“That’s it, sunshine, come on my cock. Cover me with your cum,” Grayson commands as my walls spasm around him.
I feel my toes curl in my boots, and suddenly the tension dissipates and a wave of relief slams into me, hot and dizzying. I’m vaguely aware of Grayson crying out and a melody playing in my mind, but I’m in too much of a haze to grasp it.
I collapse against Gray, my body spent, and he holds me close, moving his hands up and down my spine in slow, steady movements. His arms are a safe haven in the chaos of my life, just like he’s always been.
We stay like this, holding each other, until I shift slightly, acutely aware of his cock, still buried inside of me. He grips my hips, halting my movement.
“Neither of us are running from this, Ave. Not anymore.” I open my mouth to speak, but he cuts me off, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead. “I can already feel you pulling away.”
“We didn’t use protection,” I blurt, silently cursing myself as soon as the words leave my mouth. Of all the things I could have said.
Grayson gives me a lazy smile, his chest rumbling as he chuckles. “I know. If something happens, we’ll figure it out, I promise.”
He dusts his lips over mine, and I release a contented sigh. I don’t know what this is or where we’re going from here, but for now, I’ll let the hope seep in and give me something to hold on to.
18
GRAYSON
Autumn’s apartment above the coffee shop smells like paint and dust, but it’s coming together. I got here early, leaving Wyatt in charge of getting things done around the ranch this morning. I’ve been picking up more of the manual labor, avoiding being cooped up in the office, and he’s been asking for more responsibility. Although, it doesn’t escape my attention that he’s getting frustrated with my drip-feeding approach.
I swipe the sweat from my brow and reach for the spackle, scooping out a load and smoothing it over the last hole in the drywall. This place has been left unoccupied for too long, and it’s falling apart. I’m not sure why Autumn kept it empty for so long; maybe she was waiting for the right person to come along.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it, certain that it’s Tanner Westbrook, my chief operations officer. He’s been blowing up my phone all morning, no doubt trying to chew my ass out over my lack of time in the office since Avery returned to town. Doing physical tasks is a good distraction for me, while sitting behind my desk, staring at a screen, is definitely not. Besides, I’ve been getting enough shit from Reed. I don’t need it from Tanner too.
Standing, I brush the dust off my cargo pants before stepping back to admire my work. All that’s needed—once I’ve sanded down the spackle—is a fresh coat of paint, and the place will look more like a home than an abandoned building.
Kade appears on the threshold, his toolbox in one hand and some trash in the other. “Bathroom cabinets fixed.” He drops a hip to lean against the doorjamb. “But the sink’s leaking. I’m gonna have to pop out to the hardware store and get the part to fix it.”
Autumn and Wyatt appear behind Kade, their hands loaded up with coffee and what I hope are pastries.
“I found this one lingering in the parking lot,” Autumn announces, indicating behind her to Wyatt. “How’s it goin’?” she asks, handing out the drinks as she looks around the room.
“Good. Only a few rooms left to paint. If we all pitch in, it should be done by dinner.” I take a sip of my drink, eyeing the bag of pastries Wyatt offers to Kade. I’m starving. Who would have thought that repair work would make me hungrier than ranching? Because I sure didn’t.
Autumn rocks back on her heels. “Where do you want me?”
I shake my head, forcing my focus to her. “The front door could use some oil on the hinges, and then the bedroom should be about ready to start painting. Wyatt, you can fit the new kitchen cabinets.”
Autumn steps closer, cupping her takeout cup in both hands and keeping her voice low when she says, “Thank you for doing this, Gray.”
Her words hit me harder than they should, and I look away, unsure of how to hold her gratitude. “You’re family, Autumn. It’s the least we can do.” I squeeze the back of my neck, uncertainty leaving me at a loss for the right words. I can’t tell her that I want to make sure everything’s in perfect working order for Avery, that I’m softening to the idea of her sticking around.
She tilts her head, a knowing look on her face. “You don’t have to lie to me, Gray. We’ve seen the way you look at her, like you’re trying to get a gauge on whether or not she’s sticking around for good. Just ask her; it doesn’t have to mean anything other than you trying to understand what she’s doing back here.”
I sigh heavily, frustrated that she’s calling me out on my bullshit. “I’ve got too much going on with the ranch, especially with the negotiations coming up for the Evergreen land.” They don’t need to know what’s happened between me and Avery, especially when it might not go any further than it already has.
“That sounds like a whole bunch of excuses. Take her out for dinner or something, have an adult conversation and clear the air.”
“I need to keep my head in the game, so even if asking her out was something I wanted to do…” I pause, shaking my head when the idea of Avery possibly being pregnant with my child flits through my mind. We didn’t use a condom, so there’s a chance it could happen, and then what do we do? Focusing back on the conversation, I continue, “I don’t have the time.” Even as the words leave my mouth, I know it’s a lie. I’d make the time for her. And the more I think about it, asking her out sounds like a smart move, especially if we’ve made a baby. I’m just being practical.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Wyatt rolling his eyes. I clench my fists at the sight. Rounding on him, I demand, “Out with it.” He holds up his hands in mock innocence. “Whatever it is, just say it.”
He darts a glance at Kade, who shakes his head and widens his eyes. “Fine. You wanna know, I’ll tell you.”
I grind my back molars, preparing for the blow of criticism that is no doubt about to come my way.
“Ever since Dad died, and probably even longer now that I think about it, you’ve been carrying the weight of this family, Gray. We let you because you needed to, but now it’s just holding you back. It’s stopping you from living your life.”
