Page 70 of Always Been Yours

“Nipples.”

“Yes,” he clears his throat again. “Especially when they’re…” He waves his hand in my direction and my eyes drop to my chest again.

“Hard,” I finish for him.

“They sure are,” his voice is thicker now.

I pull my shoulders back and answer his initial point. “They’re just nipples, Grady.” I grab the see-through red one from the pile. “These bras are much more comfortable. And I’m not going to be ashamed of my body.”

He swallows and drags his eyes back to my face. “You definitely shouldn’t be.”

I’m struck speechless at his lustful honesty.

His eyes track the heat rushing across my cheeks and I’m glad he can’t see the other parts of my body that are affected by him.

I could take a couple of steps and close the distance. Let whatever is burning between him and I engulf us both in the flames.

But tonight isn’t that night.

I don’t feel like my head is disconnected from my body anymore. I know I wouldn’t regret anything we did by morning. But I would regret not being completely absorbed in every second. Because I know, without a doubt, that it’d be the most intimate first time I’ve ever experienced with someone. I think about all of the ways Grady is gentle with me. The soft kisses to my nose. When he guides me through a room with his hand on the small of my back. How his breath feels when he whispers in my ear. Those sultry looks he gives me in rooms full of people. But it’s more than just that.

It’s the desire in his eyes that would burn my whole world down if I let it.

No, Grady wouldn’t be gentle with me in this aspect. And I love that.

And I want to remember it.

“Thanks,” my voice breathier than I intended. My chest is rising and falling as I attempt to gather my laundry. “I’m going to put this stuff away really quick.” I point over my shoulder toward my room.

Grady

It takes Vivi about twenty minutes to put her laundry away. But if I’m being honest, I feel like she’s avoiding me. We were having a good night—the best night I’ve had in years—and I hope I didn’t ruin that by pushing her too far.

She’s been driving me crazy all night even if she doesn’t mean to. She probably has no idea how she’s making me feel. Emotionally and physically.

I got so worried that she was uncomfortable that I figured she was going to want me to go home. Sitting on her couch, I start scrolling through Uber, not wanting to risk driving, even hours later. I’m prepared to ask her for my clothes from the dryer and call a car. I’ll go home with my tail between my legs and work out a plan to fix the inevitable tension.

When she makes her way back to the living room, she sits down on the couch, not as close as she was sitting before, and looking more nervous.

I’m positive that the dismissal is coming but once again, it doesn’t.

She just tucks her feet under my thighs and throws a blanket across both of us. I tentatively place my hand on her knee, and she snuggles deeper into the couch.

“Do you want to watch a movie?”

I nod and hand her the remote from the coffee table.

At some point duringTinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue—her choice—we abandoned the couch and made a haphazard attempt at a bed with the blankets and pillows she had in the living room. There are more than any sane person would need, but they’re allsmaller throws.

We’re making it work. And with Vivi laying on the floor next to me, her head on my shoulder, I really don’t have any place I’d rather be. Our bodies don’t connect anywhere else, but I feel content with what we have going on.

I lean down to plant a soft kiss on the crown of her head, not able to stop myself from showering her in affection. She hums in appreciation and snuggles a little closer into my side.

It’s sporadic small gestures for now. But when she gives me the go ahead that I so desperately want, I’ll show her how I’d worship the ground she walks on for the rest of our lives.

Everyone thinks I was infatuated with her when we were kids? That’s nothing compared to what it would be like now. What I could give her now.

“I think Tink should give Terence a chance. He’s the sweetest cinnamon roll. Just look at how helooks at her!“ She points toward the TV.

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