolve with him. I truly didn’t know how he’d have time to keep two women on the go, practically from the moment he got off work until he went to sleep, we talked on the phone. Tonight was the exception since he had an early flight to catch.
“I’ll give to you that we haven’t discussed that, but that is something I can rectify.”
“And what if he tells you that he’s seeing other people? Like that woman who you ran into at the gardens?” Christian asked. “I wouldn’t be cool with that.”
I straightened, lifting my chin a little. “That isn’t something I’d tolerate. You know that. Either he’s with me and wanting to make it work with only me or I’m not interested in pursuing a relationship with him.”
The twins looked at each other and seemed to share a moment. Damn them and their twin telepathy.
“Look, you guys. I appreciate your concern. I know I’ve made some bad choices in the past and you guys have had to see my struggling to make relationships work, but this is different—it really is. It’s one of those things where there’s a feeling deep inside that tells you that it’s all okay. I’ve never had that feeling before, but I have it now—with him.”
“Well, I hope you’re using protection, Mom,” Violet said, shocking me into speechlessness. Granted, upon finding out she was sexually active with her boyfriend; I had given her the safe sex speech. I guess it was only fair she gave it right on back to me.
Once my initial surprise faded, I laughed. “Okay, I guess that’s fair. And not that it’s any of either of your business, but we haven’t had sex yet, so you don’t have to worry about it. It’s all good, so how about we drop this subject.”
Violet shrugged, but a wide smile spread across her lips. “If you can read us the riot act you have to be willing to accept it yourself.”
“We have a really awesome family, Mom.” Christian leaned forward and gave me a hug. “I don’t want to see that ruined because some douche comes along and hurts you. It won’t happen if either of us have anything to do with it.”
I sighed. “You guys do realize it was your aunt that signed me up for the site and she was the one who sent him a smiley wink and date request, so he was already pre-screened by your aunt.”
They exchanged yet another look.
Christian clucked his tongue off the roof of his mouth. “Okay Mom. In that case we’re going to lay off, but we want to meet him. Like spend some time with him after the weekend at his lake house so that we can get to know him.”
Lifting a brow at him, I said, “You mean, so you can get to interrogate him. You know if you both hadn’t run off downstairs you guys because you were too busy with whatever was more important you could have gotten to know him while I was getting ready when he came to pick me up the last time we went out.”
Both faces turned a shade of red and they cringed in unison.
“Exactly.” Grinning in satisfaction over my win over them, I closed down my laptop and stood. “Since you two have disturbed me why don’t we all go out and have something to eat? You guys decide. Besides, I told Grayson I’d grab us something to cook on the barbecue when we get there since he’s not going to have time when he gets into town to bother.”
“That would be good.” Violet stood, with her brother following suit.
I knew where they’d want to go well before they said Olive Garden.
~*~ TT ~*~
I gave the contents of the trunk of the car one more look over before closing it. We were only spending the weekend at his lake house, but as per normal I was obsessed with making sure I had everything we needed and then some. Between trying to make sure I had everything we could want to eat and trying to figure out what to wear I was driving myself halfway insane.
His place was on a massive lake and he had a speedboat there, along with other water activities, which meant it would be wise to bring a bathing suit. The problem was that I wasn’t all that confident with my f
igure. I supposed he was going to see me naked this weekend so seeing me in a bathing suit should be child’s play, but there was a difference.
When we slept together we’d be consumed in the throes of passion, so his getting a good look at all of my cellulite and excessive curves in some places wasn’t going to happen. In a bathing suit, however, he’d see all the curves I tried so hard to cover with certain strategic articles of clothing.
If he is into you it’s not going to matter, a voice in the back of my head said. I knew the voice was right, but I had so many insecurities thanks to my ex, it was an uphill climb for my self-esteem. My ex didn’t seem to miss a day making mention of my weight and the fact that he didn’t like seeing me naked because of my muffin top. It had hurt each time he’d said it and had gradually chipped away at my self-esteem until I didn’t even like myself anymore. I was hardly disgusting, but the way he went on you’d think I was practically bed ridden and resembled that big green glob from Star Wars—hell if I knew what its name was though.
I gave my head a shake. This was going to be a good weekend and there was no way I was going to let thoughts of my ex ruin it. Grayson wasn’t my ex. He’d never be anything like that abusive piece of shit so it wasn’t fair that I’d lump Grayson in with him. Grayson had never given me any indication that he was unhappy with my appearance so any insecurities were my own fault.
Getting behind the wheel of the car, I inserted the key into the ignition and the engine roared to life. With excitement for the weekend to come flowing though me, I hit the open garage button and shifted into reverse. Once there was enough room to back out, I reversed out of the garage. Once free and clear, I closed the garage with the click of a button and began my forty-five minute drive to the airport.
His house was close to the airport and closer to the lake house than my house so it just made sense for me to pick him up at the airport, make a quick stop at his place and then spend the next two hours driving down there. As much as I hated other people driving my car, I decided to allow Grayson to drive. He knew where we were going so it was only logical. We could take his truck, but that meant unpacking the trunk of the car. To hell with that!
Hold On To Me Page 5