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Chapter 3
The food's here," he said. “Comeon.”
Grayson led me back to our table where two trays were left next to our still full glasses. I drained half of my water the second my butt hit the seat before diving into the food. Only when the fish hit my tongue did I realize my mistake. I slowed, savoring the delicious taste. Salty with a hint of lemony tartness. It was good. It wasn't the kind of meal meant to be gobbled like a turkey on Thanksgiving. It was meant to be savored in the moment. I groaned with my mouth full, causing Grayson to chuckle across fromme.
"Like it?" heinquired.
I nodded. Undoubtedly, this was one of the best meals I had ever had. When it came to a close, I almost whimpered at the sight of my empty plate. I debated asking about getting another plate of it to go. I could say it was for one of the others—even though I knew it probably wouldn’t make it home. Even though my stomach was beyond full, I could have eaten another two helpings at least. Grayson chuckled again as he paid the bill and then escorted me back to the parking lot, our handslinked.
As he had opened my door before, he did so again, helping me in like a gentleman. He reminded me of Marv when he acted like this. The car rumbled quietly to life and as if it was entirely natural, both of our hands fell into the console at the same time, and our fingers brushed. Grayson didn't look at me as he reversed and then put the car into drive before he took my handagain.
The entire drive home was brimming with tension. From the way Grayson’s hand contracted around mine, holding on tight, I knew he could feel it too. When we pulled into the driveway, all of the windows were dark, everyone else likely out or asleep. The car cut off and silence filled the space of the front seat. I could feel a pressure building, slowly climbing in my head with each beat of my heart until all I could hear was the organ throbbing in mychest.
I turned my head. “Grayson?”
“Let’s go inside,” he said at the same time his name left mylips.
We both paused for a brief moment as something electric shifted between us, arcing over our bodies. I could see it in his eyes; that same emotion had passed through him as well. My heart pounded as he leaned forward, across the car’s console, never taking his eyes away from my gaze. The nearer he came, the louder my heart seemed to beat against myribcage.
Just a breath away from me, he stopped. Grayson’s eyes left my gaze and zeroed in on my mouth. His tongue snuck out and slicked across his lower lip. I found my mouth as dry as the SaharaDesert.
“Harlow?” My name was a whisper as he lifted his gaze oncemore.
Breathlessly, I answered him. “Yes?”
“I’m going to kiss you.” It was the only warning I got before his mouth was onmine.
That wild, untamable electricity was back, and it hit me like a freight train as his lips closed over mine. Grayson opened me wide, diving in, bulldozing his way past all my barriers. He reached up, one hand cupping behind my neck to hold me in place. Not that I would have pulled back. Oh no. I wouldn’t even have considered pulling away. I was so enthralled by him, sunk so deep into the kiss that the rest of the world disappeared and all that remained was him andme.
I didn’t even recall giving my hands permission to move. I didn’t realize they had until my fingers were already on him. Both hands grasping the fabric of his shirt in a tight grip, wanting to pull him impossibly closer, wanting to feel him against me, over me. I wanted all of him pressed as close as possible. I felt faint. I felt hot. I felt like I was burning alive, and it was the absolute best way todie.
“Fuck.” Grayson’s curse was a groan against my mouth and I shook my head, sinking my nails deeper, moving my hands to the hem of his nice shirt. I didn’t want to let him go. I didn’t want him to stop kissing me. My fingers grazed his abdomen, causing him to suck in a breath. “Harlow—Jesus—fuck.” He sounded like he was barely keeping himself restrained. I didn’t want him to hold back. I wanted him as wild as Ifelt.
This felt too good to stop now. I didn’t want to think. I didn’t want Grayson to think either. After the heaviness of talking about our families, this was exactly what we needed. I kissed him harder, pulling him back to me when he would have moved away. I let my tongue tease against his lips, slipping through into his mouth. My eyes remained closed as I felt with my body—felt his chest rise and fall as he panted, felt the tightness of his muscles as he held me. I pulled back with a gasp—needing air—but it wasn’tenough.
“More,” I hissed, slamming my mouth against his. I didn’t care if I sounded needy. I didn’t care if I was being unnaturally aggressive. Maybe that’s what I needed to be with Grayson to get what Iwanted.
My seatbelt was off before I knew it and I found myself on Grayson’s lap. The position was all too familiar, reminding me of my first kiss with Bellamy. This time, though, I couldn’t tell who was doing the pushing. Grayson’s hands gripped my hips as I straddled him, my hands on the back of his neck, holding him to me, unwilling to let go. Something pressed up between my legs, hot and hard. I blinked as I pulled away from the kiss in surprise and lookeddown.
Grayson shifted uncomfortably. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “We should getgoing.”
I stopped him with a hand on his face. “I’m not,” I said, feeling that electricity still racing through my system. “I’m not sorry at all.” I kissed him again, letting that heat consume us once more. “And you shouldn’t beeither.”
I think I may have tested Grayson’s patience too much, though, because after several minutes of making out, he groaned low in his throat and pulled away to pop the driver’s door open. When he got out of the car, I reached for him and clung to him like a vine. I didn’t care if he wanted to go in or not, I didn’t want to stop kissing him. With a bemused chuckle, he hefted me out of the car along withhim.
I found myself giggling as Grayson carried me around the side of the house. I lowered my head to his neck and licked the salt from his skin, muffling my light-hearted laughter. He shuddered and one thick hand slapped out, hitting the building before he grunted and lifted me up higher in his arms and regained his balance. I felt so safe in his arms, soprotected.
We made it to the pool house and as soon as the door closed behind us, he dropped me to my feet and pushed me up against the wall. “You test my patience,” he growled into my throat as he bit down on the column of my neck. My legs went weak and my vision hazed over. “You know that, don’tyou?”
With my eyes closed and one hand on the back of his head, I relished in the ministrations of his tongue. “I know,” I whispered with a small smile. “But you likeit.”
Grayson chuckled, a sound that made the place between my legs tighten and tingle. After a moment at my throat, Grayson pulled away. Despite my grumbling protests and obvious hints that I wanted more kissing, he slid to his knees in front ofme.
I blinked down at him as Grayson looked up my body with a wickedly boyish grin—the kind I hadn’t seen from him in a long time. It was also the kind of Grayson grin that warned me to bewary.
“W-what are you doing?” I asked as his hands slid up my barecalves.
“Who, me?” he replied, that damn grin still inplace.
