"And some sexy time?"
"Possibly."
I pouted.
"Is that all you care about?" he teased.
"Absolutely not. I appreciate all your qualities. It'd be a shame not to put those delicious sexy skills to use though."
"You wicked woman. You're lucky I love you." He took my face in his hands, studying me. "Are you okay, Lori? The truth."
"I think so. This afternoon just brought back some unpleasant memories. I've always known Jeff was a dick. He surpassed himself today... showing up like this, asking me to lie for him. No interest in Milo."
"Were you hoping he would want to be part of Milo's life?"
I shook my head. "No, I'm not an idiot. I wouldn't trust him even if he tried. He's flighty and would only hurt Milo more."
"I wouldn't let that happen. You and Milo are family to me."
"I love you so much," I whispered.
"You handled everything great today. Now, let's go home."
During the drive, I tried to calm down, but I was unsuccessful. Seeing Graham's reddened knuckles didn't help. His lips were pressed in a thin line—he was no doubt rehashing the past hour in his mind, just like I was. It set me on edge. Seeing Jeff today brought back the ugly feeling—and the fear—of being tossed aside. I shouldn't have let it get to me, but I was only human.
Even after dinner, I wasn’t feeling like myself. Graham told me as much.
“I’m not angry, or nervous, just... unsettled,” I tried to explain. “Not sure if I’m making much sense.”
“You do. Seeing someone who has hurt you before has to get to you.”
I blinked, relieved he understood, that he wasn’t judging me. “It did. I hope I never have to see his face again.”
Hooking an arm around my waist, he brought me close to him. “I love your strength, Lori.” He dragged the tip of his nose up and down my neck, making me shudder.
“Thank you for coming with me today, and for being here now.” Facing things together, as a team, was new to me. My family had always been behind me, of course, but this... this was different.
“My pleasure.” He placed open-mouthed kisses on my neck, descending to my shoulder. My hands roamed his chest, and then I couldn’t help myself and slipped my fingers under his shirt, tracing the lines of his six-pack. Then I undid the button of his jeans, and the fly, needing to touch more of him. When I squeezed his cock, he tugged at my lower lip with his teeth. Heat zipped through me.
Graham pushed both straps of my dress off my shoulders, lowering the zipper on the back. I was glad to be wearing a simple beach dress. Easy to put on. Easy to get off. He tossed it somewhere behind him in the living room, raking his heated gaze over my almost-naked body. The lingerie was so tiny that it didn’t cover much. He got his jeans and boxers out of the way, and then his erection was between us, touching my belly, hot and hard.
I opened my thighs, but Graham pushed them even wider apart as he stepped between them, guiding his erection lower, rubbing the length against my center. I still had my thong on, and the friction was making my legs quiver. With grabby hands, I took off Graham’s shirt.
“Do you have a condom on you?” I whispered. “I don’t think we’re going to make it to the bedroom.”
He laughed against my lips, then reached for his jeans. After taking a condom out of his wallet, he rolled it on under my greedy gaze. We made it to the couch, but no farther. He kissed me ferociously. His hands were everywhere. His mouth was driving me crazy.
“Baby, I’ll be rough,” he whispered.
“I like it rough, and fast.”
He didn’t even take off my lingerie, only pushed the scrap of fabric covering my center to one side. He ran his fingers across my opening, strumming them against the sensitive flesh. I lifted my hips in a wordless request. When he nipped my clit between two fingers, I nearly came. He slid inside me.
“Wrap your legs around me. You’ll take me in even deeper.”
I followed his command, bringing my knees to his sides then resting my heels under his ass. He pulled back, then pushed inside me again, filling me up, stretching me.
“Graham!”