Page 22 of Sparrow

“ARE YOU SURE you want to do this, Mills? You know you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

He’s been so kind and gentle with me. So understanding and sweet. All of those things just further cement one thought.

I’m ready.

“I want this, Gray. You’re leaving tomorrow. I’m leaving shortly after that. Tonight may be—”

He finishes my sentence, “Our only chance.”

“Right, and I don’t want to give anyone else this part of me. I want you to be my first. They say girls always remember their first time.” I place my hand on his chest when he curls his arm around me.

“I’ve wanted this for so long, Mills. You know that.” He gently caresses my face.

“I know, and you’ve been so patient with me.”

“Because that’s what you deserve.” He eases me down to lie on my back and moves so his body is slightly over mine.

“I’m ready, Gray. I want this. I want you.” I’m shaking like a leaf, but I’m so comfortable with him.

“God, Mills...I want you too.”

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

I bolt upright in my bed, disoriented for a moment, looking around quickly.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

I grab my phone off the nightstand and check the time. My alarm clearly never went off, or it did and I grumpily turned it off and went back to sleep. Yeah. That’s a bit more likely.

I scramble out of bed, searching for something to put on, because I obviously cannot greet him at the door in my bralette and boy shorts.

Even though he has seen me naked before.

Dreaming about the night Grayson took my virginity was something completely unexpected, though not entirely unwelcome. That sexual encounter, while painful for obvious reasons, was the best I’ve had to date.

He was so gentle and tender. He never moved too quickly, and he made sure I felt pleasure the entire time.

Gray at eighteen was an incredible lover. I can’t help but wonder if Gray at thirty-two is even better.

Once I am dressed in a black racerback tank and denim shorts, I leave my hair in its wild state. Just fluffing it and swooping it all to one side like I intentionally styled it this way, then I haul ass down the stairs.

I pull the door open in a rush and immediately apologize, “I am so sorry. I thought I set my alarm. Maybe I did, but I guess I turned it off and passed out again. I’m so sorry.” I’m speaking in the quick, run-on sentences that would show themselves when I would apologize to Jaxon to avoid a fight.

“Can you even breathe when you speak that fast?” Gray asks, standing there in my doorway, with his hands shoved in his pockets, looking like a whole snack.

“Well, not really.” I laugh. He’s dressed in a pair of jeans and a white Kane Security tee today and no hat. I can see his hair is a bit longer on top than I remember, but still that deep, hazelnut brown.

“You don’t have to apologize for oversleeping, Mills. You’re only human. Hell, I do it all the time. Trust me.”

I take a breath and relax my body. He’s right. I don’t have to constantly apologize or live in fear.

I’m free.

“Old habit, I guess.” I shrug.

“I don’t want to know what that means because I have a feeling it will just make me angry.” It’s like he can read the truth in my eyes.

“Like I said last night, my story up until now has been long and interesting.”

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