by Velvet Reed
Obviously thinking I couldn’t prepare the meal myself, my mom turns up later in the afternoon to ‘assist’ as she put it. “So tell me more about her. You said her name is Grace, right?” she starts her inquisition. Olivia Tierney is a firecracker; full of energy, love, and an overwhelming need to help others. Hmmm, kind of sounds like someone else I know.
I stop chopping the vegetables and turn to face my mom. “Yeah, Grace Rivers. She’s beautiful, Mom, but it’s not just her physical beauty that gets to me. She’s honest and good. She has this incredible love for her family and friends and she’s just real. She doesn’t seem to care about material things or about how successful I am. She’s just wonderful.”
Mom is watching me intently, and slowly, a small smirk appears on her lips. “How long have you known each other?’ She curiously asks.
“Ummm… only about two weeks.”
“Hmmm,” is the only response I get.
“What exactly does ‘hmmm’ mean?”
She turns to face me. “Darling, to hear you describe a woman like that, with a light in your eyes that I’ve never seen before and after such a short amount of time… it’s surprising. You never spoke about… well, you know who I’m talking about, but you never spoke about her that way.”
“That’s because Grace is nothing like her at all; she is the complete opposite, actually. I feel like we have this connection already. Does that sound weird?”
“It doesn’t sound weird at all. I knew the minute I met your father he was special. Believe me… Everything happens for a reason, Cole. Sometimes, when you least expect it, the universe and fate align, and you find yourself exactly where you’re meant to be. Don’t doubt your feelings my darling, embrace them.”
I put down the knife and pull my mom in for a hug. “Thanks, Mom. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
“Anytime, darling, and I expect to meet her soon. Okay?”
We break the hug and get back to preparing dinner. As we work side by side, I realize how lucky I am to have an amazing supportive mom and my heart squeezes knowing Grace has missed out on that for most of her life. I can see my mom and Grace getting along really well.
With Mom finally gone after she set the dining room table for a romantic dinner for two, I quickly go about setting up for the other plans I have for tonight… At least for what I hope will happen the rest of the night.
I take a quick shower, do one last check that everything is in place and that the food is ready; then I put on a play list of Michael Buble, Ed Sheeran, Snow Patrol, and Jack Johnson, to help set the mood with background music. Within minutes, the doorbell chimes and I’m opening the door and taking in the sight of the woman before me. “Hey there, Welcome to my home.”
Grace leans in and kisses me swiftly. “Hi. Mmmmm something smells great, hopefully this wine will complement it.” She hands me a bottle of chardonnay and I close the door. I take her hand and lead her into the kitchen. When she catches sight of the dining setting, she gasps. “What have you done? This is incredibly romantic, Cole,” she says, with a dreamy look in her eyes.
I chuckle and admit, “To be honest, I’m not going to take all the credit. I happened to speak to my mom earlier, and she couldn’t help herself, so she came over and helped with everything.”
“Well, I think I love your mom already,” she laughs.
God, that’s a beautiful sound. The sound of her laugh hits me straight in the groin, so I need a distraction and fast.
“Dinner is basically ready; I just need to serve it up. Would you like a drink first?”
“Sounds great, but I can get the drinks while you start serving up,” Grace offers.
“The corkscrew is in the second drawer.”
“So what are we having that smells so damn good?” Grace asks, and I hear the cork pop.
“Herbed lamb rack with baked vegetables and greens,” I proudly announce.
Grace’s eyebrows shoot up and she comes sashaying toward me. “Are you trying to impress me with your culinary skills, Dr. Tierney?” she asks seductively. I put the bowl of greens down on the counter. “Is it working, Ms. Rivers?” I retort.
Putting her arms around my neck and smirking at me, she pretends to think. “Well, your mom did help, so I’ll have to deduct points for that; of course, I will need to… Taste it.”
I close the short distance between our mouths until they are only an inch apart. Grace’s tongue peeks out to run a quick wet line across her bottom lip. “And taste it you will, but first—” My reply is cut short as I claim her mouth. The kiss is full of passion and unspoken need. Things are definitely going to progress tonight, but first we need to eat.
When we slowly separate, Grace giggles and winks at me. “Tastes delicious. Is there dessert?”
I shake my head and chuckle. “There’s plenty of dessert Grace… After you enjoy this amazing meal.”
As she turns to walk to the table, I can’t help myself. I smack her plump ass. “Hey!” she yelps in surprise and her cheeks redden
“Just keeping you on your toes, Sweet Cheeks.” I wink.
We chat throughout dinner and speak more about our families. Grace is surprised when I tell her about my mom’s invitation for her to come to a family dinner and says she would be happy to meet them. She begins telling me about how Ruby was bubbling with excitement when she showed Charlie her rose and jewellery when he picked her up this morning.
“You’re really wonderful with her, Grace. You’ll make a great mom one day.” What the hell! Where did that come from?
Grace’s eyes drop to her plate and a sadness creeps over her.
“Hey, what did I say?” I ask immediately concerned with her response to my comment.
She shakes her head slowly “Nothing. It’s just that… motherhood isn’t exactly in the cards for me. I can’t have my own kids, Cole.”
I’m stunned for a moment as I process her statement. “What do you mean? Why can’t you have kids?”
Taking a deep breath and blowing out harshly, she starts. “In my late teens, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries and endometriosis. One on its own is bad enough, but with both, my doctor said it’s extremely unlikely I will ever be able to conceive my own children. Basically, impossible. The odds are stacked against me.”
Not knowing the exact intricacies of both conditions, I implore her. “Surely there’s some treatment you can have. Sam’s an OBGYN as you know, so maybe you could talk to him about it.” I don’t know why I’m so concerned with this, but it seems unfair someone like Grace won’t be blessed with her own children. I, personally, have never thought about having kids before; the times I’ve seen Grace with Ruby lead me to believe she would be an amazing mom.
“It’s fine, Cole. Honestly, I came to terms with it a long time ago. Things happen for a reason,” she states.
That’s twice today I’ve heard that expression, but this time it bothers the hell out of me. I go to reply, but Grace cuts me off.
“I can’t believe I just told you that. Talk about a heavy conversation so early in a relationship. We seem to be making a habit of doing that,” she nervously chuckles.
“You can tell me anything Grace. I want to know these things about you.”
Grace quickly stands to gather the plates and heads for the kitchen. I can tell she’s avoiding the topic now.
“Let’s get this cleaned up and you can show me what you have in store for the rest of the night,” she tries to divert.
Picking up the remaining dishes, I take her lead and move off the subject. “I have lots in store for you Grace; just you wait and see.”
Chapter 13
Grace….
After the completely mundane chore of cleaning the kitchen together, which felt so natural, we move into Cole’s living room to enjoy more wine. The music is still playing softly in the background as it did all through dinner. When “Give Me Love” by Ed Sheeran starts to play, Cole stands up and holds out a hand to me. “Shall we dance, Grace?�
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“Absolutely,” I accept.
Wrapping an arm around my waist and taking my hand in his other hand, we began dancing around the room. Cole is holding me close with our cheeks pressed together. No words are spoken, as we seem to float around in contented bliss.
When the song changes to “Kiss Me,” Cole pulls back and stares into my eyes. Passion and desire are burning from their sparkling blue depths and my core clenches with a longing to be with him in every way possible.
Our kiss starts out slowly, a melding of lips and soft sweet caresses. A sigh escapes me; as my lips part, Cole takes full advantage and pushes his tongue in to meet mine with lapping strokes.
With both wandering tongues and hands, I know exactly where this is heading; I am more than ready. Cole’s kisses move across my cheek and travel down my neck. When he reaches that oh, so sensitive spot right beneath my ear, I shudder and moan. “Oh, God, Cole.”
He’s sucking and kissing that spot, and it’s exquisite torture on my senses. The sensation heightens when his warm breath blows across the damp skin, causing my body to quake in his arms and goose bumps to break out everywhere. I’m a quivering mess.
“Grace, I need you. You have no idea how much I want you right now,” he pants with ragged breaths.
I notice the music has again changed to “Just Say Yes” by Snow Patrol, and I giggle at the irony of the lyrics.
“Yes, Cole. Yes. I want you, too,” I declare, as sensual waves of pleasure ripple through my body.
Cole’s hands move to the hem of my shirt, bunching the material and lifting it up over my head then discarding it to the side. He trails his fingers along the edge of my pink lace bra over the swell of my full breasts and my chest heaves in response.
“You are so goddamn beautiful, Grace,” he murmurs.
I reach for his shirt and he lifts his arms helping me remove it in one swift movement. I mimic his actions and run my fingers across his defined chest; a sexy groan rumbles from the back of his throat in reaction to my touch.
With a hard, bruising kiss to my lips, Cole takes my hand. “Come with me,” he commands and starts leading us upstairs. When we enter his bedroom, I come to a stop. The sight before me takes me aback.
There are large candles placed sporadically around the room on any available flat surface, casting a romantic glow. Yellow rose petals are scattered across the floor and lying in the middle of the huge king-sized bed is a single yellow rose.
My eyes tingle and I can feel tears prick the corners as my heart swells with emotion. No one has ever done anything like this for me before. No one has ever put this much thought and effort into a date with me.
“Cole,” I whisper and it comes out sounding like a prayer. He turns me and rubs his hands up and down my arms. “This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. It’s incredible, but you didn’t have to do this,” I confess.
He brushes his thumbs under my eyes to wipe away the few tears that have escaped. He then strokes my cheeks lightly. “Of course, I did. We only get one first time together, Gracie, and I want us to remember every single second of it forever.”
This man could ask me to do anything right now and I would willingly oblige. He has me under his spell.
We’re locked in a tangle of limbs as Cole backs me up toward the bed, while unclasping my bra and tossing it on the floor. As he lowers me down, his hands undo my jeans and he swiftly removes them and my panties in one fluid movement.
His gaze travels my body with an appreciative gleam. He licks his lips slowly; the heat in his eyes causes my core to clench as the ache intensifies. His cock is straining against the denim of his jeans, so I push up off the bed and reach for his button fly, deftly undoing every one. Running my fingers around the waist, I lower them slowly while peppering kisses across his taut stomach and down the lightly defined V I find so incredibly sexy on a man.
My eyes are drawn to his hard cock, which stands proudly demanding attention. With quick precision, I take hold of it in my right hand and stroke it from root to tip, swirling my thumb around the end. Cole lets out a hiss of pleasure and his head falls back as his hips jut toward me.
I lean forward and place a soft kiss on the tip, and then circle my tongue around the head. “Grace,” Cole gasps and his hands find my hair, fisting it. I slowly lick the length of his cock, while following with more, firm strokes. Cole’s breathing comes louder and faster with each slide of my tongue and tug of my hand.
Closing my mouth around him and taking him to the back of my throat, the moan that fills the air is mine. “Oh, shit!” Cole exclaims “Grace, stop, please baby. It’s been a while for me and I don’t want to come like this.”
I slide his cock out of my mouth with a pop and smile up at him. Knowing he hasn’t been with anyone for a time is music to my ears because I haven’t either, and it kind of feels more important that we are breaking our droughts together. “It’s been a while for me too, Cole,” I confess.
He leans over me and uses his strong, muscular arms to cage me in, forcing me to scoot backwards more onto the bed. With slow, deliberate movements, he follows me until he’s hovering above, staring into my eyes. As the seconds pass without any words, he reaches past me, and when his hand comes back into view, I see he is now holding the yellow rose.
As he brushes the rose ever so gently across my lips, I am able to breathe in the sweet perfume of the bloom. Heavenly! He continues the rose’s journey across my eyelids and down my nose, causing my eyes to flutter closed. So lost am I in the exquisite softness of the petals’ path that my body convulses when his mouth covers my nipple, and he nips it between his teeth “Oh, God,” I pant.
He works my pebbled bud into a hard point; then trails kisses across the valley between my breasts to provide the other one with the same, blissful torture. I can feel his hard cock throbbing against my inner thigh and not wanting to be selfish, I reach down between us to wrap my trembling fingers around his girth and glide fluid motions over the delicate skin.
Cole pulls away and again uses the rose to circle my well-abused nipples with the different texture. “Your tits are amazing, Grace. Absolutely perfect and utterly delectable.”
Letting go of his cock, I grab hold of his neck and pull his lips to mine, needing to stake my claim in any way possible. Our combined moans echo around us and only serve to heighten the desperation we have to get closer. Releasing my lips and dragging in heavy breaths, Cole’s eyes are burning with emotion as he drops the rose and cradles my face in his palms. “I need to be inside you now, Gracie.”
It’s not lost on me that he just used my nickname; hearing it come from his lips, evokes a longing I’ve never experienced before. I press my lips to his once more. “I need you too, Cole.” He leans to the side and moves to open the drawer of his bedside chest; hazarding a guess at what he will produce, I stop him. “No, don’t,” I implore. “I’m clean, Cole. I was checked six months ago and I haven’t been with anyone since. I’m on the pill to regulate my periods, and you already know it’s basically impossible for me to become pregnant anyway. I don’t want anything between us.”
His eyes study me intently, trying to read any doubt there. “Are you sure?” he finally asks. “We have regular checks at the hospital and I’m fine, but I want you to be sure.”
I lift my hips so my core makes contact with his cock and that’s the only answer he needs. Without any further preamble, Cole enters me with one smooth, delicious thrust. “Goddamn, you feel good, Gracie,” he declares, as he sets a steady rhythm.
My hands are in his hair, and my lips and tongue are moving across his chest and shoulders. When he hits that sweet spot inside me, I can’t help the wanton pleas that leave my mouth as I dig my nails into his firm ass. “Yes, Cole, right there. Yes, harder. Oh, God, harder.”
Cole pounds into me at an almost frantic rate. Our bodies are slapping against each other and sweat is beading on our skin. The pressure reaches its peak and the sound of Cole chanti
ng my name sends me over the edge with a cry of blissful ecstasy.
Before I can come down from the heavenly place I’ve just been, Cole thrusts a few more times and then roars his release. With his weight pressing down on me, the feeling of completeness that surrounds us stuns me. Our bodies fit together perfectly; I can honestly say without any doubt in my mind that was the best sexual experience of my life.
“Wow,” is all I can come up with.
“Yeah, wow,” Cole mumbles, into my neck and presses his lips there.
He slowly pulls out of me, rolls to the side taking me with him, and props his head up on his hand. With his free one, he trails his fingers down my cheek. “Do you know how beautiful you are?’’
My blush is instantaneous and I burrow my face into his chest. Cole runs his hand through my hair. “Gracie.”
I lift my face to meet his. “That was the first time I have ever gone without protection,” he confesses and my heart swells at the realization we just gave each other something special.
“It was my first time without using something, too.”
His action takes me off guard as his lips meld with mine. I know he understands the magnitude of what we just had together. Our kiss deepens and when I feel his hardness against my thigh again, I eagerly throw myself into round two.
Chapter 14
Grace….
Cole and I settled into a routine of sorts. He would work Sunday to Thursday, and then we would spend Friday night and Saturday together. Not a lot of time really but we certainly made the most of every second we had together.
After a few weeks of this and hating only spending one full night together, Cole gave me a spare key to his house. Yes, some may say that it’s a pretty big step after only knowing each other for six weeks, but we had limited time together, and it worked for us. Having the key meant that we could spend Saturday night together as well and Cole could leave for work with me still snug in his bed.