by A. D. Ryan
After dinner, everyone lends a hand in the clean up, and once the kitchen is clean, they decide to call it a night. Greyston and I walk them to the door, hugging each of them as they prepare to leave.
“You make sure you call me the minute your plane lands,” Mom whispers into my ear as she hugs me tightly.
“Yes, Mom,” I assure her. “Congratulations again, and you take care of yourself, okay?”
“I’ll make sure of it, kiddo,” Dad assures me.
After hugging Mom, I prepare to say goodbye to Gran. She pulls me into her tightest embrace, and I feel a little emotional; saying goodbye to her is always difficult given how close we’ve always been. “Thanks for being so awesome about everything, Gran,” I tell her. “It was so good to see you again.”
Jocelyn and Daniel step forward to say goodnight next, hugging both Greyston and me and wishing us a Merry Christmas and a safe trip to Whistler.
“Thanks again for everything,” I say. “The use of your cabin, the amazing gifts…”
“Of course, dear,” Jocelyn replies. “You two have a good time, and we’ll do dinner when you return.”
“Sounds perfect, Mom,” Greyston tells her.
With everyone gone, Greyston closes and locks the door before turning to me. “So…did you have a good Christmas?”
“The best.” Sighing contentedly, I wrap my arms around his waist and snuggle into his warmth.
He kisses the top of my head, then turns us for the living room. “And your mom…” We reach the couch and he sits, pulling me down onto his lap, waiting for my reaction before he continues.
I smile. “I’m still a little shocked, but she seems happy.”
“Are you?”
I think about his question for a minute before I decide to just be honest. “Yes and no.” Cocking his head, he regards me with curiosity. “No, because she’s forty-four, so I worry that she’s at risk for more complications given her age.” Greyston nods along in understanding. “But, at the same time, they’ve both said that they wanted more kids…it just never happened for them, so I’m excited that they’ve been given the chance.” Slowly, my lips curl up into a smile. “Plus, I get a new baby brother or sister out of this, so that’s pretty cool.”
“Good,” Greyston says. “I’m glad you’re okay with it, because I think they’re pretty excited.”
Then, out of nowhere, the day catches up with me, waves of exhaustion rolling over me and making me yawn. Greyston chuckles into my hair as I cuddle up to his chest. “What do you say we head up to bed? I’m feeling pretty wiped out, too. Plus, we should rest up if we’re going to brave the mall tomorrow.”
Nodding slowly, I push myself up and stand. “Sounds good.”
After changing into my pajamas, Greyston and I crawl into bed, and it isn’t long before we both fall right asleep.
Chapter 27
Greyston and I are sure to be up and at the mall early so we don’t have to fight the crowds. After giving him a quick kiss, we part ways, and I head off to a few different lingerie shops. The only things I’ve ever purchased in them before have been bras and underwear. Up until recently, I’ve never really been interested in this sort of thing—I mean, what was the point if a) the man (Ben) wasn’t going to appreciate it, or b) it was just going to get taken off? But now? Well, now I want to look nice for Greyston. I want to feel sexy and desired. I want to see the look on his face when I come into the room in a tiny, lacy outfit. I want his eyes to go wide and his jaw to drop as I make my way across the room to him… Yes, that is exactly what I want.
I leave Frederick’s of Hollywood $250 poorer, but I don’t think twice about it since I’ve got quite a bit of money saved up anyway due to my kickass rental price. I’ve purchased a couple new bras—sexier ones—and matching panties as well as three pieces of lingerie in varying degrees of naughty.
Naturally, I bought a much more innocent piece, a sheer white negligee, to use the first night—kind of as a way to test the waters—and then I bought another that's a little more risqué, all black lace and short with a matching thong and garter… I even bought some thigh-high stockings and am going to stop for a pair of sleek black heels to go with it; Greyston is sure to lose his mind. Last in my bag of new sex-clothes is a red and black corset that pushes my breasts up and together, making my cleavage look…well, it looks amazing. For someone with such small boobs, I never knew they could look that good. To go with the corset, I bought a sexy pair of lace panties…of course, there’s something more to them than that—or, should I say less? In an act of pure impulse, brought on by Bad Juliette on my left shoulder reminding me that trying new things was fun, I forewent the regular lace panties and snatched up a pair of the crotchless kind. Yup, I, Juliette Foster, now own a pair of crotchless panties.
After stopping in a shoe store and grabbing a pair of the highest heels I’ve ever owned, I grab my phone and am about to call Greyston to see if he’s ready to meet for lunch. However, just as I’m about to hit send, I stop in my tracks and stare at the storefront sign before me for a minute. Excitement pounds through my veins, and Bad Juliette appears again, telling me to do it because it’ll be so worth it. The more I think about it, the more I realize she’s right, so I gather up my courage and step inside.
If the crotchless panties don’t make Greyston lose his mind, you better fucking believe that this will.
“You’re going to freeze your ass off,” Greyston warns from his spot on my bed as I step out of my walk-in closet in a white long-sleeved sweater and a skirt. “I know you’ve never seen snow before, but you realize just how far north Canada is, right? Not to mention, we’re going to the mountains.”
I smile sweetly and saunter across my room to where he sits; I am fully aware that a skirt probably isn’t what most sane people would choose to wear, but I have a method to my madness—one that Greyston isn’t quite aware of…yet.
“I’ve got jeans in my carry-on, just in case,” I assure him, pushing my way between his thighs and wrapping my arms around his neck. He welcomes me by placing his hands on my hips, his fingers curling into the denim of my skirt just above the swell of my ass.
Raising his eyes to mine, he smirks. “Just in case?” He laughs, slowly moving his hands down toward my thighs. The second the tips of his fingers touch the flesh of my leg just below my skirt, a shiver runs through me. While the most innocent touch from him always excites me, I’m definitely a bit more sensitive; it’s probably due to the two of us not having sex in two days—not for lack of my wanting to or his trying, I just…didn’t want to spoil my latest surprise before our vacation started.
“God, you smell fantastic,” Greyston groans, hooking his fingers beneath the hem of my skirt and lifting it slowly. He kisses the column of my neck, and I sigh when his thumbs press against my thighs and move in…and up—
I snap out of my lust-induced haze when he grazes my panties, and I place my hands firmly on his shoulders and take a very difficult step away. Naturally, he is undeterred and removes his hands from beneath my skirt, grabbing my hips and pulling me back to him quickly with a low, disapproving growl.
“I wasn’t quite done,” he tells me gruffly, lifting the hem of my shirt and trailing his fingers along the waist of my skirt until he reaches the button. Slowly, he begins to release it, his warm breath wafting over the skin of my stomach and causing goosebumps. He chuckles once and frees the button. “I love watching your body react to my every touch…” he cements his point by flattening his hand over my abdomen and moving it up under my shirt to my right breast “…my every kiss…” my eyes fall closed the moment he presses his lips to my now-exposed hipbone and then licks the skin “…my every breath.” When he blows on the newly-wet surface, a fresh wave of goosebumps flourishes across my skin, and I momentarily forget that a big part of my plan is for me to be driving him wild with desire. He’s turning the tables on me, and I can’t have that.
Even though I would give anything to let him continue on l
ike this, I open my eyes and look down at him. Grabbing his wrists, I stop him from taking this any further because I want to reveal his big surprise once we’re officially on vacation.
“That’s the second time you’ve stopped me from making love to you, Juliette,” he admonishes playfully, his tone low and dripping with desire. It surprises me when the pulse between my legs intensifies. “You realize we haven’t had sex since Christmas morning in the shower, right?”
“I do.” Smiling, I release one of his wrists and run my fingers through his hair. “But if I let you continue, then we’re going to be late getting to the airport, and you don’t want us to miss our flight, do you?” Even I know he can’t argue with reason.
Smirking, he tugs me toward him again by the open waist of my skirt. “I’ll be quick.”
With a loud laugh, I fall onto his lap, and he begins kissing my neck again—probably because he knows it renders me completely powerless against him. “As romantic as that sounds,” I tell him softly, “I’d really rather wait until our vacation begins.” Pausing, I bite my lip and shrug. “I’ve kind of got this whole thing planned…”
“And I’ll get the surprise you promised me?” he inquires, lifting his head and arching his eyebrow.
“Definitely.”
Appeased for the time being, Greyston lets me get up and finish packing my things. After we double-check our bags to make sure we haven’t forgotten anything, we head out to the town car that’s just arrived. Greyston’s regular driver opens the door for me and takes our bags to the trunk while we climb in. Once our luggage is put away, the driver climbs in and pulls away from the curb.
Knowing that this marks the beginning of our first time away together, my excitement skyrockets. Beside me, Greyston throws an arm over my shoulder and pulls me close, kissing my temple. “I’m looking forward to this vacation with you,” he whispers.
“Me too,” I tell him, relaxing into his embrace. “There’s so much I’m looking forward to.”
Using his other hand, Greyston grabs my legs and swings them over his thighs, turning my body toward his. “Like?”
His fingers trail up and down my outer thigh, making me shiver and lose focus momentarily. “Being alone, for starters,” I quip quietly, nodding my head in the driver’s direction.
Greyston chuckles, leaning us forward a bit to push a button on the roof console. A privacy screen rises from behind the driver’s seat, and I shake my head in mock-disapproval. “What else?” he asks, slipping his hand up under my skirt and palming my ass.
“Seeing the mountains,” I reply breathily as his hand continues to knead my ass cheek. I bite back a moan when his long fingers graze my inner thigh, and I try to keep myself from fucking him in the backseat of the town car; somehow having his driver as an audience doesn’t really appeal to me. “And skiing. Absolutely everything about this trip is going to be great.”
For the rest of the ride to the airport, Greyston and I canoodle in the backseat. We don’t get any farther than a little over-the-clothes groping, which can only bode well for what I hope to happen soon enough. When we arrive at the airport, Greyston quickly adjusts himself before we step out and collect our bags from the driver. Inside, we print our tickets and check our suitcases before heading to security.
The entire time we wait to go through the metal detectors, I’m worried about those random searches where they pull you into a private room. I know it’s just a precaution, but I still don’t want it to happen to me.
“Next!”
I breathe a sigh of relief when I realize I’m being called forward through the metal detector…and in the opposite direction of that private room. I remove my shoes and put them in the bin with my carry-on before stepping through. Silence is heard as I make it to the other side, and I collect my things as Greyston is called next. With both of us clear, we head for our gate, grabbing a coffee along the way. By the time we arrive, we’ve still got a thirty-minute wait. I’m growing terribly anxious, but only because I’m just so excited.
“How long is the flight?” I ask, sipping my coffee.
“Three hours.”
I nod once. “That’s pretty good. What are we doing when we get there?”
“Well, we’ll pick up the car and then drive to the cabin to unload our luggage. After that…well, we can go skiing, check out downtown Whistler…whatever you want.”
Smirking, I turn to him. “Anything?”
He leans forward and brushes his nose over mine, his lips barely touching down on mine. “Absolutely anything.”
“Good,” I whisper. “Because I have big plans for this week.”
Even though we’re in the middle of the airport, Greyston closes the gap between us and presses his lips to mine. It’s definitely not the most passionate kiss we’ve ever shared, but it’s enough to get my libido going.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I groan, ending the kiss. “Sorry,” I grumble, reaching for it and looking at the screen. I smile again before answering. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetheart. I just wanted to call and wish you both a safe flight.”
“Thanks. I’ll be sure to call you when we get there, okay?”
“I’d appreciate that.”
I can hear the worry in her voice, and I have to remind myself that this is the first time I’ve been so far from home without either of my parents. Up until recently, I was their only child, so it would only be normal that she’d be a little uneasy.
“Do me a favor while we’re gone, though?” I implore.
“Sure.”
“Take it easy, and try not to worry too much?” She laughs lightly, probably in an attempt to throw me off.
There’s a brief pause between us as I wait for her response, but she finally speaks up. “Okay,” she says. “I promise.”
“Thanks.” Suddenly, there’s an announcement coming over the intercom for pre-boarding passengers. “Our plane’s about to board now, Mom, so I’ll talk to you in a few hours, okay? I love you. Tell Dad the same?”
“Of course. I love you, too, honey.”
After hanging up, Greyston and I start to grab our belongings and head for the gate while the few pre-boarders disappear behind the doors past the attendants. My anticipation mounts with every step we take. I’m practically vibrating when I hand my ticket to the female attendant.
Greyston and I find our seats easily, and he’s kind enough to take my carry-on and put it in the overhead compartment for me. I stand back and wait for him to slide in next to the window, but he shakes his head. “Actually,” he begins, “you can take the window. I tend to get slight vertigo if I catch a glimpse at how high we are.”
Learning this about him shocks me. “Really?”
He runs his fingers through his hair, his expression adorably nervous. “Yeah. It’s ridiculous considering how much I fly every year. I only booked the window seat because I figured you might enjoy the view of the mountains as we fly over them.”
“That’s so sweet,” I assure him, popping up on my toes and kissing him lightly. “Thank you.”
We take our seats and fasten our seatbelts as we wait for everyone else to get situated. Out of respect for Greyston, I close the window for now, and he smiles in response before kissing my temple and placing his hand on my thigh, just below the hemline of my skirt. His thumb moves back and forth over the skin above my knee, and I loop my arm through his and rest my head on his shoulder. His scent surrounds me, and I sigh in contentment.
Soon enough, after everyone has found their seats and the flight attendants have delivered their safety spiel, the plane pulls away from the gate and taxis down the runway. As we ascend, I think quietly to myself, and I realize that, while I thought I loved Ben, I was never truly content with him the way I am with Greyston. Ben and I had good times, don’t get me wrong—this observation isn’t based on our final weeks, mind you—but even with all the good in our relationship, nothing ever felt like it was right. I never once envisioned a future with
him. I didn’t imagine what it would be like to live together, to get engaged and married—to have kids—and while I haven’t really thought about Greyston and I getting married—until now, anyway—I have thought about a future with him.
“You’re awfully quiet, sweetheart,” Greyston murmurs against the top of my head. “Penny for your thoughts?”
“Keep your money,” I quip, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. “I was just taking a trip down memory lane, realizing for the first time that I’ve never been this happy before.” I pause as he presses his lips to my forehead. “I used to complain for the longest time that my parents were more than a little inappropriate, but, now that I’m happy, I see now just how in love they still are—and that’s rare to find nowadays. I want us to have what they have.”
Greyston’s eyebrows rise. “A baby?”
I laugh, unable to control the volume. “No,” I assure him, and then I shrug a little. “At least…not any time soon.” This doesn’t seem to cause him further panic, so I relax.
“I want to be as happy as I am right now, but twenty years from now…and longer.”
He still seems a little stunned…but not afraid. No, definitely not afraid. “Y-you think about that kind of thing? With me?”
Now it’s my turn to be both a little freaked out and stunned, and when I speak, it comes out a strangled whisper. “You don’t?”
Immediately, his features soften, and he turns in his seat as much as possible. “Oh, no, I do, I just didn’t think you did because…well, you’re so young. While I’d hoped you would—” He stops himself, shaking his head. “It’s just, I wasn’t sure you wanted…shit. No, that’s not right, either.” I smirk, trying really hard to keep it from becoming a huge smile. It’s nice to see him flustered for a change, but I don’t let him suffer too long before I rescue him.