Stages of Grace - By Carey Heywood Page 0,77

thought that you might return those feelings makes me very happy." I feel his chest lift as he inhales deeply and I look up at him.

"Your hair smells so good." He playfully runs his nose back and forth in my hair, making me laugh.

"Ryan, stop smelling her and set the table."

"Yes, ma'am," He says, grinning. He kisses me on the cheek before dropping his arms and walking to the kitchen.

Over dinner, I'm hypersensitive to Ryan. He seems to be discreetly touching me, avoiding Kate's notice. His knee bumps mine. His hand accidentally brushes my elbow. I can tell what he is doing. Ryan jumps up to help me when I get up to clear the table.

"I really want to kiss you again," he whispers to me as I load dishes into the washer.

I peek out the window over the sink that opens onto the pool deck to check where Kate is. Seeing her busy with her knitting, I turn and quickly give him a peck on the lips. Ryan informs me that is not the kind of kiss he was hoping for before turning me to face him, his hands tight on my hips. My mouth drops into an o shape as he slowly lowers his lips to mine. At first, his kiss is soft and feather light, but his kiss deepens as he pulls me to him. When I sigh, his tongue caresses my bottom lip before brushing over my own. My hands rise to wrap around his neck as I arch my body into his.

"Am I interrupting?" Kate is leaning on the kitchen table.

I turn quickly and reach for the next plate. "I, um, well, no."

"Yep, Kate. You are definitely interrupting," Ryan says, nuzzling his nose into my hair.

"Ryan!"

"What?"

"He's fine, dear. I just wanted to let you kids know that I'm going to bed." Kate winks at us before turning and going to her room.

I stand there, shaking my head. First, I cannot believe my grandmother just winked at me, and second, we've just barely finished dinner. Kate never goes to bed this early. I can feel the heat coming off Ryan. I just don’t know what to do or how far he wants to go. Will he be fine with just kissing? I’m not sure I’m ready for anything else.

"Want to go for a swim, Grace?"

"Okay. I have to change first."

"Alright. You go change, and I'll finish up in here."

I change into one of my new two-piece suits and meet him by the pool. He's already in the water. His head is down, like a crocodile, only his green eyes visible. I slowly make my way down the stairs as he swims over to me. He's in front of me as my foot touches the pool floor. He takes my hand, pulling me to the deeper side. When we stop, I sink down and let the water cover me, standing back up once my hair is wet.

"Like Aphrodite rising from the surf."

"Hush."

"Make me." He wraps his arms around me, pulling me in tight.

I place my hands on his arms, feeling the strength in them. I slide them up to his shoulders and then run my fingers in his hair as I tug his face towards mine. His lips are soft as he molds them to mine. I am drunk off of his touch, his hands trailing lazily up and down my back. His fingertips leave a trail of goose bumps in their wake. I shiver against him, making him pull me closer.

"Are you cold, Grace?" he says, moving his lips to my neck.

I shake my head and wrap my arms tightly around his neck. Suddenly, he pulls away, and I look at him, confused.

"Trying not to rush things."

"Oh."

"You have no idea how badly I want you right now."

I feel heat rush to my cheeks.

"I should probably go before I ravish you on the pool deck."

I don’t want him to leave but am not ready for what might happen if he stays. I get out of the pool and grab a towel for each of us. Ryan quickly towels off and hangs it on a hook by the pool. He pulls my towel from my hands and wraps it around my shoulders. He pulls me to him and captures my mouth again.

After kissing me soundly, he nips my ear. "See you in the morning."

I watch him walk across the backyard and to his house. He gives me a smile and wave just before he is out of sight.