“Because you’re lucky. It could have been deadly. You scared the shit out of me, Gray.”
“It’s just a scratch. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“But I do. I always will, Gray.”
He stares at me for a stilted moment. “Why?”
Hiding the truth would be safer. Spelling out the engravings on my heart will certainly lead to more scars. But I’ve never been smart when it comes to this man. “You mean a lot to me.”
“It’s the same for me, Sutt.” Grady begins drawing small circles around my knee, the motion seems absentminded. The gentle caress from his fingertips should feel foreign. We’ve never exchanged anything of this caliber. These soft strokes offer a deep-rooted comfort. This is exactly what I need after the frantic events of this afternoon. Can he sense that on some elemental level? That soothing balm sinks directly into my bones and spreads throughout every part of me. I’m practically panting over that simple touch. Is Grady getting any satisfaction out of this?
“I like having you in my bed. Waking up with you is something I could get used to.” His drawl is pure sugar, warm caramel dipped in chocolate.
An explosion of searing heat singes my cheeks. I fight the urge to dip my chin. “Oh?”
The sound he emits resembles a predatory rumble. I barely restrain a shiver. “You’re the first girl to be in my room.”
I flick a glance over the bare walls and minimal furnishings. If I didn’t know better, I’d assume he just moved in. Or isn’t planning on sticking around long. The second gives me pause. That may very well be the case. I try not to let that spoil this moment, pasting a grin on my lips. “Should I be honored?”
“I believe the honor is all mine.” A loose smirk curls half of his mouth. That slow lift to his lips might be my undoing. The hitch in my breath rivals a foghorn. Attempting to hide my reaction is pointless. If the full-blown smile is any indication, Grady catches on quickly. He bathes the dim room in blinding happiness.
Good Lord, he’s trying to give me a spontaneous orgasm. Is that a thing? Sure feels like a possibility. But pump the brakes. Who is this sweet-talking, panty-melter?
I take a closer inspection of this swoony charmer. Not an ounce of deceit registers in his expression. There’s no stony edge blocking his emerald stare. His ironclad guard is nonexistent. Zero inhibitions block the sliver of space between us. Everything is on display for me to see. I should be the one to stop this. He’s obviously not in his normal state and under the influence of hefty narcotics.
Who the hell am I kidding? Basking in a rare smile from Grady is a gift I won’t take for granted. Appreciating from a safe distance will be the true challenge. I test my willpower by trying to evade the sneaky fingers inching up my thigh. But our skin is magnetized and moving is impossible. The golden specks in his eyes glitter at my failed attempt. Yep, he’s onto me. I’m a goner.
As if there was another option.
The itch to comb through his shaggy hair tickles my fingertips. Would he lean into my embrace if I cupped his jaw? The tiniest bit of resolve stops me from acting on those impulses. But it doesn’t stop my brain from working overtime.
I wonder if anyone else has seen this side of him. The romantic in me wants to believe I’m the first, and hopefully only. I shove the fanciful notion aside. “Well, you sure seem to be in a great mood.”
That luscious bottom lip gets trapped between his teeth. I’d love to take a bite. As if hearing my thoughts, Grady rolls toward me. “Abso-fucking-lutely. Why wouldn’t I be? I have a gorgeous woman within reach, ready to take care of my aches and pains.”
This time I really do choke on my tongue. “W-what?”
The hand he has on my leg drifts higher. “You sound shocked, Sutt.”
How could I not be? “That’s an understatement.”
“Stay with me,” Grady croons.
“For the night?”
“For always.” His gaze is smoldering. Damn, he’s sexy. And irresistible. I’m liable to straddle his lap and offer him everything. But the chains of our past hold me hostage. I can’t fall victim so easily.
“Why now, Gray?” Whatever painkillers he’s on are proving to be an effective truth serum. I might as well use it to my advantage.
His blink is slow. “I miss the peace, Sutt. My slice of goodness.”
The low tide of his voice whispers to my weakest spots. Those areas that have longed for the treasure of his affection. He’s here, in this space, threatening to spoil me with tenderness. It would be so easy to give in and believe this could be true. He’s offering the dream.
I want to rediscover hope and delve into endless possibilities. But what happens tomorrow?
Grady must feel my apprehension. Or maybe he wants to ensure my surrender. “Tell me a happy something, Sutton.”
I can’t stop the whimper that rips from my throat. It’s been years—almost a decade—since he’s asked. Tears sting my eyes as I’m transported back to a different time. Grady’s thumb catches a stray droplet. It somehow feels like he’s capturing far more.
