He frowned down at me. “You do look a bit pale.”
It was probably true.
“Very well. I wouldn’t want you to be sick on my new suit,” he joked.
He walked me up to my hotel room again. This time he pushed me up against the door, his tongue invading my mouth again. I endured it. It wouldn’t help to push him away. He would only enjoy denying me if I did.
Luckily, another guest stepped off the elevator, and he had to let me go. “I know how you can make it up to me.” He raised his brows suggestively. “Wesley will drop off a little something for you to wear when you come to my house tomorrow.” He placed a kiss on both my cheeks before finally disappearing into the elevator.
I closed the door behind me and sagged to the ground. I couldn’t keep this up for much longer. And I sure as hell couldn’t stomach sleeping with the man. Thisrelationshipwas moving much faster than previously anticipated, and I felt helpless to slow it down. Charles wouldn’t take rejection well at all.
Grayson’s footsteps resounded from the alabaster floors on the other side of the door. I stood and opened it for him, pulling at my too-tight shirt. The buttons, strategically straining over my breasts, had me suddenly feeling claustrophobic.
His face looked worried as he assessed me again. His hair was messy, and I knew why.
“I have to make something. I need you to get me a few things,” I said before he could speak.
He gripped my hands to stop my wringing. “Anything you need, Princess.”
Istoodinfrontof the mirror, looking at my reflection with the bright red lingerie on that Wesley had dropped off. Grayson stood behind me, his jaw clenching and unclenching, looking murderous.
“Enough, Ava! I’m not letting you go through with this,” he growled at my reflection.
I sighed and walked to the bed, picking up the dress I planned on wearing. “I’ll be fine.”
Grayson swung me around and gripped my chin harshly. “I’ve had enough.” His voice had gone quiet and low, making ice crawl up my spine. His eyes were what I would imagine you’d see when staring into Death’s eyes.
“Grayson, please,” I breathed. What was I pleading for? For him to let go of me, or for him to let me go to Charles’s house? Both, I decided. “I’m ready. If all else fails, and I have to fuck him tonight, I’ll do it. Youknewthis was a possibility, Gray. I’m not gonna let you ruin this. Let me go,please.”
But he didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled me closer to his face, barely controlling his anger. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t scared of him. There would always be that instinct to run from him when he looked at me like this. But laced within the fear, I felt that twinge of excitement. My eyesclosed, savouring it. Grayson excited me, even when he looked dangerously close to squeezing the life out of me. Maybe it was because I trusted him with my whole heart. He was my Grayson.
I savoured the pain in my jaw from his grip. I savoured his angry, panting breaths fanning across my face. I savoured the ominous look in his perfect eyes as he stared down at me with a hint of his panic slipping through—therealdriving force behind his sudden outburst.
Passion. That’s what this was. Love and concern bordering on the edge of madness. For me.
I put my hand softly over his where he gripped my chin. “Please, Grayson. Let me do this for you,” I whispered pleadingly. I needed to do it. For him. So he could finish this chapter of his life and start to heal. So that he could be happy and free from the ghosts that haunted him. So that he would understand just how much I loved him. So that he would see that there was nothing I wouldn’t do for him. I would die for him. For my Grayson.
His eyes softened and swam in emotions. He let go of my jaw and placed his hands softly on either side of my face, pulling me even closer. “No, Ava. Not this. Not for me,” he pleaded, his voice cracking.
I kissed him then. Feverishly. Voraciously. “Yes, for you. Anything…everythingfor you,” I panted against his lips.
We were a tangle of greedy limbs as he pushed me up against the wall. Nothing was enough. His clothes weren’t coming off fast enough. I couldn’t pull him close enough. His hands weren’t bruising me hard enough. His lips weren’t crushed to mine long enough.
His thrusts were hard, uncontrolled, as he punished me, loved me. His name fell from my lips in worship as he made me come. Again and again.
He was everything. He was all.
The dining chair was uncomfortable and over the top. Charles had always favoured flashy over comfort. The opposite of Grayson.
Grayson had taken me to his apartment when we arrived that overlooked the Eiffel tower. It was beautiful, but comfortable. And never flashy. Even with the priceless art adorning it. We had spent a blissful week in the city, sight-seeing, kissing in alleys, and speculating on the best way to steal the Mona Lisa.
“So? When are we doing it?” I asked. He already had it all figured out.
“You’re kidding, right?”
I shrugged, a bit confused by his reaction.
“No, Princess. Some things are sacred. Even to me.”
