Slowly, the casket was lowered into the ground. Scarlett’s handkerchief couldn’t keep up with the tears, so she just allowed them to flow down her cheeks, ignoring the wetness as she tried to deal with the pain of losing the man who had become her second father.
She hated cancer! She hated the fact that it had taken yet another victim. Its merciless clutches were pulling yet another innocent, kind-hearted soul away from people who needed him.
Uncle Charles didn’t deserve this! He shouldn’t be dead! He should be right here next to her, next to all of them, threatening something horrible if… She had no idea what he might be saying and she was too sad, too grief-stricken to even think of something.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” the minister said. She was motioned forward, handed a rose from one of the arrangements. Scarlett knew she should toss the flower onto the coffin, but she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t say this final goodbye.
Oh goodness! She’d thought she had said goodbye at the hospital just before he’d died but obviously, she hadn’t finished.
“It’s okay, love,” Grayson said, his deep voice reverberating through her body with reassurance. His strong arm wrapped around her shoulders. That touch, that gentle reassurance, gave her the strength to release the flower. She watched it flutter into the hole, landing silently on the casket. Grayson’s rose came next and they both moved on, allowing others to do the same. One by one, the mourners filed past, adding their flowers, their thoughts and prayers, silently saying their goodbyes.
When everyone had finally paid their respects, Scarlett stood there, surrounded by the numerous students who had been touched by this man’s life as headmaster. So many people, so many lives changed because of this man’s bountiful care. Uncle Charles had always been stern with discipline and demanding of excellence, but equally generous with his praise. He’d been headmaster of the boarding school for decades, constantly leading boys through a challenging and exciting time in their lives. But none were as affected as the five men who were lined up behind her.
Without Charles’ intervention, she wasn’t sure what might have happened to them. One was a British aristocrat, another a powerful sheik. The other three were extremely powerful in their own right. But one of them, the man with his arm around her shoulders, the man she…well, he might have ended up in prison if it hadn’t been for Uncle Charles.
“You okay?” Grayson asked gently.
Scarlett looked up at Grayson, wishing she could simply lay her head against his broad, muscular chest. But that wasn’t…they didn’t…
She sighed. Grayson wasn’t hers. Not in that way. No matter how much she might wish it.
Nodding, she accepted that this was the end of Uncle Charles’ life. This was the final goodbye. Uncle Charles, the man who had dropped everything to come get her after her parent’s tragic car accident, was now gone from this life.
Reaching out, she felt for Grayson’s hand. She needed his strength now and he never failed to provide exactly what she needed. No matter what she asked, Grayson was always there for her. She moved slightly closer, just wanting to feel the heat emanating from his large, muscular body. Grayson’s warmth and strength surrounded her cold hand, just as it always had. She wanted to lean into him, but she stood tall, trying to be strong for the others.
But as she looked around, Scarlett remembered that the other four all had their wives! Damon, Stefan, Harrison…even Malik had a beautiful wife standing beside him.
She had Grayson. Sort of.
She loved this man more than anything. She’d loved him since she was twelve years old. Maybe even longer. There had always been something about him that had drawn her to him. The other guys, yes, they were wonderful. All of them were tall, strong, powerful and wealthy. Every one of them would drop whatever was happening in his life if she needed help. But they were like her big brothers. They were big and tall and normally annoying, but also sweet and kind and shockingly generous. Oh, and she definitely needed to add that they were overly protective. To the point that they drove her nuts at times.
Grayson…he wasn’t. He wasn’t her brother. Not at all! He was big and tall and super powerful as well but he was…different. She didn’t think of him in the same way as the others even though she’d grown up surrounded by all of them. And she could never think of the enormous brute as a brother. That special something about him called to her, made her whole body tingle with excitement whenever he stepped into a room.
Damn him! Why did he have to be so wonderful? So perfect! He was always there for her! When she was scared, she called him. When he had a success in business, she ran to him, eager to celebrate with him. When he bought a new house or penthouse apartment, she decorated it for him. She loved him. Every part of him, every emotion, every obnoxious, irritating, heavenly part of him.
But did he return those feelings? No! He thought of her as his baby sister, just like all the other guys. Well, she wasn’t his baby sister! She was a grown woman with wants and needs!
From the moment Uncle Charles had revealed that he had cancer, all six of them, plus their wives now, had surrounded the man. Each of them, with their unimaginable wealth, had tried to save him, come up with a cure for the cancer that slowly taken his life away.
But none could save the dying man.
And now he was gone. His body was down in the cold earth and she wanted to scream at the injustice of it all. Grayson’s hand slid under her hair, holding her head close as the grief shook her body. Well, at least she had this, she told herself.
Back at her house, Scarlett walked in and looked around, not sure what to do. She struggled to find something to say, some way to help each of these men. Damon, Harrison, Stefan and Malik all moved into the living room, holding their wives close. These men, including Grayson who stood aside, his hands in his pockets as he stared at the floor, had been like sons to Uncle Charles. The man had been the headmaster at their boarding school, had never given up on any of them even when they’d all deserved to be expelled for their constant, vicious fighting. It wasn’t until Scarlett had shown up that the five of them had stopped fighting. Uncle Charles had said that Scarlett had saved their lives that day. But she’d been just five years old. She’d come from her parent’s funeral and walked in to find the five of them fighting, all of them just a pile of swinging fists and flying feet. With her presence, they’d stopped the fighting. And with Scarlett’s presence and the uniting force that it produced, the six of them had become best friends.
Oh, goodness, she remembered the day that they’d all graduated and gone off to college. It had been the second worst day of her life, her parent’s funeral being the worst. But today ranked up higher than the day these five men had left her to go their own way.
Thankfully, the six of them, now ten with each of their wonderful wives, remained friends, coming together often to have a meal and catch up. Barely a month went by when several of them didn’t get together. It used to be just a meal at a hotel or restaurant. Now that there were so many of them, the arrangements were a bit more complicated, but they all still got together as often as they could.
What was going to happen now?
She glanced over at Grayson, finding him staring right back at her. She wasn’t sure what to think about that look.
And right now, she was too confused, too sad and hurt, to figure anything out.
“The other mourners will be here soon,” she finally said, the first words spoken since the burial.
All of them nodded. “The caterers have prepared food.” She took a deep breath and lifted her head. Looking into each man’s eyes, she smiled. “Let’s make this a celebration of his life and not…” her voice broke as she tried to speak and Grayson came over, putting his arm around her shoulders. Instantly, she felt better. “Let’s not make this sad,” she said even though her chin was still quivering. “Uncle Charles made a difference in so many peoples’ lives. We should celebrate everything he was – not dwell on the fact that he isn’t here any longer.”
The men nodded their heads and Livia, Stefan’s wife, stepped out of the room. She came back a moment later with a tray filled with champagne glasses and Scarlett smiled her thanks as each of them took a glass.
All of them stood in a circle, none exactly sure what to say. It was such a poignant loss and each of them experienced a deluge of emotions as they replayed memories of a man who had acted as a father to each of them, often more so than their actual blood relatives.
“To Uncle Charles,” Grayson finally said and lifted his glass into the air. A mummer of agreements chimed around the group and ten glasses lifted up in a sad celebration. “To Uncle Charles,” they all said, then sipped the cold, sparkling wine.
Two hours later, it was once again just the six of them. The men’s wives had all gone to their hotel rooms and Scarlett was looking around at the five men, laughing at all of the stories, their memories.
This had been good, she thought, feeling better. Uncle Charles had died several days ago, and the time between then and now had been filled with decisions and arrangements to make. Although the details had given her something else to concentrate on, before Uncle Charles died, she’d been by his side constantly, holding his hand. Now, talking about all of the wonderful times she and the others had shared with Uncle Charles, she felt better. The sadness was gone, replaced by a happiness that she’d been given so much time with the wonderful man.
For the first time in several weeks, she felt as if her heart was lifted. The sadness was gone. At least for now. She knew she’d have moments in the future, moments when she would miss him again, but for now, she could breathe easier. This was good. These men had helped, Grayson’s touch had helped, and talking had brought about a form of healing.
She smiled as she sipped her whiskey, impressed when the others slammed back their drinks and held their glass out for more. For a while now, there had been only laughter between them, sharing fond memories of the man who had been so much more than their headmaster. Scarlett was curled up at the end of the sofa, her shoes long gone and the tears a distant memory. At least for now.
“You doing okay?” Grayson asked softly. He was sitting beside her but they weren’t touching even though she’d like nothing better than to crawl onto his lap and lay her head on his shoulder. He wasn’t drinking as much as the others, but he could still slam them back.
“I’m okay,” she told him and was surprised that she really was. They’d all had months to get used to the reality of him dying, had slowly watched him lose the unbeatable battle with cancer and now, as they all sat around the living room, there was a sense of peace. A rightness in being together.
He took her hand, squeezing it slightly. It was a silent message that he was there for her.
A moment later, Malik stood up. “We need to go. Our wives will be wondering what’s happened to us.” He looked at Grayson. “Can you stay and take care of Scarlett?” he asked. The four other men stood, each of them looking at Grayson as well, as if they were trying to tell him something important.
“I’ll be here,” he said and stood up, keeping her hand in his. “For as long as she needs.”
The four others reached out and kissed Scarlett’s cheek, giving her their brotherly support. It was a wonderful feeling to know that these men were there for her. There was nothing they couldn’t do, she thought. They were all so powerful, so amazingly intelligent and wealthy. Each of them was a force, but put the five of them together and it was like a powerful coalition. No one messed with these men!
And she loved them all!
When the door closed on the last one, she turned to find Grayson collecting the glasses. His tie had long ago been tossed to the side, his jacket was probably over a chair somewhere which meant that she had an unfettered view of the tailored material stretching across the muscular expanse of Grayson’s shoulders. He was so well put together, she thought, still leaning against the door.
Grayson felt her eyes on him and looked across the living room to where she was standing, leaning against the front door. “What?” he asked, amusement in his eyes.
Scarlett sighed, wishing she had the courage to just tell him how much she wanted him to take her into his arms and make love to her. She shivered, thinking how he could touch her gently and her mind turned to mush.
Unfortunately, he was probably dating someone again.
She laughed at that, looking up at the ceiling, thinking of how ridiculous that thought was. Grayson didn’t “date”. He had mistresses. He had them tucked into apartments wherever he needed them.
“What’s so amusing?” he asked as he carried the glasses to her kitchen. The room had clean lines and pretty colors, reflecting the owner’s preferences. As an interior designer, Grayson knew that Scarlett tried very hard to make sure that the rooms reflected the owner’s preferences. He should know. He’d bought many properties and allowed Scarlett the freedom to create. In every instance, she’d done an outstanding job. Most of her projects appeared in the decorating or home magazines and her business had grown exponentially in just the short amount of time that she’d been on her own.
Scarlett shook her head and glanced down at the countertop where the caterers had stacked up various serving platters and silverware. They’d provided most of the items for the reception, but she’d supplemented with a few of her own favorite pieces. Grayson didn’t want to know what she was thinking though. He’d be uncomfortable if he ever knew all the fantasies starring his magnificent physique. “Nothing important. Thanks for your help cleaning up,” she told him as she loaded up the dishwasher. “The caterers did most of the cleanup. Thanks for hiring them,” she told him.
Scarlett turned around but she wasn’t aware that Grayson had been so close. Suddenly, his muscular arms were around her waist, holding her steady and everything changed. He was here. His arms were around her. All the emotions and feelings she’d hidden from this man rose up, her mouth falling open as she realized at least a small part of her fantasy coming true. Now, if only he would…
In just her stocking feet, the top of her head didn’t even come up to his chin. She stared at his neck, seeing his Adam’s apple move slightly.
Looking up at him, seeing the same desire in his eyes that she was feeling, she wanted to shout at him to do something about it, to make a move.
But he pulled back, his hands slipping off of her waist.
Scarlett sighed with frustration. The moment was gone.
Someday, somehow she would build up enough courage to just walk up to him and kiss him, to show him how much she loved him.
Unfortunately, today wasn’t that day.
“Go to bed,” he told her, his deep voice huskier than normal. “I’ll sleep in the guest room.”
Scarlett gripped the edge of the countertop. “There’s no need. But thank you.”
Grayson saw the sadness in her eyes and reacted to it. There was no way he was letting her sleep in this house alone tonight. She was sad, exhausted, vulnerable and looking more beautiful than any woman he’d ever known in his life. “There’s every need,” he argued. “Go to bed, Scarlett.”
Scarlett watched him for a long moment and thought she could detect a battle waging inside the man. Was she just imagining that? Or was she hoping that he was fighting the same demons, the same desire that she was battling?
In the end, she just walked out of the kitchen, bowing her head with both fatigue and frustration as she walked up the stairs.
Grayson watched the woman of his dreams, literally and figuratively, walk up the stairs, her shoulders sagging with the pain of her loss.
If he thought it would make a difference, he would take her into his arms and kiss her until she was shivering with excitement. But that was what he needed. Scarlett just needed a friend, someone to be there for her. She definitely didn’t need a lust-filled night of sex. Sex that would take their minds off of the loss of the man they all loved very deeply.
When she turned the corner and he couldn’t see her any longer, he bowed his head and tried to get a grip on this need. He’d wanted her for so long, he felt as if he was damned to eternal, unsatisfied sexual need. Every once in a while he would find a woman that he’d hoped would take his mind off of his feelings for the beautiful blond woman, but after a few weeks or, if he were lucky, a few months, he would accept that she wasn’t Scarlett. So far, no woman had been able to obliterate his hunger for the slender blond with blue eyes that could look deep into a man’s soul and make him want to be better.
He poured another slug of scotch and slung it back, wishing that it could help ease the need. It never did. Nothing helped. Nothing but a few weeks in a bed with that woman would help him.
And since that was out of the question, he was doomed.
“Hell,” he muttered and went around the house, turning off lights and making sure the doors were locked. He glanced out through the windows and saw his bodyguards patrolling the perimeter. At least he could keep her safe, he thought. It wasn’t much, but it was something.
When all the lights were turned off, he walked up the stairs, turning right and moving into the guest bedroom. It was decorated in masculine colors which soothed him. Not as much as being in her frilly bedroom might, he thought. He didn’t give a damn what the bedroom looked like as long as Scarlett was curled up next to him. Or underneath him. Or on top of him.
“Hell,” he said again and stepped into the bathroom, turning the water on in the shower so that it was as cold as possible. It only helped marginally. Stepping out of the shower, he dried himself off and slipped into bed.
Staring up at the ceiling, he wondered what Scarlett was doing. Was she crying? She’d buried her last relative today. It had been a long day, full of tearful remembrances as well as happy ones. It had ended well, he thought, overall. Would she still be upset?
And what the hell was going on with the other guys tonight? There had been some strange looks passing among them. He had no idea what was wrong, but they were all meeting for breakfast tomorrow. He’d demand answers as soon as he got them all alone.
Scarlett lay in bed, her eyes staring up at the ceiling and wondering what Grayson was thinking about. He was so close. What would he do if she slipped into his bed, curled up next to him? She’d decorated that bedroom with him in mind, making sure all the colors were dark and masculine, that the bed was long enough for his enormous height and that all of the toiletries were there for his convenience.
Would he find the toothbrush? And the shampoo he preferred? The only reason she knew which products he liked was because she’d stayed in his homes over the years. She’d snooped as she’d decorated his living spaces. And Scarlett had savored every detail she discovered about the man. She’d felt like a stalker, but what was a woman to do? She was so in love with the man, so proud of all he’d accomplished. He was extraordinary and no other man could compare. His features were harsh to some, but she loved that granite hard jawline, that slight dimple in his cheek that not many people saw because it was only revealed when he smiled. Unfortunately, Grayson didn’t smile often. Oh, and that thick black hair, making his jaw shadowed even though he might have shaved just hours ago.
Goodness, everything about the man enticed her – from his broad shoulders to his large feet. She smiled into the darkness, wondering if the thing about feet and penis-size was true. She could feel her face flaming even in the darkness and she rolled over, groaning at the image of a naked Grayson popping into her mind. Pulling the pillow over her head, she tried very hard to keep herself from thinking about him. About all those muscles and the way he could look at her and she knew…she just knew that he was thinking about her.
Oh to be inside that man’s head, she thought.
Or maybe not. She didn’t want to know if he still thought of her as a little girl. She was a woman now. And she had needs like any other woman!
She should just find another man to date. A blond man, she thought. Someone short and skinny. Someone who was easy to talk to.
The complete opposite of Grayson!
Scarlett sighed and rolled onto her side, punching the pillow. That wasn’t completely true and she was simply creating problems with Grayson and her relationship with him to make herself feel better. There had been many times that she and Grayson had talked for hours! Just a few months ago at Stefan’s wedding, it had ended up being just the two of them talking after everyone else had gone to bed. That had been nice, she thought. All the others had their spouses and had been eager to sneak up to their suites at the hotel, but she and Grayson had been…well, they’d sort of been stuck with each other. And it had been so nice, dancing in his arms, walking down the aisle on his arm. They’d just been bridesmaid and groomsman, but she’d pretended like it was their wedding, that she’d just promised her life to his and they would live happily ever after.
She sighed again and the sound echoed throughout the room.
She wasn’t ever going to get any sleep, she muttered.
Slapping the sheets back, she slipped out of bed. Listening carefully, she didn’t hear anything. Noises from Grayson’s room were silent now, indicating that he was asleep.
Slipping out of her room, she tiptoed down the hallway. She’d just made it to the top of the stairs when an arm swooped under her stomach, lifting her up and pressing her against the hallway wall.
“Scarlett?” Grayson snapped as soon as he realized it was her and not an intruder. “What the hell are you doing?”
Scarlett wasn’t hurt but she was definitely stunned. The man wasn’t wearing a shirt! And…well…she was wearing one of his!
“What are you wearing?” he demanded softly but with a definite husky quality to his voice when his eyes moved down her figure. His voice was even deeper as he said, “Hey, that’s my shirt.”
Darn him for the stupid monogrammed initials, she thought! “I…um…couldn’t sleep. I was just going downstairs for some warm milk.”
He looked down at her, not sure if he believed her or not. “Where did you get my shirt?” he asked.
He was trying very hard not to react, but her soft body felt so incredibly good against his. And he’d only paused to pull on his slacks before he came out of his bedroom to find out who was sneaking around the house. Never would he have imagined that it was Scarlett. In his shirt!
And she looked hot! Her long, slender legs were poking out the bottom and she hadn’t buttoned it up high enough on top. He could see the curve of her breast, the shadow of her cleavage. Damn, she smelled good! Hell, she always smelled good.
“You couldn’t sleep,” he repeated, his mind trying to figure out what that really meant because the words weren’t sinking in. Not with Scarlett in his arms, practically naked. And smelling better than anything he’d ever smelled before!
“I couldn’t sleep,” she whispered. She could feel her breasts swelling, her nipples puckering as she pressed against his hard, muscular chest. She could smell the musky, masculine scent of him and the toothpaste he’d used. His hair was still damp and…oh, that chest!
When her hands fluttered around then slowly settled onto his bare skin, she tested movement, feeling the warmth under the steel of his muscles. He was real, she thought. His skin was warm and amazing. Her fingers moved again, feeling the slight layer of dark hair and that felt even better.
She wasn’t aware of her hips moving, shifting to accommodate him better. But she was desperately aware of his erection, of the way it pressed into her belly. From what she could feel, that thing about big feet…it was true!
“Grayson,” she whispered his name, her body shifting once again, her fingers moving along his skin. He hadn’t moved an inch except for his hands tightening on her waist.
She looked up at him, could barely see his eyes but she knew that they were a deep brown, so special and so amazing. They saw everything.
“Would you…” she hesitated, unable to say the words that would bring his head down.
Grayson heard the strange sound in her voice and his body hardened even more. Could Scarlett possibly want him as much as he wanted her? Impossible. But then her hips shifted again. He felt her fingers move lower on his chest.
All the signs were there, but he still didn’t move. He didn’t release her, but he didn’t react to the signs that, with any other woman, would have told him to lift her into his arms and make love to her. Not Scarlett. She didn’t think of him that way.
And yet, her fingers moved again. He caught the look underneath those long, dark eyelashes even in the dim light from the moon outside the window.
With a growl, he bent his head, testing the signals. He wouldn’t kiss her. Not like he wanted to. But just a chaste kiss. A kiss on her cheek. A brotherly kiss, he promised.
She moved her head, catching that kiss on her lips. He didn’t move for a long moment but then her lips shifted under his. He felt that. For perhaps a fraction of a moment, he didn’t move, didn’t even breathe. But when her lips touched his, moving underneath his, he couldn’t hold back. For too long, he’d fantasized about this woman, about the way she would feel in his arms. And as he lifted her up, he realized that she felt even better.
He kissed her all the way back to his bedroom, not letting her think long enough to change her mind. This was Scarlett! And she was kissing him back! The most beautiful woman in the entire world was kissing him and he was starving for this kiss. He laid her down on his bed, still kissing her. Resting his weight on his elbows, he kissed her until he felt her shift underneath him, her legs lifting up to cradle his erection against her heat. He groaned as he reveled in that damp heat but he still wouldn’t stop kissing her.
But then her hands moved against his chest and he couldn’t control the raging desire. It was too much. It was so much better than all of his fantasies. She was here, in his arms and she was kissing and touching him.
With deft fingers, he tore the material away from her slender body, his hands moving down, cupping her breast. When he heard her gasp, he watched her features, making sure he didn’t hurt her but his thumb moved across the pointed nipple, amazed at how perfect she was. Over and over again, he flicked that hard nubbin, his body in pain as she pressed her heat against his groin.
“Grayson!” she cried out, arching her back.
It was his signal. Lowering his head, he took that perfect breast in his mouth, sucking the sensitive flesh, almost laughing when she screamed. Her hands fisting in his hair felt great, especially when she tried to pull his head over to her other breast. He didn’t mind. This one was just as perfect as the first one and he wanted all of her. Every scream she had in her, he was going to get tonight. He would make love to her more thoroughly than any man ever had. By the end of tonight, this woman wouldn’t remember any man other than him.
His fingers deftly moved the white shirt further out of his way, his mind first thinking that it looked better on her than it did on him. And then he smiled as he thought it would look even better on the floor.
As he urgently parted the sides of the white shirt to reveal the beauty of her breasts, he held his breath, amazed at her perfection. The little rose tipped nipples were calling to him and he couldn’t resist their need. His mouth closed over one, laving it with his tongue before nipping it with his teeth, making her gasp and moan in alternating turns. He loved the way her legs slid up his side, her soft skin making him ache to bury himself inside of her.
He should slow down, he thought as he kissed and nibbled his way down her stomach. He should savor this first time with her, make sure she felt every bit of pleasure. But those sounds she was making, they were driving him crazy. Every time he found a sensitive spot on her body, she jerked slightly, then her hands in his hair would demand that he touch that spot again.
When he finally made it to his goal, he smelled her feminine scent, his nose nudging her legs wider. He could see the light hair underneath the black lace of her underwear. She shifted slightly, silently begging him to do his worst, or best. He smiled, looking up at her. He almost laughed when she lifted her head to look down at him but he refrained, seeing the concerned look in her eyes.
A moment later, his fingers tore that beautiful lace, his eyes holding hers the whole time. Those pretty, red, rosebud lips opened up with his action but no words came out. Just another sigh when he kissed the top of her perfect mound.
And then a groan when he moved his mouth lower, finding her heat, thrilled to devour her inch by inch. He almost lost his control when he felt how wet she was, how amazingly hot. When he tasted her for the first time, he thought he’d died and gone to heaven. She was delicious! Her scent and the taste of her femininity surrounded him and he loved hearing those adorable sounds as he brought her pleasure. Her hands moved from his hair to the comforter beside her body, fisting the material in her slender fingers as her body exploded into his mouth.
He kissed his way back up her stomach, giving her a bit of time to recover even while he savored the sounds of her post-climax body. When he was at her neck, he lifted himself up over her, holding himself with his arms as he took in the flushed cheeks and her closed eyes. He wanted to see those beautiful, blue eyes but he was content to let her revel in that climax. She looked so beautiful, laying there like that with the smile on her red lips. He wanted to do that all over again. Maybe longer this time. He almost laughed at the idea, wanting to taste her again. She was better than the best whiskey, he thought to himself.
When she stretched and opened her eyes again, her smiled widened. “Wow,” she whispered. “If I’d known it would be that amazing, I would have done something like this sooner.”
Grayson’s heart pounded in his chest with her words. Damn, he liked the sound of that. He grabbed protection quickly, then bent down and kissed her one more time even while he pressed against her softness. “Open for me, love,” he coaxed, feeling her tight sheath wrap around him.
“I’m trying,” she whispered. Scarlett couldn’t believe how right this felt! After so many years of wondering what it would be like to make love with Grayson, she was finally experiencing all of him and it was even better than her fantasies, better than all of the stories she’d read. This was real, this was Grayson! And he was…wow, he was bigger than she’d thought possible.
Lifting her hips, she tried to adjust slightly. “Grayson,” she trembled, hearing the worry in her voice even while he pressed deeper into her. She wasn’t sure she could take all of him, she thought. “You’re…” she wanted to say “big” but he already knew that.
“It’s okay, love. Just relax and let me do the work,” he told her, letting his fingers dive into her blond hair. He closed his eyes briefly when he pushed deeper, but then opened them again, needing to watch her, wanting to see her reactions as he filled her up for the first time.
When she arched her hips against him, he felt as if he could conquer the world! She fit him like a glove. Like a wet, hot glove that was made exactly for him.
“Deeper,” she whispered, her hands sliding down his back to press his hips further into her. “Please, Grayson!”
He pressed deeper into her and felt something, something he’d never felt before. If he hadn’t been looking into her eyes, he would have missed the slight movement of her eyes and he stilled. Had he…was she…?
“Scarlett?” he asked.
Scarlett opened her eyes and looked up into his, her eyes showing him how much she wanted him to continue. “Don’t stop,” she begged, biting her lower lips as she shifted her hips against him, pulling him in deeper.
“Ah hell, Scarlett. You were…” he shook his head, not finishing the sentence because he simply couldn’t think of his beautiful Scarlett being hurt by his invasion. Not right now. He’d deal with that later, once he could think more rationally. Right now, she was squeezing him and he was having trouble breathing, much less thinking.
Looking down into her pretty blue eyes, he knew he had to help her somehow. “Love, just move…” he stopped when she anticipated exactly what he was going to tell her to do. He felt like roaring with the incredible feelings her slender body was giving him but couldn’t stop moving long enough or take a deep enough breath.
He moved in and out, shifting his body and his hips to help her. Watching her eyes and her lips, he could anticipate what might be feeling better or not as good. But everything on her face told him that she was there, right there with him, ready to…
“Grayson!” she called out, almost a whisper but her whole body arched and he could feel her convulsing around him, making him climb over that peak himself. When the orgasm swamped him, he wasn’t aware of pounding into her or, after he’d found his fulfillment, of the way he gathered her into his arms. All he knew was that this woman was the perfect mate. She was soft and perfect and…well, perfect for him.
Scarlett couldn’t believe how amazing this man had made her feel. Her body was still tingling but that could have something to do with the way his fingers were trailing up and down her back. Did he have any idea of how wonderful that felt? How she wanted to just…
“Are you okay?” he asked, interrupting her latest fantasy.
Scarlett laughed and kissed his chest. “Better than okay,” she told him and lifted her head up so that she could see his features. They looked harsh in the dim light. And something in his eyes, she couldn’t see them very well, but they made her heart skip a beat.
He was regretting tonight! She could feel him pulling away, making space between their bodies!
“No,” she told him and moved, shifting her body so that she was on top of him. So many times, she’d sat in his lap when he was comforting her or when they were roughhousing about one issue or another. Well, she’d been roughhousing. He’d simply been teasing her, annoying her or just pretending to battle with her.
This time though, she knew what to do. Climbing on top of him, she laid her body across his. She almost smiled when she heard his sharp intake of breath, thinking that was a positive sign.
“Think you could do that again?” she asked, trying to be enticing. She felt a little silly until she felt that hardness lower on her body. Oh yeah, he could definitely do this again.
“Scarlett stop it,” he commanded, lifting his hands and putting them around her waist, about to lift her off of him and stop her. “You’re too tender. That was your first time having sex and we can’t…” he couldn’t finish that sentence because she leaned over and his mind was distracted by her full breasts which were right in front of his face now.
“Can’t what?” she asked, moving to kiss his forehead. And yes, he took the bait, capturing her nipple in his mouth.
His hands moved up to cup her bottom, holding her in that position.
Scarlett felt her eyes go back in her head as the desire shot through her whole body. “Not fair,” she told him but moved so that he could do the same to her other breast.
When she shifted downwards, she felt that hardness. “Do you have another condom?” she begged, moving her body against his, loving the way his chest hair tickled her breasts.
“Damn straight,” Grayson grumbled. He leaned over and pulled another condom out of his wallet and slipped it on. “Now what are you going to do?” he challenged.
He found out quickly. She didn’t even hesitate as she pushed him into her heat. She was still warm and soft and felt so damn good, he had trouble slowing her down.
Scarlett grabbed his hands when he tried to hold her hips. “No, this time, it is my turn,” she told him.
Grayson laughed, knowing that he could break her hold on his wrists easily. But he was enjoying her assertiveness too much right now. “So you think you can have your wicked way with me and I won’t do anything about it, eh?” he asked.
Scarlett closed her eyes as she lifted her hips up, then pressed down against him one more time, filling herself with his body and taking control. “Um…shut up,” she told him.
Grayson wanted to laugh. But damn, she felt good. His hands pulled out of her grip and moved along her waist, not hindering or helping her with whatever she wanted to do to him. She was in charge and he loved it. He never would have thought she could be this erotic but she was beautiful as she shifted against him.
He was trying to take note of how she liked to move, but the way her body was clenching against his, it was distracting. In the end, he couldn’t multi-task and the way she was moving was too amazing. He’d just have to figure other things out another time.
When he felt her hands grab onto his shoulders, he couldn’t hold back any longer. His hands gripped her hips and he took control, but left her on top. She seemed to like it, he liked it, why ruin something so perfect?
But when she burst into another mind-blowing climax around him again, her sweet sighs and her sexy noises accompanying her erotic movements, he couldn’t hold back any longer. Shifting positions, he rolled her over so that she was once more underneath him and he pounded into her tight body, finding his own release.
A long time afterwards, she curled up against him and he felt her soft breath slow down. She fell asleep this time and Grayson wished he could do the same.
But he stared up at the ceiling, thinking about all that he’d learned about this beautiful woman that could drive him insane with need and crazy with her adorable taunts. She’d been a virgin!
Damn, it suddenly hit him. His sweet Scarlett had been a virgin and on the night after her last living relative’s funeral, he’d taken that first time from her!
He should be ashamed. And in one sense, he was furious with himself. On another level, he was thrilled that he’d shared this with her.
But by the time morning sunshine was streaming through the windows, he was berating himself for not giving her what she’d needed last night. He should have just kept his hands off of her. She’d needed a hug and security. She’d needed a friend and he’d made love to her instead.