“I won’t ever let you down again, Gracie. Not like I did. It’s not worth the risk.”
She pulls a deep breath into her lungs, her blue-gray eyes lifting to lock with mine. “I won’t give up this house,” she says quietly. Firmly. “I feel like I should, knowing it isn’tours. That Nolan?—”
I cut her off with a sharp shake of my head. “No. This house is embedded with our history. It’s already filled with the memories of what makes usus.” My smile is crooked. “I wouldn’t be adverse to painting the walls, though.”
Gracie snorts, glancing at the walls in question. “What’s wrong with Sea Salt Green?”
“Absolutely nothing,” I answer promptly. “But Nolan left streaks, and we’ll need to fix it. Might as well repaint the whole room.”
“I’ll make a deal with you,” She locks eyes with me, gleaming with mischief. “You can repaint the walls when you move in here.”
“And that’s not tonight?” I ask with mock disappointment,and she shakes her head, smile widening into a grin. “Fine. You’ve got a deal. Wait, do I get to pick the color?” Gracie raises one eyebrow, and I drop my head with a groan. “Fine.”
She reaches up, looping her arms around my neck. “But I’ll compromise with you.”
I slide my hands over her waist, my fingers dipping dangerously low down her back.
“What’s your compromise?” The question comes out challenging, but her expression doesn’t change.
“You can’t move in with me…” She pauses, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth before she adds, “Yet.But you can stay over.”
A low noise leaves me. “In the future or tonight?”
Her answering smile is coy, her nails scratching along my neck as she trails her fingers to my collar. She takes a step back, shifting out of my hold when I try to keep her close.
“Gracie?” My lips feel rubbery, like they belong to someone else. Heat coils low as she grips the hem of her sundress and drags it over her head—so damn slowly.
A low curse leaves my mouth as her silky smooth skin is exposed. She drops the dress into a pile on the floor, leaving her standing there in lacy panties and a matching blush-coloured bra that’s pushing her breasts up high.
“You know…” Gracie says suggestively, cocking a hip. “The saddest thing about everything that happened…I never got to christen my house. Not really.”
My blood is a riot of emotions, each one warring for dominance. Arousal. Regret. Love.Jealousy.
Gracie told me she was never with Nolan like that in this house, and I believe her. But hearing it again settles the feral beast inside me…even as I ache with the reminder of how much everything has changed for us.
I refuse to let it hold me back any longer, so I push itaway, stepping toward her. “Something I’ll rectify the minute you snap your fingers.”
“I don’t know…” Gracie pretends to think about it. “My vibrator has done a good job so far. Why fix what’s not broken, hm?”
“Rumpel,” I croak out. “I’ll use your vibrator on you, but your orgasms aremine.”
“Are they?” she taunts. “Because by my count, it’s been almost eight months since you’ve made me come, so I’m not sure you’re up to the task.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re playing a dangerous game, baby,” I rumble out. “You sure you wanna do this?”
“Doesn’t feel dangerous to m—” The rest of her words are lost on a shriek when I rush forward, planting my shoulder in her stomach and hauling her up. She wriggles, trying to get free, and I clamp my hand down on her lace-covered ass, giving her a brutal squeeze. She yelps, but it’s breathless with amusement and fades into a moan as I wedge my hand between her legs, the side of it pressed against the damp gusset of her underwear.
“No kitchen?” Gracie teases, and I press my hand harder against her slit.
“Not this time,” I rumble. “I want you in a bed, and under me.” She shudders, and a wicked grin curls my mouth. “You seem like you want that, too, Rumpel,” I tease.
“I want an orgasm,” she counters.
I chuckle darkly as I walk into her bedroom, switching the light on as I pass. “And it doesn’t matter where you get it from?” I ask, right before I toss her onto the bed.
Gracie bounces twice, a startled noise escaping her before she glares up at me in challenge. “No, it doesn’t,” she declares, planting her feet on the bed and spreading her legs wide. I watch, transfixed as her hand slides down her abdomen and into her panties, delving right betweenher legs. “I’ll just do it myself.” Her voice is breathless, her hips pushing up against her hand, and I can’t do it anymore. It’s been too fucking long without her.
I hurriedly strip my clothes off as Gracie watches me through hooded eyes. Her hand is still moving, pulling her panties taut as her breath catches in her throat. I kneel on the bed between her legs, catching her wrist with my fingers. I yank her hand out of her panties, her fingers glistening in the light with her arousal.
