Love, want, need, devotion, loyalty―it was all for him.
And it was too late to go back now.
~ * ~
The aroma of bacon woke Sofia. Or was it Sam licking her toes? Either way, she opened her eyes and saw she was naked, with a white sheet partially wrapped around her body.
A little purple wildflower sat on the pillow beside her. He must have picked it from the patch growing by the house. How cute was that? She twirled it between her fingers and inhaled the scent.
The memory of what had happened the night before played in her head. Some parts she rewound and watched again.
It was happening. Last resort or not, she’d let him take up residence in her heart. A huge penthouse suite with a glorious view.
Nice analogy, Sofe. Does the door to this penthouse have a deadbolt on the outside, just in case he decides to vacate?
Sofia found her nightgown somewhere amongst the tangled bed sheets and slipped it over her head. She stripped the bed and remade it with fresh linens, deciding to wash everything since they’d made a mess.
She’d finally lost her virginity. Her mother would be happy about that fact, but probably not so much when she found out her daughter was falling head over heels.
A zillion other worries and doubts zoomed through her mind as she showered and dressed. But the worst was thinking about how Gray was going to react this morning. Would he regret sleeping with her? Would he want to get the heck out of Amish country, and fast?
Only one way to find out. She brushed her hair and teeth, put on a little makeup and lip-gloss, grabbed the laundry and headed downstairs. She set the laundry basket by the basement door to do later.
The air in the kitchen was smoky when she walked in. The windows were all open and he was at the stove, busying himself over a frying pan.
Sofia stifled a laugh. They had something in common, huh? She walked to the butcher block and lifted herself up to sit and watch. He was wearing his t-shirt and black boxer briefs, looking darn sexy with his disheveled morning hair and unshaven face.
He shot a grin at her, shut the burner off, and transferred the pan full of eggs to the other side. “I guess it’s not as easy as I thought,” he said, and turned to greet her. He wedged up between her legs and cupped her cheeks. “How are you feeling this morning?” he asked, but didn’t wait for an answer. His lips locked with hers, drawing her in for a deep kiss.
She didn’t protest in the least. In fact, she wrapped her legs around him and slipped her hands up under his t-shirt, curving them around his defined muscles. Her stomach flittered with delight and relief. This was her man, to do with what she wanted! It was hard to believe her dreams were all coming true.
Sort of.
“Gray?” She pulled away and caught her breath.
“Yeah?” He slid his tongue along her bottom lip. “I could kiss you all day long.”
Sofia sighed blissfully. “After breakfast?”
“After breakfast what?”
“After breakfast you can do whatever you want to me, all day long.”
His lips quirked up into half a smile. “I like the sound of that.”
So did Sofia. Any doubt she’d had the day before had vanished from her mind. Only one nagging detail kept her from skipping breakfast and heading back up to the bedroom.
She dropped down from the butcher block and strode over to sit at the table. “Did you ever have the dream where you took my virginity?” she gathered the nerve to ask.
Gray set a plate in front of her and bunched his forehead. “Yeah. Why do you ask?”
“I didn’t, um, reach orgasm in that dream, but I did last night. Don’t you think that’s odd?”
He sat across from her and smiled proudly. “No, I think it was beautiful. Because of those dreams, I knew exactly what you liked and how to please you. It was incredible, and now I can honestly say I am a true believer that I was dreaming of the future.”
“But it was different. Everything was different. Do you remember? It was supposed to happen somewhere else.”
“Well, you said you could change the future, right? Maybe we’re taking a different course.” He shrugged and bit into his eggs.
“Do you think?” She nibbled her lip, fearing the worst. She remembered he’d told her he loved her in that dream, too, but he hadn’t last night. What if they were going too fast? What if she’d given herself to him too soon? What if they weren’t supposed to meet until much later? The only reason they were sitting there together at that moment was because they’d recognized each other from the dreams.
“Do you want to go out on the rowboat later?” he asked, changing the subject. “Want some orange juice?” He lifted the pitcher, a weak grin on his face.
“Why not? And yes.” Maybe he was just as anxious as she was?
Probably not possible.
He came around and filled her glass, then leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry,” he whispered.
Sofia forced a smile on her face. She couldn’t push him away now. Protecting her heart wasn’t an option. No matter what had happened or what was going to happen, she knew one thing was certain—she’d fallen in love with Grayson Phillips before she’d ever met him.
~ * ~
Penny sat on the couch and rested her eyes, attempting to avoid the migraine that was undoubtedly beginning. If only she could make a spell to get rid of these things. Then she could live closer to Sofia and Laura.
No. Too much time with these girls would put her in the grave sooner than she liked. It was better for everyone to love them from afar. As soon as this love spell business was all settled, Penny was heading back home, and she was going to finish knitting the last sweater. And maybe think up a strong enough love spell for Laura.
Her daughter was one hundred percent pure sour grapes. However, she hadn’t always been that way.
The doorbell rang throughout the house, but Penny didn’t budge. Laura would get it. It rang again a moment later. Where was that woman?
Penny rubbed at her temples and could feel Laura’s thoughts from not far away.
Why won’t he just go away?
He? Penny was intrigued. She stood and walked to the entryway. Laura was leaning against the door to the den with a frown on her face.
“Who’s at the door?” Penny peeked out of the peephole and saw a distinguished looking middle-aged man. “A man?”
Laura put her finger to her lips and shushed her.
Penny read her mind and an image of a naked Rodney Dangerfield popped into her head.
She cringed. What disrespect.
To get even, Penny unlocked the door and opened it. “Hello? How can I help you?”
The gentleman seemed bewildered. “Um, I’m looking for Ms. Good.”
“Which? Laura or Sofia?” Penny read his mind. He didn’t have a clue who was whom, but he pictured Laura, her blonde hair shining in the sun, smiling.
“Uh, the older one, please.”
Isn’t he a charmer? “You want Laura. Just a moment, Mr.?”
“Lawrence. Herbert Lawrence. I live next door.” He was upset about Laura painting the wall with plums. Good grief.
“Ah. Nice to meet you. I’m Laura’s mother, Penny.”
He nodded. Nope, not one ounce of charm. No wonder Laura didn’t want to open the door.
“Laura,” Penny called out. “Mr. Lawrence is here to see you.”
Laura appeared from behind and swung the door open all the way. “Thank you, Mother,” she said, gritting her teeth. Rodney Dangerfield was doing naked cartwheels in her mind.
After giving Laura her best stern look, Penny backed up into the hallway and listened in. The two murmured back and forth in angry voices, but Penny kept her attention on what was said underneath. Herbert thought Laura’s skin looked soft and wanted to touch it. Laura thought the grey in his hair was kind of sexy. Herbert’s feelings were hurt that Laura kept pulling these pranks on him. If she’d only settle down for once, maybe he could
gather the courage to ask her out. Laura was scared to death that he was going to ask her out.
Laura slammed the door on him, stomped back into the den and slammed that door as well.
“Are you happy, Mother?” she yelled from the other side.
The wheels spun in Penny’s head. Oh, she was happy all right. Her daughter wasn’t such a helpless case after all.
Chapter Twelve
Sofia followed him into the guest bedroom. Nervous. Sex in the light of day was much different than sex by moonlight. He was going to be able to see everything. Every flaw. Why had she opened her big mouth earlier, saying he could do whatever he wanted to her? Was she so naïve not to realize he’d want her naked in the bed?
Oh, boy.
“Come here.” He sat on the edge and pulled her to him. His hands slowly slid up her skirt to her panties. The granny panties, for the love of Pete. How humiliating. She really needed to do laundry…and buy some less pathetic underwear.
He didn’t seem to notice as he caressed her inner thighs and stared into her eyes with unadulterated lust.
Holy cow. Her hands trembled slightly, she noticed, when she placed them on his shoulders.
His strong, broad shoulders, firm to the touch.
The man was perfect from head to toe, which was why she was still standing there. Seeing him naked in the daylight was so going to be worth it.
As though reading her thoughts, he tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it to the ground. “Your turn.”
Removing her top wouldn’t be a problem, she supposed. Her breasts were one part of her body she was proud of. She pulled her shirt over her head and was happy to see she’d put on the sheer white lace bra today. At least there was that.
Gray seemed pretty happy about it too. He brushed his thumb over her nipple until it was hard and slid his tongue across the lace.
Heat rushed down from her stomach to slide between her thighs.
He reached around her back, found the latch to her bra and unsnapped the material. The pretty lace thing dropped to the floor and the warmth of his hands replaced it. He massaged, kissed and suckled, arousing Sofia so much that her knees almost buckled underneath her.
“Why don’t you lie down?” he said gruffly.
Sofia shook her head, not ready yet. She raked her fingers through the hair at his temples and leaned her forehead against his.
He began to unbutton her skirt. Five buttons, thank God. This should take him a bit.
She sucked in her stomach as her nerves quaked and her body shivered.
“Why are you nervous, Sofia?” He stopped at the third button and settled his hands on her hips. “What’s wrong?”
She gulped down. “I’m not as thin as what you’re used to, am I?”
His sexy, dark gaze rolled over her. “Trust me, sugar—if I weren’t crazy, in-over-my-head attracted to you, I wouldn’t be undressing you right now, I wouldn’t have made love to you last night, and I wouldn’t get a hard-on just watching you walk down the hallway.”
“Oh.” That was nice to hear. But… “You can agree, though, that you’d still be with her if you hadn’t found out about her sleeping with your brother, right?”
“Probably.”
“Oh.” Not so nice to hear.
“But I’d be miserable because I wouldn’t have the smart, sweet, incredibly sexy woman from my dreams in my arms. If I’d only known you were real, Sofia. Had I realized that it were really possible to be as happy as I was in those dreams, I would’ve left her and I would’ve found you. I promise you that.”
A tear brimmed and rushed down her cheek, and she swiped at it. Why was she so emotional lately?
“But you haven’t seen me naked in the daylight yet,” she warned.
“I have, over and over again, and I want to see you again if you don’t mind.”
Sofia imagined he was right. He had seen her multiple times. Just not in granny panties. She finished unbuttoning her skirt and slid it and the panties down at the same time.
There. That was that.
Then she dared look into his eyes to see his expression. They were heavily lidded as he slid his hands over her waist and down her hips to her thighs and back up again.
“So goddamn sexy, Sofia,” he said huskily. “I want you.” He looked up and met her eyes. “Can I have you?”
She nodded. He could have whatever he wanted, if he kept calling her sexy. Her body, her heart, whatever. Anyway, she loved the guy, and in such a short time. As if her emotions were running on overdrive when it came to him.
Full speed ahead without brakes. Just a sputter now and then, when her insecurities got the best of her.
She followed his lead as he climbed back on the mattress and pulled her on top of him. She straddled his hips and felt him grow hard underneath his boxer briefs.
Instinctively, she pressed her heat down against him, wanting more.
He groaned and tugged his boxers out from under her. “Now I can feel you. Do it again.”
Sofia was wet, she could tell by how easy it was to slide against him, almost allowing him to enter her at one point. Which wouldn’t be a bad thing. She’d been on the pill since she was sixteen. Her mother had insisted on it. Just in case some asshole wanted to get frisky. Sofia wouldn’t end up pregnant and alone.
Gray seemed to be enjoying how she worked her body. He bit into his bottom lip, and his hands grasped tightly to her waist.
Sofia took delight in having the power to please him. She leaned over, pressed her breasts against his chest, and brushed her lips against his.
They kissed slowly, seductively, as he lazily brought one hand up her back until it was bracing the nape of her neck. Then he deepened the kiss, doing with his tongue what Sofia knew he wanted to do with his erection.
Why make him wait? The tip of him was right there, ready to enter. It teased as he prodded up against her. Sofia decided to take it a step further, and maneuvered around until the head of him slipped inside of her.
“Sofia.” He exhaled. “Baby, I need to put on a condom.”
She slid down farther, taking him as far as she could. No pain this time. Just warmth that flowed through her body. She sat up slowly, bracing her hands against his chest and inching him the rest of the way until she was straddling him again.
He closed his eyes and inhaled some steady breaths. “This feels really good. Please tell me you’re protected.”
Sofia nodded. “The pill. I’m on the pill.” She pushed off him slightly and sat back down.
He groaned.
“Did I do that right?”
“Oh, yeah. But do you mind if I get on top?”
The manly-man act again. Wonderful. The man had control issues, for sure. Wants to drive her car. Wants to drive her. “What if I want to drive?”
He stared at her like she’d lost her mind. “Trust me, I won’t disappoint you.” He sat up and gripped onto her backside. “Hold on.”
Sofia wrapped her arms around his neck and decided to go along for the ride. He flipped her over onto her back and immediately thrust deep inside of her. She gasped and felt instant and surprising bliss.
One of his hands was still on her bottom and the other braced against the mattress beside her head. He withdrew halfway and glided back in several times in a steady rhythm. Warm pressure built inside her. On the brink of release, she pressed her head against the mattress and gripped his shoulders.
“There’s one more place I want to show you.” He gripped her calf and eased it over his shoulder. “My flexible little cheerleader.”
“You got to be kidding me.” She moaned, relishing in the impossible tightness, how he filled her completely.
Gray kissed her lips and whispered, “Come for me.”
At his words, she cried out his name, pouring out her pent-up desire, a raging fire burned from her belly to her toes. And he reacted, jerking, filling her with his warmth.
He fell on the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms.
“Not disappointed I drove, are you?”
Sofia shook her head, taking delight in the aftershocks.
~ * ~
Gray held her limp body in his arms for several minutes, happy he was able to please her to the point of exhaustion. If she asked for more, he’d give it to her. He’d give her anything.
He loved her. It had to be love. He was drawn to her, wanting to spend every second with her. And in such a short time. Three days ago, he wouldn’t have believed this was possible, to care this much for a woman. But here he was, heart wide open and filled with what could only be love.
How could it be?
He didn’t want to question his heart; it felt so right. Yet he couldn’t tell her. What kind of man falls in love with a woman in two days?
Well, he had to admit the dreams had helped. He knew her, everything from what made her scream with pleasure to what made her laugh. That kind of closeness he’d never had with a woman. He was able to be himself, not the man his brother’s death had forced him to be, but the real Grayson Phillips. The woman in his arms had put the paddles to his chest and enlivened his dead spirit.
She sighed heavily underneath him. “You’re my hero, Gray,” she said in a little girl voice.
Laughing, Gray propped himself up and kissed her lips.
She blushed and smiled cutely. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
~ * ~
Rachel crossed her arms and tapped her foot. “Where have you been?” she asked Hayes, who also had his arms crossed as he stood in the middle of her living room.
“You can’t sit around in your apartment all day, Rachel. It’s not good for you. What are you thinking?”
“I was waiting for you. I thought you were coming back.”
“I never promised that. I said I would if I could.”
Angry and desperate, she held her hand to her chest, wanting to ease the ache. “We don’t have much more time together. Where did you go? Who’s more important than me?”
He shook his head. “You know I have to take care of Gray. I hurt him and I want to fix it.”
Bewitching You Page 14