It was time to come clean. I had nothing to lose anymore.
“Grayson.” I stopped when my voice came out croaky and cleared my throat. “Let’s talk.”
He lifted his head, and all air escaped my lungs. His face was drawn tight, his usually bright eyes a dull, murky brown. Eyes that were roaming my body as if they were trying to commit every inch to memory.
I eyed my suitcase that was sitting next to the bed. Getting my clothes would mean walking past Grayson. And for some reason, I was hesitant to get too close.
Not that I thought he would ever hurt me, but the way he drank in my body caused my insides to turn to molten lava and my legs to quiver.
A spark flashed through his eyes, and he sat up straight. “Talking has never gotten us anywhere.”
I deflated at his words. How naïve of me to think he was still here because he cared. Because he wanted to make things right with us before I left.
Nodding, I studied the floor.I should get dressed and get out of here. No more delays.
“Rayna, look at me.” His voice was much closer now, and a hand on mine confirmed he was standing in front of me.
Pulling together the last of my strength, I tilted my head back. I was a mixture of hope and fear, and my heart hammered against my rib cage. All my old doubts and worries came roaring back to life. I wasn’t good enough for him. I was holding him back. I was only a small-town girl with nothing to offer him, just like Wynona said.
“I don’t know—” My voice broke at the end, and I cleared my throat. “I just want to—”
It seemed impossible to form a coherent sentence. Turned out I didn’t have to, since Grayson had no problem with the English language like I seemed to have.
“I need you to answer one question: Did you mean what you said at the inn? Do you only feel friendship for me?”
I flushed with shame and thought back to our time in Aspen. We’d only spent a weekend there—one perfect weekend—but I’d thought about it every day.
Terrible regrets and a stab of guilt were buried in my breast. I closed my eyes, feeling miserable and scared. “I lied. What I feel for you goes far beyond friendship.”
The words came out in a whisper, and I kept my eyes shut. His hand was still holding mine, his body an unmoving wall in front of me.
Why isn’t he saying anything?
I peeked one eye open, unable to stand the tension any longer. Grayson looked like someone had struck him. He drew in a sharp breath, raw hurt glittering in his eyes.
He released my hand, and I nearly stumbled back at the loss. I ached for his touch, desperate to get it back.
How can you read the room so wrong, Rayna? You knew he felt nothing more than friendship for you. You’ve hidden your feelings for years. Why admit to them now? Of all the stupid, impulsive—
Then all thoughts were cut off. Because there were hands on me, roving, embracing. Then lips on mine, caressing, coaxing. My body went pliant, my mind blank.
I dimly registered my towel slipping to the floor, and then my hands did what they’d itched to do for the past five years: they touched his delectable and sculpted body.
He nipped my lower lip, and I opened on a moan. Our tongues tangled, and I tore at his shirt. Buttons flew everywhere, but neither of us stopped what we were doing. I ripped his shirt off, never once breaking the kiss.
The button of his pants met the same fate, and then I pushed them down, taking his boxers with them, tearing my mouth from his at the movement.
And when I came face-to-face with the one thing I wanted to kiss as much as his lips, I leaned forward and ran my tongue along his tip and sides.
A hand tugged on my hair, and I stopped my worship and looked up at him, still on my knees.
“Need to be inside you.” His words came out on a pained groan, and I couldn’t hide the satisfaction I felt at him being as affected by this as I was.
Apparently, he meant right that instant, because he sank down in front of me, pressing his lips to mine. Our kissing turned more carnal and desperate than before, but I welcomed it.
He laid me down on the floor, then kissed my jaw and nipped my earlobe. Panting, I bared my throat to him. His breath was warm against my skin, sending shivers through my body. His kisses and nibbles set me alight, and my pulse skittered.
My lips burned at the aftermath of his possession. I held on with trembling limbs, soaking in the sensations running through my body.
