Lori

Milo came down with a cold the following week, but he was in top shape by the time his spring break started the week after. Unfortunately, Graham caught the bug, and he still had it on Saturday. The club's dinner party was tonight, but I wasn't sure he was in any shape to attend. I took an Uber to his house early in the afternoon. If he wasn't feeling well enough to attend, then I'd just take care of him. My schedule was clear anyway. Milo's spring break had begun, and he'd gone with Marlene, her husband, and their eight-year-old son to Orlando. They wouldn't be back until Thursday. It was the first time I'd be apart from my boy for so many days, but he'd insisted on going, and I didn't want to be a hog.

I found Graham tucked in his bed, curled on one side, hugging a pillow half asleep. I crouched next to him. It was the third day of sickness, and he seemed much healthier.

"How are you feeling?" I whispered.

"Like I died three days ago and now I'm coming back to life."

I pressed my lips together. Men. You'd think he had leprosy.

"I'm sorry you caught the bug."

"How come you haven't?"

"I'm a mom. I have enough antibodies for two lifetimes. I'm going to the kitchen to make you some tea."

While I was busying myself around his kitchen, I heard a faint buzzing from his living room. His phone was ringing, the word Nana appearing on the screen. I ran upstairs with it, but Graham had fallen asleep.

When I returned to the kitchen, it buzzed again. I decided to answer.

"Hi, Na— Ms. Scott." I'd nearly called her Nana. "This is Lori. We haven't met, but—"

"Lori Connor? Graham's Lori?"

"Yes. He's down with a cold, and he's asleep right now."

"Can you tell him to call me back?"

"Of course."

"Thank you. You know, when he was a kid, I used to make a concoction for him when he had a cold."

"Can you give me the recipe?"

"Do you have anything to write on?"

I put the phone on loudspeaker and opened the application for notes on my phone.

"Yes I do."

I typed into my phone as she spoke, then held it to my ear again once she was done.

"Thank you. I'll check if he has any of the ingredients, and if he's missing any, there's a farmer's market a few blocks away. I'll go shopping there."

"He talks about you often, you know."

"He does?"

"Of course. About you and Milo. He's quite taken with both of you. Graham is a great man, Lori. Take good care of him." Even though her tone was still warm, it held a hint of warning.

"I promise."

We chatted for a while, and she regaled me with stories from his childhood. I loved this window into his past and was already making mental notes about all the ways I could tease him. Nana was giving me excellent ammunition.

After hanging up, I checked his fridge and pantry, but he was still missing a few herbs for the concoction, so I headed out to the farmer's market. By the time I returned and prepared the remedy, we were on a time-crunch. Graham was already awake when I brought it to his room. I handed him the mug, and he looked up in surprise.

"You know how to make this?"

"Now I do. Spoke to Nana."

"My nana?"

"Yes. I brought you the phone when she called, but you were asleep, and then she called again. I answered to tell her you were sleeping, and we started talking. She gave me the recipe. Found some things in your kitchen, and bought the rest from the farmer's market. You should call Nana back when you have the chance."

He took several sips and didn't say anything in between. Had I committed a faux pas by answering his phone? I hadn't even stopped to consider that maybe I'd overstepped some boundaries. He downed the entire contents of the mug, set it on the nightstand, and slid lower on his pillow. He patted the mattress, and I climbed right next to him. I still felt a little awkward about the phone call.

These past two weeks, I'd sensed some unease on Graham's part; a few times he'd seemed to want to talk, then changed his mind. Maybe I was reading too much into everything. I'd been jumpy since the meeting with Jeff, and felt guilty that he'd driven Graham to violence. I hoped Graham didn't think this kind of drama was bound to happen again. My life was usually drama-free.

"Graham, did I do something wrong? Should I have not answered your phone?" He turned on his side, facing me. "No, not at all. I'm just surprised you went to so much trouble."

"It wasn't trouble at all," I assured him, detecting a hint of emotion in his eyes. Did he think he wasn't worth that "trouble"? I had to rectify that. I scooted closer to him, intending to prove my appreciation.

"So, what did you and Nana talk about?"

"You, of course. She told me many stories. I can tease you for years." 

"I knew it. Should have been there for your first conversation, so I could save face."

"I'm fairly confident Nana would've dished dirt on you even so."

"Probably." He kissed my cheek. "I won't kiss your mouth, just in case."

"I came all the way here, and I don't even get a kiss?"

"I said I won't kiss your mouth. Didn't say anything about other body parts."

He scooted closer, kissing my bare shoulder and my neck. 

"You're taking advantage," I informed him, failing to work any sort of severity in my tone.

"I'm a sick man; have some mercy." He was smiling against my skin.

On I went with my fake chastising. "You're a sick man taking advantage. I feel compelled to point that out. How will you learn otherwise?" 

He pulled back a notch, wiggling his eyebrows. "I'm blissfully happy in my ignorance."

"Are you sure you're up for the party tonight?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'm feeling much better. I was only messing with you."

"Is that so?" I crushed my mouth to his, taking what I wanted. When I pulled back, all my lady parts tingled at his lusty expression. But we were on a tight schedule if we wanted to make it to the party. "We should get ready."

Besides, I had great plans for us after the party. We had my house all to ourselves... and I hadn't just bought a fancy new dress. What I was going to wear underneath the dress was equally enticing.

A short while later, I stepped out of the bathroom, dressed to the nines. I was wearing a green wraparound dress, with pearls at my ears and around my neck. I'd styled my hair in loose curls. Graham looked as if he wanted to eat me up.

"Fuck, you're beautiful, Lori."

"Thank you." I twirled around once, observing him coming closer out the corner of my eye. He hadn't dressed up yet, so he was only wearing boxers. That left so much skin on display. He circled my waist with his arms.

"Graham, we're supposed to be at the party in half an hour."

"Change of plans." Bringing his mouth to my ear, he whispered, "I'm thinking me inside you, loving you until you come hard."

I bit lightly into his shoulder when he bunched my dress up, trying to maintain my composure. He blew out a breath when he touched the lacy end of my stocking. Then he groaned when he realized I had no panties.

"I planned to surprise you after the party," I said coyly.

"You're not wearing panties."

"Something for you to keep in mind tonight. The dress is tight, no chance of flashing anyone the goods. But... you have to get dressed now."

His eyes flashed with mischief, and I knew he wasn't going to let me off the hook.

Half an hour later, we were officially late already.

"We messed up my hair," I called from the bathroom while he was suiting up. When I came out, hair styled again, he smirked.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "My lips are swollen."

"It's a great look on you."

I glared. He bit back a laugh.

"You look like you've been thoroughly kissed. Only you and I will know where those lips have been. Everyone else will just know you're mine."

I sent him an air kiss. "Why, you think one of those smoking hot players might hit on me otherwise?"

"They won't if they know what's good for them."

"I still have to refresh my makeup."

"I'll wait for you downstairs and call Nana in the meantime."

When I descended the staircase a short while later, I could sense the change in mood before even seeing Graham pace around the living room. There were deep frown lines on his forehead, and he kept shaking his head, as if he was having a silent conversation with himself.

"Graham, did anything happen?"

He stopped midstride, jamming his hands in his pockets. "Talked to Nana."

"Is she okay? She didn't seem sick when I talked to her."

"She's not sick." He started pacing again, rubbing one hand down his face. His shoulders looked stiff, as if a lot of tension had accumulated there in a short period of time. "My dad called her. He's in a financial shit-hole again and asked if she could bail him out."

"Oh!" I was too stunned to say anything else.

"He didn't tell me anything about it when I talked to him." Graham paced the room some more but didn't offer more information.

"You still want to go to the party?" I asked.

"I can't bail on it. We should go or we'll miss the dinner altogether."