“Good,” Grace said just above a whisper.
“Have you talked to Alex about the nursery? How are things moving along?”
Grace worried on her bottom lip. “Um, we’ve hit a couple of snags, but I don’t think it’s going to be anything that puts us too far behind. I told Alex I’d be there this weekend. I was hoping you and I could go stay a couple days at my parents’ house.”
The dull ache in my chest grew stronger; I knew I was the cause of the snags. “Grace, maybe you should head to Mason. I’ve kept you away for so long and it has to be stressful for Alex to tend to this all herself.”
Grace stopped walking and took my hand. “A few weeks ago you told me to get the fuck out of your house. Do you remember that?”
Making a grimace, I shook my head. “No. I don’t remember that and you have to know I didn’t mean it.”
Smiling a smile so brilliant, I quickly found myself smiling back. “I knew then you didn’t mean it, just like I know now you don’t mean what you’re saying.”
It felt as if the entire world was resting on my shoulders and I wasn’t sure how to push it off. “Grace, maybe I should take some time and go travel, or visit Em. Your parents probably want their daughter back and I don’t feel like I’m . . . like I’m–”
Placing her fingers up to my lips, Grace’s eyes burned with a fire I was used to seeing. Some days it burned brighter than other days. “Stop talking, Noah. You are my everything. It’s you and me. Remember?”
“Grace,” I whispered as I took her hand and kissed her wrist. “I feel like I’ve failed you and your family. I’m not the man I want to be for you.”
Walking closer to me, Grace placed both hands on my chest and looked deep into my eyes. There were so many moments I’d found myself lost in those emerald eyes. “You are the man I want you to be. Flaws and all. You can’t be who you think I want you to be if you’re not with me, Noah. I won’t . . . no . . . I can’t lose you again.”
My knees felt weak as my eyes searched Grace’s face. “How did I get so lucky with you?”
Giving me a sexy smile and a wink, Grace replied, “I could say the same thing. There is something though that we do need to talk about, now that you are feeling better.”
Pulling her closer to me, I kissed the tip of her nose. “What’s that?”
“Sex. If I have to stick my hand into my panties one more ti
me, I’m going to have to start paying myself.”
My dick instantly came to life. A feeling I had not been feeling since my mother passed away rushed through my body. “I believe I owe you a few Christmas presents as well.”
Licking her lips, Grace slid her hand down and grabbed my dick as we both let out a moan. “Noah, take me home. I’ve missed you.”
Grabbing Grace’s hand, I quickly started back toward the house. We had some serious love making to make up for.
Practically pulling Grace back to the house, I felt a surge of energy I hadn’t felt in weeks.
Running up the stairs of the front porch, I pushed open the front door, grabbed Grace and pinned her against the wall as I attacked her lips. Her hands pushed through my hair as she took a handful and pulled. God I wanted to be buried deep inside of her.
Pushing my hand up and under her shirt, I pushed her bra out of the way and played with her nipple. Grace moaned into my mouth as she pushed her hips into me.
“Now, Noah. I need you now.”
Grace and I quickly made our way up to my room when we heard noises coming from Grayson’s room. Stopping, we both leaned closer to his door.
That’s when we heard it.
“Oh God. Harder!”
Dropping her mouth open, Grace jumped back and hit me on the arm as she pointed to the door and covered her mouth. “Oh my God! He brought a whore home!”
Shaking my head, I pulled back and stared at her. “What? Why do you assume it’s a whore?”
Giving me a look like I had just grown to heads, Grace tilted her head and said, “Hello? Stripper?”
“Stop labeling him, Grace. Besides, he quit his stripper job.”