And then she nearly collapsed. “It’s too much,” she gasped.
I went a little longer, making sure she felt more pleasure tonight than she had in her whole life.
Grace opened her eyes as I crawled up her. She panted while I kissed her neck and ear. When she was ready, she let her legs fall farther apart, inviting me inside.
I grabbed a condom from the picnic basket and held it up with a smile. “Packed it just in case.”
“Good,” she whispered.
It took a few seconds to unwrap it and put it on. “Are you sure?” I asked.
She nodded. I kissed her again and then settled between her legs. I stared into those blue, blue eyes where the fire danced and slowly lowered myself into her. She moaned when I was inside and so did I. Her hands grabbed at my back, the scarlet red fingernails digging into my skin as I thrust in and out of her. I cried out when she drew blood, but I kept going. Sometimes pain felt just as good as pleasure.
“Don’t stop,” she said.
“Never.”
I wrapped my hand around a clump of her blond hair and yanked it. I felt her center clench me, and I nearly lost it right there.
Grace felt so good—like the feeling of a warm bed on a chilly night, or the cold side of your pillow on a hot evening. I let go of her hair and ran my hand up and down her body. She orgasmed more than once. I could feel it like a jolt of electricity. My body tensed up. This was it. Grace felt too good to hold back and all at once I collapsed. She kept pushing up into me, our sweaty skin gliding against one another. It was too much, too sensitive, and I pulled completely out of her.
“You’re goddamn amazing, Grace,” I said in between breaths. I rolled on my side to face her.
Grace laid on her back and looked up at the stars. There was no point in looking at them now. They paled in comparison to her.
“That was incredible.”
She didn’t say anything. She just nodded.
I had never felt that with anyone else. We were in tune with one another. Our bodies craved the same touch, the same energy. We were like animals tearing into one another. Grace was the best I ever had. And thinking that made me wonder if I was the same for her.
“Whatcha thinking?” I asked, immediately regretting my question. It was something girls who were hung up on boys asked. I couldn’t help it. I wanted to know.
Grace turned her head toward me. The flame intensified in her blue eyes. “I’m thinking . . .” She bit her lower lip. “That I don’t want this to end.”
I smiled. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Calvin.”
“Yes, Grace.”
“There are no secrets between us.”
I wasn’t sure if it was a question or a statement, but I nodded. “No secrets,” I said. But I wondered what made a secret. Was it having information that you hadn’t yet shared with the other person, or was it intentionally lying and withholding information? If she didn’t ask, was it a secret?
“What happened to your parents?”
I let out a sigh. It wasn’t something I liked talking about but I agreed to no secrets, and she did ask. “They died in a fire.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I’m so sorry, Calvin.”
We sat in silence for a little while. I didn’t know what to say. The past belonged in the past, and there was no sense in talking about it.
“Can I tell you something?”
I scooched a little closer toward her. “You can tell me anything, Grace.”
“Earlier today, Charlotte said something that I didn’t understand, but it made me uncomfortable.” She tucked her chin in.
“What did she say to you?”
“She said she hopes Joe keeps me here permanently.” Grace furrowed her brow.
I looked up at the sky and screamed internally. Char and Joe were going to mess all this up for me.
“What did she mean by that?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
“You said no secrets.”
I let out a sigh. “I told you about my ex, Lisa.”
Grace nodded. “Yeah, she died in a car accident.”
“One year ago today. Joe was driving that night.”
Her eyes widened.
“We had gone out for my birthday. He drove us back because Lisa and I had a little too much to drink. He hit an elk going sixty not far down the road from here. Lisa was gored by the elk. She died before the paramedics arrived. I walked away with cuts and bruises. Joe suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was in a coma for a week. He doesn’t remember anything about the night of the accident. Doctors said he probably never will.” I looked to Grace, gauging her response.
“That’s awful. But why would Charlotte say something like that?”
“Some people think Joe hit that elk on purpose.”
“What? How could they think that?”
“Because the police didn’t find any tire marks, meaning he never hit the brakes.” I folded in my lips.
“I don’t understand. Why would he even do that?”
“Joe’s always resented me. I don’t blame him though. Dad was harder on him even though Joe did everything he asked. He stayed here working on the ranch while I left. And when they died, they still left it to me.” I let out another sigh.
Grace pulled the teddy bear to her chest. “Do you remember anything? Do you really think he would do that on purpose?”
I laid back and stared up at the sky full of stars.
“I just remember the car going sixty and then not going at all. I was in the back seat, half asleep, so I didn’t see it. I wish I could sit here and say there’s no way my brother could have done that, but I really don’t know.”
“And he’s not in jail for vehicular manslaughter?”
“He got a year in county but was released after six months. Since it was an animal-related accident, they went easy on him. If he hadn’t been going five over the speed limit, they wouldn’t have charged him at all.”
“I don’t know what to say, Calvin.” Grace laid beside me, staring up at the sky.
“That night changed Joe.” I looked over at Grace. “When he came out of the coma, he wasn’t the same.”
“How so?” she asked.
“He’s angry, reckless, impulsive. It’s like there’s a darkness in him, festering. I’m not sure what he’s capable of now. I think killing someone changes you.”
She swallowed hard.
Joe had demons. Deep down, we all did. The things we think we’re the least capable of are the things we end up doing, and they are what define us. The town redefined Joe that night. To some, he was a victim. To others, he was a murderer.
“I really wish Charlotte hadn’t said that to you.”
Grace glanced over at me. “Me too, but I’m glad I know,” she said, sliding her hand into mine.
I squeezed it tight. “I wouldn’t let anything ever happen to you. You’re safe here with me. I promise.” I had every intention of keeping that promise, but intentions were just partially laid plans, and they were subject to change.
Day Seven
31.
Grace