Chapter 16
Stretching, I looked over to where I expected to find Greyson, but he wasn’t there, and my heart dropped. My body was a blissful afterglow of what he’d done to me the night before. I rose and made my way to the bathroom, thinking of his touches, his kisses, the way he’d come with me. My stomach somersaulted at the thought.
I was still in a state of shock that he’d been my stranger all this time. That he’d been sneaking in, making me his prey, as he’d said. I wasn’t sure what to make of the term. Given my past, it didn’t settle well with me. That first time he’d come to me had terrified me. He didn’t know the reason, but he had to have realized it would. And it made me curious as to why he’d chosen to come to me unseen each time, to play that kind of game. A game I had let him play because I’d trusted him after that first night for no better reason than the excitement of it.
Grabbing my robe, I padded into the kitchen, disappointed that Greyson wasn’t there. I chewed my lip, wondering if he was done with me. If he’d played his game and caught his prey and would turn to someone else now that he’d conquered me. The thought caused a strange pang in my chest, one I didn’t like.
I turned at the sound of a key in the door, my heart fluttering. Greyson entered, holding two cups of coffee. Snow highlighted his auburn hair and when he met my eyes, there was a sweet adoration to them, an unguarded moment that I suspected few saw. He smiled, that same wonderful smile he’d given me on the street my first day. The one that had reached in and captured my interest.
“Miss Brinks,” he said slyly, his expression shifting.
“You know, Mr. Tides. Once your dick has made its way into me, I expect you to use my first name,” I said playfully.
He placed the coffee on the table and removed his coat, shaking the snow from it before neatly laying it over a chair. That one move said so much about the man who had brought me to rapture and made me his.
“Should we talk about how and why you have a key to my apartment, Greyson?”
His blue eyes sparkled as he walked toward me. “Should we talk about why you have this on?” he asked, pushing the sleeve of my robe down. “And why you’re out of bed?”
“You’re deflecting my question.”
“And you’re not answering mine.”
I gritted my teeth, which only encouraged him to slip his hand down and cup my breast as he kissed my neck. His skin was cold, and I shivered.
“I thought I told you I would ravage you again this morning.”
My insides twisted with anticipation. No man I’d ever been with had made me come the way he had, had touched me the way he had. Each touch had seemed like he was worshipping me.
“You did,” I sighed as he untied my robe. He threaded one hand through my hair and brought my lips to his as his other hand caressed its way down my body, sending goosebumps along my skin. I melted into him, hating that he broke my resolve, but loving what his touch did to me.
His kisses were sensual, not demanding or aggressive like the other men I’d been with.
“Greyson,” I tried again.
“Riley.”
He was infuriating, and he was breaking me again. He squeezed my ass, pushing me against his hardness, and my insides fluttered. I wanted him to take me again, but I wanted to talk, to have answers. He picked me up and sat me on the counter, draping his lips down my body. My thoughts fled, my head falling back as he spread my legs further and sank his tongue into me. So much for talking. I lost myself to the pleasure he was bringing me, his tongue summoning my release so that I fell apart, my body a surge of electrical currents that left me weak.
When he had unraveled me completely, he rose, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand and giving me a roguish smirk. I grabbed his shirt and jerked him to me, kissing him and feeling his surprise at the move as his smile grew against my lips.
“You wanted to talk, Riley?” he said between kisses.
“Talking can wait. Fuck me, Greyson.” I needed to feel him inside of me again. Needed him to fill me, to take me to oblivion again, but this time to fall with me.
“We should work on that language of yours, Miss Brinks.”
I worked his shirt free, pushing it from him and saying, “Fuck you, Mr. Tides.”
He chuckled, and I knew then that the formalities would be part of our fun. There was something about the way he said my full name that reached in and owned me. And I wanted to be owned by Greyson Tides. No one else would ever own me the way he now did.
I fumbled with his pants, my hands hastily undoing them because I was craving him so desperately. As they tumbled to the floor, Greyson pulled me to him, sinking into me with a groan that lit every part of me on fire. He took me there, his touches needy as if being from me had left him hungry and I had to satisfy that hunger. He drew another climax from me, my body breaking in his arms as he continued to thrust into me, only then giving into his own rising release. As he came, he held me tight, his muscles shaking, his head dropping to the dip in my shoulder until his body relaxed.
Only when I lifted his head, forcing his eyes to mine, did he move. I traced his lips, wondering how this man had charmed his way into my heart and why I had let him.
“Don’t hurt me, Greyson,” I whispered. “Please, don’t hurt me.” It was a plea that came from the deepest recesses of my soul, because after what Clint had done to me, I’d promised I wouldn’t let another man near my heart. He’d damaged it and used me, leaving me broken. He’d never loved me, and I had fallen for him, opening my heart to him and letting him in.
Greyson took my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it softly. “Never.”
He’d spoken the word with certainty and assuredness, and it worked its way into my soul, weaving through it and fortifying it. I searched his eyes, looking for any doubt but finding only clarity.
“I told you, Riley. You’re mine. I won’t hesitate to kill anyone who attempts to touch you.”
Tipping my head, I wondered at his words. They were the same he’d said in his office. Kill was a strong word. One that gave me pause.
“Why do you have a key to my apartment, Greyson?”
He lifted me, lowering my feet to the floor before kissing me again. I couldn’t help leaning into that kiss, my fingers running through his damp hair.
“Because I own this building, Riley. Because I wanted to spoil you and I wanted to play with you.”
“You own this building?” I asked, ignoring the unease the last part of his statement brought me.
“Yes.” He nipped at my lip and released me. I watched as he put his pants on, taking in the body I’d been unable to see in the dark. He was fit, the muscles defined in his chest and his legs. I knew he was older than me; I could tell by the gray around his temples and the hard lines that creased the corners of his eyes, the assured maturity with which he carried himself. But he looked fitter and sexier than most men my age.
He peeked up at me as he fixed his belt, raising his brow and giving me a cocky grin. The heat rose in my cheeks, and Greyson chuckled before his eyes perused my body the same way I’d just done to him. There was no bashfulness with the way his eyes devoured me, and my insides grew warm.
“Go clean up like a good girl before your coffee gets cold.”
I stared at him, knowing my mouth had dropped. “You’re not blaming cold coffee on me.”
“I will if it gets cold.” He crossed his arms, and I walked over to him, pressing my body into his, enjoying the warmth and solidness of him. I wrapped my hand around his neck and brought his mouth to mine, losing myself in his kiss once more before I walked away, feeling his eyes on my ass.
After a quick shower, I brazenly walked nude across my apartment hearing Greyson grumble about fucking me again if I didn’t stop tempting him. I eyed him, considering the threat and thinking it wasn’t one I cared to worry about. The way my belly flipped every time I thought about him inside of me, I could have let him fuck me all day.
Once I dressed, I sat at the table across from him, fingering the delicate bracelet he’d left me before I knew he was my stranger. “You know, breaking into an apartment and taking advantage of me could have gone very wrong.”
“Maybe, but I didn’t take advantage of you, Riley. If I recall, I got you off with my tongue that night after you gave me permission.”
I clenched my legs, remembering the strange mix of fear, excitement, and satisfaction I’d experienced.
He looked down at his coffee, his expression softening as if he’d thought of something. “If I had to do it over again, I would have done it differently.” He glanced up with that unguarded vulnerability before he looked away, setting his gaze out my window.
“It definitely left an impression,” I muttered. “And…I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it.”
He turned back to me, his eyes lighting. There were dimensions to Greyson Tides. Ones I didn’t think he let show often, hiding himself under the serious exterior.
“What are we, Greyson? Am I just a game to you? Something for you to conquer before you move on to your next challenge?”
His expression hardened, and I realized I’d said the wrong thing. This was more to him, and my breath caught. He stood, resting his hands on either side of my chair and hovering over me. This was the side of Greyson Tides that left people saying his name in whispers, the powerful man who owned Bridgeville, the intense millionaire people feared and respected.
“What do you want us to be, Miss Brinks? Do you want me to leave? To make this a one-night stand and never come to your bed again? Never have you in my bed?”
My lungs burned with the breath that was still stuck in my chest. The thought of not having his touch again was like not having air to breathe.
“No,” I mumbled, finding it hard to speak. His blue eyes were penetrating as he waited for me to say more. “I want to be yours.” And I did. The fear of him walking out and not returning left me aching, and I knew then that I needed him. No matter how twisted this had started, I wanted to belong to him.
“Good girl,” he said, causing my insides to clench. “Because I always get what I want, Riley. And I want you. I want you in my bed every night, my tongue against your clit, and your pussy around my cock.”
“That’s all?” I dared, knowing that wasn’t enough for me. “Because that makes it sound like I’m just your whore.”
He flinched like I’d slapped him, that reaction assuring me that his words had been his defense to cover what was below his tough fa?ade.
“And I won’t play the game if that’s all you want,” I continued.
His finger brushed along my cheek. “I want your smile. I want your laugh. I want the blush that climbs in your cheeks. I want the na?ve woman who doesn’t know how gorgeous she is or how she breaks me.”
My breath fled from my lungs, my heart thudding so hard in my chest that he must have heard it. Reaching up, I pulled his lips to mine, kissing him. “I’m yours,” I said against his lips as he drew me from the chair and into his arms. And I knew it was the truth. I belonged to Greyson Tides and would die before I let anything take me from him.