Page 40 of The Bloodfeather Promise
Chapter Ten
Emerson
Oh. My. God.
Ohmygodohmygodohmygod.
I’ve seen Greyson grin. I’ve seen him laugh. Countless photos exist in the tabloids of that trademark smirk curving his lips. But many more of the photographs document him gazing broodily at the camera, or scowling because someone dared take his photo in the first place. The same goes for video clips or live feeds… actually, this applies to all media. For the past three years, nothing has captured the true happiness or joy of Greyson Finch.
Until now.
This smile. God, this smile devastates me. It’s real. Genuine. I probably look like an idiot because all I can do is gape at him. Reminding myself that I hate him is not working. Not one little bit. Honestly, this plan of using him for my own pleasure is laughable. I won’t even let him get close enough to kiss me, and I’m going to seduce him? Right. Bad idea. Bad plan. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Because I’m not the type of person who could do something like that.
Besides, what idiot gives a gift to the person they supposedly hate?
Me, apparently.
What about keeping the secret you’ve already slept together?My inner conscience pipes up, almost gleefully.What type of person doesthatmake you, hmmm?
Shut up,I tell myself.It’s not my fault he doesn’t remember. But, if he found out, what would he do about it?
My brain is feeling somewhat fuzzy. Greyson, unaware of the internal dialogue battle I’m waging, never loses that gorgeous smile. It’s as dangerous as a well-honed weapon. It’s melting my insides. Incinerating all my defense mechanisms until I wonder what his response might be if I suddenly jumped into his lap. Maybe he would kiss me.
Maybe he would push me down to my knees like I’m one of his groupies.
Or would he just boot me from his house? Like he did early that morning at his hotel suite.
Bruisingmy mouth with a savage kiss, one I eagerly accepted, Greyson’s hips undulated in faster, plunging movements against mine. His fingers tightened on my skin almost painfully. A harsh groan escaped as he came inside me, his entire body shuddering with relief.
It was some time before his breathing returned to normal. He slowly withdrew, leaving me feeling shockingly empty. Little tingles still rippled inside me, highlighted when his hand caressed the span of my hip. As if in apology for any pain he caused, he gave me a little squeeze.
“Back in a second.” He sauntered away from me, gorgeously comfortable in his nudity, and disappeared into the darkened bathroom. He didn’t bother turning on the lights. There were the sounds of the toilet flushing, water splashing in the sink as he washed his hands, and then he was back, grinning down at me.
It was pathetic, but I hadn’t moved from the position he left me in, sprawled across the end of the bed in a boneless heap of satisfaction. A well-used doll, I thought suddenly. Despite the fact we were just intimately joined, I flushed with embarrassment that he could see everything my clothes used to cover. I sat up, crossing my arms over my breasts.
“Bathroom’s all yours,” he said, rummaging with some items laid out on a nearby dresser. Seemed my modesty was a moot point. He hardly spared a glance my way when I got up from the bed. I tried like hell to mimic his nonchalant attitude when it came to being completely bare.
I doubt he noticed my rather gingerly enhanced walk to the beautifully appointed bathroom. Closing the door and locking it, I took my time, wiping away the small amount of blood on my thighs. It surprised me how little there actually was. Maybe the majority of it was on the condom he disposed of. Or hidden within the pattern of the bed’s darkly-hued, multicolored comforter. Studying my reflection in a huge mirror illuminated by a pair of crystal wall sconces, I wondered if I looked any different now that I was no longer a virgin. Would the loss of innocence be easily detected? Would my friends be able to tell? Would other guys? Maybe there was some kind of pheromone I’d exude now.
It was silly to think so, but one thing was certain. Now that the deed was done, a strange sadness nagged me because that badge of purity was gone. My insecurities had quite the field day while I second-guessed the decision made earlier tonight. When I swore Greyson Finch would be my first.
Returning to the bedroom, I found Greyson reclining against the bed’s headboard. Lord knew the man should be outlawed. He was too sexy and dangerous. No wonder women were so willing to crawl beneath tables for him.
With one arm propped behind his head, he smoked a blunt, the tip glowing red. Dark hair, long and adorably rumpled, tumbled over his brow until he pushed it back with an exasperated sound. A sheet partially concealed the upper part of his thighs and hips, and that broad chest, like pale, golden marble, gleamed in the dim light.
I couldn’t help it. My eyes roamed with greedy hunger, gravitating from his pecs to the shadowy outline of his muscled abdomen and, finally, the thin trail of dark hair originating below his belly button and vanishing beneath the sheet’s edge. The sheer beauty of him made my mouth water.
Greyson’s plump lips twisted into a sardonic grin. “Ready for round two?”
My answer was silently given when I climbed onto the bed, crawling forward until I was on my knees beside him. I forgot my nakedness. It didn’t really matter. I forgot the slight sting between my legs because I was already wet for him. I forgot this was one night only because this man had already wrecked everything that was me. My body. My morals. My heart.
My hand spanned his stomach, enthralled by the muscles twitching reflexively beneath my fingertips. I found speech impossible until I heard his husky, iron-fused command.
“Answer me.”
I swallowed, closing my eyes, then opened them again. They clashed with Greyson’s, the green-gold depths holding me in place while he watched me struggle with reality.
At that moment, needy and frightened by the strength of it, I hated myself for wanting him so much. Hated myself for wanting him to devour me completely. Hated myself, and yet, despite that, and the embarrassment flooding me, I nodded. “Yes.” My voice lowered. “Please.”
