Page 50 of Shifted

"It's just us, Hope. My family won't be here for hours." A smirk grows on his face as the idea comes to me as well. I removed my top as he unbuckled his belt, pulling down his pants. I stripped down naked and lay underneath him.

"If only we were under the mistletoe, then we could kiss.”

"Fuck mistletoe, I want to do more than just kiss" He rubbed himself against me, slowly getting me excited, and after a couple of seconds, he trusted into me, slowly placing soft kisses against my chest. His pace was slow and tender, touching me gently with each stroke.

Lifting my legs to his shoulders, he picked up the pace, holding me close. His grunts were soft but could be heard. This was different, and he was taking his time; he was making love to me.

"Do you love me?" I mumble in a small voice of curiosity. Words that have been lingering in my thoughts for longer than I could think. He leans in, taking my lips into his smile.

"More than you'll ever know, Hope, more than you'll ever know" He slaps my ass, leaving a mark for tomorrow, and continues to pepper my body with his lips. His hand grasps my boob as he pinches my nipples slightly. It causes him to move down and take me into his mouth.

“Please,” I begged as I felt my orgasm building, and as he went deep, I found myself coming closer. My body trembled slightly as my stomach remained in knots. "I- I have to…"

"Alright, Princess," he tells me, and I let go, allowing my body to shutter as I clasp onto him, screaming his name as he continues to thrust slowly. I feel himself inside of me, and he pulls out, taking his hand and using his fingers in replacement as I whimper.

“I love you, Hope. Merry Christmas Eve.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Hope Taylor

The phone rings.

And rings.

And rings.

It kept ringing and ringing as I heard it in the background of my dream. Soon, I slowly open my eyes to see the time on my bedside table: 4:02 a.m. Whoever called me at this hour was in serious trouble. I had a meeting with Mr. Reign on an upcoming case in just four hours, and I would now be unwell and grumpy.

But when I picked up the phone to see the contact displayed on the screen, my stomach felt like I was on a rollercoaster and just went down a big drop. The incoming caller ID left me paralyzed because it was ringing at this hour. The words flashed against my screen.

BAY VIEW RESIDENTIAL

I don't want to pick up the call. Because I know it won't be Grandma’s voice on the other line. But I swipe the green button across the screen, accepting the call.

"Hello, is Miss Taylor there?" I recognize Dr. Sharma's voice, but this time it's trembling.

"It's me, Dr. Sharma." I'm greeted with silence for a moment.

"You need to come; she's not doing well." Her words send a cold chill down my spine, and I'm immediately out of bed. These are words I expected but could never prepare myself for.

"I'm on my way." I throw on whatever I can and race out the door.

I made it to Bella's with Joely in hand. Standing outside, I call her name and banging on her door, and soon I'm met with Grayson staring at me, confused and angry, “Hope what the-”

"It's Mary Ellen." As he took in my words, his eyes widened. He takes Joely from my hands, and I leave. My heart is racing, and my palms feel sweaty. As I'm driving, I feel uneasy, questioning if I should even be on the empty roads as I drive.

When I park, I take a moment to breathe and collect myself. I enter the doors and spot Dr. Sharma in green scrubs, adjusting her Hijab. As she notices my presence, she shares a worried look at me, and as we approach Grandma's room, I feel the bile rise in my throat. Grandma lay in her bed weak and in a blood-stained nightgown.

"She's been coughing up blood. We're trying to make her comfortable." I nod and slowly approach her, her gaze remaining on a photo by her nightstand. I tap her shoulder, and she looks over at me, forming a small smile.

"Grams," I take her frail hand in mine, squeezing it. “Where's Julie and Hyram?" Her smile grows because she knows that I know they'd most likely be here. But it doesn't matter; I put everything aside to be with her. She shakes her head, and I look over to Dr. Sharma.

"She's requested for them not to be here." I stare back at Grandma.

"It's not because of me, right grandma?"

"I don't want hateful people with me when I go, sweetheart," Her arm shakes as she weakly lifts it to my cheek, and I hold it against me as she attempts to wipe away my tears. I couldn’t lose her; she couldn’t be leaving me today, and I only had so much time with her. I know grandparents don’t last forever, but I sometimes wish I’d get to be with her my whole life rather than getting to be in a quarter of hers.

---