A Promise Kept (21 page)

Now he was holding her in his arms, and he wanted her there forever. Her body heat was overtaking him, making him want her with such raw ferocity, he wished the clothes between them were gone. His lips parted from hers and his gaze caressed her pink cheeks. He pushed a strand of fallen hair back with gentle strokes, but covetousness blazed within him, and his body ached with desire. His jaw ticked as he shifted her and he knew she could feel him hard and wanting.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re uncomfortable,” she panted.

Grace tried to get up, but he clasped her body to his. “No, you’re uncomfortable, angel, but you better get used to me being this turned on around you, because it’s constant.”

She held her breath and then sputtered out laughing as she leaned against his shoulder. “I am driving you crazy, huh?”

“You’re just now realizing it?”

She shot her head up and leaned forward, letting her nose trail up his jaw to his ear. Her warm breath brushed against it as she whispered in a throaty voice. “Maybe I’ll make it up to you.” She nibbled his earlobe and flicked it with her tongue and he felt himself strained against the zipper of his jeans.

“Don’t tease me, doll,” he growled into her hair and drowned in her strawberry scent. He pulled back again and looked into her dark eyes. “Gracie, tell me when the last time you had sex was.”

Her body fell rigid against him as she looked away. He caught her chin with his fingers and guided her to look at him. “Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

“When was the last time you had sex, Evan?”

He gave a small grin. “Three months ago. With an ex-fling. We see each other from time to time to time just to catch up.” She caught his meaning and tried to get off of his lap. He fastened his arms tighter around her. “Don’t get upset.”

“I’m not upset, Evan.”

“You are upset, Gracie Lynn. Don’t worry, there hasn’t been anyone since I met you.” He looked at her scowling face and chuckled. “You’re so cute when you do that.”

“What?”

“Pout like that.”

“I’m not pouting.”

“Yes, you are. Grace, I’ve never gone into something with a woman without letting her know what the intentions were.” His eyes focused on hers. “I want you long-term, and I want to know all I can about you. It can’t happen if you don’t tell me. When’s the last time you slept with someone?”

“I was sixteen…” Grace mumbled quietly as she picked on a loose string on the collar of his Henley.

“Wait…when you lost your virginity, right?” he asked for clarification.

She nodded. “And when I last had sex.”

“What?” He looked at her in shock. What the hell was he supposed to say to that? He knew she had been cautious with who she gave her heart to, but this went deeper. “One guy? Just one guy, ever?”

“One guy. One time.”

Evan exhaled from the astonishment. How had she not slept with anyone else? How could a man not want to take her, love her, and want to give her the world? “That fucker. He hurt you.”

“It was a long time ago.” He watched her in fascination as she struggled to find words. “I’ve dated, tried, but nobody ever stuck around long enough to get to the point-”

“Where you felt comfortable?” Evan finished. She nodded and he felt angrily protective of her. “There’s more to it though, isn’t there?” He kept his hands roaming her back, soothing her and coaxing her to spill more secrets.

She shrugged as he kissed her lips, letting her know her revelation was okay. Despite the pressure he’d feel being the only other guy she’d sleep with since the douchebag, he actually looked forward to the idea that he’d be the one to make her sexual experience something to enjoy.

Melting into him, she let her mouth become wild as she licked and nibbled and stroked. She arched against him for more, a simple kiss beginning to fan a flame that was growing. “I think I’m ready,” she breathed between kisses as she devoured him, tugging her fingers through his short hair.

He broke their kiss, and drew for breath, his eyes taking in her puffy lips and making him want more of her. “You feel so good, Grace, you don’t know how much I want you. But sweetheart, I want you to know, not to
think
you know.” He was so hard, so frantic to feel her body under his, but tonight wasn’t the night. Not until she felt unquestionably relaxed with him, and she was almost there. He smiled at her and gave her one last peck before slapping her butt cheek. “Food’s gotten cold. Let’s reheat and watch a Christmas movie.”

Grace’s grin grew wide. “On Hallmark? Please?”

“Sure, why not?”

“Seriously?”

“They make me feel all fluffy inside with their cheesy endings,” he joked.

“I think I met the man of my dreams.”

“Oh, honey, I know you did. Your moaning in my childhood bed proved it.”

She jumped off of him as she punched his arm playfully. “Shut it.”

“
Oh, Evan, don’t stop
…” he mimicked her voice and watched as her cheeks reddened. “It’s been haunting me since. I can’t wait until I get to hear that for real, babe.”

He started taking the containers of food toward the microwave. Grace followed. “You keep this up and you won’t ever hear it for real.”

“At least tell me what position we were in. Missionary? Cowgirl? Doggie style?”

She ignored him as he heated the food and watched her as she swung her hips toward the fridge taking out a bottle of white wine. She served two glasses and set them on the table. “You’ll never know, Matthews.”

He could still imagine her perky nipples under his Henley, her long brown hair flowing over her shoulders, and her lips expelling those erotic teasing sounds of what was in store for him when he pleased her soon. He couldn’t wait for the day he could taste her, take her, and make her scream and beg for more. “Come on, Gracie, give me just a little…”

She turned and smirked at him. “You’ll have to get me naked to find out, Evan.”

“That’s the line I used for the tattoo. You can’t use my line.”

“It is, and I did.”

“But then I showed it to you. I showed you mine, you show me yours, doll.”

“You already played your card. Sorry, bud.”

“Dammit.”

They sat down to reheated Chinese food and talked about their week. By the time he knew it, Evan needed to head back to his place since his call time to the studio was set for six in the morning. Grace followed him to the door and grabbed his hand. “Evan?”

“Yeah?”

She lifted his knuckles to her lips and kissed them gently. “Thank you for being patient. I know it’s not easy.”

He leaned in and kissed her brow. “Anything for you.” He winked at her and then added for good measure. “But yeah, it’s fucking hard…literally.”

She rolled her eyes and laughed. “You had to ruin the moment, Matthews.”

“Goodnight, beautiful.”

“Wait.” She moved toward her laptop sitting on her desk in the corner of the living room and walked back to him. “Here.” She handed him a USB drive.

“What’s this?”

“My memoir.”

He grasped onto it tightly, and looked into her concerned eyes, feeling as if his heart were going to burst. He wanted to know all about her, and it would be there for him to discover. She was giving him the key to her world, and he was ready to open it and find out all he could. “Thank you, Gracie Lynn.”

“You’re welcome.” He began to walk away when he heard her voice turn throaty. “Evan? Your face was buried between my legs, your tongue was licking me, and you were amazing at it.”

His mouth dropped open as she winked and shut the door. He groaned at the imagery that played on his mind. Evan had a strong feeling his little angel was actually a vixen in disguise.

H
e was in love
. At least that’s what Evan realized the moment he closed the document that held the words Grace wrote. He knew more or less what she was about, but this book, it was an insight into her soul that went beyond what he could. It was her heart, her thoughts, her fears, her hurts, her wants, her needs, her vulnerabilities all put before him. And he treasured every single word.

He glanced at the alarm clock on his nightstand and cursed. It was probably too late to see her. After a long day on set, he had plopped on his bed and read through the entire memoir. Only stopping for a restroom break and Zach’s annoying demand to eat a fucking sandwich, Evan had devoured what Grace had written.

His body was full of frenetic energy that he couldn’t contain. He had to see her. Light streamed from her bedroom, so he adamantly made his way over, and rang the bell, his heart and mind in overdrive. What would he say to her? What could he say? How could he put into words what he felt when the words would never be enough? She took ages to answer and he began to worry. He knocked on the door with urgency.

Grace finally stood before him, her hair flowing down in long waves. Her skin glowed under the porch light and her expression showed concern as she wrapped her robe around her small body. He found her so sexy it was hard for him to breathe. “Evan? I just got out of the bath. What’s wrong?”

He studied her, taking a step inside and closed the door behind him. He hadn’t said those three words, and watching her now, he wasn’t sure he should. But God, he wanted to. With every fiber of his being, he wanted to shout it out and tell her. Instead, he embraced her with his warmth and strength.

Her soft arms wrapped around his waist as his chest inhaled and exhaled against her cheek. “Evan? What happened?” Her head tilted up, her coffee brown eyes puzzled.

“Gracie…” Holding her in his arms felt so natural. She belonged in them. There was no way he could ever be without her. “I understand, Grace. I understand you now.”

Her breathing faltered. “You read it?”

“All of it.” He could feel the tension rising through her as she attempted to pull away, but he kept her against him. She said nothing as she stared into his chest. He lifted her chin so her eyes could meet his. “I really see you, Gracie. And I love it all.”

He caressed her face in his hands and dropped his head, taking her mouth against his, wanting to prove to her he loved her, needed her, and wouldn’t leave her. A whimpering sound emitted from the back of her throat as he let his tongue tangle with hers. Her body twisted against him as his hands gripped her hips over the robe he wished to discard from her body that needed to be kissed, licked, and possessed by only him.

Her fingers tangled in his hair as she greedily responded. He growled as his erection pressed against her belly. He never fit with a woman so entirely, but she owned him, and he would do what he could to own her right back.

They began stumbling their way across the room as they kissed. “Bedroom,” Grace mumbled through their lips. It felt like forever, but they finally reached the bed and tumbled down. Grace yelped as she fell on top of him. He grasped her body to his as they laughed, looking into each other’s eyes and smiling. Their panting breaths slowed and their gazes grew with passion.

“Hi, Gracie Lynn.” He touched her cheek gently with gliding fingertips.

“Hey, Matthews,” she whispered, kissing his lips tenderly. Her hips instinctively rubbed against him, and she let out the smallest moan. His hands moved lower and grabbed her waist, pushing her harder against him, the seam of his zipper hitting between her legs just right. She gasped. “Evan…I want you. Now.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

His mouth trailed down her neck to the opening of her robe. “You naked under here, beautiful?”

She nodded as he lagged his mouth lower, kissing the soft mounds of her breasts. His hands reached up and squeezed them as he took a nipple between his lips. He loved the way she panted at the sensations of his teeth, his lips, and his stubble against her delicate flesh. She then seized his hand in hers and moved it lower between their bodies.

His mind raced as she guided him, and he inhaled as he became drunk with the smell of her desire. He found the opening of her robe and dipped his finger between her legs. She was dripping wet and ready. She groaned out in pleasure, shuddering as she stirred her hips against him. Fabric was still in their way, but Evan took control as Grace’s body writhed on his hand. He licked and kissed her neck steadily, her stomach clenching as his fingers worked with cadence.

He watched when those mysterious chocolate eyes opened and gazed into his with a dreamy expression. “God, that feels amazing,” she moaned low as her lips hovered over his. The feeling of her slick folds over his fingers was beyond what he could imagine. The ache in his body was simply moved aside as he studied her facial expression, her reactions, completely mesmerized. Every time she bit her bottom lip, or sighed out in want, or squeezed her eyes closed, it made him thirsty for more. But when she opened them and gazed into his soul, she was breathtaking.

And she was his.

“Gracie, you’re so beautiful…” His fingers continued to pump as they grazed the most sensitive part of her. He could feel the way she was beginning to clench around him as he dipped in and caressed back out.

“I can’t take it…” She breathed in as she stilled and her expression tightened.

“Let go. Don’t think.” He brushed his fingers against her with the slightest stroke, and the ripples began as her hands dug into his shoulders. She broke and shook with an uncontrollable rhythm as her orgasm ripped through her body.

The pace of his fingers slowed as Grace rode out the spasms against him. He took his time covering her with kisses, elation running through him as he watched her fall from her high. He wanted to keep his hand where it was, but instead shifted his body to get a better look at her.

“Gracie? You okay, doll?”

“I think I died.”

He chuckled as he lifted her hand and released it. It slapped him in the face as it fell lifelessly against him. “Ow!”

Grace lifted her head lazily and hummed as she kissed the cheek her hand hit. “I’m sorry. But we have to do that again. Like all the time.”

He kissed her forehead and ran his hands up and down her back. “Mm…I could think of some other things we could do besides that.”

“Let’s get started, then.” She stood in front of him and removed her robe slowly, letting it pool to the ground near her feet. His eyes devoured her beauty, the smoothness of her light, lush skin, round breasts, hips, and thighs meant only for him.

“God, you’re stunning.”

Evan stood and reached behind him pulling off his shirt. Her eyes roamed his chest, reviewing him with a longing to touch. She hadn’t needed to say anything to let him know how much she anticipated him. He saw it in every breath she rapidly released and in every inch of her pebbled flesh. He reached for her hands and flattened her palms over his fast paced heart. “I’m nervous too, Grace.”

And he was, for this was the first woman who ever held his heart so tightly, he would never find anyone who would compare.

* * *

G
race inhaled
, wondering if Evan was in fact as anxious as she felt. After sensing his heart race, she began to trace over his body, drinking in the pleasurable pain that radiated through him. She let herself explore the strength of his shoulders and torso, moving to his tattoo and placing a soft kiss over it.

She took time appreciating his form. It was the first time she would be with a man and not a boy who fumbled his way through sex. Evan would be a generous lover, and the affection radiating from him was overwhelmingly beautiful. Her reticent fingertips scraped his rippled stomach as she headed toward the top of his jeans. He groaned. “Baby, you’re driving me crazy.”

She snapped her hands away. “I’m sorry.”

“No, I like it,” he chuckled breathlessly and waited for her to continue. She fumbled with the button and zipper, and lowered his jeans and boxer briefs in one swift motion. Stepping out of them, he stood before her.

Her eyes widened in apprehension. She wasn’t quite sure she could accommodate him. He knowingly touched her cheek. “It won’t be like it was for you before, Grace. I’ll make sure I don’t hurt you.”

He had definitely read her memoir. She wrote of the uncomfortably awkward and painful night she slept with the
unnamed friend
. The backseat of a car, no anticipation, no care was how her only time went. Afterwards she had felt used, and Kyle hadn’t given the slightest concern, calling her lousy and boring. The other times she thought she would try with the men she dated the memories always shot forward. The feelings weren’t deep enough for her to give herself over to someone, and she couldn’t break that promise. Being with Evan now felt completely different, and she knew why it hadn’t worked with anyone else. She had been waiting for him.

“Lay back on the bed.” His voice was raspy and firm as she followed his order. Anxious and anticipating brown eyes followed his movements as he reached for the wallet in his castoff jeans and procured several foil packets. Holding them between his fingers, he plopped them on the nightstand.

“Hurry.” She reached for one of the packets and offered it to him with an unsteady hand.

“Don’t rush, babe,” he stated gruffly as he covered her hand with his, setting the condom aside.

“I’m ready. I want you inside me.”

“We’ll get there.” He nodded softly, tension in his jaw as he tried to control his need to take her quickly. Grace lay back as he took a moment to let his eyes roam her body. She chewed on her lip bashfully, squeezing her lids shut. As if he could read her mind, he whispered, “You’re so damn perfect, Grace.”

His mouth took hers passionately as he moved over her, taking his time until she let her searching hands enclose his neck. The feel of his bare chest rubbing against hers caused a friction she had never experienced. He trailed his tongue to her breasts, palming one in his hand as he took the other between his lips. He tugged and sucked leisurely until her nipples hardened and she moaned audibly. The pleasure was so strong, her hips rocked up trying to take his body against hers.

Trailing his mouth down, he squeezed her hip. “You’re trembling.”

“I-nobody, I’ve never done –”

“Open up, doll,” he pleaded, his lips moving over the most intimate part of her body. His hands held the back of her thighs as he attempted pulling her legs apart. She clutched them together apprehensively. “Look at me, babe. Don’t be embarrassed with me. I’ll take care of you.” His eyebrows drew together as he let his hands glide back over her thighs. “You have no idea how fucking sexy it is that I’m the first man who gets to taste you, Gracie Lynn. Sweetheart, spread your legs,” he directed, his sincere eyes meeting hers, awaiting her compliance.

She slowly released to him, gasping when he lightly touched over her center with his finger. He urged her legs wider, advancing so his mouth was near. Tickling sensations from his warm breath feathered over her.

Evan descended, his mouth tugging on her with a tight suction that made her groan. His fingers pushed inside her, insistent against that soft spot that would make her lose control. Over and over, with changing motions, his fingers plunged as his mouth played. She felt the pressure building and her mind began to go numb as her mouth released unfamiliar sounds. Her eyes squeezed shut as her muscles tightened and her body let go. Her insides pulsed around his fingers and she loudly cried out, coming into his mouth and quivering. Her legs tried to close from the intensity, and he finally began to decelerate his touch as her body continued to ripple beneath him.

He trailed kisses up to her neck, then took her mouth gently as she tried catching her breath. Her lids were heavy as she gave a languid smile. “How was that, sweetheart?”