Flea didn’t speak, just held me as he rubbed my back.
“My dad did nothing. He didn’t apologize. He just shut down,” I continued. “And then he forced us to play happy family, going to Hatch and Maisie’s for holidays, but he wouldn’t let me stay with them. I didn’t want to leave them. I wanted to stay with Poppy. I felt safe. He didn’t care. He made me go with him.”
He slid his hand to my hair and kissed the top of my head.
“I hate him.”
“I know you do,” Flea said. “But maybe you need to figure out a way to get past that. Hating someone only makes you sick inside.”
“If I forgive him, he wins.”
“He doesn’t, Grace. You do.”
“I didn’t realize my man was a sage,” I grumbled.
“Like hearin’ that, baby.”
I dropped my head back to meet his eyes. “Can we go now? I’m bored of talking about my… ah… father.”
“Yeah, baby. Grab your keys. I’ll drive your car.”
I pulled out of his arms and headed to the bowl in the kitchen just as my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was my brother. “Did you hear about Grams?”
“Yeah. That’s why I’m calling. I’m heading up there now. Do you need me to pick you up?”
“No, Flea’s driving me.”
“So, this is a thing?”
I glanced at Flea who raised an eyebrow. He probably heard Merrick, considering my brother wasn’t particularly quiet.
“Yes,” I said, turning away from Flea.
“Okay, you and I are gonna talk tonight.”
“No. We don’t need to.”
“Yeah, we do. I’m hanging up now. See you soon.”
I sighed as the call disconnected, and I grabbed my keys from the bowl, lobbing them to Flea. “I’m going to change really quick.”
He nodded and I headed to my room.
Flea
I WAS INNATELY aware of the tension rolling off Grace as we drove north. I knew the shit with her dad was complicated, but I also saw a man desperate to reconnect with his daughter. And Grace would benefit from it as well, but I kept that to myself. She was in pain and I was Team Grace all the way.
I reached over and linked my fingers with hers, lifting her hand to my mouth and kissing it gently. “You okay?”
“I will be when I get my arms around my grandmother.”
I squeezed her hand, keeping hold as I pulled into the parking garage and found a spot. After turning off the car, I faced her. “I’ve got you. You want to leave at any time, we’ll leave.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
We climbed out the car and she waited for me to reach her before wrapping her arms around my waist. “Can I have one bolstering kiss?”
I grinned, leaning down to oblige her.
She broke the kiss with a sigh and smiled up at me. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
We walked into the hospital and I let Grace lead the way, staying close as we were directed to where her grandmother was, and then I hung back, staying in the hall while she stepped into the room.
* * *
Grace
I rushed to my grandmother’s bed as she grinned up at me with glassy eyes. “Well, hi there, Gracie Girl.”
My father and brother were already there, hovering.
“What did you do to yourself?” I demanded.
“Broke my leg. You know, screwing all those sailors.”
She and my granddad had divorced thirty years ago and even though she’d remarried, Grandpa Milt had died ten years ago. She’d been ‘single and ready to mingle’ for a long time, but had yet to settle down.
“Mom!” My dad said with a groan.
I couldn’t stop a giggle. “Someone’s on some good drugs.”
“I could get used to being high,” Grams said.
I grinned. “You look like you’re having a little fun, Grams, but are you nervous about tomorrow?”
“No, Button, I’m good. This is cake.”
I relaxed. She was probably right. It probably was cake.
“You’re gonna need to come stay with me for a few weeks while you heal,” Dad said.
“I’m not leaving my animals, RyRy,” Grams countered. “I’ll be fine.”
“Mom, you cannot stay by yourself,” Dad said, his voice losing some of his patience.
“I can stay with her,” I offered.
“What about work?” Merrick countered.
“Hatch’ll let me take a couple of days off if I need it. And you can check on her when I can’t. It’s not like I have a life, so evenings are free, and all I have to do is take some clothes with me.”
Merrick raised an eyebrow, but lucky for him, he didn’t argue. I’d have to figure out time with Flea during the day. Lunch and stuff.
“What about ballet?” Dad asked.
“How did you know about that?” I snapped, then shook my head. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. I don’t start PBC for three weeks. Plenty of time to get Grams up and moving.”
“Does anyone give a shit what I think?” Grams demanded.
My grandmother was unusually censored. Normally, she used ‘fuck’ as a noun, adjective, and verb, but today she used ‘shit.’
“Okay, Mom. What do you want?” Dad asked.
“A bottle of Patrón and a man twenty years my junior, but since I can’t have either of those, I’d like some alone-time with my granddaughter.”
I smiled. “It’s settled then.”
Before anyone could argue, a nurse walked in and we were forced to leave the room so she could examine Grandma. We stepped into the hallway and Flea rose to his feet from a chair by the door.
“The nurse kicked us out,” I explained.
“How’s your grandmother?” he asked, holding his arm out for me.
I smiled, sliding against him. “Feisty, so she’ll be fine.”
The nurse walked out of the room with a smile. “She’s sleeping. You’re welcome to stay, but I imagine she’ll be out for a while.”
“I need to pack,” I said.
“Why?” Flea asked.
“I’ll tell you in the car.”
“I’m going to stay with your grandmother tonight, so you kids can head out if you want to,” Dad said.
I nodded. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Me too,” Merrick said.
“Let me find out what time her surgery is,” Dad countered. “There’s no point in you both missing work. In fact, why don’t you just come up after work?”
“I should head to her place and look after the cats,” I suggested. “Maybe I’ll go home and pack, then head back up here. I have keys to her place.”
“Not sure how I feel about you going there alone,” Dad said.
I bristled, but Flea gave me a gentle squeeze and said, “I’ll take her. It’ll give me a chance to check the security.”
My dad glanced in Flea’s direction, then he nodded.
I narrowed my eyes as Dad’s gaze landed on me. He looked away and stared down at his phone.
Goddammit, he doesn’t have an issue with me leaving with Flea. The bastard’s already checked him out.
“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, and spun on my heel.
Flea had to lengthen his stride to catch up to me. “What the hell was that?”
I stabbed at the elevator button. “My dad did a background check on you.”
“Come again?”
The doors opened, and we stepped inside. “He ran you through his criminal database.”
“He told you that?”
“He didn’t need to. He had absolutely no issue with you taking me up to Grams’s, which means he already checked you out and isn’t concerned.” I stabbed the ground floor button and let out a frustrated grunt. “He had no right.”
“Baby, I don’t care if he checked me out.”
“Well, I do.”
Flea reached for me, lifting my chin. “You don’t think it’s your fa
ther’s right to watch out for you?”
“He lost that right.”
Flea sighed. “And you don’t think he’s been living with that for the past ten years?”
“Whose side are you on?” I snapped.
“Yours, Grace. Always yours.”
“Then stop defending him,” I snapped.
He raised his hands in surrender and stepped back.
I bit my lip and stared at the elevator buttons. I felt hurt and angry… and like a total bitch. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.
The elevator doors opened, and Flea took my hand and pulled me into the stairwell, away from prying eyes. He cupped my face and leaned down to kiss me gently and I leaned against him, gripping his cut.
“I am always on your side, Grace,” he said after breaking the kiss.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“You already apologized, baby, you don’t need to do it again.”
I sighed. “I just realized I’ve blown up all of our plans. I won’t be able to make it Saturday.”
“Unless your dad can stay with your grandmother.”
I shook my head. “I’m not going to leave her, Flea.”
“At the risk of sounding like a complete dick, I want to see you on Saturday night, so how are we gonna make that happen, Grace?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Let me just get Grams settled and then we can go from there.” I smiled up at him. “Why does that make you sound like a dick?”
“Because your grandmother’s hurt and I’m bringin’ up somethin’ insignificant.”
God, he was such a good guy.
“Wanting to see me isn’t insignificant, Flea. I feel the same way.” I wrapped my arms around him. “All of this is just really sucky timing.”
“Yeah,” he said, kissing the top of my head. “C’mon, let’s get you packed up.”
I nodded, kissing him one more time, before leading him out of the stairwell and back into the parking garage.
Grace
TWO HOURS LATER, I unlocked the front door to my grandmother’s home and walked in, turning on lights as I went. Flea was right behind me, dropping my bags on the foyer floor. Flea closed and locked the door and followed me through the house.
“Killer, Bully, here kitties,” I called.
“Killer and Bully?” Flea asked.
I giggled. “Grams has a sense of humor.”
“I’m gonna have a look around,” Flea said, and started his ‘safety check.’
I heard a meow from somewhere, but still no sight of the cats. “Kitty, kitty, kitty,” I called, and Bully peeked out from the living room. “Hi, buddy. Are you hungry?”
He slinked around my ankles, and I leaned down to stroke him. “Where’s Killer?”
Bully followed me into the kitchen and I turned on the lights and stepped into the pantry where the food was kept. My grandmother was extremely organized, and tended to hoard food. Good food. By that, I mean, yummy food. Chips, sodas, beer, wine, and all manner of junky and delicious delights.
She’d always had shit like this for me and Merrick, and even though we weren’t kids and didn’t visit as often as we should, it would appear she kept up the tradition.
Finding the cat food, I doled out each cat their share just as Killer came trotting in. “Oh, there you are, you little booger.”
I stroked him, then left them both to their dinner.
Flea walked into the kitchen a few minutes later and I handed him a beer. “Is this okay?”
“It’s my favorite, actually.” He lifted the bottle and tipped it toward me. “I like your grandmother already.”
“How long can you stay?” I asked, pouring myself a glass of wine.
“How long do you want me to stay?”
“At the risk of giving you mixed signals…” I raised an eyebrow. “All night? I can drop you back to your bike tomorrow.”
“I can do that.” He grinned. “And don’t worry, baby. Not lettin’ your first time be in your grandmother’s home.”
“I’m going to be here for a while, Flea. You sure you want to make such a firm statement?”
“I can wait.”
I sighed. “Not sure I can, but we’ll see how we do over the next week.”
“Don’t rush it, baby. We’ve got time.”
I cocked my head. “How long have you gone… you know, without… um… sex?”
“You mean how long’s it been since I had… um… sex?” He grinned.
“Fleabio. Just answer the question.”
He leaned toward me. “You really want to know?”
I studied him for a few seconds before nodding. “Yes.”
“About a month ago.”
“That’s when…”
“Yep,” he confirmed.
“Are you saying, you haven’t slept with anyone since the last family thing?”
“Yeah, Grace. That’s what I’m saying.”
I swallowed. “Because of me?”
He grinned. “Yeah, baby. Because of you.”
I set my wine on the counter and walked around the island, sliding my hands over his waist. “I really, really like that.”
He slid his hands into my hair. “You do?”
“Yes. Because it means you like me.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, baby, I like you.”
He leaned down and kissed me, slowly and reverently, and I wished he hadn’t made the vow that he wouldn’t take my virginity in my grandmother’s home… because, I seriously would let him right about now.
I slipped my hands under his shirt, running them over his chest, discovering far more than a six-pack. Closer to a twelve-pack. My fingers followed the ridges of his body, almost of their own accord, and I wanted more.
Flea broke the kiss and studied me. “You wanna have a little fun?”
“Absolutely.”
He cupped my face. “You trust me.”
“With my life.”
He took my hand and led me to the living room. Sitting on the sofa, he guided me on top of him. “Straddle me.”
I settled my hands on his shoulders for balance and straddled his lap, smiling as he slid his hands under my sweater. “Take this off.”
I bit my lip and pulled my sweater off, leaving just my bra.
Flea hissed as he cupped my breasts, leaning forward to kiss my chest. “Beautiful.”
Emboldened, I reached behind my back and unhooked my bra, sliding it down my arms.
“Fuck, baby,” he rasped, cupping my breasts again, then drawing one nipple into his mouth.
I whimpered with need as my nipple pebbled into a tight bud.
He focused on my other one and I wove my fingers into his hair gripping tightly as he worked my body into a frenzy. He continued to use his mouth on my breasts, sliding one of his hands under the waistband of my sweats and panties, and slipping it between my legs.
I gasped as his fingers whispered past my clit and groaned when one of them slid inside of me. I couldn’t stop myself from pulling his hair as he continued to lavish my breasts with his mouth, moving his finger inside of me. I’d never felt anything like it.
“Oh, god,” I rasped, grinding my pussy against his hand.
“Relax, baby, just let it wash over you.”
“I can’t wait,” I whispered.
His thumb pressed against my clit and I cried out as I exploded around his fingers, dropping my forehead to his. Flea grinned, shifting to kiss me gently, pulling his hand out and guiding me onto the sofa on my back.
“That was… amazing,” I said.
“Yeah, baby, it was.” He kissed me again. “But we’re not done.”
“I thought you said you weren’t going to pop my cherry at my grandmother’s house.”
“I’m not goin’ to pop your cherry… here or anywhere.” He chuckled. “When it’s time, I’m going to make you mine in every way.” He kissed his way down my body. “But in the meantime, I’m goin’ to make you so crazy, you’ll be ready when I do.”
I squirmed as his tongue dipped into my bellybutton.
“Lift,” he demanded.
I lifted, and he tugged my sweatpants and panties down my legs… then his face was between them and I almost lost my mind.
I couldn’t stop a squeak as his tongue pressed against my clit and my hips arched against his mouth of their own accord. He grinned up at me and I swear it was the sexiest fucking thing I’d ever seen. He slid two fingers inside of me and I gripped his head as he pumped harder into me making me crazy.
“Oh god, Flea!” I squealed, and he sucked my clit, slamming his fingers into me faster and faster.
I screamed as an orgasm hit hard and fast… I was coherent enough not to slam my knees together, but, damn, it was hard not to. Flea slid his hand out of me, kissed the inside of each thigh, then kissed his way back up to my mouth. “Beautiful.”
Leaning down, he kissed me and I wrapped my legs around his waist, lifting my pussy against the rough fabric of his jeans. I could feel his rock-hard cock behind his zipper and worried about his comfort.
“Show me how to please you,” I begged.
He shook his head. “Tonight’s just for you, baby.”
“Won’t you get…?”
“What?”
“I’m trying to think of the medical terminology for blue balls.”
Flea dropped his head to my chest as his shoulders shook in laughter.
“What?” I demanded, gripping his hair and lifting his head.
“There’s no such thing, Grace.”
“As blue balls?”
“Yeah.”
“Every guy on the planet says he’ll get blue balls from not… you know… having sex, or whatever.”
“Yeah, honey, it’s not a thing. Any guy that says that is just tryin’ to guilt some woman into fuckin’ him. It’s a lie.”
“But you’re impressively hard and that can’t be comfortable.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Impressively hard, huh?”
I blushed. “Not that I have anything to compare you to, but, yes, you feel impressive.”
His mouth landed on mine again and I raised my hips again. He linked his fingers with mine and dragged my hands over my head, pressing his hips into me. I moaned as I rubbed my pussy against his denim again and slid one leg higher. “Flea,” I whispered.
“Yeah, baby.”
Road to Grace Page 7