Page 53 of Keeping You

His eyes eat me up before we dig into our food, both of us sitting in his parents’ backyard surrounded by his friends andfamily while incredibly turned on. My only hope is that tonight he’ll actually fuck my brains out like I want. I need sex. I need good sex. At this point in time, my only hope for that is with Grayson. A little voice in the back of my head warns me that it might be a little more than wanting a good orgasm when it comes to me wanting to fuck Grayson. I push it aside, not wanting to think that maybe my emotions are coming into play.

Slowly, Chloe and the girls join us along with the guys that joined Grayson in the barn earlier. When we finish eating, it seems like everyone has decided it’s time to interrogate Grayson and me.

“So, Hannah, what made you decide to marry Grayson?” a guy I’ve been told is Ryder asks.

I don’t really want to out to his friends and family that it was a drunken mistake, so I say, “We were in Vegas.” Wanting to take an equal jab at him, I ask, “What made you pick up Brinley from the side of the road?”

Grayson raises a brow while Leo and Colton look at Ryder.

He shrugs a shoulder. “Saw her walkin’, and my mom raised me right. You pick up a stranded lady on the side of the road.”

Aspen leans forward in her chair and looks at Ryder. “Did she also teach you to fuck anything that walks?”

“Just enjoying life. No one doesn’t know what they’re getting from me when they climb into my bed.”

Silence fills the air before Chloe breaks it. “So, Hannah. What’s it like working with your husband?”

“It’s nothing different. We haven’t told anyone yet that we’re married, but when we work the same shift, we take our breaks together.” They don’t need to know it’s because of me that we haven’t told anyone, or that Grayson basically blackmailed me into sharing every meal at the hospital with him.

“Oh, don’t forget you get to see my beautiful face all the time,” Grayson chimes in.

“How could I forget,” I say with a laugh.

“It’s nice being able to spend more time with Hannah. We work such crazy shifts that having some overlap allows us to see each other.”

“Grayson,” Randy calls from across the yard.

He pushes up from his chair, grabbing my plate and kissing the top of my head before making his way to join his dad. That simple action of kissing the top of my head before he left has my insides in knots. How can I continue to hate a man who shows me affection like he does? I’m beginning to think maybe Liz’s comment about a thin line between love and hate might be true.

CHAPTER 20

Grayson

Realizing how natural it was to kiss the top of her head as I walk away has me confused. How in the world have we gone from her hating me and not wanting to spend time with me, to it feeling like the most natural thing in the world to share that act of affection with her before parting? I look over my shoulder at her, and she’s engrossed in conversation with everyone. She’s fit in so easily with my family and our friends.

I follow Dad to the side of the house where he’s kept the fireworks for tonight. We gather the supplies and move them to the open section of the yard where we’ll light them later. I drag the hose out and make sure it’s properly set up before we start stuffing the tubes. As I’m stuffing the last tube, I see familiar brown hair out of the corner of my eye, and my entire body becomes on edge. I turn and watch as Rebecca and her husband and son make their way toward the centre of the yard.

Her little boy finds the kids who have gathered in the yard to play. My parents’ place has always been open to everyone for the holidays. They’re known for their fireworks show every CanadaDay. I shouldn’t be surprised they’re here, but I haven’t been in town for the holiday in so long that it never crossed my mind.

I close my eyes and rub a hand over the ache in my chest as a hand slips into my free one and squeezes. Hannah’s soft, floral scent fills my lungs, and the ache subsides little by little with each deep inhale of it. When I open my eyes, I meet her worried gaze. I offer her a slight smile, but it does nothing to ease her worry. She squeezes my hand again, and I squeeze back.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

I nod. Her eyes continue scanning me, and I open my arms. She wraps hers around my waist and hugs me. I hold her like it’s the last time, because for all I know it is, and I need to absorb all of it. I bury my nose in her hair, and my entire body relaxes into her.

I don’t know why Hannah has always seemed to calm me, but she does. I have no explanation for it. It’s like she’s the eye of the storm that is my mind. She may be sassy and fiery, but when it matters, she anchors me.

When we separate, her hand comes up and cups my cheek as she stares into my eyes. The rest of the world falls away as I stare at her. Her hair isn’t as perfect as it was this morning. The humidity has flyaways around her face, and sweat forms around her hairline, but she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. My hands come up and cup her face.

I lean in, and before our lips touch, I whisper, “Stay with me tonight.”

She nods, and I move my lips and kiss her cheek. Ryder comes and joins us and takes over the preparation of the fireworks so I can spend the night with Hannah watching them instead of lighting them. I lead her to the edge of the group and lay a blanket out and lie down. She joins me, and I pull her into my side. Rebecca and her family are on the other side of the yard from us. I want her to be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wished forher, but being near her drags me into the past. Having Hannah by my side helps me stay focused on the present. As we lie here, the sound of nature and my family and friends around us, I realize more and more that I want to spend every Canada Day like this, with Hannah in my arms. In order for that to ever be a possibility, I would have to bare my soul to her. Tell her about everything and hope she stays despite me not being able to give her everything she wants. I resolve to tell her before we head home.

As the first firework goes off, the little gasp that escapes Hannah has me grinning from ear to ear. She makes little sounds as bigger ones light up the night sky, and I wrap my arm tighter around her. We watch as the different colours explode above us. I turn and look at her as a large red one explodes and the light dances across her face. She’s stunning as she grins. I tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear. She turns toward me slightly, and all I want to do is kiss her. I want to smash my lips against hers and devour her, but if I do, I’m not sure I’d be able to stop. I have this need to consume her. To have her forgetting every other man she’s ever been with until all she remembers is my touch. My taste. The way I make her come.

Another firework goes off, and Hannah turns to watch it. After the last few explode above us, we get up and help clean up before making our way back into the house. I hop in the shower, allowing the water to wash away the craziness of the day. As I tip my head back, the shower curtain moves, bringing in a cold burst of air. I look to see what caused the movement and immediately see Hannah naked in front of me. She has her hair pulled up in a messy bun on top of her head, exposing her slender neck. My eyes slowly trail down her body, taking in every inch of her perfect skin. My breathing quickens as I stare at her. My eyes can’t find one spot they want to linger. They need to eat up all of her.

Her eyes do the same as she steps into the shower, pulling the curtain closed and standing within inches of me. She smiles seductively at me, and I’m harder than I think I’ve ever been in my life. She grins as she reaches forward and takes hold of my erection, slowly sliding her hand up and down my length. I hold back a groan as I watch her.

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