Chapter 6

Grace

Once everything is packed in my suitcase we order pizza and start to discuss how I want the wedding to be, because there’s no way I’m just going to leave Trina without one last dinner together. Eli told me to take as long as I wanted and text him when I was ready, so I decided to take some time and spend it with my best friend. Who knows when I’ll get another chance to with everything that’s about to happen. And after everything’s settled, we might not be in the same apartment together again, so I’m going to enjoy this last night as much as I can. We pin a zillion things on pinterest, and given the fact that I don’t have a budget to worry over, we start looking up completely crazy things to add to the wedding, like a circus, and Cinderella’s carriage, and even my very own fairytale castle, if I was willing to pay almost a million bucks for the weekend.

I probably won’t do any of this, not even if they could be rented on short notice, but it was kind of fun to let off some steam with Trina.

Finally though, I knew it was time to go. I texted Eli, and we brought my suitcase down fifteen minutes later. When I saw a BMW SUV pull up at the front, I turned and gave my best friend a hug.

“I’ll see you this weekend,” I told her. “I’ll text you all the information.”

“Kay,” she said sadly.

I roll my suitcase behind me, pushing open the security doors to get outside. Trina turns around to go, and I know that she’s probably trying to hide how upset she is. The door opens on the driver’s side, and to my surprise, it’s Eli who comes out.

“Oh,” I say, “I thought you said you would send a driver?”

He comes over and grabs my suitcase, lifts up the back door and slides it in easily. His muscles flex underneath his suit jacket, and I can’t help but swallow hard.

“I just finished up at the office,” he says as he closes the door. “I figured that I could swing by myself and take you back. Seems like something your fiancé would do.”

Right. My fiancé. I know I should probably kiss him, in case Trina’s watching still or something, but I can’t seem to make myself do it. He heads back towards the car, and I scramble inside it too. You need to get into acting mode stat.

The interior of the car is gorgeous, with soft, luxurious seats and smooth paneling. Soft jazz is playing, and I take a moment to sort of appreciate how great everything looks. It’s definitely an upgrade from mine. The seats are even heated, I discover, which is just the icing on the cake.

Eli leans closer to me, and my eyes widen. Is he going to kiss me? I think with alarm. I’m not ready for this moment. But then he reaches over me and pulls my seatbelt, snapping it in for me.

“Can’t go without this on,” he murmurs softly. He’s close enough for me to smell him, something dark and sexy, like sandalwood and spice that’s intensely overwhelming. Desire flashes through me, heat puddling between my legs. My heart races, my lips parting for him- and then he’s pulling away, and I realize just how taut my body is.

He puts the SUV into drive and I sag into the leather seat, releasing the breath I’ve been holding. I know that I was the one to say no sex, but in that moment, Eli could have taken whatever he wanted from me. Hell, I would have given it to him. He places a hand on my thigh, tracing circles with his thumb, and it feels so good that I don’t ask him to stop. My pussy pulses, wanting him to reach higher. It’s dangerous, feeling like this, but I don’t want him to take his hand away either.

“Was that Trina?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I say, glad to focus my mind on something other than how much I wanted him. “How do you know about her?”

“Rich got a P.I. to check you out, make sure you would be a good fit.”

I frown.

“That doesn’t seem fair,” I say. “I hardly know anything about you. In fact, I had to make up a few things for Trina. We never had time to get our story straight.”

“We could do that now,” he offers. “What did you want to know?”

What did I want to know about the man I’m about to marry? Lots. But I didn’t know where to start.

“Do you always work this late?”

He looks at me out of the corner of his eye.

“I give you carte blanche to ask me anything, and this is what you want to know?”

I shrug.

“It seems as good a question as any.”

His eyes focus back on the road. I take the chance to really take in his powerful arms, that broad chest, the long legs. He radiates power and confidence, someone who’s completely at ease and in control of his surroundings.

“I work hard, so yes, I often end up getting off late. I am in almost everything but name the head of the company, and there are always more decisions to be made, more work to finish. It’s a never-ending job, but I enjoy it. I like planning ahead, anticipating the market, taking a risk and watching it pay off. It’s addicting, but it’s also a heavy responsibility. We have thousands of employees, all of whom depend on me for their livelihood. It makes it hard to just kick back and relax.”

His answer impresses me. I thought that he just wanted money, and that’s why he’s cooked up this crazy scheme, but it sounds like his work is important to him. I can only imagine that everything else in his life is suffering though, if he only finishes work at nine every night.

“Do you do anything else?”

“I don’t understand the question,” he says.

“You know, like hobbies and stuff. For example, I like to watch old movies.”

It actually started out as a way for me to study how acting began, sort of like paying my dues. But I found myself enjoying them so much that I’ve rewatched the old classics hundreds of times at least. I’ve even gotten Trina into it.

“That’s not exactly a hobby.”

“Sure it is,” I say defensively. “There’s a lot more art and depth to old movies than there are nowadays. People were telling stories, grand ones. Now it’s all about superheroes and remakes.”

“I take it you’re not happy with the direction of film these days?”

“Not really. But you know, I’d still be happy to act in one of them,” I say with a sigh. “I’d be happy to be any of them. Once I have something to my name, it’ll be that much easier to get the next one, and then the one after that.”

“And what’s your end goal?”

I think about that for a minute. I don’t think I’ve ever really thought beyond starring in a movie or landing a part on stage. Fame, money, all that would be nice, but there’s something about acting itself, about becoming someone else entirely and being able to tell a story that never gets old for me.

“Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything else but the experience that I’m looking for. It’s a need I have, like hunger or thirst. Everything else is just a bonus.”

“Then perhaps we can find a way to make that happen,” he says, turning the car into an underground parking lot.

His sincerity takes me by surprise. I honestly didn’t think he would care about what I’d do so long as I went along with his plan. That he would help me try and achieve my dream touches something inside of me.

We park at the designated spot and get out. Eli carries my suitcase for me, and together we head towards the elevators. He punches in a code for the elevator, and it opens up. There’s only one button, which I assume is for the penthouse floor. I really thought that a man like Eli would live in Malibu or something, where all the other rich celebrities are instead of in a high rise.

“I picked this place because it’s close to work.”

It does make total sense. A man like Eli who spends almost all his waking hours at work probably doesn’t need good views. Actually, hearing this cheers me up. Maybe he’ll be so busy with work that we won’t have to have too much to do with one another and we’ll still be able to lead our separate lives. That would make things infinitely easier. The last thing I need is to make things complicated by falling for him, especially when he’s made it clear that’s the last thing he wants.

The elevator door opens and we get out right into the penthouse apartment. It’s absolutely breathtaking. The space is open and airy, and the bright lights of L.A. flash and twinkle in the floor to ceiling windows. The furniture is modern, lots of glass and gray, and I wonder just how much of it is his personal touch. It looks almost like a show home more than anything else. There’s a double sided fireplace and a floating wall that separates out the living room from the formal dining, and a gigantic kitchen flows along one wall. Marble countertops complement the light gray walls and stainless steel appliances.

“Did you want a drink or anything like that?” he asks a bit stiffly.

I guess I am technically invading his personal space. I wonder how many women have come in here, or if maybe he would see them somewhere else instead.

“I’m actually pretty tired,” I admit.

“Then I’ll bring your stuff to your room.” He led the way down a hallway. “This one’s mine, and you can have this one.”

He opened the door to a spacious guest bedroom that’s twice the size of my old one. I drop my purse on the bed and just take it all in as Eli lays the suitcase at the foot of the bed for me. Even the attached bathroom ensuite is bigger than it. I turn around, impressed by the dazzling chrome fixtures and floor to ceiling tile. A large soaker tub beckoned to me in the far corner, and soft, fluffy towels stood ready to envelop me in cozy warmth.

“This is like staying at a hotel,” I breathe.

“I want this to be as enjoyable for you as possible,” Eli says.

His eyes flicker over to mine, and my heart skips a beat. We’re all alone in his penthouse. There’s no telling what he could do to me, and if I could even put up a fight.

“Are you nervous?” he asks, amused. “I’m not going to bite.”

“No, but you’re the kind of guy to take what he wants,” I say shakily. My body feels hot and tingly.

“Not if she doesn’t want to,” he says, closing the distance between us. “Do you not want to?”

His breath is warm on me, and he touches my cheek softly. It shouldn’t affect me so, but the simple gesture feels so intimate. I try to take a deep breath, regain some control over the situation.

“I.. I don’t know,” I admit.

Eli’s close, so close to me that I’m almost dizzy with desire.

“I’m going to kiss you Grace,” he says huskily, and the simple statement sends a thrill straight down to my pussy.

He closes the distance between us, his lips pressing against my own. I freeze for a moment, and then my body responds on its own, my lips parting for his tongue. It feels good, so good, that I don’t know if I could handle it. Want courses through my veins, butterflies exploding in my stomach as he holds onto me, his arms keeping me upright. I’m tasting him, and he tastes good, addictive. I want more, my tongue sweeping into his mouth too. How could one kiss do so much to me? Desire overwhelms me as his hand drifts down to rest on my ass, his other one cradling my neck to deepen our kiss further. I know I should stop this, break the kiss before it goes further, but I don’t want to listen to that voice in my head. I just want to feel more, even as my heart threatened to crash right through my chest.

When we part, I can see the lust in his eyes, making those blue eyes dark and dangerous. Here was my chance to go, but truth be told, I didn’t want to. Fear, desire, it all mixed up inside me into a potent combination. Eli pins me up against the wall.

“I’m going to kiss you again,” he says, making my legs wobble, “And this time, I’m not going to stop.”

He waits for me to tell him no, but I don’t.

This time the kiss is rough and greedy, taking everything he wanted from me. I open my lips, offer it up to him. I let the smell of him wash over me, take over my senses as we kiss. His arms slide down my curves, press me up against his cock. I wrap my own arms around him, holding tightly as I kiss him right back. All the pent up need I have for Eli explodes at once. He breaks the kiss, only to rain more down across my jaw, down my neck, biting and making me whimper and gasp. His tongue feels hot and wet as it sweeps over my pulse, and I let out a soft moan as his teeth graze my skin.

His hand reaches up to palm my left breast, the nipples budding under his fingertips. I’m wearing a lace bralette, and I can feel every touch as he pinches through the fabric of my t-shirt. I gasp as pleasure skips through me, coiling tightly in my pussy. His fingers keep moving though, across my stomach down to the hem of my skirt. I know I should stop him, but I can’t do it. His finger traces over my inner thigh, leaving a trail of fire, and then he’s at my panties, stroking me with one finger.

“You’re soaked,” he murmurs, smiling against my neck. “Absolutely soaking wet for me.”

His finger rests against my swollen pussy, and oh god, I rocked my hips toward him, begging for more. I can feel his touch ghost over my clit, the little bundle of need washing away all coherent thought. How could he move so expertly over me like this? This is nothing like the fumbling of a high school boy.

Laughing, Eli pushes the fabric of my panties aside. His finger dips into my pussy, parting my tight folds before lifting up and rubbing my clit at last. My eyes widen with shock at the intensity of the pleasure he unleashes inside of me. His fingers dip into me again, pushing apart my pussy until they press against my entrance. It’s a tight fit, but he squeezes one in.

“Grace, you’re so goddamn tight,” he pants against me. “Fuck, I might not even fit.”

Eli’s lips meet mine again, and we’re kissing, desperate and quick. He grinds his cock against my leg, a monster tool that sparks fear in me for a moment until he pushes a second finger inside of me. He thrusts them in and out, a rapid rhythm that reduces me to senseless pleasure. My pussy clenches against the intrusion as he inserts a third finger, trying to stretch me wide. His fingers curl, hitting the perfect spot inside of me that makes me quiver with sensation. My hips rock against his hand, compelled on instinct to continue increasing the feeling he gives me. I can feel something inside of me building up, higher and higher, and I clutch onto his shoulder tightly.

“Eli,” I gaps. “Eli, I’m close-I’m close-”

“Come for me Grace,” he growls. “Do it.”

“I can’t,” I whimper softly. “I-I can’t. I- Ohhhhhhh!”

My orgasm crashes through me without warning, and I come with a scream. Violent quakes radiate through my body, pleasure so intense that my vision turns momentarily black. I struggle to breathe, to say anything as I experience my orgasm for the very first time. If it wasn’t for Eli between my legs, I wouldn’t be standing up right now. I go limp, trying to figure out all these feelings swirling through me. He’s working his belt buckle, and a part of me wants to throw everything out the window when my phone begins to ring.

“Ignore it,” Eli says.

“I can’t. That’s my mom’s ringtone, and I told her that I had urgent news to tell her just a while ago. If I don’t pick up, she’ll assume the worst.”

He raises one perfect brow.

“Grace, you’re an adult. You’re not beholden to anyone,” he says.

“You don’t understand what’s going on with my family. I have to take it.”

I draw in a shaky breath, ducking under his arm and running to where I’d left my purse. I’m glad for the excuse to take the call, no matter how flimsy, because I was about to make a major mistake. I click on the call and turn away from Eli, pushing the hem of my skirt back down over my hips.

“Mom? Hey,” I say. I know Eli’s frustrated, but I’m not worried about him doing something. He isn’t that kind of person. “How’s it going?”

She fills me in about Lydia as he leaves. I’m grateful for the call, because who knows how much further we would have gotten. One thing’s for sure. I’ll have to be on my guard while I’m staying here with Eli. Not against him, but against myself. Because I’m already thinking about the taste of his lips, the feel of his cock and just how badly I want him.