by Lara Norman
“Of course.”
As they lay in bed and Grant held her, she thought just before she drifted off that she had turned into the luckiest girl in the world.
Chapter 18
During the month of December, Alex was incredibly busy at work. Grant didn’t have the chance to see her very much at all. She went to dinner with him and his sister the day after Thanksgiving, and then he didn’t see her for the next two weeks. She had so many things to do at school, and Grant didn’t want to interfere with her schedule. There were a few nights he might have been able to see her for dinner, but he urged her to spend time with her cousin and aunt. She’d arranged to have an early Christmas with them so she could travel with him on the holiday. So she and her family went shopping and had a few nights out, and once they stayed at her place to help her decorate. She and Grant spoke often enough on the phone that he felt as though he knew what was going on with her all the time. He could easily have missed out, otherwise.
Grant was working more hours to save up for Christmas. He wanted to get her something special, and he wanted to have enough money to stay in a decent hotel when they got to Maryland. He had managed to get two extra days off on top of the two he was already getting, so he was going to make it a special four days with Alex. She deserved it.
Finally, on her last day of school before the break, Grant asked her to go to dinner with him. He got off at four, went home and changed, and met her at her apartment. She answered the door in a red dress that flattered her curves and had him needing to adjust his pants.
“Grant, you dressed up.”
He was wearing black slacks and a gray button-up shirt under a coat, and that was the dressiest she’d ever seen him.
“Yeah, I wanted to impress you.” He gave her a smirk that set her heart fluttering.
“That’s sweet of you, but it’s never necessary.” She grabbed her coat and took his offered hand to go with him to the parking lot. They were going to take her car since she was dressed up and didn’t want to take his bike.
It was a short ride to the restaurant, and they were soon seated. Grant told Alex to order whatever she wanted. She was touched that he was trying to give her a nice date and had the feeling it wasn’t something he did very often. She got a glass of wine and held his hand across the table as they waited to place their dinner order.
“This is really nice,” she said, and Grant smiled at her. He knocked her out with his sexy smile.
“I wanted to treat you for Christmas.” He kissed the back of her hand. “I have a gift for you.”
“You didn’t have to buy me anything.” He gave her a level stare, and she flushed. “Okay, it makes sense that you did. It just feels like that’s what I should say.”
“So, do you want it now, or after dinner?”
“Is it something you can give me here, or is it something . . . private?”
He chuckled. “It’s fine for here.”
“Okay. After we place our orders, then.”
He squeezed her hand.
The waiter came back with their drinks and they placed their orders. When he walked off, Grant reached into his pocket and pulled out a flat box. Alex gasped quietly as he slid it over the table in her direction. It was clearly jewelry of some sort, and that wasn’t what she’d expected.
“Grant,” she whispered. Tears had formed in her eyes, and she blinked them back as she reached for the box.
He watched her as she opened it and took out the necklace. It was a delicate gold chain with a trio of hearts: gold, silver, and pink gold. Her smile began slowly but grew as she looked up at him.
“I didn’t want anything too showy because I’ve noticed you don’t wear a lot of jewelry. I thought this suited you.”
“It’s so pretty. It’s probably the nicest thing I’ve ever owned, Grant.” She unclasped it and put in on. “How does it look?” She touched it as she asked.
“Just as I hoped it would. It looks perfect.”
“This is so nice of you. I don’t have your gift yet. I was going to bring it to your sister’s after I got it.” The truth was that she hadn’t been able to find the exact gift she wanted to give him, yet.
“Don’t worry about it. It’ll be fine.”
She knew he meant it, too. He wouldn’t be mad if she got him nothing, which was exactly why she needed to find something that was just right. “Thank you so much, love.”
He smiled. “I like it when you call me that.”
“It’s not too corny?” Alex gave him a quirky smile.
“No, it’s nice to have an endearment that’s just for me.” They fell silent as the waiter came with their food. After taking a few bites, Grant began to talk again. “What have you been doing since we spoke last?”
“I had a lot going on in school this week. There were exams for the students to take and me to grade, and then I had to turn in all of the grades by Thursday afternoon. On Friday, we had a party in each class, and a few of the kids got me gifts. They’re so cute, even at their age. They want me to like it so much, and I really do. I get the same stuff every year and it never gets old.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“Oh, you know; candles, lotion, anything with an apple logo. Coffee mugs are popular, too. Magnets and bookmarks. It’s kind of them to think of me at all. Some of the kids just bring something their parents bought, which is good, but some of them actually pick something out for me, and that means a lot. They go out of their way to pick it for me because they want to make me happy.”
“Your students love you.”
“I guess they do.” She blushed as she smiled and had another bite of her food.
“If they’re smart, they do. I know I sure like you.”
“Oh, stop. That’s because I let you get in my pants.”
He gave her a funny look. “Yeah, let’s not make that correlation, okay? It just makes me think of Reagan.”
Alex choked on her drink. “Oh, hell, Grant, leave it to you to equate what I said with a teacher and a student getting together.”
“Sorry.”
She rolled her eyes and ate her dinner. She didn’t really blame him. She figured it would take him a few years to get over the way Hudson and Reagan had come together. Maybe once they got married, he’d back off. That was if they were going to get married, which Alex certainly didn’t know. That sent her down a path of wondering what Grant had in mind for long-term. She wasn’t expecting an engagement ring so soon or anything since they’d just begun an actual dating relationship and not a sex-on-call relationship. But, she could see them meshing well in the future. They had the same schedule, after all. At least for the most part.
“So you’re working every day until the twenty-third?” she asked him after setting her fork down and picking up her wine.
“Yeah, it’s a combination of my boss making me, and needing the money for the trip.” He set his fork and knife on his empty plate and folded his hands on the edge of the table.
“Is it going to eat into your finances? You know I said I would chip in. It would only be fair to split it.”
“I don’t want you paying for any of it, Alex. We’re going to see my sister, so it should be my responsibility.”
She frowned. “But it’s a vacation for me, so why shouldn’t I pay my way?”
“Because your boyfriend is stubborn and wants to pay for you.”
“Clearly.”
They finished up and held hands on the way to the car. Grant held her door for her and got in on the passenger side. He had never offered to drive, and she supposed that was hard for someone that was used to being in charge of everything. He’d had his way for a long time, and she hoped he was at least a little flexible in his thoughts and routine. Otherwise, she would never fit in with him.
“So, are you going to come in?” she asked as she drove.
He looked over. “If you want me to.”
“Are you exhausted?” It was seven-thirty, and he was usually only awake for an
other hour and a half.
“I’m fine.”
“You say that a lot.”
“But only when it’s true. Alex, I want to spend the night with you, and it doesn’t matter how tired I may or may not be. If you’ll have me, I want to stay. I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
“You have to get up early for work, though, don’t you?” She glanced at him as she pulled into the parking lot of her complex.
“My clothes are in the saddlebag. I’ll try not to wake you when I get up.”
“You thought ahead.” The thought warmed her.
“I hoped you’d let me stay with you. We haven’t seen each other that much since Thanksgiving, and I miss you.”
“Hardly at all.” She took the space next to his motorcycle so he could get his stuff.
“And I want to change that.”
He opened his door, and she sat there while he walked around the hood. He opened her door and offered his hand.
“Good, because I do, too.” She kissed him on the cheek when she was out of the car.
He got his things, and they made their way inside. It pleased her so much that they were going to stay together after their date. He didn’t want to leave, and she didn’t want to be alone. She headed to her bedroom with him in tow and took off her jewelry. She’d only worn earrings, but now she had a necklace to put away, too. She set her things in her jewelry box and stepped out of her shoes. About the time she reached for the hem of her dress, she noticed Grant was watching her.
“What?”
“I like watching you strip.”
She laughed. “Glad to oblige.”
She took the dress to the closet to hang it up and put her shoes away while she was at it. She looked over at Grant as she stood in her bra and panties. He’d left his coat on the couch with hers and was in the process of unbuttoning his shirt. She went to him, stood in front of him, and helped him with the buttons. When they met in the middle, she pushed the shirt off his shoulders and let it drop, then went for his pants. Grant watched her face as she never took her eyes from his. With his pants unfastened, she pushed them and his boxers down until they pooled at his feet, then she sank down on her knees and took him in her mouth.
His head hit the wall when he let it fall back at the sensations. She swirled her tongue and scraped her teeth lightly up his length. He almost made a grab for her hair but stopped himself. He wanted to push into her mouth until she gagged around him, but the idea of making her do that had him opening his eyes. He didn’t want to be that rough with her. He wanted to cherish her. They’d always had hot, fast sex. They’d really never slowed down and made love. He knew there was that one time at her apartment when he’d slowed after a crazy bout of sex, but this time he wanted it to be different.
He reached for her shoulders and pulled her up. She looked at him with raised eyebrows until he kissed her slowly. It was not like usual; it was a tilting of the head and a meeting of the lips, stroking tongues and exchanged breaths. She sighed in his mouth and he felt around her back so he could unhook her bra. He pushed the straps from her shoulders and pulled it between them and off with her help. Her bare breasts pressed against his bare chest, and he felt the heat in his belly flame higher.
Alex stepped back long enough to take off her panties, and Grant pulled off the rest of his clothes. She backed to the bed, and he went with her. They sank together to the mattress and he hovered over her, kissing her another time as he held himself up on his hands. He moved to her neck, finding her pulse and sucking lightly. Alex stroked over his back, shaping his ass cheeks and giving them a squeeze. He moved down to kiss her breasts, and she was back to running her hands along his back and then up to his shoulders. Grant entered her inch by antagonizing inch, taking his time and kissing her lips as he thrust. Alex moaned as the feel of his cock filling her up stretched her in the best way. He kissed her until she was drugged with them, until all of her senses were focused on Grant, until she felt her entire body reaching for his. She shuddered and came apart underneath him, clutching him to her as tightly as she was able. Grant followed her a few moments later, whispering her name into her skin.
Chapter 19
The drive to Maryland was mostly uneventful. Alex noticed that the town was made up of more red brick buildings than their hometown. She’d never been to College Park, but she was finding it to be a beautiful city. She was nervous to be back in Reagan’s presence, but she was trying not to let it get to her. Reagan was a nice person that apparently already liked her, so she knew she should just let go of her insecurities. Besides, now that Grant had told her he loved her, she had nothing to worry about. Her goal was to be friendlier with Hudson and try to bring him out of whatever shell he hid in when Grant was around. She’d also found out through Grant that Reagan invited two of her friends. Alex felt nervous flutters in her stomach at the thought of meeting yet more people, but Grant assured her that they were both very nice and nothing to worry about. She would look at it as a way to move deeper into Grant’s life.
They pulled down a tree-lined street that had an apartment complex on one side and a small shopping center on the other. Grant turned into the complex’s parking lot and Alex looked up at the buildings. It was a nice complex; a step up from where she lived, that was for sure. Hudson came from money, she knew, but he didn’t take anything from his parents since he didn’t get along with them.
They parked and began the climb up the stairs. Check-in at their hotel wasn’t for a few more hours, so they were going to spend a few hours at Reagan and Hudson’s and then go settle in. Alex didn’t know where they were staying; Grant wanted it to be a surprise. Alex was grateful for everything he’d been doing for her lately. He was more thoughtful than she’d realized at first. He really looked out for her.
They knocked on the door and waited while they listened to footsteps and voices on the other side. A tall, skinny redheaded woman that Alex wanted to hate just for her figure opened the door. But then she smiled and Alex knew she couldn’t be so shallow.
“Hi, guys! Come on in. Reagan is in the kitchen.” She stepped back and Grant and Alex went inside.
“Hi, Grant.”
Alex turned to see the other guest, a man with thick dark hair and a beard. He was about the same height as the redhead and wore a bright smile.
“Hey. Alex, this is Davis, and that’s Luna. They go to the university with Reagan.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Alex shook hands with Davis and then looked at Luna in consternation. Handshake or hug?
Luna solved the problem by holding her hand out as well. “Hi, Alex. It’s good to meet you, finally. Reagan has been sharing good things about you.”
Alex immediately felt at ease. No wonder Reagan was friends with this woman. “Thanks, that’s nice of you to say.”
“Only telling the truth, hon.”
Alex and Grant moved into the living room with Davis and Luna. The kitchen was open to them and they could see Reagan stirring something in a pot.
“Reagan,” Grant said. He headed into the kitchen and she turned to give him a hug. They spoke quietly enough that Alex couldn’t hear them.
She sat on the white sofa and glanced around the room. Though the walls and furniture were white, there were several accent pieces in bright colors. She settled back into the cushions and found Luna watching her.
“Are the two of you . . .” Alex trailed off as she pointed between Davis and Luna.
Luna grinned. “No, but we get that all the time.”
Davis groaned. “All the time,” he repeated. “We’re very good friends.”
“Okay. What year are you in?” She thought they looked older than Reagan, but she couldn’t be sure.
“We’re seniors,” Luna answered. “We’ll graduate in a few months.”
“And off to the trenches we’ll go.”
Alex frowned at Davis. “Why, you don’t have any good job prospects?”
Davis exchanged a look with Luna, and she was the
one to answer. “I’m getting my teaching certificate, and I already have an offer from the school where I’ve been working as an assistant.”
“Oh, that’s amazing! What grade are you teaching?” Alex asked.
“It looks like I’ll be teaching a sixth grade science class.” Luna beamed.
“I teach algebra at the high school level.”
“It’s a great profession,” Luna said. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, since I was little. It’s a little surreal that it’s right around the corner.”
Alex turned to Davis. “What will you be doing?”
“I’m going to graduate with a bachelor’s in art appreciation,” was the only thing he answered.