Chapter 13 - Gracie
GRACIE
The light peeking through the morning clouds streams through the blinds, and it’s what is keeping me from drifting away into heaven. Except, I’m already there. I feel Asher’s tongue flick my clit, as he is between my legs under the cover.
My hips lift because the sensitivity overload is too much, and I can’t lie still.
I moan and rake my fingers through his hair.
I should be numb from last night, but there is something about morning sex which just hits differently.
You’re both already naked and you wake ready.
It took only one sweep of his finger between my legs, coating him with how much I want him, and he slid down to lick me.
The day after Christmas is always a lazy day, and maybe that feels like we move slower together. Looking down, I meet his eyes as he’s watching me, and I’m closer to coming. He holds my thighs wide, his mouth covers me, and the moment his tongue slides inside me, a slew of curses leaves my mouth.
“This is too much.” I’m on fire, and my nipples are near painful as I’m so aroused and the cool air in the room keeps them peaked. I’m about to lose it. “Let’s switch positions.” I guide his head up to make him stop, and there is a smirk on his face that is dangerous.
“What position might that be?” His voice is gruff and hazy with lust.
I yank and push, leading him to the way that I want. Until my mouth is near his cock and his tongue can return to my pussy. There is no further discussion, we both begin to suck and lick one another.
His cock is large but somehow fits perfectly in my mouth.
I slide my tongue up and down his shaft, flicking my tongue against his head then slowly tasting.
I’d much rather do this to him than a damn candy cane.
It’s a little hard to focus because of the wicked things that he continues to do to my clit, but I still manage to bob up and down his length.
Our movements mimic one another as we use the tips of our tongues to drive one another wild. He murmurs against my pussy, and I hum with my mouth full. We enjoy one another for a while until he moves.
He leads me to lying on my side, and he enters from behind me. Spooning me, his arm wraps around me, his hand plays with my breasts, and I look over my shoulder so our mouths can fuse together as he pumps in and out of me.
“They’re getting big,” His voice scrapes as he nips my earlobe.
“There is a reason for that.” My voice is breathy, and I interlink our fingers before placing the palm of his hand near my bellybutton.
His lips dragging along my shoulder heighten my body’s sensitivity even more.
We move in sync until I begin to shiver and vibrate around his cock inside of me, and my body goes slack as he continues to move until he finds his own escape.
We stay together in our spooning position for a little longer until he finally abandons me, and we both roll to our backs, attempting to calm our heavy breathing.
I’m fighting to keep my body from slipping back into sleep because I’m so relaxed, but Asher informed me last night right before getting me naked that his parents would be stopping by a little later.
“I can’t move.” I’m exasperated.
Asher is spread out like a starfish on his back. “Give me a minute to recover.”
That entire sentence causes me to giggle. “Old man.”
He turns his head with one eye closed and the other peeking open to give me a warning.
I gather my strength and roll out of bed, grabbing his button-down shirt in the process to throw on. “Well, you do you, and I’m going to grab some juice in the kitchen.”
He forces himself up to sitting and rubs his face. “Okay. The bakery should be stopping by soon.” He yawns. “With a delivery of things for lunch with my parents.”
“Hmm, yum.” I’m banking on an orange roll in that order.
When I’m in the kitchen, I pick up a banana from the fruit bowl then proceed to the fridge.
Opening the door, I realize that Asher doesn’t have much, but luckily, there are a few juice options.
The intercom sounds, which means someone from Jolly Joe’s is here with Asher’s order.
Since Asher is probably getting dressed, I walk to the doorbell screen in the kitchen, and I buzz them in so they can get through the gate at the bottom of the driveway.
I need something to chew on, and I peel the banana before taking a big chomp and debate if I should have a bowl of cereal but remember that there is food arriving.
Walking to the front door, I pause before I turn the handle when I realize that I’m only in Asher’s shirt, and I growl to myself.
But it goes down to my knees and I’m short on time, so that’s the best that I can do.
Opening the door, I quickly regret that decision. I’m familiar with the guy with a cocky grin who is in front of me holding a small, blue-and-silver wrapped present. I’ve just never met him. Tall, a wave of dark hair, similar eyes to the man upstairs though younger.
“Oh, hey there, baby mama.”
“Shaw,” I say because I’m confused as to why Asher’s brother is here. He has his own career, and it isn’t in Illinois unless he is on the ice on the opposing team. Asher didn’t mention him visiting, either.
He walks right past me. “Tis the holidays, so I thought I would stop on by. Here.” His arm darts out to hand me the present.
Pushing the front door, it gingerly closes behind me as I follow Shaw farther into the house, and he looks around, soaking in the setting. “Nice house.”
“Oh, I guess you haven’t been here since Asher only started this season with the Spinners.”
Shaw turns to me with a smile. “Yep. Where is my brother?”
“Here.” The sharp tone takes me off guard, and judging by Shaw, he too is experiencing the same.
We both look to see Asher slowly walking down the stairs, and he is dressed in dark jeans and a gray sweater, but his hair is still slicked wet.
“What a surprise.” There is a lack of joy with that sentence.
“Hey, Brother, didn’t Mom and Dad tell you that I came to Illinois to visit them since my next game is in Detroit? Then I thought, oh cool, we can drive on out to see my favorite brother.”
The dynamic between them feels odd, and maybe it’s because of the age difference or the fact they are on different teams. It could be the reversal of power.
Asher is a coach and Shaw still a young player.
But right now? Shaw is in the position to succeed at his mission to annoy his brother.
A level up from the normal sibling rivalry.
Stepping forward, I want to play mediator because it feels like it might be needed. “Look. He brought a present.” I paste on a crooked smile and hold it up, while I give a little shake, only for it to make noises as if it’s a rattle.
Shaw glances back at me and grins. “Yeah, so the ornament I got kind of broke on the plane, but it’s the thought that counts, amiright?”
Asher takes the last step and joins us on the floor. “Gracie, Shaw. Shaw, Gracie,” he preambles.
I offer Shaw a polite smile.
“So you’re the one making me an uncle.” Asher swats the back of his head, and I have to stifle a laugh because they are certainly brothers. “Hey, don’t be an ass or I’ll tell Mom when they come in.” He is totally joking. “They are just grabbing some things from the trunk of the car.”
“Nobody in my family decided to text me that you would be early or that you were joining them on their festive ride?” Asher isn’t impressed.
“We were too busy with the road trip playlist. This time of year the Maccabeats Candlelight song just low key slaps. It’s a tune.”
I roll my lips in to lock in my laugh. This guy is a character and even Asher manages to soften.
But then reality hits me…
Shit, the entire family are all here.
“Okay, totally my cue to go upstairs and change.” I’m faster than lightning to escape them.
I am not going to stay in Asher’s shirt when his parents arrive.
Upstairs, I hurry and do my hair and some basic makeup.
I drop the world’s longest F-bomb when I realize that Asher’s eagerness for me to move things in and the fact that I haven’t, means I’m down to two options. Cozy long sweater and leggings it is.
Ten minutes later, I’m back downstairs with the sound of voices in the living room. Heading there, lines form on my forehead when I see a fresh poinsettia on the hallway table.
In the living room, Asher’s parents instantly beam a smile, and Asher walks to me to relieve me when his arm side-hugs me, calming my nerves that I only now realize that I have.
“There is a poinsettia in the hallway,” I mutter to him.
But his mom, Ruby, heard. “My son had the same reaction about the plant.” She’s completely confused. “I just thought it would give a little cheer and brighten the place up.”
“Well, it can certainty brighten a place.” Asher’s comment makes me chuckle inside. It will be a memory for a lifetime.
He guides me further into the living room, and I don’t even get a chance before his mom pulls me into a bear hug that I wasn’t expecting. “Look at you with a glow. How are you feeling?”
Pulling away, internally, I rewire to the situation. Casual but peculiar, and crucial for getting to know one another in non-whispering format. “Fine.”
Cole, Asher’s dad, just gives me a giant smile and touches my shoulder. Okay, I just learned he is not a hugger.
“You’re carrying precious goods. The golden grandchild,” Shaw mumbles with a full mouth. My eyes whip to him, and he has his feet on the coffee table, making himself at home.
We all sit down with me next to Asher on the sofa. I notice a plate of sufganiyot donuts on the coffee table. I’ve never seen them on the menu at Jolly Joe’s. There are no holes in the middle, instead covered in powder sugar and clearly filled.
Asher notices that I’m checking them out. “These are the ones I told you about. My mom picked some up.”
They look damn delicious. “Is that chocolate in one?”
“Praline chocolate. A sort of pudding and my favorite,” his dad mentions.
“Well, I’m sold.” I lean forward and grab a small plate and opt for a donut with jam to be classic. The moment I take a bite, I’m taken to another galaxy. “Oh my gosh.” I continue chewing. It’s soft, has a decent amount of strawberry jam filling, and not too sweet.
“If you ever get into an argument with the baby daddy, just get him one of these and you’re fine,” Shaw suggests so casually.
“How is your team doing this season?” Asher pipes up, clearly taunting his brother because his team is doing terribly.
Their father groans and pinches his nose. “I feel like we just did a time warp and I need to tell my boys to take it down a notch.”
Ruby shoos her sons. “Well, here we are. You will be joining the family, Gracie. Anything we should learn about you? I mean, I already know about your career and your parents. How did your parents take the news?”
“Actually, okay.”
Asher touches my thigh for a squeeze. “Her dad only thought of killing me for the first few minutes.”
“I’m sure. Knocking up his little princess who is younger.” Shaw’s comment hits a little different this time. A little harsh, perhaps.
I smile tightly at him. “Not an issue. My parents also have an age gap.”
Their dad gives Shaw a humorous glare. “Stop it. She’s your future sister-in-law.”
His words strike me and suddenly the donut falls off my plate because my hands lose balance of holding it straight.
Asher clears his throat because this is not where the conversation was supposed to go. Even though we said that we would go at our own pace and get to know one another, it is all still somehow confronting.
“Wow, really making this a fun day, aren’t you,” Asher says, sarcastic.
My eyes drop to the blob of dough, red jam, and the cream carpet underneath. “Oh no.”
Asher’s fingers cup my elbow. “Don’t worry. Stained carpet is the least of our worries right now.”
Ruby claps her hands together. “Well, that was a little offside. But I mean, you two are clearly together since she is sleeping here, so that obviously means—”
Asher is quick to interject. “Filter. Use it.”
She shrugs her shoulders, but her delightful smile doesn’t fade a smidgen. “We are just excited. You sprung a woman and baby on us at the snap of your fingers. It’s only been a few days, but here we are on the fifth day of Chrismukkah and we are all in good spirits.”
I wipe the corner of my mouth with the back of my finger. “I get it, I do.”
Asher shakes his head and blows out a long exhausting breath.
“How is Tyler?” Shaw asks, and I’m relieved that he is changing the subject.
“Fine. He listens well, and we keep it professional,” Asher tells him.
“That’s good. He is playing better this season,” Cole comments then drinks from his mug of coffee.
There is a moment of silence, and it is kind of awkward, but we all look at one another and acknowledge it. “Uh…”
“Baby shower,” Ruby throws out a topic.
“Right. I mean, it’s early, so all of that is for later. I know my mom wants one.”
She pulls her dark hair to the side. “Of course.”
“Probably at Olive Owl. My brother and his wife’s family, as you know, are there. They are all a little angry that one of the nieces didn’t have her baby shower there, so I’m being used to compensate for that.” It is a great place for a party.
“Love it. It will be so cute when the baby comes and you have those little headphones for when she or he comes to a game when you’re sitting with the other WAGs.” She winks at Asher.
“Oh hell,” he utters to himself.
My lips roll into my mouth as I bite my lip to keep myself in check. She’s eager for a label but all in lighthearted spirit.
“I really am loving this morning. Pure entertainment. And Gracie, if you can handle this, then you will be fine. So, welcome to the family,” Shaw compliments before grabbing another donut.
The squeeze of my arm brings my attention to Asher whose eyes are warm and reassuring.
The next two hours, we eat quiche and bagels, talk about my work and Ruby’s photography. There isn’t much discussion about the baby or the status of our relationship, and everything flows. When they leave, we hug goodbye, and Shaw gives me an honest grin.
Asher closes the door behind him, and his entire body eases with relief.
“Well, we’ve survived your family and mine.”
“We did. It seems all is well.” I plant my hands on my belly and look down with only affection. “You will be very loved, little one.”
“She or he will.” His voice is soft, and when I draw my gaze up, I see that his stare is locked on my belly.
“Family, huh?”
“Yep. Family.”
Because we are creating our own.