Page 26 of Always Be My Baby

“No, no, no. Don’t go in there,” I murmured into the palms of my hands, almost choking on popcorn I had chewed. Thankfully, we sat in the farthest back row and only one other couple sat toward the front. The campus theater was never crowded, especially the last show and in the middle of the week.

“This is the best part. Don’t close your eyes,” Grayson whispered into my ear.

“Easy for you to say. You already know what happens.” I lightly smacked his arm, and then partially covered my eyes.

My heart thudded as the bad guy snuck behind the hero. When he spun, they exchanged gunshots. I flinched and almost screamed. Instead, I ducked toward Grayson, my forehead touching the hard curve of his biceps.

“He’s gone,” Grayson whispered. “Nothing to be afraid of.” He stroked my hair.

I felt like an idiot. I was such a scaredy cat.

When I peered up to meet his blue eyes, those eyes that sparkled with tenderness and everything that screamed what a man should be, I realized I didn’t want to lose him. He had been there for me as a friend, but most of all he waited patiently for me. To him, I was worth the wait, and that meant everything to me.

There were two kinds of men in the world, mom had told me once. There was the kind that loved women so much that his eyes wandered and the kind that would love only one woman devotedly.

I had thought Lucas was the latter, but apparently, he wasn’t. And a deep part of me had known he wasn’t meant for me, but I couldn’t let him go. I was glad I did, for I realized the guy whose arms were around me, giving me comfort, was meant for me.

Grayson had been in the shadows all along, and fate had brought us together at the right time. Though my heart still ached from Lucas’s betrayal, from the loss of love and what we had shared, I was ready to move on, but slowly.

I could give Grayson a piece of my heart, small pieces of me at a time, but I couldn’t jump in and give it to him wholly. But without a doubt, whatever was happening with Grayson and me, it felt right.

“Grayson.” Saying his name seemed a bit more intimate this time.

“Yes.” He met my gaze with those bedroom, seductive eyes.

Rising up to get a better angle, I bored my eyes into his with no guilt, and I kissed him. His lips tasted like popcorn and soda.

He stiffened at first, no doubt from shock, but then he pressed me tighter to his chest and gently kissed me back, and it was how I imagined our first kiss would feel—sweet and tender—our lips moving to the steady rhythm until he pulled back.

“Are you sure?” He blinked, unbelieving. “Are you ready?”

I nodded, biting my bottom lip. “Yes. But we need to take things slow. I think I fell for you the moment you asked me to join your study group. If Lucas had not been in my life, I would have wanted us to be together.”

Grayson’s eyes heated and darkened lustfully. “I think I fell in love with you when you stared at my ass when I walked away.”

I narrowed my eyes at him playfully. “I didn’t stare at your butt.”

He cocked an eyebrow, forcing me to think again.

“Okay, but Gus stared at your ass first. You have a nice ass. I’d like to squeeze it soon.”

Grayson let out a snort. “I like to squeeze, too. We make a perfect couple. But no more talking. I need to declare you’re mine. Forget the movie.” With one swift movement, he had me in his lap, and then he kissed me like there was no tomorrow.

After the movie, he walked me to my place. Leah was seated on the sofa watching an episode of Friends.

“How was the movie?” she narrowed her eyes at me as if to tell me she knew something was up.

“Good. Better than I had anticipated.” My body warmed and my cheeks heated from the memory of our kiss.

Grayson cleared his throat.

I gave him a pointed look.

“I should get going. See ya later, Leah.” Grayson walked backward toward the door, never taking his eyes off me. “I’ll call you later tonight.” He twisted the doorknob, but then he paused. He took three long strides to me, cupped my cheeks, and kissed me with all of him. When he let go he said, “Dream of us. I have been every night since the day I met you.”

He left, leaving me breathless and my heart soaring to the sky.

“Holy cow, Cammy. I’m so happy for you. He’s the smartest choice you’ve ever made,” Leah burst out excitedly.