Page 56 of Keep You Safe
“Kiss me,” I demanded, and for once, Gray let me give the orders. He leaned forward for a blistering kiss, thoroughly owning my mouth. We kissed, and he stroked; he stroked, and we kissed. My world tunneled to only those two facts, a whiteout for my senses. Indeed, the storm of the century could’ve whipped through, and I wouldn’t have noticed, let alone cared.
He kept the same steady rhythm of jerking us off together, but even without an increase in tempo, my body danced ever closer to the edge.
“Gray.” I moaned his name, loving how his eyes went wide with pleasure. “I’m close.”
“Wait for me,” he ordered as I’d known he would.
Holding his gaze, I nodded. “Always.”
As with outside in the snow, a moment passed between us. I meant it. I’d wait for him. If he gave me the least bit of encouragement that he might someday be ready, I’d wait and wait and wait because he was worth it. This thing between us was worth waiting for, and we both knew it.
He groaned like the intensity of our connection was too much to hold. I understood the feeling. Arching against him, I sought relief from the big emotions zooming around us. We fell into another soul-deep kiss as he sped up his strokes. Digging myfingers into the muscles of his back, I clutched him tightly like a rodeo buckle was on the line. I clenched my abs and struggled to breathe, trying everything in my power to hold off.
He’d said wait, and wait I would.
“Now.” Blessedly, his usually iron-clad control snapped before I could. He stroked hard and fast, cock sliding against mine, kisses getting sloppy. “Come with me.”
And I did, erupting all over his fist as he did the same, our combined come making everything so much slipperier that my cock released another few spurts at how damn sexy this was. And through it all, Grayson kept kissing me, drinking down my moans and meeting them with his own. He teased us both through the orgasm into aftershocks that left me shuddering in his arms.
Blessedly boneless, I barely stretched as he retrieved a towel and made a halfhearted effort at cleanup. That done, he collapsed next to me and pulled the covers up around us. He gathered me close, and I gave a contented yawn, more than ready for a long winter’s nap.
“You can’t sleep here.” Grayson didn’t release me, but he might as well have, his weary voice cutting through the delicious afterglow to make me tense.
“I’m well aware.”
“I don’t mean right this second,” he protested as I sat up, covers pooling in my lap.
“Might as well have.” I pursed my lips.
“You’re mad.” Sighing, he threw an arm over his forehead.
“Nah,” I lied as I braced myself to head out into the cold night because God forbid anyone know I spent the night here, where I belonged. “I agreed—hell, I was the one to suggest—keeping things secret. Not your fault that I want to change the rules.”
“I wish I could be different for you.” He sat up to rub my shoulder, but the gesture seared rather than soothed. He wanted to comfort me, yet he refused to give us what we both deserved.
“You could.” I swiveled to give him a harsh look. “Maverick will be back soon. The guest project is gathering steam. If you’re not my boss and we’re just coworkers, why care so much about what people think?”
“I hate gossip.” He gave the same tired excuse, and I groaned.
“You can’t live your life prisoner to what people might think.” I was one to talk, but if I’d learned anything from sobriety, it was that people-pleasing was a slippery slope to losing oneself. Also, Gray kept citing gossip, clinging to that reason above all others, but I saw the fear in his eyes that went far beyond worry over a few rumors. “Gossip isn’t the only thing holding you back. What are you so scared of, Gray?”
He opened his mouth as if to issue a quick denial, closed it again. Swallowed hard. Then whispered, “You.”
“Me?” I frowned. I was the least scary person around, and I’d lie down in the nearest snowbank before I hurt him intentionally.
“You.” He regarded me through sad dark eyes. “You not staying. You’re not meant for ranching life.”
“Wow.” My shoulders sagged as every last oxygen molecule left my lungs. “Way to share how you really feel. I’ve only worked my ass off for months?—”
“And you’ve done a damn fine job.” He shook his head like I was missing the whole point, and his agreement only frustrated me that much more.
“I love it here. Why can’t you see that?”
“You say that now.” He glanced away, twisting the covers in his fist, voice going softer and further away. Years away.
“Ah. There it is.” Even though my whole body was crying out to embrace him, I forced myself to exit the bed. I couldn’tcompete with the ghosts of his past. Sobriety had shown me that too. I couldn’t make him want to change, but I sure could lecture. “You can’t keep judging the world by your parents. Not everyone from the city is in a rush to get back.”
“Experience says otherwise.” He swung his legs out of the bed to sit on the edge, watching me dress. Not stopping me, despite the clear longing in his eyes.
