ChapterForty-Two
Gray slides out of me and I wince, my muscles sore and my pussy aching in the most delicious way.A strong arm wraps around my waist and rolls me onto my side.Gray presses his chest to my back and I melt into him with a sigh, letting the warmth of his body wrap around me.He pulls a soft blanket over my legs and tucks it around me.His lips meet the back of my neck and he winds his hand through my hair, gently brushing his fingers through the messy strands.
My eyes drift closed as an unfamiliar feeling washes over me, loosening my muscles.It feels odd and new, but nice.Is this what peace feels like?Comfort?My mind flits back in time, wondering if any man has ever made me feel this way, satisfied and safe.They haven’t.Not a single one.At least, not until him.I’ve been used to it, prioritizing my own orgasm because no one else would, but it’s totally different with Gray.He wrings them out of me, over and over.He demands them.
As I lay in the bed, surrounded by his scent, the warmth of him beside me grows stifling.I curl my fingers into the blanket, yanking it up higher on my body and tucking it around my neck.My stomach begins to churn, a familiar anxiety squirming in my belly.What happens now?He told me I was his, but does he still feel that way?Have I served my purpose now that he’s had me?
“I,” my voice catches in my throat, forcing me to cough the words out, “should probably get?—”
A yelp jumps from my mouth as Gray flips me onto my back.He climbs on top of me, trapping my waist between his powerful thighs.His fingers bite into my wrists as he yanks them over my head and presses them into the pillows.I look into his hard eyes and a pathetic sound crawls up my throat.
“Absolutely fucking not, little bird,” he growls.“You’re not going anywhere.I know what’s happening in your head right now, and it’s going to stop.”He runs his nose along the length of my neck, inhaling deeply.“You are mine.Tonight, tomorrow, and every night for the rest of our lives.”
The butterflies in my stomach flap their wings wildly, pushing against my belly as if they could reach out and touch him.My eyes sting with tears and I blink rapidly to force them back.The panicked girl inside of me breathes a sigh of relief.He wants me, she whispers.He loves me.
Loosening his grip on my arms, he stares down at me, his eyes soft.There’s a gentleness in his voice that takes me by surprise when he speaks.“Here’s what’s going to happen.”He rubs soft circles on my arm with his finger.“I’m going to get you one of my shirts, you’re going to put it on, and then we’re going to go downstairs.You’re going to pick a movie and I’m going to make us some snacks.”
I open my mouth to speak, but he levels me with a look that has my mouth zipping closed so hard that my teeth clack together.
“I’m going to hold you and we’re going to watch that movietogether.Then, we’ll go to bedtogether.You’re not going back to your house tonight.”A smirk teases at the side of his mouth.“In fact, you’re not going to live there anymore, because once I sleep next to you, I will never be able to sleep without you again.”
My eyes widen, releasing a tear that slides down my cheek.He brushes it away, his thumb tracing down the line of my jaw.“Tell me you understand, Ava,” he says firmly.Emotion flickers across his face, his mouth pulling down and his eyes closing.“Tell me you want this,” he whispers, “that you want me.”
My heart bangs in my chest, thumping so loudly that I’m sure he can hear it.Do I want this?God, yes, yes, I do.I reach my hand up, pressing my palm to his cheek.The words fly from my mouth easily because there’s no other option for me.Nothing else will ever be like it is with him.There’s no one else who could make me feel the things he does.“I want you.I want this.”
“Tell me you love me, little bird.”The plea in his voice slams into my heart, splintering anything that remains of its protective cage.I feel the pieces scatter within me, laying me bare and vulnerable before him.I can’t deny it any longer.I can’t pretend that I don’t feel the way I feel in his arms—safe, loved, cherished.
My voice cracks with emotion as more tears dribble down my cheeks.“I love you so much that it scares me.”
His mouth collides with mine before I can say anything else.We fall into each other in a clash of tongues and teeth.His arms wrap around me and I sigh into his mouth, feeling like I’m finally home.
* * *
I nestle into the couch, listening to the rustling of plastic packaging that spills out from the kitchen.Gray hums a happy tune that vaguely reminds me of something from my childhood, but that I can’t quite place.A smile creeps across my face as I flick through movies.Indecision wars in my mind as I flit back and forth between a romantic comedy and a thriller.I pull a fuzzy throw blanket around me and snuggle into the pillows.
Realizing that I can’t possibly risk my amazing mood with a sad ending, my decision happens in a split second.Rom-com it is!For the first time, I’m not concerned with my choice of film.I’m not worried that Gray will be upset that I chose the‘girly’movie instead of something with gunfights and cowboys.
The smell of chocolate wafts into the room and Gray glides in behind it.He sets a tray on the coffee table and I grin at the steaming mugs of cocoa and enormous bowl of popcorn.
“Did you pick something?”he asks.
“A rom-com.Emily said it’s really cute.Oh, uh, Emily is my best friend, but you probably know that already, don’t you?”
He nods, his mouth splitting into a smile that could make the devil’s panties wet.“You’re so cute, baby.”he chuckles.
The couch dips beside me before Gray pulls me into his lap and starts the movie.He wraps his arms around me and nuzzles into my neck.His breath tickles over my nape and a needy sound bubbles up from my throat.My skin pebbles with goosebumps as his lips whisper over my neck.My core warms, heat shooting straight to my center.I clench my legs together, feeling the wetness starting to slick my inner thighs.
“Watch the movie, precious,” Gray purrs against the shell of my ear.
His fingertips dance over my exposed thigh, making me pant with need.A moan slides off my tongue as his teeth scrape against my shoulder.My pussy clenches and my clit jumps, begging for his attention.He circles a finger around my entrance and an aching pain shivers through my muscles.
“I'm so sore,” I plead.
His chest rumbles with a masculine hum.“I know you are, and you're going to be sore every day.”He pushes a finger into me and I moan.“I'm going to fuck this perfect pussy every day with my tongue, my fingers, my cock.”He hooks his finger, rubbing that spot inside of me that makes my legs shake.
“And I'm not going to stop when it hurts,” he says before sinking his teeth into my shoulder.A shudder runs through me and I moan, rocking my hips into his hand, forcing him deeper.He licks the aching spot where his teeth were, soothing the sting.“Because I know how much you love it when I hurt you.”
My insides melt at his words, my nerve endings lighting up at his rough treatment.Maybe it's wrong.Maybe I shouldn't want this, but I don't care.My body heats, my blood boiling in my veins.
