by Marie Skye
She suddenly stopped. "I don't like her.” I nodded. "Will I run into her again?"
“There's a chance, since I do business with her husband, but she won't go near you. I'll make sure of that."
"Does he know about the two of you?"
"More than likely."
"How many other ex-girlfriends of yours should I expect to encounter?"
Knowing I was still holding onto something, I watched her cross her arms and looked away. I was going to tell her. Just not yet. "None of them were girlfriends," I said quietly.
She released the breath she seemed to be holding.
"I'm just trying to process, okay? I'm not used to this stuff either. I'm still trying to figure out if I can be good enough for you."
I was on her in two strides and had her against the wall, arms held above her with one arm. I was seething. "You are everything I need and more, so stop degrading yourself. I want you. I don't want anyone else, but you. I need you. If you told me to walk away from you, I honestly don't think I could."
She pulled her hands down and cupped my face. "Then don't."
Right then and there, I knew something, something that scared the shit out of me. But now wasn't the time. I put my hands over hers.
"Okay then. This between us is happening, you hear me?"
She smiled. "Yes."
I crushed my lips to hers, my tongue seeking entry, claiming her, owning her. She was mine.
"I want to take you away this weekend. Just me and you. No distractions, no work, no clothes.”
She tensed. "This weekend?"
I nodded. "You said you were off this weekend from the other place, and your weekends are mine anyways. We can leave after work tomorrow.” I began unbuttoning her shirt. She moaned as I leaned down and took a nipple into my mouth.
"I can't go."
I paused. "Did you change your schedule?”
She tried to move out of my grasp, but I wasn't about to let her put any space between us.
"Not exactly. No."
"Then what exactly?”
She took a deep breath. "The film festival… with Caleb."
It took everything in me not to smash a hole in the wall.
"You said you took care of that."
"I did. He knows about us."
"Then please, tell me why the fuck you're going out with him?” She tried moving past me, but I caged her in. "Talk, Emmalin. Now!"
"He's just a friend, Grayson. That's it."
"I don't give a fuck if he’s the pope. You're not going. You don't get it, do you? He wants you, Emmalin."
"Don't you think you're being a little ridiculous?"
I backed away. "Ridiculous, that my girlfriend is going out with another guy? Does that sound like it shouldn't sound ridiculous?"
She dropped her head. "I wasn't asking you for your permission."
I snapped my head up and glared at her.
"Grayson, you have to—”
I calmly cut her off. "Stop talking."
She looked up. "Grayson—"
"I said stop talking, because right now, I'm fucking furious. And right now, I'm going to fuck you. I'm going to fuck you so hard you'll forget what you were going to say. So again, I say stop talking."
Roughly pushing her against the wall, I tore off the shirt. "Why do you continue to push me, Emmalin? Why? To get a reaction out of me? To taunt me? To provoke me?” She sighed as I sucked a nipple into my mouth. "I told you, I refuse to share you.” She yelped as I bit down on her shoulder. "I have half a mind to mark your entire body right now because it's mine.” She moaned as I claimed her mouth. "To remind you of who you belong to.” I reached down to test her wetness. Soaked.
"I'm yours,” she panted. "Only yours."
I lifted her and wrapped her legs around my waist, slowly sinking her onto my cock. Her head rolled back.
"Look at me!" I snapped. "Are you sure you're mine? It sure as hell doesn't always feel that way.”
She gasped as I began fucking her ruthlessly against the wall. Reaching between us, I circled her clit with my thumb. I knew she was close by the sudden wetness around my cock. I wanted her right there on the edge.
"I'm sorry. I'm trying. I am.” She began to tighten around me.
I stopped and pulled out. "Oh no you don't.” She gasped from the sudden withdrawal. "You come when I say you do, and not before.” I could see the yearning in her eyes. She whimpered as I dragged her from the wall onto the bed, pinning her arms above her head.
"It's not fun, is it? The teasing? In fact, I would say it's downright frustrating.” I slowly sank into her, moaning at the tightness. I knew this was punishment, but fuck. "Frustration. That's what you do to me. Whether I'm waking up to you gone, or you feeling like you can't talk to me because you still can't trust me, when I try to prove to you that I care about you so much and want nothing more than for you to let me in, and you won’t. Or you making the fucking decision to want to hang out with other men who want nothing more than to fuck you, Emmalin, and I'm supposed to go along with this and be okay with it!"
I then realized that I had gone from punishing fuck to angry fuck. I slowed myself and tamed the beast. I gently kissed her shoulder. "Maybe you're right. Maybe he is just a friend."
"Grayson," she whispered. I looked into her eyes and noticed the unshed tears.
"I know. He's a friend. You said that.” This was where I claimed. Circling her clit, I leaned down and took a nipple between my teeth. I could feel her getting close. "So it should be no problem if I hang out with Ashley, as a friend.” She immediately tensed, but I kept up my dexterous hands.
"That's not fair, Grayson.”
I looked in her eyes. "Isn't it?"
"It's not the same, and you fucking know it."
I smiled. "It's quite simple. He wants to fuck you; she wants to fuck me. What else is there?"
Her eyes welled up. "Fuck you, Grayson. What do you want from me?"
"Just you, Emmalin. All of you. Not part of you!" She arched into my touch. "I'll give you this release I've been keeping from you, that I know you want, but it's not without stipulations. If you come, you're mine. All mine. You can't go with him. So you have to fight it.” Her face contorted with anguish, and I watched the tears fall. I was a selfish son of a bitch, and I knew it. I was also a very jealous man who craved her very existence. I looked at my watch. "Sixty seconds to fight or give in.” I pulled out and latched onto her clit like a man starved. Her hands dug into my hair, pulling and pushing me simultaneously. I bit into the smooth flesh right above her clit, and she screamed.
"If you want me to stop, you know what to say.” A territorial pride took over me seeing my bite mark on her pussy. Stamped. Ownership. Mine. My inner beast ticked, desperate to be released from his cage. I'd kept him locked up out of fear of what would happen, and right now, my limits were being tested. Her hands twisted in my hair.
"Grayson… please," she panted.
I clasped her hands and pinned them on either side of her as I sucked her clit with so much force, I knew she was gone. Her back arched off the bed and she screamed. Her pussy was still contracting when I slid into her.
I moaned at the exquisite tightness. "You came, love. You still had about forty seconds left."
"You weren’t exactly playing fair," she panted.
"I’m a gambling man. I play to win," I whispered in her ear. “And I always win.” I nuzzled into her neck. “I need one more from you, love.”
She shook her head. “No more, Grayson.”
Cute. I reached down and pinched her clit, and she moaned. “I said I needed one more from you, love, and you’re going to give it to me.” I claimed her mouth, forcing her higher and higher. As she finally opened for me, clamping down around me, I swallowed her screams and I drove into her ferociously, needing to claim her very soul. She wrapped her legs around me, drawing me closer, as I came hard. Pulling out at the last minute, I coated her stomach.
We lay there, our bodi
es covered in a sheen of sweat, but I still didn’t want to disconnect myself from her.
Reaching up, she caressed my face. “You sure do know how to make a point, don’t you?”
I smiled and gave her a kiss. “Just making sure the point got across.” I tugged her bottom lip in my mouth.
“What happened to you not being jealous?”
“I like to think of it more of being protective of what belongs to me. You belong to me. Any other questions?” She shook her head. “Good. Let’s shower.”
Feeling too hot from Grayson's body heat, I stirred and pried myself from under him. My skin was damp with sweat, and a wave of nausea rose over me. My bag was all the way downstairs. Dammit. On shaky legs, I stood up from the bed, took a few deep breaths, and willed my legs to move. I was halfway to the door before the room started spinning, and I crashed into the dresser, knocking items to the floor. I heard Grayson in the distance saying my name as I slid to the floor. He clutched me in his arms, shaking me.
"My bag,” was all I could mutter.
He swept me up, placed me on the bed, and opened the nightstand. After a few seconds, he placed a glucose meter in front of me and proceeded to check my blood sugar, all with ease, as if he'd done it a million times.
After looking at the number, he visibly grimaced. Reaching back into the nightstand, he put a straw in a small box of juice and held it up to me. "Drink this.” He delved back into the drawer and pulled out glucose tablets and crackers. He stroked my cheek. A few minutes went by before he spoke again. "Your color’s returning.” He held up both the tablets and crackers. I pointed to the peanut butter crackers, and he handed me a few.
"How did you do all this? When did you do all this? This isn't even my meter."
He smiled. "Eat. I've done research and met with a diabetic educator several times to know what to look for and how to prepare. I didn't realize how complicated it was.”
Peering into the nightstand, I discovered it was stocked full of supplies and food, and I suddenly became overwhelmed with emotion.
"You did all of this? You didn't have to, but you did," I whispered. I felt the tears falling. "I've been taking care of myself for years, so I'm just a little moved right now at all of this."
He nodded solemnly. "I know. But you don't have to do it alone.” With those words, I crumbled, and he caught me. He always caught me. I just gave him my soul, and he knew it.
Morning came and I snuggled closer to him. Last night was a revelation. I loved him, and I loved him hard. Every day, he would find a way to strip down my walls, and I would carefully put them up, piece by piece. Last night he completely obliterated them. I watched them blow away, not caring that I would never see them again. I didn't want to see them again. He gave me hope.
"What are you thinking about?"
That I love you.
"Just you."
He smiled as he pulled me closer to him. "That's what I like to hear.” He kissed the top of my head. As his hand trailed down my arm, I winced, and he froze.
I looked up and saw the frown, mixed with fear. "What's wrong?"
He sat up and gently peeled back the shirt. "Fuck!"
I peered over my shoulder and noticed the dark bruises.
"Grayson, it's fine."
"No. It's not fine. It wasn't supposed to go that far. Not with you."
"Why not with me? What if I wanted you to?”
He shook his head, looking defeated. "I've been too hard on you. I'm sorry for that.”
I was confused. "You didn't do anything I didn't want, Grayson. Remember that.” I got up and headed for the shower.
It wasn't long before arms wrapped around me, pulling me close. "I'm sorry," he whispered in my ear. "That's just a part of me I'm trying hard not to unleash on you."
"So what if you did unleash it? If it's what you need."
He shook his head. "It's not that simple. I just don't want to go too far. I don't want to hurt you. I fear I'll hurt you, and I'll never forgive myself if anything were to happen to you."
I turned to face him. "Would you let something happen to me?"
"Fuck no. Never."
"Okay then."
He sighed. “You're testing me, you know that?"
I nodded. "I just don't want you to restrict yourself. If it's something you need. If it helps you. If I can help you. I don't have much to give you, but if I can give that to you, then I want to."
He pulled me against him. "You give me more than you know. And to say what you just did?" He shook his head. "Why would you do that for me? Why would you want to?"
I looked down and watched the water circle the drain before gazing back to his eyes. It was now or never. "Because, Grayson, I…" I saw a flicker of hope flash in his eyes. All too quickly a flashback of memories came flooding through mine, stirring up old unwanted memories. I dropped my gaze and cleared my throat before looking back up. "Because I care about you.” Chickenshit. I once again let the past get the best of me. He regarded me uncertainly, and before he could say anything, I rushed on. "Let's hurry. You have an empire to run.” I gave him a quick kiss before turning around and engulfing myself in the shower steam, allowing the water to mix with my tears over something that could never be.
Half an hour later, I was dressed and headed to the kitchen, and he was shoving a plate of eggs and fruit my way with strict orders to eat all of it while he buttered toast.
"You need to eat more. And I mean it. All of it. It's no wonder you woke up low, especially with all your new physical activity.”
I smiled at his innuendo. "Well, if only I knew about your sexual punishments, I would've been more prepared.” I rolled my eyes.
"Don't think an eye roll doesn't constitute more punishment, love," he said in that strong, controlled voice. My head snapped up, eyes wide. He wouldn't. "Luckily for you, I do have a meeting this morning I can't miss, and you have a date you need to break off, unless you need me to handle that as well?"
I speared a piece of cantaloupe and fed it to him. "It'll be handled to your liking, Mr. Mandrake."
Twenty minutes later, I was dropped off at Tea Lites. Gwen was at the counter talking quietly with Caleb. I reached for an apron and joined them.
"Morning!"
"Hey, Emms. Caleb was just telling me about the festival. It sounds like it's going to be amazing. I've always wanted to go, but I hear tickets are hard to come by without paying an arm and leg.” She giggled and started clearing a table.
I turned to Caleb. "Why don't you take Gwen to the festival?” He looked from me over to Gwen, who was taking someone’s order.
"I don't know. I mean, are you sure? I know this was something you and I planned."
I smiled. "Caleb, it's obvious she likes you. I think you guys would have fun together, actually."
He looked at her again. "You don't need to sugarcoat it, Emmalin. If you don't want to go with me, all you have to do is say it.” My smile faded. "You walk in here every day, knowing damn well how I feel about you.” He picked up a tray and headed to the back room. I followed.
"Caleb, I wasn't trying to hurt you. I was just simply suggesting that…” Shit, I didn't know what I was trying to say, but his sudden change in demeanor wasn't like him. I took a deep breath.
Before I continued, he spoke. "I just need you to be honest with me. We can be friends. If you're dating other people, then good for you. I just want you to tell me, and be upfront with me. I don't need other people telling me to back off. I get it."
I nodded. "I'm sorry, Caleb. I do want to be friends. You've been nothing but kind to me, and I don't want to mess that up."
He nodded. "Okay. Friends then.” He extended his hand, and I shook it.
Then I paused. "Wait. You said other people are telling you to back off."
"Yeah. The boyfriend was here a few hours before you came in. Just for the record, I probably would've done the same thing if you were mine, so I guess I can't be mad at him.” He shrugged before exiting the back
room.
I looked at him in disbelief. Son of a bitch. Grayson was here. I told him I would handle it, but instead he decided to take matters into his own hands. Fine, two could play at this game.
A few hours later, I walked out of Tea Lites preparing to head to Mandrake Tower Headquarters. Luke was at the curb, waiting. "Good morning, Ms. Ross."
"Good morning, Luke. I won't be needing you today, thank you."
He narrowed his eyes. "Ms. Ross, I'm under strict orders to bring you to work.” He opened the door.
"With force?"
He furrowed his brows. "I'm sorry?"
I walked toward him. "Does that require you to use force to do your job to bring me to work?"
He cleared his throat. "No, ma’am, unless otherwise instructed, of course."
I smiled. "Good. Then tell your boss, that I opted for other modes of transportation.” He gave me a curt nod before I walked the two blocks to the nearest subway.
By the time I reached the subway, I already had nine missed calls from Grayson and several text messages.
Why didn't you go with Luke?
Answer your phone.
Are you deliberately ignoring me?
You're testing me today aren't you?
Fine, we'll do it your way for now. I'm waiting for you. Perhaps you need a harsher punishment.
Something about that last text sent warmth through my body. There I went again, thinking about that when I was supposed to be thoroughly pissed off at him. I shut my phone off, not needing the distraction right now.
Looking around the subway, a gentleman not too far from me caught my eye. He looked oddly familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen him before. He gave me a slight nod, and then seemed to go on high alert as a guy sat next to me who smelled of cheap booze and stale cigarettes.
I got up and changed seats, waiting for my stop. I half expected to see Grayson at the top of the stairs, but he wasn’t there. I walked the remaining two blocks to the office and made a quick stop at a newsstand and bought a magazine. While waiting in line, I noticed the guy from the subway across the street. He looked up and gave me another nod. It was then I realized where I had seen him before. I paid for my magazine and raced across the street.