“You were grieving, Finley. It’s okay.” God knew I'd struggled with the idea of a world where terrible things just happened sometimes, snatching people up without rhyme or reason.
“Thanks. Maybe it was okay...for a while. But it's past time to move on.” Her mouth was set tight, her green eyes shining with tears and the determination I'd come to admire so much. This woman had serious grit. When she decided something, then that was that.
We each took a deep breath. This conversation had been almost two long years in the making, and now, somehow we were tiptoeing our way through it unscathed.
Finley cleared her throat. “So ... assuming I don’t hate you, what’s the next step?”
I could hardly believe it. She was handing me an olive branch. She was taking a step, making the first move, and it was exactly what I needed. I’d put myself out there so many times, only for her to pull away. This time needed to be different. She had to take a couple steps forward to show me that all my efforts weren’t in vain – that she wasn’t only living here because she was out of options. This needed to be about me and the man I was. I needed her to want me, not just need me.
My heart kicked up speed in my chest and I moved a little closer. “The next step is that we take this slow. See where it goes.”
She laughed. “Greyson. We don’t have to take things that slow. I had a baby. I was a stripper.”
We had talked about the past enough for tonight. That much, we could agree on. Now it was time to focus on the present, her heated glance, her slightly mischievous smile, her body just waiting for my touch.
“Even if we don't go slow, you deserve someone who's willing to—who's happy to, if that's what you need. Someone who'll treat you like a goddess. Someone steady who will be there when shit gets tough.”
“Slow and steady, huh?” She smiled warmly at me.
“Maple deserves slow and steady, too.”
“You’re too good to us.”
I stroked her cheek with the pad of my thumb. “I won’t rush this or fuck it up. I want to take my time and love you in all the ways you deserve.”
Her breath hitched in her throat and she made a little satisfied noise. She hadn’t felt this type of need and longing in a long time. Neither had I. And she was looking at me like she was seeing me for the first time. Her eyes were two huge pools of desire, and the urge to give her everything she subconsciously dreamed of was a raw need pulsing through me.
I took the wine glass from her hand and set it on the table with mine. Then I leaned in and took her mouth like I’d been craving. Hot. Hungry and desperate. There was nothing slow about it—we’d been building toward this moment for too long. She whimpered softly and clutched at my shirt with her fists. I cradled her jaw in my hands, my mouth remaining fused to hers. My tongue lapped slow circles around hers and Finley moaned into my kiss, angling her body closer. I needed her closer. I needed more. And I wasn’t stopping until she told me to.
I broke away for just a second. “Come here.” Hauling her across the couch, I placed her in my lap, then gripped her ass, grinding my erection into the warm cleft between her legs. We simultaneously groaned. I knew it would only be a matter of time before I was peeling down her yoga pants and sinking into her warmth. But first, I needed to force myself to slow down. I took a deep breath and moved from her lips to her neck, dropping wet kisses against her silky skin. She deserved to be worshiped and loved – every inch of her.
“Greyson ...” she moaned, tilting her neck back to give me better access.
Gently sinking my teeth into her skin, I nibbled along the column of her throat.
“Is this crazy ... me and you...?” she moaned again.
“Doesn’t feel crazy, sweetheart. Feels fucking perfect.” I pressed my cock up again, and she circled her hips over me.
“Yeah,” she breathed, pressing her mouth against my neck this time, taking a taste.
When she pulled back, I lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor. Her bare breasts were high and proud, topped with rosy nipples. Leaning down, I took one in my mouth, swirling my tongue over the peak and sucking it gently. She was so responsive and ready; her low moan pierced straight through me. I massaged both breasts in my hands, my thumbs raking over her nipples as she trembled and whimpered.
She silently placed her hand over the front of my pants, palming my erection.
As good as her touch felt, I pulled her hand away. “Stand up.”
She rose from my lap and stood before me. I peeled her yoga pants and panties down her legs until she stepped out of them and stood before me. Between her legs was shaved bare and delicate folds exposed her swollen clit.
I pulled her back into my lap, and her hands immediately went to work on my belt buckle. Her delicate hands freed me from the confines of my boxers and then she suddenly stopped.
“Jesus, Grey,” she muttered, her voice filled with surprise.