Her eyes watered, but she nodded and kissed me gently, slowly. “I love you,” she whispered against my mouth, and I was lost. I made love to her slowly, carefully, cherishing each line of her body and savoring each gasp, each moan. Once she was writhing, I entered her slowly, pushing deep until I was surrounded, enveloped by heat. Home. Our tongues and breaths mingled as we rocked together, and I caught her every exhale when she came apart in my arms and gasped my name. I followed soon after.
I pulled her into my side and stroked the soft-as-petals skin of her back as she drifted off to sleep, warm and content. I couldn’t live without this—without her.
What the fuck was I going to do?
Grace needed me.
I needed Sam.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sam
Sunlight streamed in the window, and I buried my face deeper into the pillow, denying the existence of morning. Grayson’s scent filled my head, and I forced my eyes open. I was in his room, in his empty bed. Well, our bed.
Or was it our bed? Was there an “ours”? An “us”?
I’d half thought it was a dream when he came for me last night after three and a half days of silence, but the delicious soreness between my thighs said either he was home, or I’d had some wicked real dreams.
The clock read seven thirty. No classes today, but I only had a couple hours before work. I fought the urge to go back to sleep. I’d slept like shit this weekend, no thanks to Mr. No-call, but I wasn’t going to be in here asleep when he got back.
Or quite as complacent in his assholery as I’d been last night. You pretty much let him get off one more time before he breaks your heart.
Or maybe I’d been saying good-bye for myself, preparing for the inevitable nights where he wouldn’t be in my bed…my life. But the look in his eyes when he’d said he needed me, begged for me like I was the only person who could right his world…I was powerless against him. Well, that shit had to stop. Especially now that Grace was awake.
I found my pajamas and underwear, got dressed, and headed downstairs.
“Coffee?” Ember asked and nodded toward the seat across from her at the table, where my favorite mug waited. “Peppermint creamer and honey, just the way you like it.”
I dropped onto the chair and brought the steaming mug to my lips, inhaling the aroma before I took my first sip. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re here, even if it’s just for the week.”
She propped her feet on the chair next to me and leaned back, waiting.
“Do you remember prom when we were seniors?” I asked.
“Sure,” she said. “I went with Riley, and we had that big party at Strawberry Fields. Where are you going with this one?”
“Do you remember who I went with?”
Her forehead puckered. “Dustin McClair? Right? That was right after…”
“Right after Corey broke up with me the week before. I was so scared of being alone, of missing out on my senior prom, that I went with Dustin, who I had absolutely no interest in, who ruined my dress when he spilled beer in the limo, and who reeked of garlic all night. Oh, and then he got really pissed when I wouldn’t sleep with him.”
“That was definitely a night to remember.” She leaned forward. “Sam?”
“Do you remember what you said to me when I told you I was going with him?”
“Not exactly. Something along the lines of, ‘are you sure…’”
“You said, ‘you’ve never been one to settle for second choice.’”
She took a sip and nodded. “Well, you never have been.”
“Right. And that’s the thing. Grayson? I’m so in love with him that I can’t imagine a future where I don’t wake up to him. There’s no one on this earth who makes me feel like he does, who brings out the very best in me. He’s complicated, and smart, and has an incredible heart. Add in that he’s gorgeous and I can barely keep up in bed with him…well, he’s my first choice.”
“Yes.”
“But I’m his second choice. And first place just hopped back on the track, and she’s so far ahead of me that she’s almost got me lapped.”