She stood up on the tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. “It’ll get better, I promise.”
“I think it just did.”
~ * ~
Sofia finished showering and changing into her favorite light green nightgown. It had spaghetti straps and was silky and sleek against her skin. She ran her hands over her hips and felt truly sexy for the first time in her life. The change probably had to do with there being a hot guy downstairs who made her feel like she was something more than a short, overweight wannabe cheerleader. So much more. He was sweet for sticking up for her against her worst high school memory. It made her wish she’d met him back then.
Sighing, she pulled her sketchbook from her duffle bag and sifted through the pages. Her own personal homage to Gray. How humiliating would it be if he found it? Even worse, if he were to see the numerous paintings that filled her bedroom at home. Sofia Good: Dream stalker extraordinaire. Why, yes, Gray, I did spend hours upon hours sketching and painting you, even before I laid eyes on you.
Not good. She stuffed the sketchbook back in the bottom of the bag and scrounged for a new pair of panties. All that was left were her high-cut cotton briefs. Comfortable, but not sexy at all. She really needed to do laundry, but how embarrassing would it be to hang out your underwear for the world and Gray to see on a clothesline?
No way.
She opted to wear none for tonight. Nothing was going to happen, but it was fun to feel a little naughty. To know that with one slip of his hand, he would realize she was completely bare underneath this lightweight nightgown.
He’d only have to hike it up and straddle her on his lap… Stop it, Sofe. Stop. It.
Twenty-four years without knowing the touch of a man was starting to warp her mind. Sure, she could’ve given into a man’s advances on one of the several dates she’d been on, but when she had visions of the men falling in love with someone else, the idea always lost its flavor. Of course, she didn’t have that problem with Gray. In her dreams of him, he loved her, and no one else.
She let out a breath and put a brush through her damp hair.
“Sofia.” Gray’s voice jolted her, his low tone resonating deep in her belly.
She resumed normal breathing, then swerved to see him standing at the door with his hands braced against the doorframe. She really needed to remember to start closing and locking the door.
Or not.
His shirt was off again and he was wearing jeans that hung low on his hips, revealing muscles that trailed to places she’d yet to see in real life.
“Hi,” she managed to squeak.
“Am I interrupting?”
“No. Not at all.” She dropped the brush on the dresser and watched as he sat on the edge of the bed.
“So.” He rubbed his palms on his jeans, looking like he might be as nervous as she felt.
Sofia licked her lips and pressed her hand to her belly, the area that wouldn’t stop quivering. Her silky nightgown suddenly seemed weightless.
“Sofia,” he said again, but she didn’t mind the repetition. She loved how he said her name.
“Yeah?”
He reached out and grabbed hold of her wrist. His dark eyes coaxed her toward him as he gently tugged her over until she stood in between his thighs.
“I wanted to say goodnight.” His hand settled on her hips, drawing her against him. Heat permeated from his body…or maybe it was the warmth rushing up her chest to her cheeks that caused her to feel feverish.
“Okay.” Oh, boy.
“And because sometimes words escape me, I wanted to make a point to tell you how beautiful I think you are. Inside and out.”
She gulped. “I, um…thanks.”
His hands, broad against her hips, slid to the outside of her thighs and back up again. He must have noticed her lack of underwear, because he bit into his bottom lip and repeated the action.
Sofia was pretty sure her heart stopped beating. Not since Leo Wendle pinched her ass in the hallway in the seventh grade had someone acted like they appreciated God’s big, old, huge gift to her backside. And Leo Wendle had been an acne-faced pervert with premature facial hair.
This was so much better.
“I think,” she managed to say, “that you’re beautiful too. I mean, handsome, not beautiful. Cause you’re a guy. A man, really.” Just stop talking.
“I hope you can forgive me for treating you badly when we first met. It might sound like a cop-out but after Hayes died, my life tilted off balance, and I went a little crazy trying to get back in control. Then the dreams happened, and as you know, I had zero control over those.”
“But you didn’t have one last night. Maybe they’re gone now, so you don’t have to worry about that any longer.”
“I don’t worry. Not now anyway.” He teased her lips with a soft kiss. “I’m ready for the future.”
Before Sofia could ask exactly what he meant by that—because sometimes she thought she needed a sledgehammer over her head to understand men—he stood up and said, “Goodnight, Sofia.”
Really? No more kisses? No more touching? She watched him walk to the door, but couldn’t stand letting him leave without…something.
“Wait.” With a leap and a small sprint, she reached him and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him one more time. “Goodnight, Gray.”
~ * ~
Gray tossed and turned in his bed. Go to her. The words played over and over in his head. She was only down the hall, lying in bed, wearing that silky little nightgown with no panties.
God help him.
He wanted her like no other woman he’d ever laid eyes on. The urge to slide into bed with her, lie on top of her, wedge himself between those thighs and enter her—hell, his erection pulsed at the mere idea. Why hadn’t he been more assertive in her bedroom? He could be lying with her right now, naked, having already made love to her.
Making her his.
But he just couldn’t hurt her. No protection, no sex. And honestly, Gray didn’t think he had enough sense in him to stop at a little harmless fondling. Sofia had been smart to turn him down earlier.
Not that Gray wasn’t safe. He knew he was free of any STDs, but he couldn’t risk getting her pregnant. She was too good a girl. She deserved more. More than an unemployed asshole could give her.
Go to her.
Fuck. He threw the sheet off his naked body and hurried downstairs to get some ice-cold water to drink, or pour over his head. When he reached the kitchen, Sam hissed at him from on top of the butcher block, causing Gray to jump back. What was wrong with that cat?
She leaped down and raced up the stairs.
After Gray’s heart started beating again, he searched the refrigerator for a bottle of water but couldn’t find any. Tap water would have to do. He opened the cupboard for a glass…and noticed a large box of condoms?
What the hell? He picked them up and saw that a sticky note attached. For Sofia, it read with a heart drawn next to it.
Nana was his new best friend. Strange that a grandmother would leave an economy-sized box of rubbers for her virgin granddaughter, but who was Gray to judge?
Forgetting about the water, he made his way back upstairs, attempting to throw a plan together in his head. Should he crawl into bed with her and hope she didn’t kick him out? Should he accidentally trip in the hall, making enough noise she would wake up and see if he was okay? Yeah, that would be real smooth, Gray.
She’d want to have sex with him then, wouldn’t she?
He lay back down on the guest bed and opened the box. Rows of condoms fell on top of his chest. It’d been a while since he’d seen one of these. He’d never even considered buying any when he was with Rachel.
He’d thought he could wait until they were married, but now that he was wiser about the whole issue, wasn’t the real reason because he hadn’t loved her? Hadn’t desired her enough to push it?
Unquestionably, he’d had more passionate feelings about Sofia in the past forty-eight hours than
he’d had during his entire relationship with Rachel.
Sure, the dreams probably helped those feelings along, but knowing now what he didn’t know then, he was damn glad he was here instead of making the worst mistake of his life. He hadn’t loved Rachel; it was obvious to him now. But did he love Sofia?
A low, hollow scream echoed down the hall and into the bedroom. Gray sat straight up, the hair rising on his neck. Sofia?
He jammed the condoms back into the box and set them underneath the bed before rewrapping the sheet around his waist and running into the hallway. Sofia walked toward him, shaking and in tears.
He gathered her into his arms. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Oh, Gray. I have to stop it.”
“Stop what?” Damn, he’d do anything to help her.
“The airplane.” She wiped the wet streaks from her face, only more brimmed in her eyes. “It’s going to crash, which really doesn’t matter because they’re all already dead. Every one of them. Even the pilot. There must have been a problem with the oxygen in the cabin. Maybe the plane flew too high or too low or both. Maybe there’s a crack in a window somewhere and all the air depleted from there. Or…or they all passed out before the oxygen masks fell. I don’t know. It’s just flying through the air with nobody at the wheel. What should I do?”
She wasn’t making any sense. Had she had a nightmare?
“Relax and try to breath, Sofe.”
“I can’t go back to sleep. It hurts too much to see them, knowing I can’t help.” She gulped for air. Her crisp gaze held secrets Gray wasn’t sure he wanted to know about.
Regardless, he wouldn’t tolerate her being in pain, helpless against her own dreams.
“What can I do?” He kissed her forehead, wanting to comfort her in any way possible.
“Hold me.”
Without question, Gray took her hand and guided her into her bedroom. She climbed onto the bed ahead of him and sat, waiting for him.
He gestured to the sheet wrapped around his waist. “I’ll put something on.”
“It’s okay. Just lie with me.”
Gray stretched out next to her, keeping the sheet over him while he enfolded her in his arms and held her close. This unknown emotion filled him. He ached for her, wanted to be with her, and couldn’t imagine never seeing her again.
Did he love her?
She rested her head on his bicep and met his gaze. A worried expression scrunched her forehead.
He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and kissed her lips. “Did you have a premonition?” he asked—for the first time, believing that it might be possible.
“Yes. People are going to die if I don’t help them. I don’t know what to do.” A tear fell off her cheek and onto his arm.
“Don’t cry, Sofia. We’ll figure it out together, okay? I’ll help you as much as I can.”
“You will?”
“Yes.” He’d do anything.
“Thank you.” She let out a sigh of relief and closed her eyes.
Chapter Eleven
Gray attempted to breathe steadily as she lay next to him. Trying to sleep was pointless, he’d realized, oh, about an hour or so ago. Not with her body curled up against him. Her nightgown had ridden up, revealing the lower half of her backside, which pressed against his erection.
Just a thin sheet separated them.
He tightened his fists shut to keep from touching her. Otherwise, he’d get carried away.
She wiggled and shifted again, turning her body around to face him.
He relaxed his stiff muscles, welcoming the small relief. But then he noticed her lips curl into a sexy smile. The white of her teeth glistened in the dimness of the room but her eyes were closed. Smiling in her sleep? Hmm. Interesting.
“Sofia?” he whispered, to see if she was awake enough to answer him.
“Mmm. I like that.” She flattened her hand to his chest. “Feels so good.”
“Sofia?”
“That feels even better.”
Holy shit. She was dreaming. With the sensual way she was talking, he hoped it was of him. He kept listening, to be sure. What else was he going to do? Wake her up?
Nah. Not yet.
“Of course I want you, Gray. I always want you.” She scooted closer and slid her leg over his hip.
Okay. This was looking up.
She laughed softly. “Feel me. See for yourself.”
Deep breath.
“Mmm.” She curved her leg higher, boosting her nightgown up farther.
Hell, he’d been good long enough. Only so much a man could take.
Just one touch, that’s all. One touch.
Then he’d carry her to her back to her bed and leave her to her dreams. But first…
He slid his hand up her thigh, slowly. Upward more. Just a little more. His palm slid over the unbelievably soft flesh of her ass. And he couldn’t help but caress her. Feel her.
She moaned again and rolled her hips forward, forging her moist heat against his cloth covered erection and away again. Definitely no panties. That was just not fair.
“Sofia,” he whispered, wanting her permission to continue. “Please, baby.” He pushed the sheet down some. If it happened again, he’d be able to feel her. Just feel her. That was all.
She panted softly, taking in small breaths. “Yes. Please.”
Was she coming? Oh, hell. He exhaled.
Take her. Love her. She’s yours.
“Sofia.” His body shook with need as he gripped her hip and pulled her to him. “Damn, I want you.”
Carefully, he angled her onto her back, taking in the sight of her. His hands shook eagerly as he edged her nightgown up her waist—keep going—past her plump breasts and then over her head.
Her body was incredible. Creamy white with the moonlight shining down through the window.
The need to touch her overpowered any rational thought. He brushed his fingers along her thighs, across her mound, along her stomach. All soft, supple skin. Beautiful. Her nipples pebbled as his palms grazed over her breasts. He stopped to massage her, leaning over to run his tongue—
“Gray?”
He glanced up and noticed her eyes were open. She tried to sit up, but Gray lodged himself in between her legs.
“Sofia, I want you.” No asking this time. He nudged himself against her heat.
She reached up and cradled his jaw. “Was I dreaming?”
“Not anymore. This is real.” Not waiting for a reply, he kissed her lips, deep and long.
Her lips softened yet she trembled underneath him. She was nervous. He understood that. This would be her first time. And like the dreams, she’d give herself to him. He’d take her, make her his.
Not able to control himself, he grazed his lips down her neck to her breast again. Licking and tasting her, he savored how goddamn wonderful it was to have her, tangible flesh and blood. Sofia.
Her breathing quickened. Her fingers slipped through his hair.
This was going to happen.
He reached underneath the bed and pulled out a condom. She clasped her legs together when he skimmed it over himself.
“I’ll be gentle,” he said softly. Easing her knees apart, he wedged his body on top of hers again.
To make sure she was ready for him, he slid a finger inside of her. She was drenched. He slipped in another finger, preparing her as much as he could. Her lips quivered when he kissed her again, but she said nothing. A wary but lustful look covered her face.
She loosened some, so he withdrew his fingers and guided himself inside of her. Inching in, stretching her.
Sofia tried to breathe. Her pulse rocketed while her heart rioted. This was happening. He was making love to her. And she wasn’t dreaming this time.
Oh, wow.
Her fingers curled into his shoulders, bracing for pain but getting something different. Sure, the fullness of him entering her hurt a little, but her desire overrode any major discomfort. Nothing she couldn’t handl
e. It only hurt the first time, she remembered from the dreams.
What she didn’t quite remember was the squeezing in her chest or the fluttering in her belly. The feel of his bunched muscles under her fingertips. The way his naked hips fit between her trembling thighs. His chest against her breasts. All the sensations rolling over her, through her.
All of them real.
He slowly eased forward inside her, deep, deeper. His breaths were steady by her ear as he halted. “Tell me if it hurts too much.”
“Just take me, Gray,” she whispered. “Take me.”
He peeked at her from the corner of his shadowy eye. A warning, it seemed. “If you say things like that, I might come before I’m done with you.”
Sofia bit her lips shut and wrapped her legs around his hips.
He pushed in another inch.
She clenched her eyes shut.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m a big girl. I can take it,” she said through gritted teeth.
He kissed a sensitive spot on her neck, then nuzzled his nose there. “You’re incredible and so goddamn sexy.”
Sexy? That made it kind of worth it. She focused her thoughts off the pain and on how he was working that sensitive spot on her neck below her ear—the way he’d taken her hands and pinned them above her head—the way his perspiration-damp chest pressed and slid against her responsive nipples—and the way his muscular body felt between her legs.
She loosened for him more, letting him in all the way. All of his magnificent thick, hard length…
“Sofia. You feel amazing.” He maneuvered to the spot that always made her orgasm in the dreams and slowly edged up and down against her. The pain was now mixing with pleasure. Deep, building pleasure.
“Oh, Gray,” she said on a breath.
“Is this the spot?” He pushed up on his hands and smiled, all the while quickening his movements.
“God, yes,” she cried, and the warm, wonderful buildup intensified, spiraling, erupting. Nerves she’d never felt before tingled and sizzled. Muscles tightened then went limp. Sweet, lazy limpness.
A few more thrusts and Gray gave way, falling onto her body.
Sofia wrapped her arms around him and held him close, spreading kisses across his cheek and jaw. Her emotions exploded, bursting free from where she’d kept them bundled up and hidden.
Bewitching You Page 13