by Lexie Davis
After last night, Grace could imagine what Chase would think now. She couldn't believe she stuck her ass out for him, encouraging him to fuck her from behind. She'd never remotely done anything more exotic in her sex life than in a bed. Yet this man had her from behind in a parking lot.
Distracted by her thoughts, Grace slipped, tumbling to the bottom of the staircase. It happened so fast she barely had time to comprehend that she landed on her stomach sprawled in the middle of the floor. Pain shot up her leg to her hip, while her ankle throbbed like a bitch. When she turned, she realized two college boys living in 1C stared at her naked behind, drool nearly dripping from their mouths.
"Dammit!” she yelled pushing up from her position. Did they offer to help? No. She fixed her skirt, snarling at them over her shoulder, making them recede back into their apartment.
The morning was not going well. Gathering her stuff, she limped out to the front, putting minimal pressure on her ankle. She bit her lip as she waited for the cab, praying to everything holy her ankle wasn't broken. Upon arriving to her office, pain seared up her leg and she cried out, clenching her fists and closing her eyes tight.
"Grace?” The last thing she needed right now was Chase checking up on her.
"Please just leave me alone.” She limped to her desk, wincing with each step she took.
"What happened to your foot?” He stepped inside her office, closing the door behind him. “Why are you limping?"
Narrowing her eyes, she plopped down in the leather office chair, sucking in a breath when she took the weight off her ankle. “I rather not tell you."
Chase rolled his eyes and stepped around her desk to squat at her feet. Before she could protest he lifted her foot, propping it on his thigh. His fingers ran lightly around the swollen purple skin, the heat from his touch more pleasurable than painful.
"It looks like a sprain. You need to put some ice on it, Grace.” One hand clenched her toes while the other continued its soft caresses gently prodding the puffy skin. “I don't think anything's broken though."
"Chase, I really don't need you—"
"Grace, these reports are in—” Madison Reynolds came through the door, stopping when she saw Grace in her office chair and Chase on his knees before her, “—complete. Uh, I'll come back later."
As fast as she'd come, she left, closing the door with a louder than normal thud. Grace groaned and pressed her fingers into her temples. “This can't be happening."
"Grace, I need to talk to you about last night."
"Last night never happened, Chase.” She tried jerking her foot from him, but he held tight, causing her to wince as he forced her to meet his gaze.
"It did, Grace, and we have to talk about it eventually.” His hands slid up her legs to the hem of her skirt then down again, leaving a trail of fire wherever they went. “We didn't use protection."
Oh, God. Grace swallowed hard, thoughts of some unheard of disease entering her mind. “Tell me you're clean."
"I am. I was worried about pregnancy.” His eyes met hers.
"I'm on the pill.” She finally extracted her ankle from him, turning away. “Though being on the pill doesn't excuse our behaviour. You should have worn a rubber."
He stood, propping his butt on the edge of her desk. “Grace, I—"
"Unless you have business to discuss, I have nothing more to say, Mr. Cooper."
"Fine.” His voice was less than pleasant. “Cancel your plans for today. I need you to go to my house and gather up my things from my ex. It seems she's packed them for me, and I'd really like my belongings."
He turned to leave without another word and Grace gaped at him.
The day couldn't get much worse than this.
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Chapter Three
Wrong.
Upon arriving at Libby's house, Grace soon found Libby hadn't packed a damn thing of his and expected Grace to do all the work. With an ACE bandage wrapped around her ankle, she took a deep breath, counted to twenty, and began shoving his belongings inside box after box, not really caring what went where.
"Aren't you his assistant?” Libby asked from the doorway. “I've seen you before, and you're not pretty enough to be his new girlfriend. So that means you're his assistant."
Grace bit her tongue. “Yeah, I'm his assistant."
She threw thousand dollar suits into a cheap cardboard box, not bothering to check the insides. She didn't care. She cleaned out his socks, underwear, and tee shirt drawers, making a note to keep an orange one she liked. It was the least he could do since she went through the trouble of packing all his shit for him while his ex-girlfriend watched.
Finally by noon, she finished. Grace loaded up the last of the boxes in the rented moving van and pulled out her cell to call Chase at the office. He picked up on the third ring.
"Where do you want me to take your shit?"
Sweat poured down her face, nearly falling into her eyes. A silk blouse, grey pencil skirt and five-inch heels didn't exactly account for the best moving outfit, in her opinion. She sweated to the point she feared she'd dehydrate. Libby had stood by her the entire time, not lifting a precious manicured nail to give her a hand. The damn bitch hadn't even offered her as much as a glass of water.
"Take it to your place."
Grace's mouth dropped open. “Excuse me? I'm not carting all your shit into my apartment."
"I haven't got anywhere else to stay."
"So? Rent a damn hotel. You've got enough money."
"Grace, I don't have time to discuss this. Just take it to your place and I'll pick it up there.” He hung up before she could protest.
"Fuck!” She slammed her phone closed before throwing it across Libby's front lawn.
She stared at all the shit she dreaded carrying up nine flights of stairs by herself. It didn't matter to him she had a hurt ankle. It didn't matter to him that she had a life.
Pulling the door to the back of the moving van down, she secured it and went on a hunt to find her cell phone. Luckily someone called, making the search easier than it would have been in the freshly mowed grass.
"Hello?"
"Gracie, it's your mother."
Grace bit back her groan. “Mom, I'm kinda busy. What do you need?"
"Me and the girls decided to see Grease on Broadway and we'd like a place to stay. It'll be for one night and we won't get in your way. I know how busy you are trying to please that boss of yours—the one that doesn't appreciate anything you do for him."
Grace climbed in the front seat of the moving van. After turning the key and bringing the engine to life, she reached out to flick on the air conditioner. Nothing.
"Mom, there isn't room at my place for you and your four friends. There's barely room for me.” After manually rolling the windows down, she pulled out into the New York City traffic and came to a complete stop immediately.
"Gracie, it's just one night. I know you can lend us your living room for one night. And you have my word we won't get in your way."
One night? As long as Chase didn't decided to cohabitate, she could spare one night. After all, her mother was coming from Florida. The least she could do was allow her that much, and enjoy the time she was here.
Rubbing her forehead as traffic crept along, Grace approved. “Fine. One night. I'm not sure I'll be home much, but I'll make an effort to spend some time with you."
"Good. When will you be home?"
"Well, I'm on my way there right now, but I'm stuck in traffic. Why? Where are you?” Panic seared Grace's throat as she thought about what her mother would say when she pulled in front of her apartment building in a moving van.
"We're climbing the steps to your place. Ms. Applebee already warned us Paul hadn't fixed the elevators yet. Whew, it's hot."
After Grace disconnected, she tossed the phone in the seat next to her. As if the day couldn't get any worse, she knew for a fact it was about to.
* * * *
By the time f
ive rolled around, Chase still hadn't heard anything from Grace. After he cut her off like that, he wouldn't be surprised if she threw all his belongings in the Hudson River. He got her address from Madison and handed it to his limo driver.
She sure wasn't going to like what he proposed but eventually, maybe, she'd finally talk about last night.
Pulling up to a dilapidated building, Chase cringed thinking this would be his home for the next couple of weeks. He didn't really ask Grace if he could stay—more or less told her—but spending time with her, being under the same roof with her, she was bound to talk eventually.
He climbed out of the limo, staring up at his new home. Nine storeys tall, the building looked as if it reeked with termites, cockroaches and all the lovely little critters that go bump in the night. He hated thinking this was the best his employee could afford and made a mental note to help her look for a place to live while he went on his own apartment search.
"Sir, are you sure this is the correct address?” Gus asked, cringing as he stared at the building before them.
"That's what Madison gave me."
"No disrespect, sir, but are you sure she wasn't messing with you?"
For Chase's sake, he hoped so. He walked the short distance to the front doors, several kids from the area staring at him from their various locations.
Immediately upon stepping inside, the smell of musty, old wood filled his nostrils. Though dark, he made out a narrow hall lined with five doors. Opposite of the hall sat the staircase and elevator. The wooden floorboards creaked as he made his way to the elevator.
"Speak of the devil."
Turning around, Chase found Grace coming down the steps with five elderly ladies behind her. She looked wonderful in jean shorts and a skimpy tank, with no bra. Between the heat of the building and the sight of her, his temperature rose a couple of degrees.
"Elevator doesn't work, stud. You've got to take the old-fashioned way and use the stairs.” She stepped into the foyer and four of the five ladies said goodbye. “Mom, this is Chase. Chase, this is my mother, Evelyn McBride."
The fifth lady scrunched up her nose at Chase, narrowing her eyes. “So you're the one that my daughter decided to move in?"
"Uh, no, Mom. He's just storing his stuff here for a while. No cohabitating.” Grace looked at Chase, pleading with her eyes.
"Phooey. I know that look in his eyes. He's picturing you naked as we speak.” She pointed a finger at him. “Employer or not, you hurt my baby, I hurt you."
Chase smiled. “I wouldn't dream of hurting Grace, Mrs. McBride. She's an exceptional woman."
He winked at Grace and her cheeks reddened. “Uh, you'd better hurry, Mom. I don't want you to miss your dinner and Grease on Broadway."
Chase watched as Grace nearly dragged her mother out of the building. Her mother was spunky, he'd give her that. So much like her daughter, he realised.
"Are you sure you can handle him, Gracie?"
"Yes, Mother. I handle him every Monday through Friday, seven to four."
Evelyn met his gaze again, narrowing her eyes even more than before. “Only if you're sure."
"Go have fun with your friends. I'm fine.” She kissed her mother's cheek before shutting the door in her face and turning around. “I should shoot you for making me cart all your shit up nine flights of stairs in the freaking two-hundred degree weather. The moving van rental was pay by the hour—out of my pocket no less."
She stepped before him, climbing the steps and giving him a nice view of her ass as he followed.
"I don't have anywhere else to go."
She stopped dead still and turned so fast, Chase's face pressed against her cleavage before his brain registered to stop. He took a step back, meeting her eyes and seeing clearly how the simple mishap affected her. As much as she wanted to deny it, what happened last night would happen again.
"You can't stay with me, Chase.” Grace crossed her arms over her hardened nipples in a futile effort to keep Chase from seeing how much he affected her.
"Why not?"
"For one, you didn't ask and I don't recall offering. You have rights to tell me what to do at work, but I'm at home where you have no rights, Chase. You're not my boyfriend, you're my boss."
"Really?” He took two steps towards her, putting him against her body in the narrow stairwell. “I thought you wanted to be my friend. This is the friendly-type of thing to do."
He smelt so good, a spicy mixture of expensive pheromone cologne and an erotic scent that belonged to Chase alone. He stood only an inch away, forcing her last functioning brain cells out on hiatus. Even as much as she wanted to hate him, her body responded with a whole different notion.
"Come on, Gracie.” He reached out and stroked a finger along her cheek. “I'm not the big bad wolf."
His finger traced the line of her lips before continuing their journey downward. His touch stayed soft and gentle, heightening her arousal with every sleek motion. She knew last night was a mistake. Cohabitating would be an even bigger mistake. And fucking him again ... off the Richter scale of mistakes.
"We can't do this, Chase.” Though even as she said it, she knew they would. Her breaths came in shallow gasps as he brought both hands into play.
He cupped her breasts and squeezed them in his big hands before lifting them up and pushing them together. She moaned, arching towards him as she closed her eyes and simply felt. Tired of being responsible all the time, Grace let go.
"Gracie.” Chase's mouth came down hard against hers. His hands slid to her waist before reaching around her body to cup and squeeze her ass.
His tongue thrust between her lips, igniting a fire deep inside her body. She braced her hands on his shoulders before sliding them upward to his face and into his hair. A few seconds later, Grace was in Chase's arms as he bolted up the stairs in search of her apartment.
After kicking open the door then pressing her against it, he put her down, mouth still locked against hers.
Without hesitation, Chase pushed his pants to the floor, his cock standing proud and erect from his body.
Grace gasped at the sight, it, being the first time she technically saw him naked. She knew he was big, both in her hand and inside her body. But the sight of his aroused flesh stunned her, made her mouth water.
"You gonna stand there and stare all day?” Chase reached out to brush a tendril of hair from her face.
Grace licked her lips and smiled. “I don't know. I've been through hell today and it's all because of you."
Grace knelt before him and glanced up. Her heart raced with overwhelming excitement. She slid her hand down his shaft, the texture velvet-soft over hard steel. Chase amazed her in more ways than one, though she'd never tell him that. Leaning forward, she licked the crown, tasting the salty essence of him. Chase's eyes glazed over as he watched her, turning her on even more. Eyes locked with his, she took him into her mouth. His deep groan reverberated through the silence that surrounded them as he ran his fingers through her hair.
Grace moved down then up, sucking lightly and tasting the pre-cum that dripped in her mouth. She moved her hand to lazily massage his balls, coinciding with the rhythm of her mouth. Grace was overwhelmed with a sense of power as she drove Chase closer and closer to orgasm. His hands tightened in her hair, soft noises of pleasure left his throat.
"God, Gracie. Don't stop. Please don't stop!” Chase pleaded hoarsely.
Smiling around his cock, she didn't stop. She teased him with her tongue, lashing it across the plump head. A moment later, his cum spurted into her mouth, causing her to moan when it touched her tongue.
Taking a step back, Chase leaned against a nearby wall, praying it held him up. This woman—this woman was amazing. Simply put, he never had someone who left him as completely satisfied as Grace did—every time they had sex.
She teased him a bit more, licking up all his cream before she kissed the tip of his cock in finale. He didn't even have enough strength to open his eyes when she st
ood, very pleased with herself.
"I hope you're not done for the night, stud."
Without even opening his eyes, Chase cupped her head and pulling her to his mouth for a kiss. “You are incredible."
He opened his eyes to stare into hers. At that moment, Grace became much more than his gofer on an average work day. With Libby, he had worked so hard to please her, he'd never found satisfaction for himself. Being here, with this amazing woman standing before him, gave him the satisfaction he needed. Ironically, he never saw it until now.
"Gracie Lynn! I left my ticket on the coffee table. Open the door!” The squawking voice of Grace's mother broke the sexual haze around them, thrusting them into an all too real reality.
Grace's eyes widened and he laughed at her before pulling her to him for another kiss.
"Go,” she mumbled, sliding her hand along his chest and pushing with good measure.
He watched until she situated her clothing again and smiled, turning to find her bedroom. The apartment itself was rather large given his earlier thoughts about the place. He hadn't suspected the inside of the dilapidated building to be rather nice.
Inside Grace's bedroom, a large queen sleigh bed took up the majority of the room. The sheets were an olive green and soft to the touch. A dresser sat along one wall, matching the bed in colour and design. He noticed the small little knickknacks that covered the nightstand and smiled. Grace loved turtles and five of them sat next to her bed.
He made his way to the small door on the opposite side of the bedroom, noticeably her master bath. Inside the hallway was only a half bath, but from the looks of it, this was Grace's domain.
A garden tub and separate shower sat on opposite walls with a toilet in its own private quarters. Not too different than the master bath he and Libby had shared for the year they lived together. The colours were neutral spiced up with a green shower mat sporting none other than a turtle smiling up at him.
"Hey.” Grace's voice caused him to turn around to meet her curious gaze. “What are you doing?"
"Admiring your home. From the looks on the outside, I wasn't too sure I'd want to stay here.” He turned around, smiling at the stuff that made the room Grace's. “I should have known you wouldn't settle for anything less than the best."