by Stella James
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Trace says chuckling. “That’s Mona for ya.”
The waitress comes by and Molly and I each order a coke while Trace and Sophie stick to iced tea.
“I hope we’re not intruding on your date,” I say to Sophie.
“Oh, not at all, Trace’s mom is in town and offered to watch our other two so that we could grab a couple hours and be among adults,” she says. “So this worked out perfectly.”
“Oh wow, so this is number three?”
“What can I say, this woman is so damn beautiful and even more so when she’s pregnant, I can’t keep my damn hands off her,” Trace says, leaning in and tilting her head towards him. He kisses her firmly and I have no doubt that he truly believes she’s the most beautiful woman in the entire world.
When the waitress comes back we place our orders and I find that Trace and Sophie are great, he’s funny and she’s quite sassy, which is something you wouldn’t pick up on when first meeting her. They make a great couple and I’m looking forward to getting to know her better when we have our girl’s night next weekend. Molly and I manage to talk about things that have nothing to do with the diner and I’m enjoying getting to know her better as well. When the topic of my background comes up, I keep it simple and explain my father passing years ago and my mother recently. Sophie in particular is sympathetic as she lost her Gran who raised her for most of her life.
“So how did you end up at Rosie’s?” Trace asks.
“Grey completely saved my ass one day, that’s how,” Molly says. “I was drowning in orders and she picked up my slack,” she says. “We couldn’t let her go after that.”
“It was nothing,” I nudge her gently. “I was happy to help and I’m happy for the job, I really didn’t want to have to stay at that motel anymore.”
“Oh that’s right! Hanna said you were staying in Eric’s suite, how’s that going?” Asks Sophie.
“Great actually. Jamie’s awesome and he’s, well he-“
“He’s what?” A familiar voice behind me says.
I turn slowly and look up at Eric, admiring every inch of him in faded jeans and a fitted black T-shirt. His hair still looks a bit wet and he smells freshly masculine and delicious. My eyes meet his and my throat instantly feels thick as I exhale a shaky breath.
“Hi,” I say quietly.
His gaze holds mine briefly before he glances down at the cut of my dress, no doubt noticing my heart beating like a dinner bell. His jaw clenches ever so slightly and I think, just maybe, he’s as happy to see me as I am to see him. Reality be damned.
Chapter 8
Eric
“Hey man, pull up a chair,” Trace says.
I glance back down at Grey’s chest gently heaving against the top of her lacy dress and fight the urge to plant a chair right beside her so that no one can get near her. Instead I snag a chair from the table beside us and sit at the end. After I checked in with Anne and said an early goodnight to Jamie from the jobsite, I realized that if I went home I’d be stuck sitting upstairs knowing that Grey was downstairs. Alone. I had a change of clothes in my truck and grabbed a quick shower in the onsite trailer before heading straight to Mac’s for a beer.
I figured if I killed enough time I’d be too exhausted to think about Grey when I got home and I’d head straight to bed. Obviously I wasn’t counting on her being here, wearing a sexy white dress, her creamy skin peeking out and looking so damn soft that my fingertips were itching to touch her the minute I approached the table.
I do my best to distract myself from her as everyone eats and drinks. Trace and I talk work and catch the highlights from last night’s game on one of the mounted T.V’s. I sip my beer and ignore the way Grey’s laugh rises above the noise around us. I don’t have to look over to know that her laugh reaches her eyes, or to know that she’s raising her hand to her mouth to try and stifle herself. I’ve noticed she does that a lot but it never works. Her laugh is loud and sweet and infectious, and right now it’s the only thing I can hear.
Trace leans over and whispers something into Sophie’s ear, she flushes and whispers back, he stares at her for a moment before she stands and pulls him up beside her.
“It’s been fun kids, but the wife and I are outta here,” Trace says, tossing some bills on the table before taking Sophie’s hand and hauling her towards the door.
Molly and Grey slide down a couple chairs, laughing as they watch the couple exit the pub. I can see that Grey is about to speak when Molly perks up and spots Jack walking in.
“Hold that thought girl, I’m going to go fetch my man,” she says.
Grey smiles as Molly strides towards Jack and wraps her arms around his neck, she’s so small compared to him that she’s on her toes and is still straining to meet his mouth.
“I love those two,” Grey says smiling.
Molly tries to pull him towards out table but he wraps an arm around her waist and dips her on the small dancefloor before he begins swinging her around to some country song that I’ve never heard before. Grey laughs and quickly tries to hide it.
“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?” She asks, lowering her hand from her lips.
“You always try to hide your laugh, why?”
“Oh, I didn’t even realize I did that,” she says. “Just a habit I guess,” she shrugs.
A moment of silence passes before she asks how Jamie is.
“Good, I talked to her before I came here. She’s spent the night with the Parker’s before so it’s not usually a big deal, she can handle it,” I reply.
“That’s good, she was so excited packing her bag earlier,” she grins. “Of course she’ll have a great time. We didn’t get to our lesson today but I promised a double lesson tomorrow. I mean, if that’s okay with you?”
“Fine by me.”
“Okay, do you-“
“Excuse me, Grey?”
“Hey Derek, how’s it going?”
“Good, it’s nice to see you outside of the diner,” he says. “Would you like to dance?”
She looks to me for what I assume is approval, and for a second I think I see disappointment flash in her eyes when I offer little more than a shrug of indifference in response. She hesitates for a minute before looking up at Derek and sliding her hand into his. Derek Macintosh is a realtor and about as exciting as paint drying. He’d never be able to handle a woman like Grey. Hell, he wouldn’t even know what to do with her.
I watch as he leads her to the dance floor just as a new song begins to play. Another country song, this one I actually know. Head Over Boots by Jon Pardi. It’s catchy and I find myself unable to look away, wondering if along with her many other talents Grey is able to add two stepping to the list. Which of course, it’s evident after the first few lines of the song that she is. I watch Derek stumble to keep up with her as she slows her pace to allow him to lead. Even in flip flops and in the arms of a tone deaf partner, Grey manages to look graceful.
“You planning on doing something about that?” Molly asks as she and Jack take two of the vacant seats.
“And what exactly should I be doing?” I ask before taking the last sip from my lukewarm bottle.
“Oh I don’t know, maybe rescuing her from Derek before he wins her over with his knowledge of the housing market,” Jack says.
“She’s just a tenant. And besides,” I say, standing and putting some cash on top of my bill. “I’ve got Jamie to think about.”
Molly grabs my hand gently before I can step away from the table. “You need a life too honey, everyone knows how much you love your girl, there’s nothing wrong with you having something for yourself.”
“You guys have a good night,” I say, turning from the table and heading for the door. I don’t look but I can swear I feel Grey’s eyes on me.
I feel restless the entire drive home, I have no right to Grey, no right to feel jealous or fucking annoyed that another man got to put his hands on her and hold her close. She
’s not mine, and the sooner the animal in me accepts that, the better. I pull up to the house, the sun long gone and the only light coming from the dim porch light. I’m gathering some paperwork and blueprints out of the backseat when a set of headlights appear at the end of the long driveway. I’m just closing the door when Grey pulls up beside me and steps out of her car.
“Hey, I saw you leave, why didn’t you say anything?”
“Figured you were busy,” I say. You have no right to her.
“Busy?” She crosses her arms in front of her chest and steps towards me. “What the hell does that mean? Did I mess up and dance with someone I shouldn’t have? Did I break some moral code of yours?”
“Just forget it, I’m tired, it was a long day.”
She uncrosses her arms and they fall to her sides. “Yeah, I’m tired too, sorry, I didn’t mean to bite your head off.”
She turns to head towards her stairway and before I can question myself or dwell on the ramifications, I’m setting the stack of papers back on the driver’s seat and closing the door.
“Grey.”
She stops and turns slowly, her eyes widening a fraction as I stride towards her. My palms land gently on either side of her beautiful face, her breath catches.
“Tell me not to kiss you,” I say. “Tell me to fuck off and I will, but if you don’t I’m not going to stop and I’m not going to regret it or think it shouldn’t have happened.”
She swallows hard and places her hands on top of mine.
“Kiss me Eric,” she breathes out. “I don’t want you to stop.”
My mouth seals to hers and demands everything, she matches me and takes just as much as she gives as her arms wind around my neck and I trail mine down her sides only stopping to grip her hips. Our mouths rip apart, as we both breathe heavily.
“I need to feel you,” she says.
We practically sprint for her door and as soon as she’s got the key turned, I shove the door open and slam it shut behind us. She’s back in my arms, her long legs wrapped tightly around my waist as I back her against the door. Her dress is bunched up around her waist, she presses her silk covered pussy against my jeans and all I can hear is the blood rushing through my veins. I want her so fucking much.
“Bedroom,” she pants against my neck as she sucks and nips at my skin. I walk us through the small living room and into the bedroom she now claims as her own. The scent of vanilla hangs in the air and when I lay her down on the dark comforter I stand back and admire her in the faint moonlight shining in through the window.
“I’m not rushing this time baby, I’m taking my sweet fucking time with you.”
She kicks off her sandals and props herself up as I pull my T-shirt up and over my head. She leans over the bed and clicks on a small lamp, dim light fills the room.
“If you’re going to take your time with me,” she says, coming up onto her knees and bunching up the hem of her dress. “Then I want you to see all of me,” she pulls her dress off and pulls the tie from her hair. She’s kneeling on the bed in a sexy white bra and matching thong, her blonde hair wild around her. Her skin is soft and lightly tanned, her tattoos on full display. Gorgeous. She licks her lips and pulls the bottom one through her teeth before reaching around and unclasping the silk that covers her. She pulls it from her body and lets it fall to the floor beside the bed. My mouth goes dry as she sits there. Waiting.
“Lay back Grey,” I say thickly.
She complies and scoots back so that her head rests on the pillows behind her. I kick off my boots and jeans, leaving just my briefs. I rub a palm firmly over my straining cock as she watches with heavy eyes. I kneel on the bed and reach for the sides of her flimsy panties, pulling them gently down her smooth legs. I toss them on the floor and without coercion, she places the soles of her feet on the plush bedding and allows her legs to fall open slightly.
“More,” I growl. “Let me see baby.”
Her knees fall open and the minute I see the soft patch of trimmed hair and her plump pink folds glistening with her own arousal, I’m a goner. My mouth waters for a taste and when I lean forward and bend down, bringing my mouth close enough to her sex that I can smell her sweetness, I hum with approval and take one long swipe with my tongue, sucking her clit into my mouth and pulling gently. Her hips buck and she moans loudly, gripping the blanket beneath her.
“Mm, fuck Grey you taste sweet,” I groan before taking another long swipe. “Do you have any idea what it did to me that day you were by yourself and I could hear you moaning through the door? I was so fucking hard just standing there listening to you touch yourself.” I tease her with my tongue.
“I knew- knew you heard me,” she stutters.
“Tell me what you thought about when you touched yourself,” I say, before licking her again and pressing small circles against her clit.
“Ohh, God Eric, I was, was thinking about rough hands on my skin,” she says. “Strong hands, like yours.”
Fuck.
“Ahh, please Eric, God I need more,” she gasps.
“I’ll give you as much as you need baby, but right now I’m taking my time tasting this sweet pussy.”
Her thighs quiver gently when I continue to lick her slowly, savouring every bit of her. I plunge two fingers inside of her while keeping my mouth on her swollen bundle of nerves, her hands sink into her own hair as she writhes underneath me, panting and gasping and so lost in herself that she can’t focus. She tightens around my fingers and when she’s close she brings her hands to the back of my head and presses her hips up, greedily trying to get more.
“Oh God, I’m coming Eric, don’t stop,” she groans.
I feel the sweetness of her climax hit my tongue and I lick up every drop while she trembles and moans my name over and over. I nip either side of her inner thighs and make my way up her stomach until I reach her neck.
“Keep saying my name baby, I want to hear it when I sink inside you.”
She breathes my name on a moan and parts her legs wider as I pull my cock free and wrap a fist around myself, I drag my shaft along her dripping wet channel, teasing her.
“Please, Eric, I can’t wait.”
I enter her in one swift thrust and bury myself completely, rasping a string of curses against her hair as she grips me tightly. My cock is nestled so deep I can feel every inch of her squeeze me and it feels incredible.
“Grey, open your eyes and look at me babe.”
She blinks open her eyes and smiles softly up at me before trailing her fingertips along my arms and pulling my mouth down to hers. She moans against my mouth as she tastes herself on my lips and that alone almost has me coming inside of her.
I start slow, pulling nearly all the way out before thrusting in again in long hard strokes. She hooks one leg around my waist and brings her hips closer, grinding herself up as my pace quickens and I can no longer deny the savage in me that wants to feel her milk my cock. Her nails dig into my shoulders, her leg wrapping even tighter around me. Her eyes are still on mine until she begins to come again and her head tilts back, eye lids fluttering. She’s moaning and gasping and I know right there that watching Grey come apart beneath me is the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. A couple hard, quick thrusts and I can feel my balls tighten and every muscle in my body goes taut until I pour myself into her.
“Goddammit Grey, fuck you feel so good,” I murmur against the damp skin along her neck. “So fucking good.”
We cling to each other and lay still, I slowly pull out and roll onto my side, taking her with me and tucking her close. She runs the tips of her fingers back and forth along my arm and when our breath is steady and the haze around us lifts I realize that for the second time we didn’t use protection.
“We didn’t use a condom again babe, I’m sorry, I fucking blanked out,” I say.
“We’re okay, I’m on birth control and it’s been a really long time since I was, well since I was with anyone,” she says quietly.
I til
t her chin up so I can see her eyes, which are sated and sleepy.
“How long has it been since someone’s touched you Grey?”
“Over a year,” she cringes. “What about you? I mean, has there been anyone?”
“One. One time,” I reply. “Quite a while ago. You’re safe with me.”
She smiles and leans up to place her lips on mine before resting her head on my chest.
“I can’t do another one night stand Eric, I’m just not made that way,” she says.
“I know, we’ll figure it out. I can’t let anyone else have you Grey, not after knowing what it feels like to have you for myself.”
“I don’t want anyone else. Just you,” she says moments before her breathing evens out and her pliant body molds even closer to mine.
*
The faint light of the small lamp still fills the bedroom when I open my eyes and feel Grey’s breasts pressed against my back. I don’t even remember closing my eyes but when I glance over at the clock it’s 3 a.m. I roll over and keep her close against me, wrapping my arm around her and holding her firmly in place. She hums quietly and burrows into me. I can feel the fluttering of her eyelashes against my chest and when she wakes completely she tilts her head back and looks up at me sleepily.
“Mm,” she smiles lazily as she leans up and presses her lips to mine. “For a moment there I was worried it was all just a dream.”
“Would it have been a good dream?”
She nudges me onto my back and stretches out on top of me, pressing her lips to my chest and trailing them all the way up to my jaw.
“It would have been a very good dream,” she says. “The kind of dream that I wouldn’t want to wake up from.”
She places her thighs on either side of me and teases the length of my cock with her slit while sinking her fingers into my hair and firmly fastening her mouth to mine. My hands grip her ass and hold her in place while she slides back and forth, coating my erection with her arousal.