by S. E. Rose
Her grin is infectious, and I find myself smiling back at her like a damn fool. I glance back down at the wine bottle, breaking the moment because my resolve to keep this not sexual is slowly dissipating under the spell of her charm.
She takes another sip of wine, swirling the liquid in her glass. “So, what about you?”
“What about me?” I ask, searching her face.
“Why music?”
I smile, covering my actual thoughts, which immediately go to a darker place. I decide on my canned response, because it’s safe, and because I’m not ready to reveal certain things yet. “I always loved music. After my dad died, I found healing from the trauma was helped with music. I had always played, but that’s when I started to take it seriously.”
“I’m sorry about your dad. That must have been…I can’t even imagine,” she says in a low voice that feels like a balm on my fractured soul.
“Thank you. It was a long time ago now, but…losing a parent is hard. You never really get over it.”
“I’m sure. I’m glad you have such good friends and family though,” she says earnestly.
“I do. I’m lucky,” I admit. Our conversation ceases as we both take bites of the cheese and crackers, looking out at the vista.
“It’s so peaceful up here,” she professes with a sigh as she pulls her knees to her chest and rests her arms and chin on top.
“That’s why I brought you here. I figured we needed a day out of the city.”
“I’m glad you did. It’s nice to be out of the city, in nature. I miss this,” she says as she leans her face up to the sun and breathes in deeply. She looks…Christ, she looks beautiful. The sun hits her pink cheeks. I notice for the first time that they are dotted with very light freckles. Her rosy lips glisten in the light. Her eyelashes fan out over her cheeks. Her hair is pulled up, half off her face. She looks…I have no words. She’s just breathtaking.
“You’re beautiful,” I whisper, my thoughts being vocalized suddenly. I freeze, surprised I spoke them.
Her eyes slowly open and she turns to me, her cheeks turning pinker by the second. “Uh, thanks,” she mutters as she tries not to make eye contact.
“I’m surprised you have trouble accepting compliments. I can’t be the first person to tell you this.”
“You’re just the first person to say it in a long time,” she discloses as she sips some more wine.
“That’s a damn shame. I’ll have to remember to say it more often.”
“You are really laying on the wooing today. Just to lower your expectations, Casanova, I’m not the type of girl to give it up on date number two.”
I frown. “Emma, I would never…I don’t expect anything to happen today. I truly just wanted to spend time with you, zero expectations.” I sigh and run a hand through my hair out of frustration. I don’t want to reveal my feelings yet. It’s only been a week. I take a breath and choose my words carefully, protecting my heart, which is more fragile than I care to admit. “I don’t do this…wooing thing often. I don’t know what it is about you, but…you intrigue me. I want to get to know you. And I’m sorry if my public persona, my asshole introduction to you, or your past experiences have made you question my motives today, but I promise you, I brought you out here so we could spend time together and have fun, that’s it.”
Her eyes are wide as she looks at me. It’s unnerving. I feel like those eyes have just seen the real me, the bullshit exterior has been removed, my emotional armor laid bare.
“I’m not that intriguing,” she replies with a shrug.
“You’re wrong about that. I haven’t been this intrigued about another person in…maybe forever,” I confess, my gaze penetrating hers.
She gives a small cough. “Well…uh, thanks? I think.”
I grin. “Better. So how about a hike?”
She nods enthusiastically. “Yes, I’m excited to get out in nature and breathe some cleaner air. My lungs are already enjoying today.”
We clean up the picnic and make our way down the hill to the car. I hold her hand. I don’t know why I keep holding her hand, but I like the way it feels in mine.
Emma
The trail isn’t long. We chat about nothing and everything as we walk. With each step, I can tell we’ll have a great view at the top. And I am not disappointed. The view of the Pacific Ocean is breathtaking. A couple is just leaving a bench, and I walk over and sit down. Grady joins me and we both stare out at the spectacular view.
“OK, you did well. This has been a great day,” I admit.
“Ye of little faith, of course it was.”
I look over at him. He’s smirking and has his hands behind his head.
“So much modesty,” I quip.
He winks. “I have lots of everything.”
I roll my eyes. “You know, every time I start to think there’s something deeper there, you turn around and say a jackass comment. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you have self-confidence issues. Maybe a little imposter syndrome?”
He leans over so we are nose to nose. “Or maybe, I just like playing with you.”
“Right.”
Neither of us moves for the longest second, so long in fact that I think we might kiss. Do I want to kiss him? I don’t know yet. And with that thought, I pull back. I look out toward the ocean again.
“What now?” I ask.
“I think we need to focus on dinner.”
“We just ate.”
“Come on,” he says as he stands and grabs hold of my hand, hauling me up and into his lean body.
“Please tell me that’s not code for sexy times,” I whisper as I gaze up into his eyes.
“Not code for anything.” His face is so close to mine, and for the second time today, a part of me wants him to kiss me, the irrational, “falling for a man I just met” part of me. His eyes darken, but just when I think he might kiss me, he pulls back. “Let’s go.”
I follow him as we walk back down the trail. We don’t say much on the way. My mind spins in a million directions. Does he like me? Do I like him? Will he actually try to kiss me? It is our second date. What would Kate say?
I’m so deep in thought I trip on a rock and go stumbling forward. I put out my arms to catch myself, but suddenly I’m pulled back and straight into the arms of Grady. He holds me tight against him.
“Whoa there,” he murmurs in my ear, as he presses me against him. “You OK, Emma?”
I turn in his arms slowly and nod. We are alone on the trail and all I can hear now is the far-away sounds of the ocean and thumping of my heart. “What had you so deep in thought that you nearly fell?”
I shake my head. “I…” I trail off because I don’t know what to say.
He puts his finger under my chin and pushes my face up until my gaze meets his. His eyes search mine and I swear neither of us breathes for the longest time. “I’m wondering if you were thinking about the same things that I was.”
“What were you thinking about?” I ask.
The hand that was under my chin comes up to caress my cheek. My eyes close for a second, enjoying his touch. “I was wondering how I can already be falling for you. How I already want to kiss you.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” I challenge.
It’s the only permission he needs. His lips descend on mine, gentle and tentative. It surprises me. I didn’t expect his kiss to be so tame, not coming from a man who otherwise exudes passion. But I assess it too quickly because his soft, feathery brush over my lips goes from delicate to off-the-charts fiery in a matter of seconds. His tongue dips between my open lips and glides over mine. I moan as his hand cups my jaw, tilting my head so he can deepen the kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling our bodies flush together. He smells of something woodsy and it ignites a deeper need in me. His knee presses between my legs and my body lights up like a five-alarm fire. I don’t know what overcomes me but suddenly I’m grinding on his leg, moaning into his mouth, and kissing him like he’s oxygen
and I’ve been holding my breath for too long. His other hand goes to my ass, kneading it, pushing it so that my pelvis is flush against his thigh which he presses upward, giving me more friction. Fuck, I’m so close just from dry humping his leg.
“Take what you need, Emma,” he growls as his kisses leave my mouth and trail down my neck.
I’m nearly there, and then I hear it, people walking toward us. I jump away from Grady like I’ve been electrocuted. A moment later an older couple comes around the bend. They say hello and smile as they continue walking past us.
Grady’s eyes don’t leave mine. We both stand there, panting. I’m about to make some joke, something to lighten this intensity, but he steps forward cupping my face in his hands. “We will finish this somewhere more private.”
“Grady, I-I…” I stumble over my words.
His eyes are still locked on mine and I feel like our souls are as interlaced as our tongues were a moment ago. “Just kissing, Emma, I just want to kiss you tonight. Fuck the rules, fuck the doubts. I just want to kiss you.”
I nod slowly. “OK,” I agree, the words barely louder than my breath.
“Good, now let’s get back to the car. Dinner awaits.” He grabs my hand and begins to pull me along.
“Wait, what awaits?”
“You’ll see.”
Chapter Seventeen
Holy fucking shit. To say I am surprised to end up at Blythe’s house again is an understatement, but this, I was not expecting.
Her deck is covered in small twinkle lights. A professional chef is setting out dinner on a table, hurricane glasses with candles in them grace the center. Grady pulls out a chair and motions with his hand for me to sit. I oblige.
I’m speechless. I literally can’t find the words. He opens the other bottle of wine he bought earlier and pours us each a glass, before taking the seat next to me. The table has been arranged so both our chairs are facing the ocean. And as my eyes focus on the horizon, I am very aware of why, the sky is lit by oranges, reds, and purples as the sun slowly sinks on the horizon. It’s as though nature has provided a private color display just for us.
“To a lovely day,” Grady says, holding up his glass.
I clink mine against his and take a sip. “You win.”
“I win?” he restates in confusion.
“This day…you planned the perfect day. You win.”
He laughs and his hand comes to rest on my thigh.
“Are you sure you haven’t done this before?” I ask him as I look at our meal. It’s scallops and risotto, and it looks perfect.
He looks over at me. “I promise, you’re my first.”
I blush and his hand reaches up to caress my cheek again. I lean into his touch.
“I love it when you blush.”
I blush deeper. “I can’t help it, pale skin.”
His hand skims my neck before going back to my leg. “Perfect skin.”
I’m pretty sure if any more blood goes to my cheeks, they might turn purple.
“Let’s eat,” he murmurs as he reaches for his fork. I do the same.
“What if I’m allergic to shellfish?” I tease.
He pauses, fork midway to his mouth. “Oh shit,” he mutters.
I giggle. “Just kidding.”
His hand on my thigh grips it firmly, and he leans over. “You’ll pay for that later,” he promises in a low seductive voice, and I shiver.
He brings the bite not to his lips but to mine, and I slowly take a bite. He watches my lips. “How is it?”
“Exquisite,” I announce.
“Good.”
We both dive into the food. I’m surprised that I’m hungry again, but something about the salty air and the hike has me ravenous. I ask Grady about growing up here. He tells me a few childhood tales as we eat our meals and then a delectable dessert of chocolate mousse. By the time we finish, the sun is barely above the horizon.
“Let’s go sit and watch it,” Grady suggests, grabbing a blanket on a nearby sofa. He takes my hand and we walk down to the beach where he sets the blanket out for us. He sits and pats the ground in front of him. I sit down in between his legs and he wraps his arms around me, pulling me back against his chest. I snuggle into him, the breeze colder now that the sun is setting.
“You warm enough?” he asks me. I nod, but my skin dots with goose bumps. He takes off his sweatshirt and I cover my legs with it as he wraps his arms back around me. This time I can visibly see the strong muscles of his forearms in front of me. I never thought forearms could be sexy, but I was wrong. His are…just wow.
“Watch the sun,” he says in my ear, and I feel another blush creep across my face at being caught red-handed. I lift my head and watch as the sun slowly disappears.
“I never see the green flash,” I lament.
He laughs and his warm breath tickles my ear. “Me either.”
I turn a little in his arms so I can see him. “Thanks for today.”
He kisses my nose. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you had fun.”
I lean up and kiss his lips. It’s not meant to be a sexy kiss, just a thank-you kiss, but his hands immediately come up to cup my face, and before I know it, I’m straddling his lap and we’re kissing each other with twice the passion we had on the hike. My hands tangle in his messy hair. I start grinding again on his lap, only this time, I can feel his erection against my core, and damn it, vixen Emma wants to feel it without the barrier of clothes.
His left hand reaches for my ponytail and yanks my head back, exposing my neck. He licks and sucks the skin below my ear, leaving a wet trail down to my clavicle and then back up again. This time when our lips collide, I feel all my willpower and resolve slipping away. But just as I’m about to say fuck it, sex on the second date is fine, he pulls back.
“We should stop,” he whispers, his voice gravelly and breathless.
I shake my head and he grins. Damn. Why does he have to have such a sexy grin?
“I don’t want to either, but we should.”
I sigh because I know he’s right and I hate that. I’m also a bit shocked that Mr. Self-Proclaimed Manwhore Rock Star is the one to have the self-control. “Fine,” I mutter as I start to get up, but his arms lock around me, keeping me in place.
“I promise, we’ll take it to third base next time.”
With that comment, I laugh. “OK, Casanova.”
He leans in and kisses me slowly one more time and I sigh again against his lips. The man can certainly kiss. I wonder if the rumors about his abilities in bed are as true as the rumors about his kissing, ’cause if that’s the case, third-date sex seems like a really good idea.
He helps me up and we walk arm in arm back up to the house. While he drives me home, we talk about our favorite parts of the day. He explains that his mom usually stays at her penthouse in the city when she’s working, so he comes out to the Malibu house every couple of days to check on things for her. There’s so much I want to ask him. Was he close to his dad? Was he always this close to his mom? How was life as an only child? But there’ll be time for that later.
He walks me to my door, and we stop. I turn to him, and without saying a word, I reach up and pull his head down to mine for one final panty-melting kiss. When he pulls back, he looks dazed and I grin like a fool.
“Thank you again for today,” I say quietly as I smile back up at him.
“You’re welcome. I’m not sure I can top today for our third date, but I’ll work on it,” he quips with an amused smile.
I giggle. “Well, best of luck to you. It’s hard to top perfection.”
And with that, I unlock my door and blow him another kiss before shutting it. I lean against it for a long time. Damn, I’m in so much trouble.
Grady
Fuck. I’m in deep. That woman may just have me retiring my former ways. I head back home, my brain deep in thought about every single second of the day. Every touch, every kiss, every sharp-witted word that left her mouth.
My B
luetooth rings in my car, and I see it’s my mom. I roll my eyes because I may have let it slip that I was bringing a date back to her house for dinner.
“So, how was it?” she asks. I shake my head. I want to tell her to fuck off, but I would never say that to my mom.
“It was nice. How was your day?”
“You brought Emma to our house,” she says without missing a beat.
“Yes, I did.”
“I assume that’s who you spent the day with.”
I give in because she won’t stop until I do. “Yes, Mother. I took Emma on a date. It was a very nice day. Anything else you want to know?”
She squeals. “I just love her to death. She is such a sweetheart and so smart. At lunch, she was telling us about—”
“Mom, let’s bring it down a few hundred notches, OK? We just started dating. Let’s not get carried away and plan my future wedding.”
“Oh…uh, fine. I’m just glad you are dating a nice girl.”
“Right. Stop playing matchmaker.”
“But it worked this time. You two could be so good together.” I practically see her playing out my entire romantic life in her mind and I grimace.
“Mom, I should go. I’m almost home.”
“Well, have a nice night. I’ll see you this week for dinner, yes?”
“Yep, I’ll see you Tuesday.”
And with that, I hang up and pull into my driveway. As I’m locking up my garage, my phone pings with an alert from my video doorbell. I open it and see a bouquet of white roses sitting there. I sprint to the front yard just as a delivery kid gets into a flower shop truck and drives away. I slowly walk up to the flowers. My body is on high alert as I scan my surroundings, but it’s a quiet evening. All I hear is the occasional car driving by. I reach down for the card sticking out of the bouquet. When I open it, I cringe.
It’s a photo of Emma and me eating lunch at the vineyard. The words below are what has my heart hammering in my chest.
"Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,
Blood and revenge are hammering in my head."