The Rules Regarding Gray (11 page)

The director crashed their little circle gathering, kissing Gray on both cheeks, and as he started chatting up Ian, he pulled them away. It didn’t mean Gray stopped watching him. She glanced at him curiously every few seconds or so. He turned back to Anna after glancing at Gray again, and when he took in her expression he froze. She was glaring at him.

“I know martial arts. Kung Fu, Karate, Pilates. Mm-hmm,” she commented with her face pinched up. “Just so you know.” And if that weren’t weird enough she did her binocular fingers back and forth a few times between them as she glared at him.

“Umm… Okay.” His brow flinched as he watched Anna for a moment longer.

But then Gray swooped in, snatching her friend by the elbow with a nervous laugh. She obviously overheard that little exchange, and as she tugged Anna away from him, she tossed over her shoulder. “She doesn’t know martial arts.”

“Doesn’t mean I couldn’t ninja kick his testicles into his brain,” Anna replied loudly enough for him to hear.

“
Okay
…” he said to himself as he looked awkwardly around. He rocked on the outside of his shoes as he stood alone feeling like a shmuck. He wandered around the room, grabbing the occasional bite to eat and downing a glass of champagne, and when he found himself face to face with Gray again ten minutes later as she rounded a corner, he froze.

She stared at him, biting nervously into her lower lip, and he watched her, letting her nerves darken her cheeks and enjoying the notion that what he’d done to her body was the very cause of all this turmoil she was enduring.

“I’m sorry about that. She can be—” She shook her head.

“Protective?” he offered.

“And odd at the same time,” she finished.

He chuckled, warm vibrations of need coursing through his veins. “So, are you going to give me a tour?”

She finally smiled. “Sure.”

She led him away, and he caught sight of Ian, still hob knobbing with the director. Jas paused, cocking his head to the side as he met Ian’s eyes. Ian shooed him away with his hands. The smirk sealed the deal, and when Ian winked at him, chuckling as he clapped a hand on the director’s back, Jas put his concern away.

He followed her to an expansive practice room with tall ceilings, and as they wandered into the room, he looked around. Mirrors lined the walls, and there was an upright piano in the corner.

“This is the main practice room, though we have many other—”

“Does your best friend know I stuck my cock up your ass?” he asked bluntly.

Her eyes bulged as her words abruptly stopped, and she stared at him for a moment with her mouth hanging open. But then she nodded, turning toward the wall of mirrors beside her. “Yes,” she said softly. If she’d been hoping to escape his eyes by turning to the wall, she’d failed miserably. She glanced to the mirror in front of her, catching his focus on her, and then she blew out a breath, looking down rather than holding his stare.

He walked up behind her, resting his hands on top of hers that were gently gripping the bar. “I see.”

He watched her in the mirror, crowding her body with his and not bothering to keep his groin away from her either. He was hard, and her eyelids fluttered as he pushed gently against her. She slowly looked back up to him.

“And what does Ms.
Anna
have to say about that?”

Her eyes wandered again for a moment. “She’s afraid you’re going to hurt me. Both of you actually.”

The seductive smirk that had been stuck on his face fell flat then. “And are
you
afraid of that too?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer to this.

She nodded. “Yes,” she said quietly.

“How would I hurt you?” He leaned down to her ear, never taking his eyes off hers.

She shrugged. He didn’t believe for a second she couldn’t pinpoint this if she chose to do so. If their first dinner and conversation at Ian’s was any indication, she was very good at examining her thoughts and being open about what she saw … when she wanted. Whatever her concerns were, she simply had no interest in sharing them with him.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said gently as he released her hands and stepped back from her body.

She nodded slowly. “Doesn’t mean it won’t happen.” She glanced at the floor in the mirror again and took a deep breath. When she started walking from the room, he grabbed her arm, stopping her.

“You could hurt me too, Gray.”

She paused. “I doubt that,” she commented expressionlessly.

“I don’t.” He sighed. “If you’re worried about getting hurt, then we shouldn’t do it again. If you’re unclear on how this works, then you have no
business
doing it again.”

She nodded, and his guts clenched tight at the mere thought of not having more of her. What the hell did her nod mean? Was she agreeing with him? “Do you want to stop?” he asked.

Her expression was unreadable as she tortured him by holding back her answer. Her pursed lips were hiding something. When her brow furrowed, he was suddenly worried she might not respond at all. But then she did.

“I don’t want to stop.”

He breathed again. “What’s bothering you?” He waited patiently, hoping he could coax it out of her.

She glanced to him. “I feel awkward, embarrassed…” She trailed off.

“With Ian?” He studied her intently.

She seemed to be considering her words carefully. He was guessing they were pretty damn loaded after all. “With you.” She held her focus on him, but it seemed difficult. “Oddly it doesn’t seem to have affected Ian at all.” She did glance away then.

“That’s because what we did means nothing to him.”

“That’s kind of scary to me.” She was staring at his chest. “I’d actually expected to get that from you, not him.” She glanced up to his eyes as her brow wrinkled in concern. “I’m sorry. That was offensive.”

He studied her expressionlessly, and then he nodded subtly. “There was a time…”

“When?”

His focus shifted to the ground as he started gnawing on the inside of his cheek. “Always.”

“What’s changed then?”

He just stared at her.

“Is it me?”

He shrugged. “You’re different than other women who we’ve… You’re at a different place in your life. You want different things from your life. It’s not the same with you. It isn’t casual. It
can’t
be.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

He thought for a moment. “Quite the opposite from my perspective. But my perspective is limited. Do
you
think it’s a bad thing?”

“I don’t know.” She opened her mouth, but then she closed it again only to open it one more time. “I’m a relationship gal after all.” She shrugged.

“I’m happy for you,” he responded with a smirk. He was trying to ease this tension.

“I guess I thought Ian and I were
in
a relationship, but … I’m struggling to figure out how that’s even possible. I mean, can a person live their life this way?”

He chuckled. “Like what?” He crossed his arms on his chest, appraising her.

“You know what I mean. Sharing. And what happens when
you’re
in a relationship? Am I then sharing you with her while you’re sharing me with him?” She shook her head. “Does it just … go on perpetually this way?”

“First of all, I’m not sharing you with him, because you’re not
mine
to share.
He
is sharing
you
with
me
. Second of all, I’m not seeing anyone else, Gray, so it isn’t really an issue at the moment.”

“Maybe not right now. But some day you might. So … what then?”

He shook his head. He didn’t like this. He didn’t like thinking about it or acknowledging it. “What you’re talking about is long-term stuff…”

She nodded slowly. “I see.” Her lips tightened into a line, and she looked at the ground.

He stared at her trying to decipher her reaction. He didn’t know what to say about this, and he didn’t appreciate the fact she was pushing the topic on him rather than her boyfriend. At the same time, he wasn’t sure he wanted her to discuss this with Ian.

She shook her head, turning away from him, but then she turned back. “I don’t want to feel like… Like a toy or a prop being used in some ultimately meaningless game.”

“Who’s the fucking prop here, Gray? You?” He shook his head, frustration flaring up quickly. “I don’t think so,” he muttered. But when she looked away and rolled her eyes, that frustration morphed to anger. “Look at me goddamn it,” he muttered. “I can’t even fucking touch you. I’m nothing more than my cock with you. And you think you’re the prop? My dick is the prop, dear.”

“How’s it going, kiddos?” Ian suddenly remarked as he entered the room.

Jas glanced to him, and Gray refused to look at him altogether. Ian studied them both for a moment.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

They both nodded. She clearly had no interest in perpetuating this conversation with Ian, and for whatever reason, Jas was not only relieved, but egotistically satisfied. He didn’t want her sharing these worries and concerns with Ian.

“Then why do you look like someone just punched your granny in the face? Both of ya.”

“It’s nothing. I’m leaving, so if you’re coming, we’re going now.” Jas was still muttering.

“Come on, babe. How about a nightcap at Graystone?”

Gray looked at both of them for a moment, and when her eyes met Jasper’s, they stuck. She swallowed harshly, and then she nodded subtly. His chest instantly released the suffocating tension that was strangling his heart, and as that tension loosened, he felt it in every nerve of his body.

“Can I have a moment alone with Gray?” he asked Ian.

“You sure do like your
moments alone
with my girlfriend,” he commented sarcastically. “Sure. I’ll be in the lobby being social—which is more than I can say for either of you.” He chuckled as he walked out, and once the door had closed behind him, Jas turned back to her.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you,” he said. “The other night was harder than I expected.” He took a deep breath, holding his focus on her eyes. “It was also incredible.”

The smile she returned was small, but she nodded.

“I don’t want you to get hurt. I also don’t want to worry that you’re struggling to wrap your head around this. I want you to enjoy it. I want it to feel okay for you emotionally. If it doesn’t, then we…” He shook his head. “Then we can’t do this.” He swallowed harshly. “Do we need to stop?”

He held his breath as he waited for her to answer.

“No.”

He smiled. “I don’t like having my hands tied by Ian’s rules.” He smirked. “But… I don’t want to stop yet either.”

She nodded.

They found Ian in the lobby moments later and walked out together to Jasper’s car. He drove the short distance to the bar, and Ian sat in the passenger seat. Every time Jasper had to check his rearview mirror, her eyes were watching him. He’d get trapped by them for a moment until he could force himself to return his attention to the road. He parked in the back, and they entered through the back door.

“Hey, boss.”

“Hey, Seth. We’re going to take the table in the back.” He cocked his head toward a small round table that sat nearby, and once they’d ordered their drinks, he clasped his hands on the table.

Ian was staring at his phone, and it wasn’t until their drinks were set on the table that he bothered to look up at either of them. They made small talk, but it was strained. Gray seemed … too quiet, off in some way. Jasper kept watching her as she’d look around and then stare at Ian curiously. She’d glance at his cell phone, and then she’d look away, the tendons in her neck showing as she pursed her lips. She was annoyed.

“So, this whole ballet thing you did tonight was interesting,” Jasper commented casually to her when she glanced at him after eyeing Ian’s phone venomously again.

She laughed as she took a drink of wine. “Was it? What was so interesting about it?”

“Well, your near see through leotard for starters.”

She busted out laughing, and Ian looked up quickly, clearly lost on the conversation.

“Does it hurt?”

She smirked at him. “Dancing or fucking?” she said as she watched him, finally ignoring Ian.

“Touché.” He winked at her. “Both I guess?”

She shrugged, but she was blushing. “Yeah. Sometimes. Depends on the partner I suppose.” She studied him for a moment. “Doesn’t mean it’s not amazing,” she said quietly.

He smiled, feeling oddly shy all of a sudden. “I’m glad to hear it. I will say, it’s hell on your feet. I’ve noticed they’re a bit of a fucking train wreck.”

She nodded. “The dangers of sex.” She glanced away then.

Ian was still focused on his phone, and as he glanced up, he looked toward a nearby table, checking out a tall, dark haired woman who was eyeing both he and Jasper. Jas ignored her. Ian did not. He smirked devilishly at the woman, and Jasper’s jaw clenched tight in irritation. When he glanced to Gray her eyes were already focused on Ian. She was staring at him deadpan without an ounce of inflection, but as Ian looked back down at his cell phone, her jaw tightened, and she glanced at her lap.