Page 56 of Blood Ties
“Make it quickly. She was about to explain to me the concept of a… D…J…?”
I smiled at Damien’s lack of knowledge of the twenty first century, but the smile quickly faded as I turned to Sebastian.
“I’ll be right back,” I spoke to Damien. My eyes fell on Grayson who showed no sign of suspicion. He gave me a caring smile as I passed him. When I was at the door, I turned a glaring gaze to Sebastian who held the door for me. Before I could open my mouth, he held on finger up silencing me. Once the door was closed, he spoke.
“Supernatural sound proofing,” he pointed to the door.
“What do you want, Sebastian?” I huffed.
He studied me for a moment, and then looked through the window on the door into the room, before returning his gaze back to me. “I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“Really?” I didn’t mean to sound hostile, but he was the one person who could let it slip that I was attacked and that made me nervous.
“Really, Gaby.” I scanned his face and he seemed genuine. Then my eyes drifted to the ground. “You’re not, are you?” I shook my head, trying to not let the tears start. “Did you tell him?” I wasn’t sure if he meant the attack or the blood, but the answer was the same to both. I shook my head again, wrapping my arms around myself. “Gaby…” I knew he wanted to scold me for not taking his advice, but seeing how upset I was, he reached out like he was going to hug me but changed his mind at the last moment and instead rubbed his hand up and down on my arm trying to comfort me. His fingers grazed mine then he stopped and cupped my fingers in his. “It’s going to be alright, but you should tell him. You need someone who knows.”
“You know.”
He shook his head. “Someone that you can talk to.” I looked up at him from under my lashes. He fumbled on his words. “I mean, you can…if you want to. Of course you can talk to me if you want.”
I gave him a small smile. “Thank you Sebastian.” He returned my grin. “No. I mean it. Thank you.” I did my best to push my true meaning, without saying the words,Thank you for getting to me in time.
“Any time, Gaby.”
When I turned to go back in the room, I saw Grayson watching us with a pinched brow.
A few days later, I awoke before Grayson. It was the weekend, but with waking early every day of the week, his body tended to try and keep up with the routine, even on the weekends. Waking up before him was a challenge.
Grayson never asked about my conversation with Sebastian at The Angelo Tower. He also never brought up my panic attack. In the days that followed, he seemed to be careful with me, treating me as if I was made of glass. He barely kissed me, most likely worried that I would have another attack.
Lying in bed with him now, I watched the ease to which he slept. Nothing weighed on him. That was how I wished he could be during the day, which was why I wouldn’t tell him about the attack. It was also why when another letter arrived the day before, I discreetly threw it away before he noticed.
I rolled over until I was pressed against him. I ran my hand up the defined muscles of his bare chest.
“Mm… Good morning,” he mumbled sleepily.
“Morning,” I responded as my hand followed the same path only in reverse, sliding past the band of his boxers.
“Mmm,” he moaned as I rubbed him, feeling him growing in my palm. His eyes locked with mine. They were full of hunger and desire. They scanned my face, looking for some sign of how to proceed. I tilted my chin up claiming his lips. The kiss was soft and tentative. It took a moment before he responded and kissed me back. I broke away pulling the t-shirt I was wearing over my head, tossing it to the floor. Then I returned to kissing him. His hands gently explored up my back before rolling me over putting himself on top. He broke away with his hands on either side of my face pressing my hair back.
“Are you sure?” I nodded timidly. I wanted this, but I was still nervous. Seeing it written on my face, Grayson responded. “I’ll go slow.” I gave him a hesitant smile before pushing my lips to his again.
He kissed his way down to my neck and when he placed a kiss over the spot where the coin had burned me, I didn’t wince. His hand roamed my skin. His fingers traced every contour. He kissed and sucked his way to my breasts taking his time to gently tease them both, making sure that which ever had his oral attention, the other had the pleasure of his skilled fingers. When he tried to travel further down, I stopped him by leaning down and grabbing his face between my hands, claiming his lips with mine.
Grayson removed his boxers and lifted me onto his lap. I wrapped my arms around him almost as if I was afraid to let him go. When I felt the gentle rub of him at my entrance, I started to feel the same fear rear up, the same way it had that first night. The image of the blonde vampire flashed through my thoughts. Feeling me tense, Grayson stopped.
“Gaby?” He spoke, trying to get my attention. “Gabriella, look at me.” I hadn’t even realized that I had been clenching my eyes closed until he beckoned for my gaze. “Look at me.” I opened my eyes and saw the man I loved before me; no one else. “It’s me, Gaby. Okay?”
“Okay,” I whispered feeling my anxiety settle.
“Keep your eyes on me.” He waited for me to nod then I felt him once again at my entrance. This time I didn’t panic. I let myself relax and welcome him in. When I felt our bodies connect, I wanted to close my eyes, to throw my head back and revel in the feel of him, but I didn’t. I kept my eyes on Grayson. I kept them on him as he slowly pulled my body against his. I kept them on him as he helped me move up and down on him. I kept them on him as the orgasm ripped through me and I was able to see the moment that his burst through him.
Afterwards, Grayson and I were lying in bed. My back was pressed against his chest as we both basked in our afterglow.
“Well that was a hell of a way to start the day,” he spoke breaking the silence.
“Who needs Folgers,” I giggled.
He tilted my chin so he could see me over my shoulder. Grayson placed a gentle kiss on my shoulder before I felt him tense. “Gaby, are we ever going to talk about what happened?”
