Page 68 of Paths
His hands start to move on my navy dress, a blue so dark, it resembles the color of the ocean at night. It’s stretchy and fits like a glove from my thighs to my collar bone, but only on one side. My left arm and shoulder are bare, the dress dipping under my arm, but my right has a full sleeve that flares just above my wrist.
I haven’t slipped on my shoes yet, so I feel smaller in front of Grady, his large frame surrounding me from behind.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, as his hand comes up and sweeps my hair over my shoulder, putting his lips at the base of my neck.
I can’t help but close my eyes. “I don’t think the run helped. I’m wound up. I still can’t believe my mother put me in this position when she knows I want nothing to do with him.”
“You need to calm,” he murmurs against my neck, his lips working their way up to my ear. His hands start to roam, traveling my body.
“Grady,” I breathe and lean my head back on his shoulder. “This isn’t helping my nerves.”
His left hand comes up to cup my breast, and I lose his lips on my neck, so I look up into the mirror. There, his blue eyes are heated—on fire.
“No baby,” his voice is soft and smooth this time. “You need to calm.”
His hand drops to the hem of my dress and pulls it up around my waist. Not wasting any time, he reaches and dips his hand inside the front of my panties. There he is—roaming, touching. And just like last night, it makes me melt, and is better than any dream. I give him all my weight, and the second I do, his arm tightens around me. It’s a good thing too, I otherwise might’ve fallen to the ground.
“Grady, we’re going to be late for dinner,” I breathe.
“We’ve got time.” His fingers work me lightly and I feel myself become instantly wet. “Look at me.”
I open my heavy lids and look at us in the mirror. Me, my dress hitched around my waist, with Grady wrapped around me, his big hand dipped in my panties.
“When I said this isn’t new, I meant it. Since the day I got back after I was captured, I’ve been watching you over the surveillance system.”
His fingers move slowly, roaming and exploring, almost like he’s trying to memorize me. But I don’t understand what he said. “What?”
“I wasn’t just fucked-up, baby, I was fucked up. Watching you come and go, run, sit outside and stare into the woods—it kept me from losing my mind. I didn’t even know you, but I was obsessed with you even then.” His words come at me softly, and learning that he was watching me should freak me out, but for some reason it doesn’t. “You didn’t even know it, but you saved me from some fucked-up demons. I didn’t want to be anywhere, talk to anyone, but when I watched you, I settled.”
His eyes, burning into mine, are open and honest, and even as he works me into a state of sexual frenzy, I ask, “What are you saying?”
He circles my clit harder and slips a finger inside me, making my breath catch.
“I’m saying we’re not new. You might not have known it, but I’ve been with you for months. I’m saying,” he adds more pressure, creating an ache between my legs, “that you took care of me all that time and you didn’t even know it. That made me want you even then, before I was in a place where I could make you mine. I’ve wanted you since the beginning, baby, before you even knew there was a beginning.”
I barely shake my head—stunned, turned on, and kind of freaked out, but all in a good way.
“Let me take care of you.” He puts more pressure on my clit and starts to finger fuck me. “Whatever happens tonight, if anyone upsets you, you let me handle it.”
I say nothing, but turn my face into his neck. I’m breathing so hard, I can’t respond.
His words keep coming. “I’ll handle your mom, that asshole, and whoever else decides to jump in the ring. No one’s gonna fuck with you, not with me standing in the way.”
He adds a second finger, and oh, it feels good.
“Maya?” he calls. When I open my eyes, he’s looking into mine. Just before he puts more pressure on my clit, he asks, “You gonna let me take care of you tonight?”
I nod, unable to talk.
Then I gasp, moan, and my body shudders in delicious shakes. The whole time, Grady holds me tight and milks my orgasm to a point where I feel so weak, I’m certain he’s the only thing holding me up.
“Fuck,” I hear him mutter and I lose his hand from between my legs.
The next thing I know, I’m turned around and he’s circled me in his strong arms, his mouth landing on mine. Kissing me deep with his hand tight in my hair, I have a feeling he’s showing me exactly how he’s going to take care of me. If it’s anything like this, there’s no way I can argue.
When he finally loosens his hold in my hair, his kiss turns soft, his lips barely brushing mine. He looks down at me, his gaze meaningful and sweet when he asks, “You better?”
I nod. “Yes.”
