Page 31 of Daddy's Game

Grace’s eyes turned distant, the skin around her mouth tightening.

“When I was first out of my parent’s house I met a guy named Daniel. He said all the right things, he showered me with affection, he made me feel special. So I let myself fall head over heels for him, because he was ‘the one.’”

I waited for her to continue, sensing how difficult it was for Grace to open herself up to anyone.

“He asked me to move in, and that was the death knell for us. He showed his true face almost the second I unpacked. He was cold, distant. Daniel only pretended to be the man of my dreams.”

Her pain was palpable, an intangible pall hanging heavy in the air.

“I would never hurt you, Grace. I only want to make you feel good things.”

I was surprised as the words came out of my mouth. I’m not the type to say things like that. In fact, I’d never said anything like that, ever. Not even in a sexual context. Grace pulled things out of me I didn’t even know were there.

In any event, what I said must have been the right thing. Her eyes got glazed over and soft. Without really thinking about it, I bent my head and kissed her luxuriously soft lips.

We clung to each other, high over the Paris skyline like gods of ancient yore. I didn’t know exactly what was happening between us.

I just knew I didn’t want it to stop.

11

GRACE

Brock kissed me long and hard when he dropped me off at my apartment in the wee hours of a weekday morning. New York seemed somewhat disappointing after Paris, and yet at the same time its familiarity made me more at ease. More at ease with giving myself over to the warmth spreading through my breast every time Brock kissed me.

“Good night,” he said simply, resting his forehead against my own as we stood outside my apartment. When he finally did pull away, it was to the length of our conjoined arms, hands clasped tightly together. Only with great reluctance did we let go of each other.

I went into my apartment and collapsed on the sofa, not even bothering to unpack. I should have gone right to bed, but I didn’t feel like sleeping. I replayed the last several days in my head over and over again while I tried to make sense of my feelings.

Brock was much older than me, though I had to admit physically he was in a lot better shape than most men my own age. Still, the difference in our perspectives could not be ignored. I convinced myself that it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it was something to think about.

I awoke suddenly to find Brock standing over my bed, stripped to a pair of satin briefs that left no ambiguity about how turned on he truly was.

“What are you doing?”

My sheets were missing, I just lay on the bed completely naked. The light of a passing train illuminated Brock’s sculpted in stone chest. His catlike muscles rippled as he slipped out of his shorts.

“Exactly what you want me to.”

He slid on top of my my body. His skin felt amazing against my own. Brock’s warm breath splashed over my naked skin as he moved his mouth in close. He kissed me hard, and I responded in kind. I kissed him back with equal desire. Brock tasted wonderful.

I ground my body into his stiffness, moaning deep as he mauled my neck. My hands went to the back of his head, fingers combing through his lustrous, silver-shot mane.

He slid inside of me. I turned my head to the side, eyes squeezing shut as he filled me with his throbbing warmth. I clung to him, mouth open in an endless symphony of soft cries, groans, and moans.

Brock thrust, his hips driving into me with slow, steady motions. I clawed at his back as my body spasmed with ecstatic contractions. My brain lit up with thousands of fireworks as delicious sensations traveled all over my body–

Which is about when the stupid alarm went off. I woke up to find myself fully clothed on the sofa.

In my dreams, it seemed, I was a lot less conflicted.

* * *

There was usually a tendency to be ultra casual in the early phases of dating among men my own age.

Not with Brock, though. He didn’t do casual.

When I strode into the center for the first time after our trip to Paris, I discovered a massive floral display waiting for me in the lobby. Not just one bouquet, but a colorful panorama of flowers, chocolates, and plush stuffed animals.

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