Page 118 of Hold Me Before You Go

He pulled out, and in a flash, his face was above me again, his hand covering my mouth, his body pinning me down. His eyes were wild as he roughly commanded, “Swallow. It.”

When I did, he pulled his hand away and kissed me. “Christ, we taste so damn good,” he grunted against my lips, kissing me until I was gasping, breathless. He pulled away from me, trailing scorching kisses down my neck, across my jaw, my throat. He kissed every single inch of my neck, murmuring sweet words as he did.

I love you.

Thank you.

You’re such a good girl.

Thank you.

I love you.

He continued his trail of kisses down my chest, licking and sucking my nipples until my clit was throbbing once more. He kissed and worshiped my belly, his hands gently squeezing my soft sides. When he got down to my core, I said nothing, opening my legs wide for him. He smiled at me, looking feral again. “That’s my good girl.”

Then, he was on me, eating me like I was his last meal, holding me down to the mattress as I squirmed and bucked against his face, begging for mercy. He didn’t stop until I came—three more times.

When he was done, he pulled me into his arms, resting my head on his chest, and we drifted off to sleep.

Three days later. Blue Beauty. Astoria, OR.

The loud banging continued at my front door as Grayson waited for my answer.

Three days.

That was all we were given before my friends discovered I was back. Grayson spotted Michael’s cruiser driving by this morning, and he said they made eye contact through the window before he sped off. It wasn’t like I didn’t want to see them; I did. Truly, I did. I needed one of Michael and Sarah’s tight embraces. I needed a shoulder punch from Margo. I needed to hear Rossy tell me everything was okay.

I needed all of that, but I needed Grayson more. Our time was coming to an end, and my soul was dying. I would never be the same once he was gone.

“Carrie?”

My heart was pounding, and for a moment it was the only thing I could hear. I met Grayson’s eyes and shook my head, putting my hands against my stomach as anxiety swarmed me.

Grayson’s head ticked to the side, his brows coming together in concern as he closed the distance between us. “Sunshine, if you want them gone, it’ll be done. Whatever you want. Say the word.”

I shook my head again. Of course, I didn’t want them gone. My throat burned as knives gathered within it, cutting me from the inside out. “What if they hate me?” I whispered.

His dark features softened. “Baby.”

“They’ve been worried about me, and I’ve been with you—safe for some time. What if, when I tell them the truth, they hate me for it?”

Tic-Tac meowed from his spot on the couch, rising and stretching before hopping down. I watched as he made his way into the kitchen, rubbing his body against Grayson’s leg. The knocking stopped and then started back up again, Margo’s voice booming through the wood. “Listen here, you big, dumb man! You got five seconds to open this door and let me see Cardinal before I kick it down!”

Grayson looked annoyed. “Is she always this violent?”

I nodded, shrugging a shoulder. “That’s just Margo.” I moved then, stepping around him, my feet carrying me out of the kitchen, across the living room, to the front door. I put my hand on the doorknob, hearing Rossy’s calm voice.

“Darling, I don’t think threatening the man is going to get you inside faster,” he said.

My heart warmed.

“Just be patient, Margo,” Sarah said, sounding tired.

“No, fuck that—”

I opened the door to find all of them staring at me, Margo in the middle, her face red with anger, her black hair up in a messy bun, the ends sticking out in every direction, dressed in all black as usual. Rossy was to her left, dressed in brown slacks and a hunter green coat, his usual happy glow gone. And then,there was Sarah to the right of Margo, dressed in sweats and an old college sweatshirt with her hair in a similar bun to Margo’s and dark bags under her eyes. Michael was behind her, leaning against the porch railing, in his uniform, his face grim and serious.

They stared at me in a stunned silent, and when I felt Grayson behind me, all four pairs of eyes lifted to his face.

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