Taking A Risk

by Caroline Easton

  Placing her hands either side of his head Grace wriggled free, positioning herself astride him. Holding his stare she lifted her shirt over her head exposing her tight well toned stomach and bra covered breasts. His eyes took in the full glorious sight as his hands embarked on their journey north from her hips where he had been holding her steady. Travelling up her sides before his hands settled on the exquisite lace that ensconced her breast, stroking his thumbs over each nipple he watched them tighten into hard buds at his touch. He watched in awe as the slight pink hue that now flushed her chest worked its way up her body. Lifting his hips slightly he brushed his now straining erection against her groin, desperate for any kind of contact with her.

  Detecting his need Grace leant her body forward filling his hands with her breasts. Adjusting her position slightly forced a low guttural growl to escape his throat as she rubbed herself along his now throbbing erection. Inclining her head she whispered in his ear. “Let’s go to bed.”

  Stopping abruptly he grasped her face lifting her so he could look into those soft green eyes. “You said just the first few bases, bed isn’t on that list. Grace I want to do this right, I want you to know the real me first. I can wait as long as you need babe.” Kissing him she silenced the words.

  “Where’s the bedroom Alex?” Speaking once more through hungry kisses.

  Frustration ran rife through his veins now; it would be so easy to drag her off to his bed. Make love to her all night but Grace was different; he didn’t want to mess this up. “Stop baby, I want to wait, do this right. I want you so badly, but can we just slow down a bit?” He never thought he would ever utter those words in his life. He had the girl of his dreams half naked and willing sat on top of him. His erection strained against the denim desperate to be freed but somehow he needed to stop. He wanted her to know he was in this for the rest of his life.

  “Really?” Grace almost pleaded with him now.

  “Really.” He stated with a chuckle.

  “I can’t persuade you?” Grace ran a fingernail down the length of his chest as she quizzed him.

  “Nope. Not tonight anyway. Come on I’ll show you the spare room. Cos if I don’t, well, I can’t promise to leave you alone.” Alex lifted her from him, needing to sit up now.

  Frustrated and slightly put out she pulled her top back on, grumbling as she did. “Well that’s a first.”

  Closing his bedroom door he rested his head against it heaving a huge sigh. Shower, he needed a shower. Standing beneath the powerful jets his hand slid low over his tight abdominals before gripping his erection hard; slowly he began to pump his hand back and forth. Closing his eyes, images of Grace naked flashed through his mind as he worked his hand harder desperate to find his release. Shuddering he exploded against the tiled surface in what felt like an endless eruption leaving him spent. He rested his forehead against the cooling tiles, his hands supporting his weight as his breathing returned to normal. That girl was sure to be the death of him.

  Tentatively Grace knocked on the bedroom door, tray balanced in one hand she cracked open the door a few inches peering inside. “You don’t have to knock Grace.” The muffled voice sleepily drifted out from beneath the pillows. Alex felt the mattress dip as she positioned herself at the foot the bed; freeing himself from the tangle of bedding he wriggled to a sitting position careful to disguise the morning glory. “Please tell me you didn’t cook Grace, I don’t think I could face that at...” he glanced at his watch, “eight in the morning.” There was that smile again, he could get away with murder using that smile.

  “Nah, just tea and toast. I can manage tea and toast.” Handing him the tray before she crawled up the bed to sit beside him. “I thought that’s what girlfriends did, made breakfast in bed for their boyfriends.” Grinning stupidly he placed the tray on the bed before pouncing on her pinning her to the bed raining kisses down on her face and neck. “If you are really going to make me wait then you have to stop laying on me naked Alex, it’s just mean!” Grace playfully slapped his arm as she tried to wriggle free.

  Snorting with laughter he sat upright again, pulling her with him as he handed her breakfast. “It aint happening today babe cos my parents will be walking through that door in...Oh roughly thirty minutes time.” The look of horror that spread across Grace’s face forced his laughter to stop abruptly. “What? You don’t wanna meet my parents? They don’t bite, in fact my mum is gunna love you, my dad will just be pleased you’re not famous.” She didn’t look any less horrified by his statement. “I want you to meet them Gracie, I knew you’d freak if I told you, that’s why I didn’t mention it. Please don’t be worried.” His eyebrows were pulled together in a frown.

  “I’m not worried, why would I be worried? I mean I only spent the night trying to seduce their son to be turned down flat and shoved in the spare room. No I’m not worried Alex. Frustrated, wound up, desperate to spend the day in bed with their son, yes, but not worried.” Grace pouted as she sipped on the hot tea cradled in her hands.

  Right on cue he heard the door bell ring loud and impatiently. “No time to over think it now baby, that’ll be them.” Scurrying out of bed he grabbed last night’s clothes before dragging Grace from the bed by the hand, heading down stairs.

  Throwing open the front door he found his parents standing there with a single carry on suitcase each. “Oh son, you look like a different person. Isobel said we wouldn’t recognise you. Now where’s this girl you’ve been telling me all about?” Pushing past her son she entered the lighthouse making a beeline straight for Grace who had remained positioned on the bottom step almost cowering in the shadows. “You must be Grace, call me Ann, none of this Mrs Carter rubbish, makes me sound old, this is Patrick, Alex’s father. Come on dear; let’s get that kettle on. Patrick gets antsy without his tea.” Bustling through the corridor she dragged Grace along behind her as Alex and his father stood open mouthed watching the older woman make herself at home.

  “So, tell me why you’re wasting your time with my delinquent son. I’m sure a pretty girl like you has a line of eligible men queuing at your door. Men that have proper jobs and aren’t covered in so called ‘ink’. I think that’s the term you use nowadays isn’t it?” Patrick spoke with a glint in his eye, he had always been a ladies’ man. It drove his wife insane. The flirty nature he portrayed as a young man had never left him. It had been the very thing that had made Ann fall in love with him all those years ago.

  Sitting around the sleek breakfast bar they all laughed at the dismayed if slightly horrified look Alex now wore. “Dad! You’re supposed to be on my side.” Burying his face in his hands as he pretended to be more upset than he was with the man he had looked up to all his life. His father was his inspiration in life. Alex had acquired his father’s work ethic but his mother’s more subdued nature. Cameron on the other hand was like a carbon copy of the man who was now pulling his stool closer to Grace in order to drape his arm around the less than comfortable young woman. “You can stop molesting her now dad, she’s mine!” Alex held out his hand to pull Grace from her seat and positioned her protectively between his open denim clad thighs where she happily nestled as they finished their tea.

  “No long queue of men Mr Carter and I quite like your son’s ink. It makes him who he is. Are you staying for the week?” Grace slid her hand into her pocket to hide her now crossed fingers, praying they were going home sooner rather than later.

  “No dear, just a few days. We have our grandson’s christening to attend next weekend, well I say christening in the loosest sense of the word. Our daughter in law is not a Christian so they’re having some fancy naming ceremony thing in their back garden. It’s all a bit ‘tree hugging’ for me but, well we don’t like to interfere do we dear?” At that father and son spat their tea out in a burst of laughter.

  “I think Cam and Em would disagree mum. The face you pulled when you opened the invite was enough. You even complained about them getting married on that cliff top instead of in church.
Turning up in your rain hat ‘just in case’ wasn’t the best idea either.” Alex high fived his father as he watched his mum’s face contort as she tried to hold in the laughter that was obviously bubbling under the surface. “Grace, we can elope don’t worry I won’t let her ruin your day with her plastic rain hat.” He planted a soft kiss on her now crimson cheek.

  “Whoa there tiger! I agreed to a weekend not a wedding!” The panic was evident on her face as she turned to face him. Giving her his undivided attention he studied her face as though there was just the two of them in the room. Placing his hands in her hair he gently gripped her head as he pulled her towards him until their foreheads were touching.

  “It’s just details babe. Weekend, lifetime, beyond. Whatever. I know how I feel.” His voice barely above a whisper he held her in place making his point. He was in this for the long haul. She couldn’t vocalise, only grin stupidly at him as she planted a kiss on the tip of his nose before remembering they had company. Without lifting his head or breaking their gaze, he addressed his parents.

  “Stay the week; I’ll get Iz to book us all a flight on Saturday. We could go to the naming thing together then. Grace and I can fly back on Monday. Can you get Monday off work babe?”

  Stuttering as she spoke, her mind racing, “Oh they won’t want me there. Don’t be silly, it’s a family thing. I’ll just be in the way.” Grace tried to push away from him, create some space between them but Alex was having none of it, holding her firmly in place.

  “You are my girlfriend. Of course I want you there, besides I want you to meet my brother and I am pretty sure my invite said Alex plus one. Emma would have my balls if I left you at home, not to mention Izzie.” He smirked as he spoke to her.

  Glimpsing around the breakfast bar she took in the expectant look on his parents face as they awaited her response. “Well, I need to go shopping then. I don’t have anything to wear to a christening. If you’re sure you want me to go with you.”

  Ann clapped her hands together excitedly. “I love shopping; we can go together tomorrow, have lunch too. We’ll leave these two here, what do you think Grace?”

  A hurried phone call later and Grace had managed to secure some annual leave from work; thank god her boss was laidback. It helped that in the whole time she had worked there she had only taken one day of leave. Going home to her family didn’t hold the attraction it obviously did to Alex. Her parents were only too glad when she had announced she was moving to Scotland, they had visited her once in the last couple of years and the phone calls were almost as rare.

  “Sorted?” Alex asked apprehensively.

  “Yep, I took the next two weeks off, in for a penny – in for a pound or so they say. Alex are you sure they won’t mind me tagging along? God I should buy a gift too.” The worry was now evident on her face.

  “Don’t worry about that, I’ll add your name to mine. Come on, we have old people to occupy.” Holding out his hand for Grace to hold, the smile spread widely across his face as she willingly went to him. Glancing at their clasped hands he marvelled at how comfortable this all felt.

  Chapter 14

  Sitting out on the deck with his father Alex watched Grace through the glass wall that exposed the kitchen; she was avidly watching his mother prepare the evening meal. Ann, thoroughly enjoying being in control, instructed the woman in the ways of preparing her men folk’s favourite meal. Paying careful attention it appeared that Grace was enthralled as she chopped and chatted.

  “Have you spoken to Isobel recently? You know she is unhappy don’t you?” The silver haired man had his attention now. If something was upsetting his baby sister it was his job to sort it out.

  “Unhappy how? Is it that guy from the radio station? Is he messing her around again?” Concern etched on his face as he tried to read his father’s expressionless face.

  “No, nothing like that. She made me promise not to say anything to you but I think you need to know what’s going on with Bel.” Patrick rubbed his hand along the back of his neck trying to relieve the stress that was building up. “It’s you Alex. She is unhappy working for you.” The comment almost knocked the air out of his lungs completely, how had he upset her? He knew he was difficult at times but he always made sure she was looked after. He adored her.

  “God what have I said to her. You know what it’s like Pops, I get hassled from every corner and sometimes I take it out on Izzie. I’ll ring her, make it up to her.” He clapped his father on the shoulder in a show of Carter solidarity.

  “It’s not that easy son. Bel thinks it’s time she found another job, she told your mum that working for you means she doesn’t have a family life anymore. Son, you have to see it from her point of view, she can’t come home and be Isobel – your sister, our daughter – if you’re home too then she has to be your assistant. Alex you turned her room upside down looking for the computer thingy last week then blamed her when it all went wrong. You’re not her big brother anymore son, you’re her boss. She misses her partner in crime.” Alex opened his mouth to speak only to close it again as the colour drained from his face. “Did you know she has a crush on Ben? The poor guy has been hounding her for years but she turns him down because of some misguided loyalty to you when really she is in love with him. He calls her all the time, mum convinced her to go out with him a few nights ago but she came home early, said it felt wrong and nothing could happen whilst she is working for you.” Patrick let the words he had spoken sink in.

  How had he not seen that coming, his mind flashed back to all the times on tour when Ben and Izzie would be sat together distancing themselves from the rest of the group, the secret jokes they shared, the looks that passed between them. He was an idiot, he had no idea how he had not noticed she was unhappy.

  “She doesn’t have to quit her job to date Ben. I’ll talk to her, sort it out.” Alex took a long quenching drink from the bottle he grasped.

  “It’s not just that Alex. Some management company has been trying to poach her for weeks, months now. She really wants to take the job, go back to being your sister but she is afraid to talk to you about it. Son, you need to let her go, it’s breaking her heart.” Patrick could see the anguish on Alex’s face. He knew he had done the right think speaking to his son but he wasn’t sure how Izzie would feel about it.

  Alex stood, paced over to the balcony. Leaning over he placed his forearms on the railings balancing his weight before lowering his head into his hands, covering his face trying to hide the tear that threatened to fall. He was officially the worst brother in the world. His sister was hurting and he hadn’t seen it, the sister he grew up with, the person he spent most of his time with. Taking a deep breath he slid his phone from his pocket, scrolled down to Izzie’s number and hit the dial button.

  “Hey Iz, how you doing?”

  “I’m busy Alex if you need a flight or car or anything else you can sort it yourself, it’s Sunday, I don’t work Sundays.” He could hear the anger in her voice; did he only ever ring her to do something for him?

  “I talked to Pops; you should take the job Tink. Honey, why didn’t you tell me? Am I that bad that you can’t talk to me anymore? I feel shitty.” Izzie let out a sob, the tension from the last few months somehow all escaped in that one solitary sob. “Hey why are you crying? I understand, its fine, please don’t feel bad. I would kinda like my sister back too. Just make sure that you hold out for a good deal ok?”

  “I’m crying because you called me Tink, not about the job you idiot. You haven’t called me that in years, you sound like my brother again, not my boss. God I don’t even remember why you called me that!” Izzie’s tears fell freely as she spoke to her brother.

  “You used to love that god awful Peter Pan movie, you spent almost three years dressed up as that bloody fairy, you drove Cam and me mad with it. The house was covered in glitter which you insisted was magic fairy dust. You even slept in those wings! How do you not remember that? You watched that film back to back for a year at least!�
� The tears gone now, Alex chuckled as he recalled his childhood.

  “Oh god yes, I remember now! You know Cam tried to call me Tink once and I poked him in the eye with my wand. Mum was so cross, said he would be blind. I only ever let you call me that.” She laughed freely now, as they chatted feeling all the tension slipping away from her. “I don’t want to abandon you but you can see why I need to go can’t you? I want my brother back.”

  “Ring them in the morning Tink, and while you’re at it, ring Ben too. Yep that’ll teach you for spilling your guts to Pops! Do you want me to talk to him; you know I can do the whole ‘my sister fancies you’ routine. I think that’ll nail it for you. Do you know how influential my status is? Seriously, he’s one of the good ones. Ring me tomorrow, let me know how you get on. See you honey.” Placing his phone back in his jeans pocket he turned to discover his dad standing beside him.

  “You did the right thing son but can you please not get a new tattoo to commemorate it?” Laughing he threw his arm around his father as he lead the way back into the kitchen, the look on Grace’s face told him he should have returned to rescue her earlier. Damn.

  “You know if your parents are staying for the week I should really go home.” Grace broached the subject quietly as they cleared the evening dishes leaving Patrick and Ann to relax watching the sunset.