Page 54 of Shot Through the Heart

I’ve been nonstop moving for the past few weeks, so I haven’t had any time to overthink this trip. Between my new role as an executive assistant for Paige, taking Harper to gymnastics and play dates after daycare, and finding time to spend with Greyson when he’s not working, there just hasn’t been a second to pause. Needless to say, I am looking forward to five days in the mountains with just Harper and Greyson.

I move our bags into the living room, reminding myself that it only looks like a lot because we’ll be there for Christmas. Which means traveling with presents so that Harper has stuff to open on Christmas morning. Even though my sweet child told me it was okay if she had to wait to come back home to open her presents from Santa. It was so adorably innocent and understanding, that I decided to bring presents from “Santa” with us to put out for Christmas morning and saved the ones from me for when we get back. That way, she gets to celebrate twice.

Even though Greyson and I agreed on no presents for each other, I couldn’t say no when Harper wanted to get something for him. So there are also a couple things wrapped for him too.

Dropping my carry-on bag next to the suitcases, I sigh in relief when the doorbell rings.

Since our flight isn’t until this afternoon, I dropped Harper off at daycare for the morning so I could finish packing uninterrupted. Now that everything is done, the excitement is starting to settle in.

The door swings open, hitting the stopper with a thud, but I ignore it and focus on Greyson.

“Hi,” I say, sounding winded even though I’ve done nothing to warrant being breathless.

Grey steps through the doorway, immediately envelops me in a hug, and kisses the top of my head. I melt into his embrace.

“I missed you,” he mumbles against my cheek.

“You saw me two days ago,” I tease, not mentioning the fact that I was feeling the same way this morning.

His hands move to my hips, and he pulls back just enough to peer down at me.

“And that was two days too long.”

When he dips his head, I push onto my tiptoes and meet him halfway for a kiss. The tension that builds around us the second our lips touch is almost palpable.

My body lights up in response when he swipes his tongue along my lower lip. Surely it shouldn’t be like this. It made sense when we were teenagers. The hormones running through our bodies overpowered everything else.

Now, though, with all the changes my body has gone through from giving birth, I can’t wrap my brain around it. Maybe it’s pent-up energy from never having any personal time to relieve myself.

Or maybe it’s because there has always been intense chemistry with Greyson and chalking it up to teenage hormones is doing both of us a disservice.

Ever since the first night of the hurricane when he made me come, every time he’s around only seems to wind me up more. Yet neither of us has made a move to do anything more than kiss or cuddle.

And now that we’re alone again…

I break away from the kiss, barely biting back my moan when Grey kisses along my jaw and down my neck.

“We should get the bags loaded.” I gasp when he finds the spot just below my ear that has me shivering against him. Clutching his biceps, I try to stay focused. “We’ll be late picking up Harper if we don’t?—”

“No, we won’t.” Grey chuckles, spreading his palm over my ass and hauling me against him. My eyes widen at the feel of his hard length pressing against me. “I’m early.”

“You are?” I move to grab my phone and check the time, but Grey holds me tighter.

“Practice let out early. Everyone is too excited for the four-day break.” He brings his free hand up and traces his thumb over my bottom lip. “Since I was already packed, I figured I’d come see if you needed any help.”

Oh, I do…but not with packing.

As if he can read my thoughts, Grey smirks. Before I can say anything, he’s kissing me again. The hand at my back glides up, slipping beneath my shirt. We both groan at the contact, and he continues up, finding the band of my bra.

I reach for the hem of his shirt in response, shoving it up and reveling in the feel of his skin against mine. His chiseled abs against my palm remind me just how strong he’s become, making me wonder how he can use that to make us both feel good now.

He cups my breasts in his palms, stopping my advance of removing his shirt, but it doesn’t lessen the desire building.

Fuck the lingering kisses and PG cuddles. I want Greyson to remind me what it feels like to have him inside me.

I give up on his shirt, finding the button of his pants instead. There’s no use being subtle about what I want. He curses as I lower the zipper and start working to shove his jeans down.

“Stella, if we don’t stop, I’m gonna…”

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