“And is that moment here in the room with us?”
Gery studies my face. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
No. I don’t. “That’s not what I asked.”
He’s quiet for a moment. His wide chest rises and falls. The air in here is so still I can hear his soft breaths. “Yes.”
So I lean in. For the first time in my life, I make a move. Steven has taken so much from me, and I refuse to let him take any more. For once I’m going to be the one to take. And Grey... Grey looks so ready to give.
I lean in, feeling so many different things at once. Above all of them, is need. Ineedto kiss him. He meets me a third of the way, and our lips press. Delicate pressure weaves through my stomach. I let him lead, apply more pressure. I pull back a little then meet him again with another gentle kiss. It’s explosive and soft wrapped up in something so incredible I don’t know if I believe it’s real. It’s a whisper of a kiss and I don’t think I’ve felt anything better in my life.
I pull back and blink up at him. Grey shocks me, leaning forward, cupping the back of my head to press his foreheadto mine. “You never have to be afraid with me.” His soft gaze trails over my face. I have the urge to stay, but somehow I get up. My lips still tingle. I wonder if they’ll ever stop.
“Thank you for today. It was amazing.” Best birthday ever. “Get some rest, okay?” I need space. My thoughts are wild. I have no idea how to tame them. Need and want, hunger and fire burn inside me. I have never, ever been more turned on than I am right now. It was a simple kiss. The thing is, I don’t think anything I feel about Grey is simple. “Good night.”
“Felix.” I pause in his doorway and turn to look back at this man—nearly naked, dressed in only his boxers, with the obvious result of what that kiss just did to him as well. I peel my gaze up his toned stomach, chest, and throat. Beautiful.
And I kissed him. He kissed me.
“Happy birthday.”
My smile is so wide it hurts. “Thank you.”
ELEVEN
Grey
A sharp trill peels my eyes open. It sounds again as I try to make sense of the sound. My camera? What the hell time is it? I was exhausted after today. Hiding how much pain I’ve been in was a damn chore.
Worth it.
That kiss. Hell yeah. Damn, that kiss.
A smile spreads on my face.
My phone goes off again. What the hell? It’s almost midnight.
Alyssa?
I sit up, a little too fast. “Dammit, my fucking knee.” I grab my phone and click my ring cam.
A cop?
My sister. Shit! I get up faster than I should, grabbing my cane from my bedside. My mind is foggy. I took some painkillers before passing out. I wonder if Felix is still awake. I hope the camera didn’t wake him.
I don’t see him on the couch as I hobble tothe door with my cane. Pain steals the breath from my lungs with every step. Everything is dark, but I hear shuffling coming from the other hallway and see Felix step into the living room rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
Fuck me, he looks adorable. “What’s going on?”
“There’s a cop at the door.”
His eyes widen. “No! Don’t open it.”
“What?” Through the dark, I see Felix’s eyes brighten with fear.
“Don’t answer it, Greyson.” The desperation lacing his words snags my attention.
“What’s wrong?” He just shakes his head nervously, glancing about as another round of rings goes off.
