Chapter Sixteen
LATER THAT EVENING, after picking up Christmas and all of his doggy paraphernalia, clothes, toiletries, the script Parker was working on, and a few other necessities, Parker and Grayson settled into his cottage. The three-bedroom home was nestled among a sparse forest of pitch pine trees, overlooking a private pond. Christmas sniffed every inch of each room, finally claiming the spot before the fireplace.
As Grayson went through the motions of opening up his private world to Parker, he waited for panic to trip him up. But the only thing tripping him up was how much he loved seeing Parker move from room to room as she put her things away.
“You have such great taste.” She kissed him, her arms full of toiletries, then disappeared into the bathroom. “I love the pictures of your family in the living room and the sculptures in the yard.”
Over the months they’d been emailing he’d dreamed of her being there with him, but seeing her things mingling with his—her clothes hanging beside his, her perfume and brush beside his cologne on the dresser—made his cottage feel even more like a home.
She returned to the bedroom and put her clothes in the drawer he’d emptied.
“And this bed? Oh my goodness. I’ve never seen anything like it, which means you must have made it.”
She had no idea how big a deal it was for Grayson to want to share his bed with her. He’d never wanted to share his home, or his bed, with a woman before. The bed he’d designed and forged with his own two hands. But when it came to Parker, nowhere was off-limits.
Later that evening they ate dinner on the patio. After dinner he leaned against the doorframe of the master bedroom as Parker got ready for a walk around the pond.
“How did you stand staying at my house when yours is so wonderful?” she asked.
“What’s to stand? You were there. We could stay in a palace or my truck and I would be fine with it as long as we’re together. I was worried my place would be too rustic or too small for you.”
“Too small? You have three bedrooms. How many more do you need?” She grabbed her sandals from the closet and set them in the room.
“Not too small for me. You’re used to big, fancy places. This is anything but.”
“You’re right. It’s not big and fancy. It’s cozy and homey, and I can’t imagine loving anyplace more.”
I can’t imagine loving anything more than you. He’d been having those thoughts more often the last few days, and it was a struggle to keep them to himself.
She bent to slip on her sandals, giving him a clear view of her perfect butt. He pushed from the doorframe and gathered her in his arms.
“Bending over like that was very unfair. Taunting me, when I’ve had to watch you looking torturously sexy in my bedroom all day.”
She wound her arms around his neck. “How did I look in the living room?”
He kissed her deeply.
She let out a long breath. “That good?”
“Mm-hm.” He kissed her again.
“And in the bathroom?” She closed her eyes and tipped her head back, giving him access to her neck.
“Sinful, just like you do now. Like you needed to be stripped naked and loved thoroughly.” He pressed his lips over her pulse point, and she whispered his name. “Mm. My girl likes that.”
“What about…?” she said breathlessly. “In the kitchen?”
“The kitchen?” He pressed his hands to her cheeks and gazed into her heavily lidded eyes. “You should always be naked in the kitchen.”
“Naked,” she whispered, pressing her body to his. “Why?”
The way she fished for dirty talk always turned him on. “I want to make love to you on every counter, on the table, on the floor…” He tangled his hand in her hair and lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her with long, deep strokes of his tongue. She moaned with pleasure, and when he intensified the kiss, she pushed her hands into his hair and held on tight. Man, he loved that. He crushed their bodies together, groaning at the feel of her against him.
“Baby, I don’t think we’re going to make that walk.” He sucked her earlobe into his mouth, grazing it with his teeth.
“There’s always tomorrow.”
With that green light, his hands traveled over her luscious curves, up her rib cage, and back down the way they’d come. They kissed and groped as they stripped each other bare, nipping at each other’s lips and jaws, their necks and shoulders, until they were both panting with need.
“Grayson, please,” she begged. “I love when you touch me.”
Love coursed through his veins, rode the surface of his skin, and stole from his lips. “I love you, baby.”
She opened her eyes and searched his.
“I do, sweetheart.” It was too fast, too much for her. He knew she’d overthink this, just as he probably should, but his emotions were too real to question. “Don’t think, Parker. Feel.”
“I…”
He kissed her to quiet her thoughts. “Shh. You don’t have to say it. Just know it.”
A worried look hovered in her eyes, bringing with it a new ache.
“What, baby? Tell me. Too much, too fast?” He’d barreled into her life, a life that had been tossing and turning for weeks. He wanted to settle her, make her feel safe and loved. To be her rock, her anchor, her everything. But he could wait a lifetime if that’s what it took.
She shook her head, and a stream of emotions washed over her face—worry, love, lust. It was the lust that seemed to win.
“Stop overthinking, sweetheart. I’ve got you. I’ve got us.”
PARKER WAS BONELESS again, floating in the post-lovemaking daze she’d come to know, to crave, with Grayson. He gathered her in his arms and laid her on the bed, following her down. You love me, you love me, you love me. She ached to tell him she’d been falling in love with him for months, but they were supposed to be taking their lives day by day, living for now, and the fear of laying her heart on the line without knowing what the future held was too much. What would happen when she went back to her life in California? And after his foundation work was completed? His life was here at the Cape, and hers was all over the place, depending on the roles she took on. She knew it didn’t make a lick of sense to think it would hurt less if they broke up and she hadn’t said she loved him, but she was learning that when it came to love, nothing made sense.
He brushed her hair from her face, a tender smile on his. “Had enough, baby?”
“No.” I love you. “You promised me more.”
“I always keep my promises.” He brushed his thumb over her lips. “I love your mouth, baby. And your eyes. And your cheeks. And most of all, your—”
“Heart?” I love your heart.
His eyes turned wicked. “That, too, but I was going to say your knockers.”
She laughed, loving his sense of humor. “You were not.”
“You’re right. I was going to say your sweet, delicious…kisses.”
She rolled her eyes. I love your kisses, your touch, that wicked love machine between your legs.
“Yes, your heart, you dirty girl. I love that sweetness between your legs, too, in case you’re wondering, but that’s just an added bonus.”
Her jaw gaped.
“And I love that, right there. That oh-my-gosh-you-filthy-pig look you give me. You love to hear me talk dirty, but you hate that I know you do.”
Spot. On. Another reason I love you. She pushed his shoulders, urging him lower. “Stop teasing and keep your promise.”
He framed her face with his hands and kissed her softly.
“Grayson?” I love you.
“Yes, dirty girl?”
“Stop.” She playfully swatted his arm. “I’m being serious.”
“Love you, baby,” he said between kisses.
His words wound around her as they made love again. Her thoughts ebbed and flowed. I love you. I’m scared. I love you. I love you.
She lay in his arms afterward, their bodies spent from their lovemaking, her heart bursting with love.
“Sleep, baby. I’ve got you,” Grayson murmured.
You do, Grayson. You definitely do.