“I was lying when I said that. I said what I said because I wasn’t going to be the guy who stopped you from going abroad and living your life. I could see it in your eyes that you needed to go. You think I didn’t stay up nights last summer thinking about that kiss? Do you honestly believe that?”
“No, I don’t. I felt it, too.” I start to shake slightly, my body tingling as I process everything he’s saying.
His arms wrap around me. “You’re an easy decision. You are a hell yes to me. You don’t have to love me back if you’re not ready, by the way. This is a lot. Besides, I’m not telling you all this with the hope of you saying I love you back. I’m just telling you, because if I didn’t, I’d live the rest of my life knowing that there was a chance I could be with my best friend—and the one who lights me up like no one else I’ve ever known—for a long time. Three hours from Galesburg to Chicago? That’s nothing to me. That’s a blip on the radar of our fucking lives. Say you don’t love me, and that’s fine. But don’t use something as a cop out just to sabotage us. Don’t say you’re not loveable. Because you are the most loveable girl I’ve ever known. And I love you.”
I lean into his rock solid body, and my heart hammers in my chest. His head fits neatly right on top of mine. I slide my hand up his back, and smile against his chest. Finally, I say, “I’m at home alone, washing the dishes naked in your shirt. Do you honestly think I’ve moved on?”
I feel his laugh begin in his belly, and it’s contagious. I start to laugh, too, and before we know it, we’re both laughing so hard we’re crying.
“Grant,” I sniffle, from happiness. “I freaking missed you.”
“Oh yeah? What did you miss?”
A soft, natural smile comes over me, butterflies from laughing, the tears of joy, and the all-around mixture of emotions I have right now. “Everything. I missed everything.”
He pulls me in and whispers in my ear. “It’s always been a top-secret fantasy of mine to fuck a porn star, you know. Especially when it’s my girlfriend.”
My grin widens, and he continues. “And especially if her name is Maya Waters, and I can’t stop thinking about her.”
He runs his hands over the skin of my stomach, up to my breasts, around to my arms. He kisses me again, methodical, deep, and true.
His hand slides down toward my belly button, and lower.
Fingers land between my legs, and my wetness betrays any resistance. “And let’s be honest. You’ve been a naughty girl, babe. Don’t you know you can never hide from me? Because I will find you.”
“Oh, Grant…” I moan.
I attack his lips and he gives it right back. He lifts me up and I wrap my legs wrap around him as he presses me hard against the nearest wall.
He kisses my neck and I moan.
“Sorry I didn’t call,” I say, my voice trembling. “I…didn’t know what to say.”
“You could have said literally anything. I just wanted you to let me know you’re okay. You could have even said goodbye.”
“But I didn’t want to say goodbye.”
He smirks ever so slightly. “You wanted me to find you.”
“Maybe.”
He swallows, and with his gaping mouth open he’s staring at me like I’m a medium rare steak.
“I always knew you wanted to be broken into. Now tell me which room is yours, so I can have my way with you.”
“Like the thief you are,” I add, then point to my room. “This way.”
I kiss down his neck as he carries me to my bedroom.
My body shakes with desperate need and desire. I grip him with white knuckles, not wanting to ever let go again.
He pulls off the jersey and pushes me down. I unbuckle his belt desperately, licking my lips.
I crave this release more than any I’ve ever craved in my life.
Finally naked, he rubs his tip against my opening until he presses in.
“Grant…” I whisper.
“Yes?”
“I love what you do to me.”
“Same.” He pushes in a little farther.
“I love how deep you get inside of me, how you break me.”
“I do break down your walls.”
“And I love…”
He presses all the way in, and I have to focus to keep my eyes from rolling up in the back of my head.