Page 92 of Always Been Yours

“You can wear my sweats if you want.”

“Obviously I’m not wearing your old ass sweats. Don’t be ridiculous.” She holds the pajamas up to her chest as if I’d just snatch them from her.

“The toothbrush is in the top drawer.” When she moves past me, I stand up straight and stop her with an arm around her waist. I place a soft kiss on her temple. “Is there anything else you need?”

She shakes her head. Bringing my hand up to kiss my knuckles, she untangles from me and goes into the bathroom.

Chapter Thirty

Vivi

Of course, I look through every one of Grady’s bathroom drawers and cabinets while I brush my teeth. To no one’s surprise, there isn’t anything scandalous. Not unless you count a pair of briefs on the floor. Who is this man?

I spit out the toothpaste and rinse my mouth before taking one final look at myself in the mirror. The set that Grady picked out is perfect. There’s no reason to deny that. It’s a silky light gray tank top and shorts that fall around my upper thighs. It’s something I’d pick out for myself.

And Iknowthat this means something. You wouldn’t pick up a pair of pajamas and a toothbrush for one night. You wouldn’t even do that for a friend-with-benefits.

You do this for someone that you want to make comfortable. Someone that you want to take up a little space in your home. And that makes it so much better than stealing a pair of his sweats.

I’ll probably steal a pair in the morning, let’s just be honest.

I exit the bathroom and find Grady setting up what I assume is my side of the bed. There’s a glass of water and an extra charger on the nightstand closest to the window, on the other side of theroom from the door. It’s a coincidence that he picked that side for me but it’s the one I would’ve preferred. I take a few steps toward him, feeling shy and giddy all of a sudden.

“I’m going to just brush my teeth,” he steps up next to me and places a soft kiss on my temple. Before he can walk away, I grab his arm and stand up on my toes, laying a sweet kiss on his lips.

“Thank you for everything tonight,” I whisper against his lips. “It was more than I could have expected.”

“Tonight’s nothing compared to what I have planned.” He closes the bathroom door, so I pull back the sheets and make myself comfortable. I text my siblings and Lexi to make sure they all made it home safely, then put my phone on the charger.

I’m working out the knots in my hair as Grady walks out.Without a shirt. I didn’t have the mental capacity to fully take him in earlier. That moment was more about just feeling my hands on him. But now I get tolookat him.

And of course, he’s perfect. His abs aren’t obnoxious but he’s not rocking a dad bod either—they’re just defined enough to see his six-pack with a delicious V pointing south. Accompanied by a broad chest and shoulders, he’s everything I’ve imagined.

Andoh,have I imagined.

“What are you doing?”

I don’t bother pretending like I’m not completely ogling him. “What does it look like? Braiding my hair.”

Chuckling, he asks, “Can I?”

I pause. “Can you what?”

“Can I braid your hair?”

My entire body stills. Looking up at him I ask, “You want to braid my hair? Do you even know how to braid hair?”

He walks toward the bed, rolling his eyes. “I have two daughters. Of course, I know how to braid hair. Who do you thinkhelps them every morning?” He twists his finger telling me to turn around. I put my back to him and throw my hair over my shoulder. As he finishes untangling the knots he says, “I can admit that there are a few hairstyles that my mom and sister have to help me with. The braid crown thing is a hard one. And bubble braids. Blake does those the best. Mine are always a little too flat. But everything else, that’s all me.”

“Wow. Impressive,” I say earnestly.

We fall into a comfortable silence while he puts my hair into one French braid down the middle. This moment feels more intimate than sex in a lot of ways—one I could live in forever.

Grady’s fingers are soft, and he tugs gently, never causing any pain. He knots it perfectly, not too loose. And when he finishes, he rubs his fingers along my scalp, pulling out any too tight spots. I turn toward him, and he lays a gentle kiss on my cheek.

Pushing on his chest, I tease, “You are infuriating, do you know that?”

He chuckles playfully and climbs under the covers. “How so?”

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