“Come with me,” I manage to moan.
He slaps my ass to let me know he heard me, and it isn’t long until we’re both jumping over the cliff. His cock twitches as he spurts inside me, and I scream as I feel wave after wave of heated pleasure course through me, and together we’re just these two people who for a brief moment are one, and that—to me—means more than all the money in the world. So much so that I find involuntary tears streaming down my face that I hide from Grant because I don’t want him to get the idea he hurt me, because nothing could be further from the truth.
Wiping my eyes as he finishes, he collapses on top of me and his lips tenderly kiss my sweaty hair, my ear, the back of my neck. I moan softly, gathering my bearings and descending back down to Earth.
“I love you,” Grant whispers in my ear.
“I love you, too,” I murmur, my eyes snapping open. Did I just say that out loud?
Grant pulls out and climbs over to flop down next to me. His face is the picture of calm as he wipes stray strands of sweaty hair away that cling to my forehead. He grins and nuzzles closer.
“I love you, too,” I repeat, not to convince him, but to convince myself.
Only as I look at him, I find that I don’t really need much convincing.
“You heard that?” I shout, completely embarrassed. I put my face in my hands and groan.
Tito and Frankie sit across the breakfast bar from me with two healthy grapefruits in front of them, while I nurse a cup of coffee. Caffeine is definitely my friend this morning after the long night Grant and I had.
“Girl, it sounded like…” he turns to his partner for assistance. “What’d it sound like?”
“Like a chihuahua getting mauled by a T-Rex,” Frankie says with a mouthful of fruit.
Tito nods. “Yeah, it sounded like that. I think the whole island heard it.”
I groan louder before taking a sip of my coffee. I knew Grant and I were loud, but I didn’t think we were that loud. Or rather, I didn’t think I was that loud. What can I say? His cock just does it for me.
“So I guess you guys made up then, huh?” Tito asks, cinching his silk robe tighter.
“Yes, we made up,” I grin.
“Several times,” Frankie adds.
“What was that all about anyway? He said something about a fight?”
I nod, filling them in on yesterday’s events from my perspective. When I tell it, I can see Grant fresh in my mind turning to shove me with this wild look in his eyes that still sends a shiver down my spine, and while I no longer see my father hitting my mother when I think about it, somehow that makes it scarier to know that was all Grant and his temper.
“Whoa,” Tito says.
“I know, right?”
“Sounds like somebody has a wild side, and I don’t just mean in the bedroom,” Frankie polishes off his grapefruit.
“It’s not like that, though. I don’t think he’d lose his temper like that just for the sake of it. Only when it comes to me.”
“So he’s protective of you,” Tito wraps his arms around Frankie. “I know what that’s like.”
“I guess,” I muse. “I mean, he has his driver picking me up in the mornings to take me to work now, and it’s not just that. It constantly feels like he’s around in some capacity. Like I’m always being watched. And I don’t mean that in a bad way, just that it feels like I’m never alone.”
“So,” Tito shrugs.
“You don’t think that’s a little weird?”
“No. I mean, you’re dating a guy who was more money than he knows what to do with, there may as well be some perks. Rides to work, beach houses, mind blowing sex.”
“I guess I never thought about it like that before, mostly because I’m not dating Grant for his money.”
“Then why are you dating him?” Frankie cocks an eyebrow.
I murmur something under my breath before taking a long, slow sip of caffeine.
“What was that?” Tito asks, placing his fingers behind his ear for emphasis.
I roll my eyes. “I said, because I love him.”
“Jesus, Raven,” he moans disapprovingly. “Already?”
“What?” I answer defensively. “I can’t help who I fall in love with. It just happens.”
“I know, I know. It’s just…remember what happened with Adam?”
“No,” I shake my head, feeling a surge of adrenaline. “Two totally different scenarios. At least this time I had the sense to fall for someone who has their shit together, mostly.”
“You thought Adam had his shit together, Rave. For an entire year, before you caught him cheating on you.”
“What are you saying? That I shouldn’t fall in love with Grant for a year until I know he’s not dicking around? I can’t do that, Tito. Besides, he’s not like that.”
“You thought Adam wasn’t like that either.”
“Jesus Christ,” I shout, feeling the anger rising to the surface. “What the hell do you want from me?”
“Whoa,” Frankie interjects, holding up his hands before things can get too heated.
I love Tito to death and he’s my first, and best, American friend, but come on. How can you control who you fall in love with? Surely he’s smarter than that. I know it’s only been a short while for me and Grant, but he has to see Grant’s a hell of a lot more mature than Adam ever was.
“He’s not like that,” I repeat, clutching my coffee mug so hard my knuckles turn white.
“Look, Rave,” Frankie says calmly. “No one’s telling you who to fall in love with, okay? Lord knows we’re the last two people on earth who should be telling you anything like that. All we’re saying is to just be careful. We love you, and we don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
I look both of them in the eyes, feeling his voice of reason reverberate in my soul. He’s right. As protective as Grant is of me, Tito and Frankie are equally protective, if not more so. Releasing my grip on the mug, I take a deep breath and relax my muscles.
“You’re right,” I say softly. “I’m sorry. When it comes to my feelings for Grant I just get a little—”
“Out of control?” Tito finishes for me.
“Yeah,” I nod. “Out of control.”
Like Grant was yesterday on the beach. When he saw someone who posed a threat, he lost it, even if that threat was nothing more than a passing, sexist remark. It makes me wonder how I’d react if I saw another woman pawing at him. Would I beat the shit out of her?
Hopefully I’ll never have to find out, but if I’m being honest with myself then I know that with Grant being who he is, and with the money he has, women are going to be attracted to him, and while I can’t beat them all off with a stick, I can sure as hell let them know he’s mine.
“Knock knock.”
We all turn toward the front door. Grant comes in dressed in a pair of beach shorts and a t-shirt. His hair is mussed and he’s sporting a 5 o’clock shadow I want to run over and lick, but I restrain myself.
“Hey sleepy head,” I wrap my arms around him as he plants a kiss on me, holding his lips to mine for several seconds before we both hear Tito clearing his throat.
“Did I miss anything?” he asks, heading straight for the coffee machine.
I smile, thinking how delightful it is that I’m more important than that first cup of coffee in the morning. “Nope. We’re just talking.”
“Well if it’s about me I hope it’s good things,” he says, spooning some sugar into his mug.
“Of course,” Tito secretly throws a wink in my direction and I laugh.
“So I was thinking we’d spend the day on the beach today,” Grant comes over and stands next to me, placing his arm around my shoulder and squeezing me close. “A little sun, a little sand, and a whole lot of surf.”
“I’m down with that,” Frankie nods.
“Sounds good.” I look up at Grant and he flashes me a winning smile. He looks totally cute in the mornings and it makes me want to take him back to
bed before we do anything else.
“And listen guys,” he adds, “I don’t know what your plans are for tomorrow night, but count me and Raven out. We have some plans of our own.”
“We do?” I question.
“It’s a surprise,” he grins again, his eyes flashing mischievously over the rim of his mug before he takes a sip of coffee.
“I love surprises,” I giggle.
“Good, now how about we go back over to the house and grab some breakfast before heading down to the beach.”
“Okay, sure. Guys,” I say to Tito and Frankie, who are looking back at us with expressions of amusement on their faces, “we’ll catch up to you.”
“What are you having for breakfast?” Frankie asks.
Grant looks at them both before catching my eye and saying, “English muffins.”
My pussy clenches and I blush, taking him by the hand and leading him outside before anyone can notice.
Once out of earshot, I slap his arm playfully, saying, “You’re bad.”
“What?” he smirks. “I like English muffins.”
“Do you even have any English muffins?”
“No,” he shakes his head, “but you do.” His gaze snakes down my body, landing directly between my legs.
“And it’s already toasty warm for you,” I tease, running back toward our beach house.
Grant runs behind me, tickling my ass the entire way.
- 21 -
Grant
The Waterfront Restaurant is packed on Friday night, but I have no trouble getting Raven and I a table tucked away in the corner for privacy. She’s wearing a tight black dress that shows off all her curves, and as we make our way to our seats, the eyes of the diners follow, and why shouldn’t they? She’s fucking gorgeous in all her auburn-haired, tattooed beauty.
We’re definitely the hottest couple in the room, bar none.
“This place is nice,” she says, flipping her hair back and picking up the menu.
I politely gesture it away from her and smile. “I got this. Trust me.”
Raven hesitantly places her menu back on the table, giving me a wary look. “Okay,” she says slowly.
The waiter approaches, leering a little too long at Raven for my liking while he pours us some water. I have to fight to keep myself in check and not say anything. That didn’t go over so well last time, but at least the make-up sex was good.
My cock twitches at the memory of taking her from behind.
“Can I start you off with something to drink?” the waiter asks. He’s a tall, lanky young man with olive skin and jet black hair.
“Actually,” I tell him, “we’re ready to order.”
He nods and takes out his pad to write down what I tell him.
“We’ll both have sweet tea to drink, and we’d like to start with two garden salads. For the main course, the lady will have the Alaskan snow crab legs, and I’ll have the sesame tuna. No desert.”
He finishes scribbling down the order and takes our menus. Once again his eyes fall to Raven, who smiles politely at him as I grip the table cloth in my fists. When he’s gone, she notices my struggle, frowning slightly in my direction.
“Grant, he’s a waiter.”
“He’s a punk,” I snarl.
She shakes her head, amused by my actions, and takes a sip of water.
I calm my nerves and remember what she told me about how I reminded her of her father yesterday on the beach. I don’t want to be the man who brings up painful memories for her, so I shrug off my anger and clear my throat.
“You look beautiful,” I say for the fiftieth time since I saw her walk out of the bedroom wearing that dress. The compliment brings a smile to her face, and I love to see her smile.
“Not so bad yourself,” she winks.
“You know, if I didn’t have these reservations we wouldn’t even be here, right?”
“Don’t I know it.” Her eyes rake appraisingly across my suit. “But I’m curious, what was in the duffle bag you brought with you?”
Playfully shaking my finger, I say, “That’s for later.”
She pouts, and I laugh. Raven has no idea what I have in store for her, but she’s going to like it. It’s going to be the perfect ending to a perfect day that saw us spend a lot of time frolicking in the ocean, laying in the sun, and admiring one another’s bodies. I can still picture her in that bikini, her skin covered in tanning oil. I gaze hungrily across the table at her, with food being the last thing on my mind.
“So what’s going to happen when we get back?” she asks a little while later.
I chew my leafy green salad, enjoying the light taste of a vinaigrette dressing. “What do you mean? Back to work?”
She nods. “Yeah, I mean am I still going to be your assistant?”
“Why wouldn’t you be?”
“Don’t you think that’ll be a bit awkward? What if something happens and I screw up? Are you going to fire me?”
“Not going to happen,” I answer before taking a sip of water.
“So we’re going to mix business and pleasure?”
“Several times a day if I can help it.”
“That’s the thing that worries me,” she says.
“Raven,” I drop my fork and take her by the hand. “It’ll be okay.”
“I just don’t want to be a distraction for you, you know? I know how seriously you take your job, and with me around I worry that it might be hard for you to concentrate. I don’t want you to come to resent me later for that, especially if you plan on snogging me in the office over lunch.”
“Raven,” I smirk. “I was kidding. I’m not going to be snogging anybody over lunch. It’ll be difficult at first, sure, but when it comes down to it I’m a professional, and despite how fucking gorgeous you may look day in and day out, it won’t affect me from doing my job. We’ll save the snogging for 5:01, deal?”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure about us,” I stroke the pad of my thumb in her palm and she smiles, squeezing my hand tighter.
“How sure?”
“Sure enough to give you the most valuable thing of all.”
Her eyebrows perk up and she looks left and right as if I might have something stashed away somewhere. I let her curiosity peak before she looks questioningly back.
“My heart,” I tell her.
Her cheeks glow red as I lift her hand, placing my lips softly against the back of her palm.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way about anybody, Raven, and it’s not just the sex. As fantastic as all that is, I enjoy being around you—being close to you. You’ve filled my life with something that was severely lacking. I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s nice to feel whole again.”
Her smile fades and she looks at our intertwined fingers. “Again?” she asks.
I blink, not realizing at first what I said, and when I do my pulse begins to quicken. I’m not usually one to slip up, but that time I said perhaps a little too much for my own good.
“I’m not naïve enough to think that you haven’t been with any other women, Grant,” she sighs, still locking her fingers with mine, “but why are you so guarded about your past?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” her fingers release their grip on mine and she folds her hands in front of her, “when I first met you I looked online to find out who you were, and I couldn’t find anything pre-billionaire status. Nothing about a grandfather, your family, or anything like that. It’s like you were born with a suit on.”
My jaw clenches and I look away. I knew she’d go online, all women do, but I honestly never expected anything to develop between us—not like this anyway—so now that it has, I’m left without answers. At least no answers I want to give.
I take a long, slow sip of water. Setting the glass down and staring into her eyes, I ask, “Is that a problem?”
She recoils slightly, shaking her head. That wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
“I’m not a ghost, Raven. I’m a very powerful man with an abundant amount of money. My family, my past, those things have to stay hidden, or else the vultures in the media will hound every last person I care about for quotes, photos, memorabilia…you name it. They don’t care, but I care, and it’s my job to keep everyone I care about safe.”
She holds my gaze, digesting my words. Raven’s a smart woman, and I have no doubt that she’d see right through me if I tried to lie to her. I’m being as honest as I can without becoming transparent. I know I should tell her the truth about my life, and the further we get the harder it’s going to become, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Not yet. I don’t know if that’s because I’m afraid of what her reaction will be, or because I’m afraid to let it go.
“I’m not the media,” she says. “If I were to ask questions would you answer them?”
“Of course,” I grin, spreading my hands to prove my point.
She purses her lips, thinking hard. “Where were you born?”
“New York City,” I answer quickly.
“Any siblings?”
“One. A sister who lives in Florida with her husband, but we don’t speak.”
“Why not?”
“Because every time we talk all she wants is money. I’m family, not an ATM.”
She nods. “Fair enough.”
“Now then,” I shift in my seat and look toward the waiter bringing us our main dishes, “can we eat?”
Raven pushes her salad dish to the side to make room for her crab legs, and I do the same as the sesame tuna is placed in front of me. She leans forward, smelling her food.
“Have you ever had crab legs before?” I ask, partly because I’m curious, but more so to distract her from asking anymore questions.
She nods. “A couple of times, but I don’t imagine these will taste anything like the ones back in the city, will they?”
“Not a chance,” I shake my head. “These are fresher, bigger, and loaded with flavor. Go ahead, try one.”
Made In America Page 16