His body pushes into mine until I’m up against the sink, moving my hips against his. The power of him has my core aching and he lifts my hips up, balancing me on the edge of the sink and sending water cascading over the edge.
It splashes on the floor, and that seems to break the spell. Grant steps back, and a look of regret crosses his face.
“I’m sorry.”
Disappointment stabs at my heart. I want him to kiss me again. I want to get lost in his heat and feel the solidness of him against me. I want his realness, the first good and true thing I’ve felt in months.
“Don’t be sorry.”
He takes another step back. “You’re vulnerable, and I’m taking advantage.”
Confusion clouds my brain until I remember our conversation in the woods. He thinks I’ve had mental health problems; he thinks that’s what I’ve been dealing with.
“It’s okay.” I shake my head. “It’s not what you think.”
He runs a hand through his hair.
“You don’t have to tell me, April. But if you’re dealing with depression or something like that, then I won’t take advantage of you.”
Damn him and his honorable intentions. I want him to rip my clothes off. I want to feel something real with him.
But if I want that, then I need to tell him the truth. He deserves that from me.
“Mental health isn’t the reason I couldn’t be Bailey’s guardian.”
His brow furrows. “I thought that’s what you said…”
“Well, it is kind of, I guess. But it’s more complicated than that…”
I run my hands through my hair and blow out a long breath. Now that it’s time to confess, I’m not sure where to begin. He’ll kick me out once he knows, and there’ll be no more seeing Bailey. But I can’t go further with Grant without telling the truth.
With regret I take a deep breath, ready to talk, but he cuts me off.
“You don’t need to tell me, April. Not yet. Whatever it is, it’s clear it’s painful for you to talk about.”
I nod. “It is. But…”
“Na-ah.” He shakes his head. “I don’t want to cause you any more pain tonight, April. You can tell me tomorrow.”
Relief floods me. I’ve got a free pass. I’ve got one night before Grant learns the truth, and I don’t intend to waste it.
“Okay.” I take a step closer to him so our bodies brush together, and he groans. “You’re not taking advantage of me, Grant. I want you. I can’t explain it, but I want you.” I say it simply and hope he reads the truth in my eyes.
He smiles. “Let me ease your troubles, April. You’re a woman who needs a release. Let me take away your worries for a night and make you feel good. We can talk tomorrow.”
I should tell him no; I shouldn’t let this go further until we’ve talked. But his words pull at a longing in my soul. All the pent up anxiety from the last few years aches for release.
Now I’m the one taking advantage of him. But the selfish part of me wants to. To have one night to enjoy this man, one night before he finds out the truth.
Then his lips are on mine, and all thoughts flee my mind. There’s nothing but his mouth and his heat and the press of his solid weight against mine.
9
GRANT
April’s body pressed against mine feels like heaven. Her lips are soft and pliant as I kiss her long and hard. I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since I saw her on the side of the road. It was inevitable that we would end up here. It just took longer than it should’ve because I was blindsided by who she was.
But none of that matters when I feel her hips grind against mine.
