I freeze. Watch him look down my body with an unreadable expression. I look down. Maybe I wasn't supposed to wear this one--
He grabs me around the waist and kisses me, and so hard, so suddenly, I suck in a breath in surprise. My arms wind around his neck, then slide down so I can hold his face, his bearded jaw in my palms. When he breaks the kiss, the light shines in sideways, hitting his pale irises, illuminating them.
"Is it okay that I picked this one?" I asked, still not totally sure.
"It's perfect. Keep it," he rasps, nipping my lips, kissing me hard once more before letting me go.
I'm flushed and smiling as I pour us coffee, his black, mine with a little sugar. I set it next to him on the counter and lean my back against it so I can watch him.
"Frying eggs shirtless?" I note. "This might be the most reckless thing I've ever seen you do."
He laughs. "You'rethe most reckless thing I've ever done."
I beam into my coffee cup as I take a sip. "Technically," I start, "you haven'tdoneme."
His eyes snap to mine. "Don't worry, peaches--the second you're ready, I'll rectify that."
My eyes narrow as I play like I'm sizing him up. "ThesecondI'm ready? What if I said I was ready right now?"
Grey's fist tightens around the spatula in his hand, and he points it at me. "The urge to pop your ass with this right now is so strong right now."
"Mhmm. That's what I thought. You'd try and stop me. Talk me out of it."
At that, he shifts, folding his arms and leaning his hip on the counter close enough that I have to tip my chin to see him. The spatula is still in his fist, pointed at the ceiling.
"I'm gonna tell you this one more time, Molly--the second you're ready, I won't fight you. I won't argue. You know what you want. You know what's at stake. You don't need me or anybody to tell you what to do. I trust you. Just promise me you'll always talk to me, tell me. Stop me or stop yourself. Rain check. Whatever."
"I promise."
"Good. Then I'll fuck you whenever you want."
He says it so casually, turning back to the eggs like he didn't just say he was gonna dick me down whenever I ask.
The words are on my tongue, partly just to see what he'll do. Partly because I just splooshed his Jockeys. Partly because the idea doesn't scare me.
Am I terrified of what happens when he tries to put all ofthatin me? Obviously. But I'm ready to get past the scary part and into the part where we just get to fuck. And knowing he's not going to stop me? That he's through fighting this?
All I have to do is say the word, and he will rail me into next week.
It feels like a grenade in my hand. A hot, glittery, sexy, baby oiled pussy grenade. I want to pull the pin so bad I can barely see straight.
He stirs the eggs with one hand, picking up his coffee with the other. I watch his muscles shift, his smooth skin, the dusting of hair on his muscular forearms.
"So today," he starts like we weren't just talking about what we were just talking about, "I figure we need to get over there and see what we're dealing with. Probably have you change into pants, at least. I mean, not that I give a fuck if you walk through town in my underwear and shirt with no bra on, but I don't want to have to send somebody to the hospital for looking."
I chuckle at the thought. He keeps talking.
"We've gotta get some supplies though. I'm at least going to need some plywood so we can board up the windows. I'll bring my chainsaw, wheelbarrow. We can make a burn pile for whatever we can't split for firewood. I think I already have measurements for the windows, but I want to double check them. We should be able to order them from Hal. Oh, I should bring my big ladder too so I can check the roof. There's definitely damage to the front of the house, the soffits for sure…"
He's still talking, but my worry has risen to such a volume that I can't hear him anymore. The list is long. Very long. And mostly urgent. Which means immediate expenses. Requiring funds I don't have.
"Hey," he says gently, plating our eggs, reaching for our toast. "You okay?"
"How long do you think repairs will take?"
"Depends on the damage. Could be a couple days, could be a couple weeks."
I hesitate.
