5. Gracelyn
CHAPTER 5
GRACELYN
“S ame.”
The word rumbles from his chest, a low, primal growl, and my body responds. Fiery sparks fly through me, racing beneath my skin. My nipples stiffen to tight peaks in my satin bra.
This man is beyond sexy. How have I never noticed him before?
With that deep voice, those large, rough hands. Hands I’d very much like to be all over my body right now, touching me and driving me close to the edge.
“Bad ideas always feel so good, you know?” I trail my fingers over his sculpted pecs, glide my hand down his chest, and rest my index finger at the waistband of his jeans. His eyes flick down and he sucks in a shuddery breath, his stomach caving slightly.
Arms dropping from the wall, he grabs me by the ass and lifts me into the air.
“Mack!” I grip his shoulders tight, wrapping my legs around his waist as he carries me over to his work bench and sets me down gently.
Hands still resting on my rear and my legs spread wide, he leans in, closing the space between us. His warm breath a whisper on my face, a soft moan falls from my lips as he claims my mouth in a hot, possessive kiss. The kind of kiss that makes your toes curl and your thoughts drift away on a pink cloud of bliss.
The kind of kiss that leaves you panting and breathless.
The kind of kiss that lets you know who’s in charge.
Nothing about Mack is timid.
He’s strong, dominant, powerful.
I’ve never had a man take control like this. Guys my age defer to me and let me take the lead.
Not Mack.
He squeezes my ass and I inch closer to the edge of the bench, trying to get more contact with his tight torso. Wetness soaks my panties as he kneads and massages, caressing my curves. His hand dips beneath my shirt, the calloused pads of his fingers rough on my sensitive skin.
“Mack,” I breathe, his palm on my breast. A ripple of pleasure washes over me as he thumbs the sharp point of my nipple. Pinching the sensitive peak, a bolt zips straight to my clit and I bite down hard on my lip to keep from crying out.
“You like that, don’t you?” he murmurs, my eyes flickering up to his face. He’s watching me intently, studying my reactions.
“Mm-hmm.” I nod. I’m practically panting. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been with a man and I’m out of practice. Every nerve in my body’s humming, strung tight and ready to snap.
“What were you saying about bad ideas?” His words vibrate against the column of my neck, chill bumps rising from his warm breath skating over my skin. With the tip of his nose, he nuzzles against me and I shudder. He licks and nips and I swear I might come right there in his garage, fully clothed.
“Um…” Blood whooshes in my ears and I’m hot all over. “That I like bad ideas.”
He sucks my neck and my body’s melting into him.
Buzz.
I ignore my cell vibrating in my pocket, fully transfixed on what Mack’s doing to me.
Buzz.
Damn, another text. Why now?
“Just a sec.” I inch out of his grip and fumble for my cell. Of course it’s my mother.
Cock block.
Mom: Are you coming back?
Mom: We need to talk about the game plan for Hoco
Annoyed as hell, I manage to suppress an eye roll and shove my phone back into my pocket.
“Everything okay?” Mack squints at me like he’s trying to read a playbook.
“Yeah. It’s just my mother, asking if I’m coming back.”
That kills the mood.
Mack steps away, unwinding himself from me. The wild, hooded gaze from moments earlier vanishes and he’s back to the laidback, casual Mack I know.
“You better get going then.” He runs a hand through his hair, his T-shirt lifting slightly, revealing a glimpse of his abs and the bulge still visible in his pants.
“Just like that?” I try to squash the disappointment already bubbling up inside me.
“I don’t want your mom to worry.”
How can he be so calm and cool about this? Thirty seconds ago we were on the verge of banging and now he’s acting like nothing’s happened between us at all.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I’m thirty years old and it’s broad daylight. I’m fine!” I throw my hands up in aggravation and hop down from the bench, disappointed and pissed off at both him and my mother.
Mack chuckles, a low, throaty sound that sends my belly fluttering despite my irritation.
“Never said you weren’t. But I don’t want to be on the bad side of Mama Reynolds. Get going.” He playfully swats my ass and I sigh.
“Fine. But we’re not done here. We need to hash out this open-ended thing. If you’re game.” I hold my breath, waiting for his reply.
He scrubs his hand over the back of his neck, tips his head to the side. “You should think about it, Gracelyn. I’m a decade older than you.”
“So?” I shrug. “Who cares?”
“People are gonna talk.”
“I don’t care.”
He reaches out, tucking a loose tendril behind my ear, and my heart stops.
“Think about it, that’s all I’m saying. This town can be real heavy on gossip.”
“Don’t I know it.” I flip my ponytail over my shoulder, trying to act more in control and self-assured than I feel right now. “But I really don’t give a flying fuck what people say about me.”
Mack tilts his head to the side, a brow raised high. “Really? So if your sworn enemy Jamie starts talking shit, calling me Grandpa or something stupid like that, you’re not gonna care?”
“Nope.” I fold my arms over my chest and stand up tall. “Not one little bit.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“Besides, Jamie’s under the impression we’re already dating. We have to pretend to be together for a few weeks, at least in front of her. Or I’ll look like a total loser.”
The corner of his lip quirks up. “Says the person who doesn’t care what other people think.”
Shit, the man has a point.
“Fine, maybe I care a teensy bit.” I hold my thumb and index finger up, demonstrating just how little I care.
My cell buzzes again and I huff out an exasperated sigh. “I have to go before my mom sends out a search party. We can finish this conversation later, yeah?”
Mack scrubs a hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah.”
Before I chicken out, I lean in and press my lips to his. He doesn’t disappoint, wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and easing his warm tongue into my mouth. Tingles shoot straight through me as he rolls over my teeth, exploring.
Finally, he pulls away. “See ya, Firecracker.”
With one last swat of my ass, he punches the button to the garage door and bright rays of sunlight pour into the space.
“Bye.” I wiggle my fingers at him and race out of the garage, pulling my shirt down as I head back to my mother’s house, acting like nothing happened.
* * *
I think about Mack the rest of the day. His muscular body, the clean scent of pine and sawdust wafting from his skin, the way his lips felt on mine.
The man is a fantastic kisser.
I want that mouth all over my body, not gonna lie. Want to feel his tongue tracing lazy circles on my thighs, licking me in all the right spots, making me squirm and writhe for him.
So what if he’s older than me? Just means he’s got more experience and knows what the fuck he’s doing with his life. It could be refreshing to date someone with life goals and shit.
Buzz.
I pause The Bachelor episode I’m watching and check my phone. I don’t recognize the number.
Hey, Firecracker
Mack.
Holding my breath, I text back, my fingers shaky over the keyboard.
Hey. What’s up?
I re-read the text and decide I can do better. Delete and try again.
Hey. Can we finish what we started this morning?
Mack: That’s what I’m texting you about. I thought about it and I don’t think it’s a good idea
My stomach sinks, reading and re-reading the words, right there in cold black-and-white.
I don’t think it’s a good idea.
Mack’s rejecting me.
Dammit.
I stare up at the ceiling, disappointment weighing heavy on my chest. This thing between us has been going on for less than twenty-four hours. Why does it feel as bad as a real break up?
Sucking in a breath, I gnaw at my lower lip, weighing my options. I could do what I usually do and cut my losses. Agree with him and keep things firmly in the friend zone. I close my eyes and visualize what that would look like.
Working right next door to him and acting like his lips never touched mine, his hands haven’t caressed my breasts, my ass.
That scenario doesn’t feel great, leaving me with a hard pit in my stomach.
Or, I could take a big-ass risk right now and actually go for it. Because the thing between me and Mack feels different. Rare and special. I’ve never felt like this before in my entire life. Light and airy, an electric spark burning bright from deep inside me.
And dammit, I don’t want to back down and run away from that.
Again.
Not this time.
I decide to go for it.
Gracelyn: Stop thinking so much
Mack: That approach typically gets me in trouble
Gracelyn: Trouble’s my middle name
Mack: That’s what I’m afraid of
Gracelyn: You’re scared of me?
Mack: I didn’t say that
Gracelyn: Are you busy right now?
Mack: This is where I should probably say yes
Gracelyn: So you’re not…
Mack: Watching ESPN. I’m not not busy
Gracelyn: ESPN 1, 2, or 3?
Mack: Actually 4
I laugh, then take the risk, fluffing my hair and snapping a selfie. I try my best to look devastated, making an exaggerated sad, pouty face, and sending the photo to Mack.
Gracelyn: Come over
I stare at my screen, watch the bubbles swirl, then disappear. My gut churns, heart hammering as I wait for a response.
He leaves me hanging for a long minute, then finally I get an answer.
Mack: That’s a bad idea
Disappointment washes over me, a frigid tidal wave dashing my hopes. I shouldn’t keep pushing. He’s not into me, despite his show last night and this morning. I should leave him alone and move the fuck on.
I toss my cell onto the ground and hit play, resuming The Bachelor. But after another ten minutes of the show, I have no idea what’s happening, nor do I care. I’m not really into it anymore, my mind fixating on the rejection.
Mack’s right. The two of us don’t make sense. Sure, he’d be a fun distraction, but the relationship wouldn’t go anywhere. Best to stop here, before anyone gets hurt.
Knock, knock.
I jerk my head up and stare at the door. Am I losing my mind? I’m so delulu now that I’m hearing things?
Knock, knock, knock.
Harder, more insistent raps vibrate the door. Nope, not losing it. Someone’s definitely at the door. I pause the TV again and tiptoe warily across the room, peering out.
My heart skips a beat as I stare through the tiny peephole. Straight into jade green eyes, fringed with dark lashes that make me jealous.
Mack.
With a quick inhale, I ease the door open a crack. “You really are into bad ideas, aren’t you?”