by Rye Hart
“You hungry?” Grant asked.
I jumped at the sound of his voice, and my heart started slamming against my chest again.
“Um, a little,” I said.
“What would you like?” he asked.
I watched him pick up the phone by the bed as his eyes panned to mine. I opened the menu to divert my attention away from him. It felt awkward, being alone in this hotel with him, and I didn’t understand why. I knew I was safe. I wanted to be with him. But there was something off about the entire thing.
I wished Jane was there to talk to. But she was at some writing conference on the other side of the country.
“Just some soup sounds nice,” I said.
“I’ll get you some bread, too, in case you get hungrier. Yes, I’d like to order some food. Suite 1209. I’d like a bowl of your soup of the day, an order of honey yeast rolls, two steak sandwiches, a double order of fries, a pitcher of water, and a pitcher of orange juice.”
My eyes widened at the order, and Grant shot me a wink.
I lay in bed as Grant sat in the chair in the corner of the room. It almost felt like I was back in the hospital again with him, but this time I was painfully aware of the fact that we were alone. There was a moment where the awkwardness was relieved when our food arrived and there was another person with us. But once the room service courier left, the uncomfortable silence settled around us again.
Why was this happening?
“Let’s get you sitting up so you can eat,” Grant said.
“I’ve got it,” I said. “I can sit up.”
I held my hand out to him, and he watched as I struggled to get up. He didn’t try to intervene in any way, though I knew he could tell I was struggling. I finally got myself propped up with pillows behind my back, but I was panting.
He grinned at me as he handed me my soup.
“Feel better?” he asked.
“What?”
“Did you get that stubborn streak out of your system?” he asked.
“Yeah. I did,” I said, a smile coming to my face.
He sat on the edge of my bed and pulled the silver rolling table up to him. He had ordered a massive amount of food, but it shouldn’t have shocked me. He was a muscular man, and I assumed his body required the calories to keep up. We ate in silence and it was killing me.
Was it possibly the fact that we were just doing some monotonous normal thing that was making it weird? Our other encounters had all included some sort of drama: a fight, crazy sex, my attack. Maybe I was worried that I wasn’t interesting enough to make him stay after all the excitement died down.
“So, you were going to surprise me?” I asked.
He stopped eating and looked over at me before he put his sandwich down.
“I was,” Grant said. “I was maybe a half an hour out from your place.”
“I’m really glad you were,” I said.
“I’m not gonna lie, when I got your text telling me you needed me, I thought you meant for sex. I nearly drove off the damn road. It was when you didn’t answer your phone afterward when I called that I got worried.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“No. You’re not allowed to apologize for what that piece of shit did to you. I’m just glad it wasn’t worse.”
“Me too.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I mulled the question around in my mind as I finished off my soup.
“Not really,” I said, yawning. “I’m getting tired.”
“Good. You need to get as much rest as possible.”
He took the bowl from my lap, and I slid down underneath the covers with the smell of steak sandwiches in my nose. I slept hard and long. I was thankful that I didn’t have any nightmares this time. I woke up with my body curled up in the comforter and my face buried between two pillows, and the sound of plastic bags caught my attention.
I turned my face and saw Grant dropping some things onto the table, and it caused me to sit up.
“What’s all that?” I asked.
Grant turned to look at me as I sat up in bed.
“Where’d you go?”
“A few places. I went back and got your bag from the hospital. I used your keys to get into your trunk. Grabbed your phone. Charger. Things like that. I also brought your car back to the hotel, so you’ll have it here in case you want it.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said.
“I also went to some stores and grabbed you a few things: some toiletries to wash up with, some clean clothes. I went by your apartment, but it’s still taped off so I couldn't get inside.”
“You bought stuff for me?” I asked. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“I’m not going to go broke grabbing you a few things. You don’t need to worry about it.”
I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my chin on top of them. My vision was focusing, and I saw the sheer number of bags on the table. He hadn’t bought a few things, he’d bought a lot of stuff. I was grateful, and even slightly impressed, but still the thought of him spending so much money sat weirdly with me.
“It’s not a big deal,” Grant said as he turned to look at me. “I figured you’d want out of the clothes you have on now.”
I nodded, but I couldn't take my eyes off the bags.
“How much did it cost?” I asked.
He walked over to me and sat on the edge of the bed, then took my hand in his.
“Theresa, stop worrying. I know the past few days have been a whirlwind of terrible things, but you’re fine here. You can take a long hot shower or bath and change into something clean. Or you can lay here for the next week in exactly what you’re wearing. Whatever you want to do.”
“I’m sorry. I guess being with Ike all that time did more damage than I thought.”
“Stop apologizing and let me help you. I will never try to control you like he did. Ever,” he said.
I nodded my head, knowing deep down that he was telling the truth. A hot shower did sound nice.
I took his hand and slid from the bed. I was still unsteady on my feet but leaning against Grant was easier than I figured it would be. He held onto one of my hands and wrapped his free arm around my waist. He steadied me but didn’t guide me. He waited to see which direction I would move in before stabilizing my motions.
It felt good to be in charge of my life.
He leaned me against the edge of the kitchen counter before he left to get the toiletries he’d purchased for me. I drew in a deep breath before I stood up, making my way over to the bathroom. It was beautiful. A massive walk-in shower with a removable shower head and rails to steady myself against if I became unbalanced. There were holes with small jets in the walls, and I ran my fingers over them to try and figure out what they were.
“The shower converts into a steam sauna,” Grant said.
I jumped at the sound of his voice and my balance faltered. Grant reached out to steady me before reaching in to turn on the water for me. I hated feeling so jumpy, but I knew it would take a while to settle my nerves with all that I’d been through.
He held out the bag of toiletries to me and I whistled as I peeked inside. He hadn’t bought me the local drug store brand, no, he’d bought me top of the line salon quality things. I raised my eyes to his and smiled.
“You didn’t.”
“You deserve it after what you’ve been through. In the corner of the shower, there’s a seat for you to sit on if you want to steam after you shower. Take your time. You’re in no hurry to be anywhere. And when you get out, we can figure out dinner from the menu and find something on television.”
“I don’t know why I feel so weird. All of that sounds wonderful, but I feel this—”
My hand came up and rubbed against my chest as my eyes began to water.
“Theresa, look at me.”
“I can’t—”
“Please look at me,” he said.
My eyes fluttered u
p to his as a tear washed down my cheek.
“With everything you went through at the hands of someone you trusted, you’re allowed to feel this way. It’s totally normal. All I’m asking is you relax in a hot shower. That’s it. And whatever you want to have when you get out, you’ll have it.”
I nodded, unable to speak as my emotions closed around my throat. Grant kissed my forehead before he left me alone in the bathroom, and I turned to fiddle with the shower nozzles. I stripped away the clothes from that night and tossed them in the trash can. I didn’t ever want to see them again. Then I grabbed the things Grant bought for me and stepped into the hot stream of water raining down over my battered body and scrubbed away the memories of the past couple days.
CHAPTER 24
GRANT
Theresa was asleep, curled into the crook of my arm. It was nearly one in the morning, and I couldn't fucking sleep. She’d fallen asleep during the movie we were watching on television, but I was painfully aware of her emotional disposition toward me. I hated seeing her so uncertain about things. I hated the distance growing between us. She had been so strong and sure with her family, but now that it was just the two of us, she was second-guessing everything. But I made her a promise. I told her I wasn’t leaving her again, and I meant that. Even though I knew she needed time to process what she’d gone through before we could move forward, I still wasn’t going to leave her side. I loved her too damn much.
She’d taken an hour-long shower before turning the thing into a steam session. By the time she’d finally gotten out of the bathroom, the wrinkles on her skin were so deep they were casting shadows. We ate dinner in a combination of silence and awkward conversation and the movie wasn’t any easier. She started out on the other side of the bed from me, and as she grew more tired, she got closer.
Now, she was softly snoring against my chest with her leg tossed over my hips.
“Mmmm. What?”
I furrowed my brow as I looked down at Theresa. She was beginning to stir against me, but her eyes weren’t opening. I felt her body pull taut against me and I braced for impact. I figured she was about to have another nightmare, and I wanted her to know I was there with her.
“Grant?”
“I’m right here,” I said, stroking her hair.
“Grant, please.”
The desperation in her voice was like a punch to my gut.
“Grant. Help me. Grant?”
“Ssshhh,” I said as I rubbed her arm. “It’s okay. It’s me. I’m here.”
I pulled her close to me, and her eyes flew open. She looked confused at first. Dazed. And I wasn’t sure if she was still sleeping or not. She looked up at me, and I watched her eyes slowly focus, and just as quickly as she had pulled away from me she snuggled in deep. I bent down and kissed her forehead, whispering soothing things into her ear. “It’s going to be okay,” and “I’m right here,” and “it’s me—you’re safe.” Anything to get the trembling in her body to die down so she could get back to sleep.
With each stroke of my hand against her skin, I felt my groin growing. The veins in my legs pulsing. My cock needed her. It needed relief, snuggled so close to her with her curves pressed against me. But I pushed those thoughts out of my mind and willed my dick to settle back down. I didn’t care about what it needed. The only thing that mattered was what Theresa needed. She needed tenderness. Not sex. She needed someone she could lean against. Not fuck.
But my cock wouldn’t settle down, so I stopped stroking her arm.
She looked up at me with those big doe eyes, and I bit back a groan. She pushed up from the bed and looked at me, her eyes darting between my gaze and my mouth. No. That wasn’t happening. Not now. She was vulnerable and broken, and she needed someone to protect her.
What kind of man would I be if I didn’t protect her at her most vulnerable?
She straddled my lap, and my hands fell to her legs. Her nightshirt traveled up her thighs, revealing the circular bruises still fading away against her skin. I slid my fingers down her calves, trying to get my hands away from the heat radiating from between her legs.
I felt her hands cup my cheeks as she lifted my gaze, and soon her lips barreled into mine.
I tried to fight it, but I couldn't. Her tongue was hot against my lips, and she was grinding down into me. I could feel her breathing speed up. I could feel my cock pressing against my pants. My hands slowly traveled back up her legs, causing her to moan with gratification. I smoothed my hands over her shirt and gripped her hips as our tongues did battle. I tasted her sweetness, drank in her desperation.
But I was still in my right mind, and I grabbed her upper arms and pushed her away from my body.
Her eyes were full of confusion and hazed over with lust. I ached to bury my cock within her, but I had to be sure. This wasn’t a good situation, and I wasn’t going to take advantage of her. I wasn’t going to be that guy.
“Theresa,” I said. “I don’t know if this is a good idea for you.”
“Please.”
“What?” I asked.
“Please, let me have you,” she said.
“Are you sure? You’ve just been through a lot,” I said.
Her eyes danced with mine as my hands released her body. She sank deep into my hips, brushing against my hardened cock. I knew she could feel it, and she knew I could feel her. The want rushing over her body was tinting her skin red, and she looked too beautiful.
“I need this Grant. I need you,” Theresa said.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips gently to mine as my hands wrapped around her.
“I’m sure,” she said, whispering. “I need you inside me.”
Even though I still had some reservations, I gave in. I pushed forward against Theresa and claimed her lips as mine. My hands tangled in the soft tresses of her hair as I laid her down, my teeth raking against her lower lip. She wiggled underneath me and spread her thighs as wide as she could. I would never deny her. I would always give her anything she told me she needed. Theresa was my weakness. The one thing in my life I couldn't say “no” to.
And as my lips trailed down her neck, I felt her give in to me.
I smoothed her shirt up her body and wrapped my lips around first one nipple then the other. I lapped at them as they puckered to life underneath my warm breath. Her hands were gripping my hair, shoving me down to where she really wanted me. She was shaking and in desperate need of release, and I wasn’t going to deny her anything.
She was in control, and I would follow her every move.
I slid down between her legs and lapped up her naked pussy. I locked her thighs around my cheeks so I wouldn’t have to look at those disgusting bruises. Every time I saw them, they made me angry, thirsty for blood and ready to fight. And what Theresa needed was love and tenderness.
And I knew I could give that to her.
All of it.
My tongue pressed into her clit and swirled around. Shallow breaths fell from her lips as she tugged me closer.
I sank myself into her. I drank every ounce of arousal that poured from between her legs. I sucked her clit between my lips and flicked my tongue across it. I threaded our fingers together and tugged on her arms, arching her hips closer into my face. I pressed my stubble between the folds of her pussy and listened as she chanted my name like a desperate prayer.
“Grant. Grant. Don’t stop. Grant. Please. Yes. Oh, shit, Grant. Like that.”
I sped up my ministrations as her juices trickled down my chin. Her legs trembled and her thighs convulsed. Her hands curled tightly into mine, and I could feel her body ready to explode. I pressed my tongue firmly into her clit and watched her fall over the edge. Jolting and wiggling as my lips attached to her, I rode her orgasm with her and raked my tongue across her pussy. I opened my mouth and covered her entire slit, breathing heat and watched as the goosebumps trickled up her stomach.
Her nipples puckered harder for me, and I kissed u
p to them before giving them the attention they deserved.
Her legs were useless at my sides as my tongue tickled her engorged nipples. She was moaning and whimpering, her eyes half-hooded with pleasure. Her hands kept running up and down my arms, and my cock was leaking against my pants. I sucked on her perfect breasts and tugged at them, watching her squirm underneath me.
She was beautiful, the epitome of perfection.
And I was in a hell of a lot of trouble.
She pushed me off her and for a second, I thought it was over. I thought she had come to her senses, but instead, I felt her hands at my pants. She tugged them down my body before my cock spilled out, the tip of it glistening for her.
I looked up and found Theresa wiggling between my legs before her lips sank down around my cock.
It was one fluid motion I hadn’t expected from her, and it rendered me speechless. She took me all the way back into her throat, and it made my toes curl. Fuck. She was so warm, and her throat was so tight. I resisted the urge to fist her hair and press her all the way down.
I curled my fists into the bed as my heels dug into the mattress.
“Theresa. Holy hell.”
She smiled around my cock as I propped myself up on my forearms. Her big, beautiful eyes were looking up at me, filled with an innocence I wasn’t sure would ever go away. I saw her throat expanding with the girth of my cock every time she swallowed me down, and I felt my stomach churning. I felt my abs tightening and my balls curling into my body. If I wasn’t careful, I’d explode right down her fucking throat.
And that wasn’t where I wanted to be.
I pulled my hips from her face and listened as my cock popped out of her mouth. I looked at her swollen lips, and she was panting, but the fire in her eyes wasn’t gone. She threw herself at me, and I caught her in my arms, then turned us over as her legs locked around me. I grabbed my cock and pressed it into her entrance, watching as her mouth opened in pleasure.
My eyes locked with hers as I bottomed out against her hips and I found a spark of something wild behind them.