Until Now (Not Yet #2)

by Laura Ward

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dean

  GRACE SHUDDERED, AND her eyes fluttered closed. She licked her lips and nodded. “Yes.”

  “Grace?” My voice was rough, and my dick was as hard as steel. She opened her eyes, and her lips parted slightly. “I won’t spend the night, but I want to make you feel good before I go.”

  Grace’s face flushed, and she gave me a small smile. “Hold on one minute.” She stood up and ran to Finn’s room. I took the time to get myself the fuck together.

  I had never in all my years heard anything like I heard tonight. Grace was the most special person I had ever known. I felt like a beast had been unleashed inside my body. Like King Fucking Kong, I would trample anyone who ever tried to hurt her again. I wanted to scoop her little body into my arms and care for her. I brought my fist to my mouth. This was so foreign to me—caring about a girl, protecting a girl.

  And protecting a little dude too.

  I looked up and saw Grace standing in front of me. She unwrapped her bun and let her long hair hang free down her back. My breathing stopped as she pulled off her sweater, leaving her in only a small lace bra and jeans.

  “Holy fuck, Red.” My dick swelled even harder, and I had to adjust myself as I stood up. Her little giggle made me smile. Seeing Red happy, especially after what she just told me, was fucking fantastic.

  I stood in front of her and pulled off my shirt. My chest heaved as I watched the creamy skin on her neck and chest turn pink. She wanted me as much as I wanted her.

  Grace reached behind her and unclasped her bra. Her beautiful breasts were bared to me, and I couldn’t stop myself from reaching forward and cupping them in my hands.

  “Dean,” Grace gasped, and I lowered my mouth, sucking on each nipple. Her hands shot out and held on to my arms, clutching me as she threw her head back with a long sigh.

  I placed kisses down her chest, down her belly, stopping at the button of her jeans. I raised my head, and she nodded, her breaths coming faster and faster. I unclasped her jeans and pushed them down and off her legs. Sitting back on my heels, I took in the sight of her tiny white lace underwear.

  “Jesus. You’re gorgeous.” She closed her eyes, and I kissed her hips and then lower, on top of her panties, and she moaned.

  “I have to sit, Dean. I’m going to fall. I want you so much I’m shaking.” Grace’s breathy voice was going to be the end of me. I stood up and scooped her into my arms.

  I lay her on the sofa and pulled that little scrap of lace down and off her legs. She raised up on her elbows to watch me. I dragged my fingers down her, and she bit her lip. Watching her watching me was the hottest thing I’d ever seen. If I wasn’t real careful, I was absolutely going to come in my pants.

  I rubbed my fingers around her in circles and then slipped one inside. Her back arched off the couch with a low moan. “Dean…” She breathed out, and I placed my palm on her hip to hold her steady.

  When I brought my lips to her and sucked, her whole body went rigid. I looked up, and her eyes were half-lidded, her breathing rapid.

  “Oh my God. Yes, Dean. Oh, God yes.” My fingers continued their movements, and my tongue circled, my entire fixation on bringing this woman pleasure.

  Her hands found my hair, and she held on to my head as her eyes closed and her mouth dropped open in a long, guttural moan. Her body thrashed as she came, and I held her, slowly touching and stroking until she calmed.

  When she opened her eyes, drowsy with lust, I sat back and took her in. She was a goddess. I wanted to treasure her. Bringing a woman pleasure and expecting nothing in return was something I had never experienced. Until her.

  Grace crawled into my lap, her naked body wrapped around mine. “Dean? I don’t know what to say. Nobody has ever… done that… and I… I really, really…” She looked up and giggled. “I mean, I really liked that.” She ran her fingers up my neck and into my hair. “Let me take care of you too.”

  I held her tighter to me and pulled the blanket off the back of the couch, wrapping it around the two of us. “Not tonight, baby. Soon, I promise.”

  She lifted her head, and her eyebrows pinched together. “Why? I want to make you feel good.”

  I gently pressed her head back against my chest and ran my hands down her hair. “Grace, I’m not sure how to say this right, but I’m gonna try.” I kissed the top of her head, and her body relaxed against me. “I listened tonight to your pain, and your struggle, and your love. And what I needed to do was to take care of you and you alone. Nothing for me. Just for you. ’Cause, Red? Nobody’s done that for you in your whole life.”

  She looked up at me, tears filling up those beautiful green eyes. She’d shed enough tears for a lifetime. The time had come for someone to have her back and to take care of her.

  “Until now. Until me. I’m going to keep on taking care of you because nobody has ever deserved it more than you.”

  I kissed her lips and held her to me. I’d leave in a little while and make it to my apartment before the sun was up.

  And then I’d be back in the morning with donuts. All their favorites.

  Because these two people had quickly become mine.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Grace

  “SIT DOWN GIRL, and have some pie.” Sylvie motioned for me to join her at the booth by the front door. The diner was empty, lunch rush over, and I had a few hours before I needed to pick up Finn.

  I sat down across from her, and she poured me a cup of coffee. I sipped and rested my chin on my hand.

  “How are you?” Sylvie cut a huge piece of cherry pie and placed it on a plate.

  My chest warmed. Anytime we weren’t busy, Sylvie made me rest and checked up on me. She treated me like a daughter, and I loved that about her.

  I needed that from her.

  “I’m good, Sylvie.” I forked a bite of cherry pie into my mouth and moaned. Sylvie’s pies were heavenly.

  Sylvie sipped her black coffee, eyes narrowed in my direction. “What’s going on with that boy? The tall blond? Kind of obnoxious?”

  I laughed and wiped my mouth with a napkin. “I thought Dean was obnoxious too for a while. But he’s… not. He’s… special.” I wanted to say more, but that might be rushing things. She would worry more than she normally did, and I never wanted that.

  Sylvie pursed her lips. “I bet he’s special, girl. That’s what worries me. Is he special all over town?”

  I smiled and nodded. “I know. I worried about that too. But I don’t think so. I don’t know why, but he seems to like… me.” I emphasized the last word like it was a foreign concept.

  Sylvie’s head jerked. “Of course he likes you. Grace, you’re one of a kind. There’s nobody like you. I see the other girls your age, gigglin’ like fools, drinkin’ beer, and spendin’ their daddies’ money. Not you. Hard workin’, lovin’ your son, takin’ care of your business. He’d be a fool not to see that and want someone like you in his life.”

  I swallowed hard. I thanked God every day for bringing Sylvie into my life. “I don’t know…”

  Sylvie took another sip of coffee. “What don’t you know? What are you worried about?”

  I paused. Looking out the front window, I saw college students, my age, who were carefree. I was not. “All those good things you said about me are also the things I worry about. Dean will probably become a professional football player. He will be able to have fun and date beautiful girls who have no responsibility tying them down. I wouldn’t want their lives. I know what joy Finn brings to mine, but I worry that Dean will want that one day, or even worse, regret that he gave that up.”

  Sylvie nodded and placed her small hand, wrinkled from years of hard work, over mine. “No guessing what that boy is thinking. But you tell him what worries you, and let him decide. If he’s got a lick of sense in him, he’ll know there is no greater gift than you and your son.” Her smile was shaky, and she cleared her throat. “Break’s over. Customers at table five.”

&
nbsp; I stood up and leaned over her side of the booth, hugging her. “Thanks for the pie.” She waved me off.

  I wanted to thank her for everything she did for me, but that would make her uncomfortable. So I did what she needed. I took orders and kept her customers happy. But as I did I thought about what she said. When Dean graduated, I wanted him to be free to live life however he wanted.

  I could only hope he wanted me and Finn to be a part of that life.

  ***

  “FAVORITE SINGER OR band?” Dean asked. We lay tangled on the couch together, the television on low in the background. It was well past midnight, but I didn’t want him to leave. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard all night.

  “Adele. You?”

  “Anything old-school rock. Zeppelin, The Cure… Favorite color?”

  “Blue.” Like your eyes, I thought. “You?”

  “Green. Like your eyes,” he answered with a kiss on the tip of my nose.

  My heart hammered in my chest. “Why do you ask me my favorites all the time?”

  Dean grinned and then bent to kiss my lips. “I’ve never wanted to get to know a girl. I want to know every part of you and every favorite you have. Everything that makes you happy so that I can be the person who never lets you down and always brings you your favorites.”

  Oh my.

  “Well, I want to know your favorites too. Let me think…” I tapped my finger on my chin. “Where’s your favorite place for me to kiss you?” As soon as the question escaped from my mouth, the meaning hit my brain. Dean had a wicked gleam in his eyes, and I hid my face in his chest. “Oh, Lord. Did I just ask that?”

  His chuckle rumbled beneath me. “You did. And I love your dirty little mind, Red. If I’m being honest, I can’t answer that. Cause you haven’t kissed me everywhere… yet.”

  Mortified. I was absolutely mortified. I had a choice. I could be shy and feel awkward, or I could own it.

  Two seconds later I decided. I was owning it.

  I raised my head and pressed a kiss on his chest. Then I lifted onto my elbows and shimmied a bit down his body.

  “Let’s rectify that, shall we?” I kissed further down his stomach, still on top of his shirt, and his body tensed.

  “Grace, no. I was kidding. I didn’t mean…”

  I pressed up onto my hands and kissed his mouth. “I know you didn’t. I want this. I want to feel you like this. To kiss you and lick you and…” His big body shuddered against me, and I hadn’t even taken off his pants.

  He leaned back against the arm of the couch and squeezed his eyes shut. “Red...”

  Scooting down his body, I unbuttoned his jeans and pushed them down his legs. I stood and peeled them all the way off. Next I took his boxer briefs and pulled them down, throwing them onto the pile on the floor before I crawled back over him.

  Dean’s hands were balled into fists at his side, and his chest rose and fell in a rapid rhythm. I held him in my hand, and he groaned at just that contact. Leaning down, I ran my tongue over him, root to tip, and then sucked. Hard.

  “Jesus fucking Christ!” Dean hissed, his eyes flying open. He bent one arm behind his head, and his abs contracted as he stilled the rest of his body.

  I grinned, determined to own it. I dragged my tongue up and down the length of him, watching his eyes glued to mine. At the same time, I stroked him with my hand, and his eyes widened.

  “Baby, oh God. That feels so… fucking… good.”

  I kept going but increased my speed and pressure, and his back arched. “You are so goddamn perfect, Red. Yes, shit. Fuck.” I almost smiled, but that might take away from my owning it, so I refrained. I was so happy to hear his muttered curses, low groans, and raspy sounds. I wanted to bring Dean every pleasure possible. Just like he brought me.

  “Move, baby. Move.” He tried to shift, but I kept going. I wanted to take it all and give it all to him. To us. This was a huge step for me, but I was ready.

  He came, eyes open and locked on mine, his lips pressed together to contain his roar. I kissed my way up his body, and he held me tightly to him. It took a few minutes for his breathing to slow, and once it did, I lifted my head.

  “Favorite place to be kissed?” I asked with a wink.

  He threw his head back and laughed. “I can’t pick. Any place you put your lips on my body is my favorite.” He rolled, placing his body on top of mine. “But I know my favorite place to kiss on yours. I think you do too.”

  I closed my eyes, already starting to pant in anticipation.

  “Uh-uh. Eyes open, Red.” He pulled my sweatpants and underwear off with one swift movement. “Watching your eyes as you took me in that perfect mouth was the hottest damn thing I’ve ever seen. I want your eyes on me the whole time I do the same.”

  I had no words. I nodded and bit my lip. My body shook as he brought his tongue to me, but I hung on and watched.

  Gotta give him credit. He knew how to own it too.

  ***

  “ARGH.” I POUNDED my fist on the top of my ratty desk. The deep chuckle from behind caused me to smile despite my frustration. Dean and I were studying together. He was sprawled out on the couch while I typed a paper on economic solutions for third-world poverty.

  Or at least I was trying to. My old laptop kept freezing up on me.

  “What’s up, Red?” Dean placed an arm on either side of my body and leaned over me to look at the computer screen.

  His breath was warm against my cheek, and I shivered. The music didn’t help either. Dean had used his portable speakers to play music from his iPhone while we worked. He had to be playing his sexy-time playlist to try to distract me. The soft melodic tunes were filling my brain and body with very uneconomic thoughts.

  “Old Betty keeps freezing up on me,” I whined.

  “Old Betty?” He dragged his nose up the side of my neck, inhaling my scent.

  “My laptop. Finn named her Betty. He went through a phase last year where he named everything in the apartment. The fridge is Fred.” My voice was breathy from Dean’s proximity. What I needed was to finish this paper and then jump him.

  Dean laughed low and rough, and I crossed my legs in response. “Fred’s a good one. Makes sense. You smell damn good, Red.” Dean pressed his lips under my ear. “Reboot, baby.”

  I nodded and rebooted. “I’m so frustrated. I just want to finish this paper and then relax with you. Now I have to wait for it to restart.” I stuck my lip out in a pout and crossed my arms over my chest.

  “I’ll distract you.”

  I opened my mouth to argue, but he shook his head.

  “You’ll stay right here. Don’t have to move a muscle. As soon as the computer is up and running, I’ll go finish studying, and you finish the paper.” He moved my ponytail to the side and slid my shirt off my shoulder, exposing my thin bra strap and bare skin. “Give me five minutes, Red.” He placed his mouth, lips parted, on my shoulder. He dragged his lips across the top of my shoulder, the tip of his tongue teasing me with light licks.

  I closed my eyes and smiled, allowing him to take me away. Sexy music filled my ears, and my heart beat faster in my chest. Dean’s mouth moved down the back of my shoulder and then up as he moved my bra strap down my arm, giving him full access to my shoulder and neck.

  The pressure of his kisses and his tongue increased as he worked his way back up my neck and to my ear. My mouth opened in a silent gasp. He continued this path over and over again, adding in light bites and long drags of his tongue to my overheated and sensitive skin.

  Top of shoulder, to the back of the shoulder, to neck, up to the ear.

  Lips, teeth, tongue.

  Over and over and over again.

  I licked my lips as my core clenched and spasmed. The warmth, the softness, the intimacy of this moment was overwhelming.

  He moved faster and pressed his mouth harder. He bit my earlobe, and my head fell back on his chest. I was panting now, mouth open, eyes still closed, feeling everything. He brought his hand t
o my breast, kneading it over the top of my shirt, and I whimpered.

  All I heard was music. All I felt was Dean. All I needed was… more.

  He was using both hands now, rubbing my breasts, pinching my hard nipples as he continued his assault of pleasure on my neck and ear, this time moving to the other side. My body lifted, still seated, but moving with him, pressing against him, not allowing him to break contact for even one second. He fisted my ponytail, using that leverage to move me from side to side, keeping me unable to predict where his mouth would be next.

  When his mouth centered on the back of my neck, it tickled my sensitive skin. I giggled and turned, my lips needing his. He kissed me back, not releasing his grip on my hair, but using it to guide us. We were frenzied, lips crashing and tongues dueling for control that I knew I never had and never would have around him.

  He slowed our kiss, his tongue licking against mine ever so slightly as I came down from my high. I cupped the side of his face and kissed his lips, unable to hold back my grin.

  My computer dinged, and he pulled back. “All set,” he said as he wiggled the mouse and saw that the screen was unfrozen.

  He kissed the top of my head and moved back to the couch as promised.

  Dear Lord, he is good.

  We were silent for a minute, and I wondered if he was really able to study after all that.

  “What’s the oven, Red?” Dean’s voice was gruff. He was struggling too.

  “Barney. Microwave’s Wilma. There was a Flintstones phase too.” I bit my lip and held back my laughter.

  Turning behind me, Dean had his book open on his lap and head down. I stared at him, this sexy, beautiful, funny, man and I knew.

  I could love this man.

  Dean looked up and smirked, eyes flashing with heat. “Finish the damn paper, Red.”

  Giggling, I did just that. But I also finished my paper knowing that there was no could.

  I was in love with this man.