Page 43 of Deception
“Hey, what’s going on?” he nudges her with his knee. “That was the perfect opening to tell me that I’m just a stupid guy.”
“You’re not stupid.”
She still won’t look at him, and Kent sets the food down. “Gracie, look at me.”
When she does, he’s surprised by the glossy-eyed look as he sees unshed tears. He studies her, hoping he didn’t step over the line of what she’s comfortable with, but she doesn’t ease his worry when she continues to stay silent.
“What’s wrong? I was just kidding—”
“What if it’s me?”
He tilts his head in confusion. “What if what’s you?”
“Ignore me,” she says and forces a chuckle as she looks back down at the blanket. “I’ve just been in my head all day. It’s… It’s stupid.”
“It’s not stupid if you’re upset,” Kent says and pulls her onto his lap, letting her rest her head against his chest rather than look at him. “This is me, baby. Nothing you feel is stupid, and weboth know there is nothing you can say that would be dumber than some of the shit that comes out of my mouth.”
Swallowing, she pauses, but she holds onto him. It gives him a little bit of relief to know she finds comfort in his embrace. “What if I’m not good?” she whispers.
“Good at what?” She stays silent, and he catches on. “Oh! Wait, you’re worried about that?”
Pulling away, she sits in front of him again. “There just… There’s a lot that goes through a girl’s head when she thinks about having sex with someone she likes. Usually, experience makes it easier. At least, I assume it does. But my experience wasn’t… normal.”
“Gracie—”
“Please don’t tell me I’m being ridiculous.”
He reaches for her hand and strokes the top with his thumb. “I wasn’t going to.”
She sighs and looks up into his eyes. “I wish I could explain how I’ve gone over that night with Nolan’s dad in my head every day since it happened. How I worry my skills in that department made him not want to talk to me again. That it’s the reason my son doesn’t have a father in the picture.”
“I can promise you that your performance in the bedroom—or wherever it was—isn’t the reason that jerk isn’t around.”
“How do you know?”
Cupping her cheek, Kent smiles. “Because even bad sex is good sex for guys. And the truth is, it’s not that hard to get most guys off. The fact he didn’t want to talk to you again had nothing to do with you. It’s all him.”
“I suppose it’s obvious he got off. You know… kid and everything,” she says with a small giggle.
Normally, he’d chuckle along with her, but he really hates this guy who ruined something that should have been so special for her. “That’s not really the point.”
“But what if it was me? What if I wasn’t good? Or maybe I’m just not pretty enough. He probably thought I was stupid, and it was easy to get me naked because I’m just a dumb girl.”
“Gracie, listen to me. What he did had nothing to do with you or how good you were. He’s the type of guy who wants to get into someone’s pants and walk away. He’s the type of guy I will beat the shit out of if I ever find out who he is because he’s not a man. A man doesn’t treat a woman that way.”
She gives him a shaky smile as she fights back a sob. “It’s just really hard looking at Nolan knowing he doesn’t have a father in his life.”
“He has me. I’m not his father, but he’s got me. Always will. Plus, we can’t forget your brother or your dad. Hell, he has the whole damn club.”
“He has you,” she repeats.
“For the rest of my life.”
Gracie lunges into his arms, her lips on his, and he’s more than happy to give her comfort however she needs it. Their tongues dance, and he appreciates the sitting position. He’s had a kink in his neck the past few days from slouching so much.
Her hips shift as he strains against his fly, and she pulls away to smile at him. “It feels like you might like me.”
“Sorry,” he mutters and kisses her neck. “Actually, you know what? I’m not sorry. I want you, Gracie. There’s no reason to hide it.”
