Some Way

by Tiffany Jade

  Without a word he starts leading me down the same path I've actually started to recognize.

  "So, what have you guys been planning?" I try but Nate ignores my question as we make it to the second floor, I roll my eyes and resign myself to getting information from Gray before he turns down a hallway I haven't seen before.

  "Where are we going?" I whisper as I once again find myself jogging to keep up.

  "Uh, to your man, like you so eloquently requested." Nate shoots me a dirty look. He stops in front of a large double door with a small sign stating 'Gym' on it. I must look confused as he chuckles, "He never misses a day, no matter what's going on. Hence the Hulk body."

  "Yikes," I mumble as I catch my breath from running after Nate...down a hallway...and up a flight of stairs. "My yoga pants that have never seen a day of yoga are trembling." Nate rolls his eyes with a grin as he yanks open the door.

  I'm met by a room that could rival any commercial gym. State of the art equipment covers the floor, multiples of each machine and so many weights you would never have to awkwardly sit on a machine you don't know how to use until they became free. I take in the high tech treadmills and elliptical machines, all with computer screens on them and more buttons than I could even fathom. But the room was empty.

  "This way," Nate nods towards another door off to the side. As he opens that door, a whole new vibe is exposed.

  Dark red walls, black concrete floor, and dim lights. A large ring is set up in the middle of the room it has a few spectators scattered around it but my attention is instantly drawn to the two fighters sparring.

  The eyes of the giant skull tattoo on Grayson's back seem to burn into me as the muscles clench with his practiced bounce. Droplets of sweat let me know he's been at this for a while.

  His opponent looks fresh, as if he just stepped into the ring. Grayson side steps a quick jab and ducks under a kick, rotating to the other side of the ring. Letting me soak in the sight.

  His hair is loose and drooped over one eye, his lip slightly swollen, with a touch of blood, looks like he didn't duck soon enough for at least one hit. I watch as now I can see the muscles on his chest constrict, they tighten as he reads his opponent again, waiting for the blow, then swinging around it. He's so focused on the man in front of him, I'm positive he hasn't noticed me watching. Okay fine, drooling too.

  "What the fuck are you doing Liviana?" he growls out as he moves by another hit. He hasn't thrown a punch yet and his opponent is already wearing himself down.

  I inhale sharply as a hit lands on his side, the sound of knuckles on skin ringing in my ears. Grayson smirks. Darkness takes over in his eyes. He circles around the man in the ring, the predatory Grayson, that I had only seen flashes of, is now on full display. My heart pounds in my chest.

  "I asked you a question Queen." He speaks barely over a whisper, but I can hear him perfectly. His voice a new kind of husky. I can feel it slide over me and bring all of my nerve endings to attention.

  His opponent tries one more time to land a kick, I suck in a breath as I wait to hear it connect but at the last second Gray moves and lands his own punch, right to the stomach. The man grunts, but straightens.

  As soon as he seems to have caught his breath Grayson spins around him and lands another punch to the same spot. This time he regains his breath a bit slower.

  "Liviana."

  He dodges an attempt to swipe his feet from under him, lands a punch to the man's jaw, back steps and follows the punch with a kick. The man falls to the ground, Grayson straightens.

  He still hasn't looked at me. His eyes are focused on his opponent. He walks to him and holds out a hand, he pulls him up, pats him on the back and his eyes follow his back as he slowly leaves the ring, holding his jaw. Which is quite possibly dislocated. I see Nate walk off to help whoever he is.

  Then finally, Grayson's gaze meets mine. The look still in his eyes. I feel like prey under his dark gaze.

  Another shiver runs through me as his eyes roam over my body. Without breaking eye contact, he jumps over the ropes and in two strides is standing a foot away from me. Glaring down at me. Fire and adrenaline in his eyes. His shoulders heaving as he breathes, I can almost hear his heart pounding.

  Oh no—that's mine.

  He begins to circle me like he did his opponent. Slowly, his eyes running up and down. With a different kind of heat.

  "Don't make me ask you again Queen." Smoke. Smoke and whiskey, if I had to describe the feel of his tone it would be smooth and raw like smoke and whiskey. Floating over me, burning so good.

  "I uh—" full sentences, Liv, you can do it, "I—" he stops behind me, stepping closer. Heat pouring off of his body, like white hot flame standing behind me. Words, just a few words at this point would be good.

  "Needed to talk." One of his hands land on my hip and flips me around to face him. My hands land on his damp chest, as he pulls my lower body flush with his. He slowly moves my hips around so I can feel him. A small whimper escapes my lips.

  "We can fucking talk later."

  Chapter 36

  She was trying her damndest to hide it. Tensing back against the shiver that was trying to run through her body at my words. I pull her even tighter into my arms, watching as the flush in her cheeks that had arrived as she watched the fight turns a deeper shade of red.

  I had known the second she had arrived. The air had changed as she walked into the room. I didn't even have to look, I could feel her watching.

  Fucking Nathaniel.

  Can't handle an order as simple as keeping her in her room.

  Who the fuck am I kidding, I don't think any of us could control her.

  I'm still going to kick his ass though.

  My fear that she was going to be disgusted or bothered by what she saw, maybe even scared of me, had quickly faded as her eyes tracked me around the ring. They had darkened, and her breathing had quickened. Dare I say, she actually liked this side of me.

  Na, fuck that 'dare', the way her body was melting into me right now as she rode the adrenaline of watching was clear enough, she liked it.

  She glances up at me through those hooded, hungry eyes.

  "Sex doesn't solve everything Grayson," her breathing is rough, causing her chest to rub in quite the fucking pleasant way against my body. If I don't get her out of here soon, I'm going to end up taking her right in the middle of that ring for everyone to see.

  He licks his lips as his fingers dig into my hips.

  "I can guarantee sex with you right now would solve a whole hell of a lot of my problems." Another smart ass smirk turns up the corner of his mouth right before he nips at my neck.

  "No Gray," he leans back a bit and his eyebrow raises at my denial. "I need—"

  "I know exactly what you need Liviana," I lose my breath as in one swift motion he lifts me up. My legs betray me and wrap around his waist. I can feel his grin against my throat.

  "Gray—" his teeth graze the skin over my pulse as his hands find their way under my hoodie to find skin, burning for his touch. "Everyone is watching." Even as the words leave my mouth, I find that it's hard to care, the way his fingers tease across my lower back make it damn hard to focus on anything but him.

  He chuckles, that dark, smoky chuckle that makes my stomach tighten.

  "So you can agree to let me take you to my room, or I can continue to just let everyone in this room know how fucking bad I need you Liv." He rests his forehead against mine, his hands continuing their gentle assault on my senses. He tips his head, placing a gentle kiss to my lips.

  I sigh.

  "Fine." I roll my eyes in mock annoyance. Gray shakes his head no as his lips move across my cheek and to my ear.

  "That's not a yes." He sets me down and takes a small step back, his eyes sparkling with challenge. I move right into his chest.

  "Take me to your room Grayson," he smiles, as he gets his way, I reach up to gently wipe at the cut on his lip. He refuses to show any pain even though I know it has
to hurt. I stand up on my toes to place a gentle kiss on the little bruise. "I can play doctor and fix you right up." I whisper the words into his ear and grin at the hiss that comes from him. I begin to turn but quickly find my feet off the ground.

  "Put me down Grayson!" the words huff out of me as my stomach hits his shoulder. I can hear a loud laugh across the room and look up to glare at Nate who gives me a 'that's what you deserve' look. I quickly flip him off, but upside down hanging over Grayson's back probably doesn't make for a very intimidating posture.

  "Oh no, we are going to play Doctor." I can hear the click of Gray's jaw as he begins walking for a door on the far side of the room. He's grinning again, that asshole. "You've introduced me to a whole new kink Queen, that's it, that's the one I never knew I had." I roll my eyes but relax in defeat. He gives a gentle swat to my ass. "Good girl."

  "Don't push it Grayson." I grumble as I find myself in a dark hall, some hidden area of the house, there's only two other doors. I hear a beep as he does something to get into the room.

  "What was that?" I ask as I find myself in total darkness as the door shuts behind us.

  "My door handle has finger identification," his shrug moves my whole body.

  "Of course it does," I struggle a bit to say the words, losing a little air in my precarious perch. Grayson quickly catches it though and rearranges me so he's carrying me, bridal style. I wrap my arms around his neck and nuzzle in, enjoying the quick jump in his pulse.

  He takes a few steps, fully confident in the pitch black. One of his arms disappears from supporting me, but quickly comes back after the switch of a light.

  "The better to see you with my dear," he gives me a wolfish grin. I glance around enough to realize we are not yet in his room, but a large sitting room. The room is masculine and very, oh who am I kidding, I don't care enough to study it.

  I reach for him and his response is instant. He moves me back so that my legs are again around his waist and I find myself pushed back against the wall with his lips on mine. I try to stay gentle, mindful of his cut, but he refuses to let it slow him down.

  His tongue moves with mine as the fire takes over my body. I wait for the rush of him to go away, for the need to lessen as we spend more time together, but instead it gets heavier, and I just end up needier than when I started.

  My head falls back to the wall as his teeth rake my shoulder, him tugging at the neck of my hoodie, exposing skin and tasting it right away. I feel like liquid, pliant in his hands, heat growing over every inch he touches.

  He uses the wall as leverage and he finds his way under the band of the loose sweatpants, a small groan escaping him as he realizes besides the sweats there is now no barrier between his hands and me.

  "You came to talk with no underwear on?" amusement clear even through the husky tone of his voice.

  "I—um—" I gasp as his hands grip and massage, why does my brain stop working when he touches me?

  "Mhmmm, you what Queen? You seem to be making this a habit," he speaks against my lips, his hands continuing, slipping closer and closer to where I'm aching for him. I hold my breath as his fingers whisper over the sensitive flesh, before gripping back onto my ass. "Liviana?" He nips at my earlobe as he whispers my name. Refusing to move his hands anymore. I release the breath I've been holding.

  Fine.

  I'll play.

  I straighten my back and tense my body, he notices instantly. I unwrap my legs from his waist and watch as the confusion fills his eyes. Standing now I duck a bit so his hands are free from my body. He tilts his head, concern and worry painted on his face. Clearly thinking he's pushed me too far. I give him a second to panic. And then a grin spreads across my face.

  I quickly sink to my knees, pulling his shorts down along with me and wrapping my lips around the hard length of him before he can process. A deep growl leaves him as his hands instinctively find their way into my hair.

  "Holy fuck Liviana." Now his head falls back to the wall. I pull back and let my tongue swirl across the top and run up and down the length of him as his fingers tighten and pull at the base of my scalp, the sensation sending shivers through me. I hum in appreciation and he groans at the vibration. My mouth encloses him again and I can't stop the sense of power flooding through me as I feel his arousal. My name falling from his lips as I switch from firm to gentle, and back again.

  "Fuck," he suddenly moves, pulling me away from him gently but firmly. He brings me up to him, his lips finding mine as his hands rush to remove the rest of the barriers between us. Moving back just long enough to tug my hoodie over my head he rolls his eyes as he sees once again, nothing underneath.

  "You're trying to fucking kill me aren't you?" Before I can answer he has lifted me up and is carrying me across the room, to another door. I hear another beep, another door open and shut, a light flickers to life, just enough to put a soft glow over the room. His room would be painted black.

  Before I can look around anymore, my back meets his bed and my body is covered by his.

  His lips place kisses randomly yet thoroughly as he pays attention to every inch of me. By the time he arrives back to my lips I'm a writhing, moaning mess. He smiles as his tongue slides across my bottom lip and he bites down as his hand finally finds its way down and he slides a teasing finger inside of me. His tongue copies the action, dipping in, and retreating. My moans get louder as he thrusts in a bit deeper, finding the spot that makes me arch into him.

  "There you go baby girl," he whispers, biting at me as his fingers twist and slide. Building me up but refusing to let me go.

  "Grayson, please," the words come out, nearly a whimper. He moves over me and slides himself between my thighs. Pushing inside of me, I grab onto his shoulders and pull him down to me. He braces himself on his elbows as his hands clasp my head, staring down at me as he begins to move, quick, long, strokes, sending too many sensations through my whole body.

  My nails bite into his shoulders. My eyes close.

  "Liviana, look at me baby," I force my eyes open again, and for one of the very few times I see more than a glimpse of emotion on his face. He doesn't force it away. The love, the fear, the possessiveness, it stares back at me, making my heart fill.

  "Grayson—" he lowers his head to mine, placing a kiss to my forehead.

  "What do you need Liviana, anything at all," he pauses speaking as he moves faster. "Whatever you want Queen." I move my hands from his shoulders to cup his face.

  "You Grayson, all I need is you." My legs tighten around him as his lips find mine again, he bites down as my body starts to shake.

  "Oh you have me Queen," he whispers the words against my lips. "Forever. I'm yours."

  Deeper then, strokes increasing until the world melts away. And then it’s exploding. Him and I, the barriers we had between us not mattering as we both hold on.

  Chapter 37

  "So what did you want to talk about?" Grayson grins over at me as he puts his hands behind his head. I roll onto my side and try to stop my eyes from roaming down his body as he lays on his back, his muscles prominent and the sheet from his bed laying haphazardly at his hips.

  I close my eyes and shake my head, causing him to chuckle. "You suck at playing Doctor by the way, my lip hurts worse now." I peak over at him in surprise, he's admitting it hurts? After sex Grayson and his laid backness will forever be one of my favorite versions of him.

  I sigh dramatically and jump out of bed, pulling the sheet with me to wrap around my body. Grayson grins as he is exposed and wiggles his eyebrows.

  "Nu uh," I shake my finger at him forcing myself to walk towards the bathroom in the corner of his room. I'm met by a room full of marble—black of course. A giant walk in shower takes up one whole wall, that looks like...fun...

  I smile to myself as I handle what I need to. I then find a washcloth and wet it with cold water. I glance up in the mirror as he appears behind me. His tattooed and muscular arms wrap around my waist and his head dips to place a soft kis
s on my bare shoulder. His eyes then meet mine in our reflections, he gives me a wink.

  "What's that for?" he nods to the cloth in my hands.

  "For your lip," I continue to wring it out, as he tries to distract me again by looking for a way to my bare skin through the sheet. "Stop it!" I swat at his hand, making him grin.

  "Nu uh," he copies my response from earlier. I turn in his arms and roll my eyes at him. Placing the cool washrag to his lip, a little late but at least an attempt to thwart the swelling. "I was just joking you know Doc, your way of taking care of me was absolutely perfect," the light in his eyes makes my heart flutter. When his walls are down, he's even more gorgeous.

  His hand lands on mine and he moves the cloth away, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "But as much as I'd love a repeat, you came to talk, and we are quickly running out of time before this dinner starts."

  Back to reality, I nod. "Just let me get dressed, and you need to too, so I can focus," I point him towards the room and earn another grin. He pouts as he walks away, but he listens and tugs some sweats out of his dresser and puts them on. I head for my own sweats and tug them on, then reach for my hoodie but he grabs it from me and hands me one of his. I shrug it on and smile as the smell of him surrounds me.

  "Alright, let's do this." His face takes on a more serious expression as he sits at the foot of his bed, patting next to him. I sigh and join him. "I suck at talking, just so you know," he tries to lighten the heavy mood that has suddenly come over the room.

  "No shit?" I giggle, cause duh. "I think it's time I got to know though Gray." He nods his head.

  "Alright, we don't have long but I'll tell you what I can. First question?"

  "What the fuck is going on?" Gray's eyes widen as he looks over at me, but he sees the smirk on my face and cracks up.

  "That's a loaded ass question Liviana, you're going to have to be more specific," his laughter turns to a small smile as he reaches for my hand when I stay quiet, "Just ask Queen, you deserve the answers."