“I’m not in the mood,” I told him as I pulled on a long sweater over my T-shirt, covering me completely and sitting mid-thigh over my leggings.
“Ugh, you’re never in the fucking mood,” he grumbled as he got off the bed and headed to my bedroom door. “I don’t know what’s wrong, and you won’t talk to me, so tell Jett, he’ll tell me, and we can move on. Okay?”
He was an idiot. Jett would never tell him, andthat’swhy Jett was my best friend. I heard the front door bang and knew he was gone. I counted in my head, and then my stepmom poked her head around the door.
“Trouble in paradise?”
“No, Anne, all good here,” I lied as I forced a smile. She was a nice enough lady. She just wasn’t my mom, and although our relationship was a good one, I knew she wanted it to be more.
“We can talk about it if you want?” she said as she took a step further into the room.
“No, honestly, it’s just Ash. He gets riled up during the season.”
“Okay, sweetie, but I’m downstairs if you want to talk.”
I nodded, and she left me alone. Hours later, I was in the den, in the dark, with only the light of the TV illuminating the room. Ash had sent a few texts, and I’d replied. He was with Gray and Jett hanging out at the stadium. Probably doing the stupid shit that they did when they were bored and idle. I knew they wouldn’t be alone — girlsandguys hung off them like bad smells. Ihad no fear he would cheat on me, though sometimes I wished he would.
“Why you in the dark?”
I yelped in fright as I turned to look at Gray as he closed the den door firmly behind him.
“Watching TV. Why you freaking me the fuck out?” I snapped at him as I flicked the lamp on. I watched as he dropped his body onto the couch and gasped when he turned to look at me.
“What happened?” I was on my feet, crossing the room and leaning over him, inspecting his bruised cheek and blackening eye.
“Dick pissed me off.”
“The world pisses you off,” I told him dryly.
Gray huffed out a laugh as he turned his face away from me and my probing fingers. “Can see down your top,” he muttered as he leaned over and turned the lamp off.
I felt the familiar swoosh in my tummy when he glanced at me quickly before he straightened in his seat.
“I don’t mind you looking.” The words were low and husky and scared the shit out of me that I said them out loud.
Gray’s eyes met mine. He had only ever kissed me once, before I started dating Ash, and I still remembered his lips on mine. “Don’t.” His voice was soft, almost too quiet, but I heard the plea in it.
I wished that I had been drinking so I could blame my next actions on alcohol, but I had no excuse. My hands trembled as I pulled the sweater and T-shirt over my head, revealing my plain white bra to him. Gray’s eyes widened, but he said nothing. His eyes traveled down my body as I pushed my leggings down, and then I was in front of him in only my panties and bra.
With hands shaking, I reached for him as I moved closer, picking up his hand and placing it on my breast. Gray licked his lips but said nothing as his hand rested there, not even squeezing.
“Touch me,” I whispered as I lowered myself over his legs and straddled him.
“Quinn, I . . .” His words stopped when I picked up his other hand and pulled it high onto my thigh.
“Do it,” I encouraged him. His hand moved slightly, and I inhaled sharply. Slowly, his thumb made a circle on my bare leg. “I need you to touch me,” I whispered in the quiet of the room, the light from the TV casting shadows over his face.
“If I touch you, I may not stop.”
I had never heard Gray unsure about anything in his life. His eyes never left mine, and his hands didn’t stray from where I had placed them. “Then don’t stop.”
I watched as his eyes closed, and I saw him clench his jaw as he tipped his head back, and I felt the shiver that ran through his body. When he looked at me again, his eyes were alive and wild, and my body erupted in goose bumps at the intensity of his stare. Firm, solid hands circled my waist, and he lifted me off him and onto the couch. Gray stood swiftly, and then he was bending over me.
“I would fuck you, Quinn. I would fuck you so hard you would never remember having another man’s dick in you, but I won’t fuck you for two reasons.”
My heart was racing so fast I was scared I was going to pass out. “What reasons?”
“You’re not mine.” He straightened, and I grabbed for my sweater to cover myself, my embarrassment suddenly washing over me. Sobering me. Gray snatched the sweater and tossed it behind him. “I like seeing you laid out like this before me. Isn’tthiswhat you wanted?” His words were cruel, mocking. “Don’t get shy now. Why don’t you spread those legs for me so I can see what I’m passing up on?”
