8
LUCIAN
I stareat the guestroom door I just closed, my head pounding. I still don’t know how I found the strength to walk out of the room. All I wanted was to pull Grace into my arms and kiss those plump lips until I couldn’t fucking breathe. It physically hurt to resist. I can feel the tension wrapping itself around my muscles, squeezing tight.
Fuck, this is unbearable.
After everything I shared tonight, I feel closer to Grace than ever. She was so sweet when I told her about Dominic, and opening up to her felt so right. But then I remembered those damn words again: “too young, too sweet, too good for me.” They hit me all at once while I was sitting across from Grace with her soft hand in mine. I tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t. Even now, the poisonous thoughts race through my head.
If you get too close, you’ll make her more like you…
Miserable, jaded, cynical.
You’ll extinguish her light.
But this time, another part of my brain fights back. A tiny, hopeful part that has been dormant for a long, long time.
Or maybe she’ll make you more like her…
Gentle, happy, vibrant.
Maybe she’ll make you burn brighter than ever.
I swallow hard, reaching my hand for the door handle. I curl my fingers around it, heart thudding in my ears. Ever since I met Grace, I’ve tried to keep my distance. God knows I’ve tried to be noble, tried to resist. But I can feel the last of my resolve melting away as I think of her standing on the other side of the door, that beautiful angel with her bright smile and sparkling eyes.
I want her so fucking badly.
Grace has made me feel alive again for the first time in twelve years. She makes me feel like I could be so much more than what I am now—more than a bitter recluse with a past that haunts him. All these excuses…all this holding back…it’s just fear in disguise. I can see that now, clear as day. I’m scared to care about her in case I lose her.
But that ship has sailed.
I already care about her more than anything.
I suck in a breath and start to twist the door handle. But it slips from beneath my fingers, already being turned from the other side. I stare in surprise as Grace opens the door. Her eyes go wide when she sees me, a small “oh” escaping her lips.
“I was coming to see you,” we say at the same time.
Then Grace smiles, those pretty lips curving upward, tugging at my heart.
“You always seem to show up at the perfect time,” she says softly.
I look at her, my breath coming fast. In the time I’ve been standing outside her door, she’s changed into a white tee and red plaid pajama bottoms. Her hair is loose, falling in lilac waves, and as I close the space between us, I wrap a soft strand around my fingers.
“I’m sorry, Grace,” I mutter. “God, I’ve been an idiot.”
“What do you mean?” Her voice is breathless, lips parted as she tips her head back to look up at me. There’s barely an inch ofspace between us, and the warmth of her body radiates against me.
“I’ve been holding back. Trying to keep my distance ‘cause I thought it was the right thing to do. But it wasn’t.” I let her hair fall from my fingers, moving my hand to her face and cupping her rounded cheek. She’s so close I can smell her warm scent—vanilla and cinnamon—and I breathe it in, already drunk on her. “I was stupid to think I could ever resist you, Grace.”
“But then…why did you try?” she whispers.
“Because you’re too young for me, sugar. Too sweet. Too damn perfect.” My heart thuds as I brush her bottom lip with the pad of my thumb. “But I want you, Grace. So fucking much…”
There’s a moment of silence as she looks up at me, and all I can hear is the blood pounding in my ears. Then we move as one. Leaning in. Suddenly my lips are on hers, and the world dissolves until there’s nothing but Grace, her soft body pushing against mine, her mouth warm and silky. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer, tangling my hands through her hair. We kiss desperately, hungrily, all the pent-up tension finally bubbling over.
Fuck, yes.
My nerves are screaming with need, heat rushing downward as I slip my tongue between Grace’s lips. She tastes cherry-sweet, moaning softly into my mouth as her hot tongue brushes mine. It’s as much as I can take. I’m already pulling her back toward my bedroom, blindly reaching behind me to open the door.
