Chapter 21
twenty-one
. . .
Cutler
“I can’t believe that this is what you wanted to do before your parents arrived,” I said, wrapping my arms around Gracie a little tighter under the hot water.
“I love baths. I’ve never bathed with a man. You’ve covered a lot of firsts for me, Bear.” She rolled onto her stomach, her chest now pressing against mine, as water splashed all around us.
“I’ve never taken a bath with a woman. You’ve covered some firsts for me too.” I nipped at her bottom lip.
“That was really nice of you to insist that they stay here at your house this weekend. You know they were more than willing to stay at a hotel.”
“Of course they should stay here. Although I didn’t think about the fact that it would mean that you wouldn’t be in my bed.” I leaned forward and ran the tip of my tongue along her bottom lip. I had this unwavering need to touch her anytime she was near.
A little moan escaped and her eyes fluttered closed as she moved forward, grinding against my rock-hard cock.
I traced a finger through the bubbles on her skin, water sliding down her arm.
Her hair was piled on her head, her smile soft and trusting, eyes sparkling in a way that made my chest ache.
She looked at me like I was the only person in the world, and something settled inside me—a warmth, quiet and steady, filling a space I hadn’t known was empty before now.
It was undeniable.
I didn’t just love this girl.
I was in love with Gracie Reynolds.
“Why do you always have to make everything feel so good?” she whispered.
“Do you want another first?” I asked as I leaned against her ear before kissing down her neck.
Her dark brown eyes opened, locking with mine. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well, seeing as we’ve both never taken a bath with anyone else, I’m guessing neither one of us has had sex in a bathtub.”
“You want to have sex with me in here?” she asked, her voice so sexy I felt myself grow beneath her.
“I do.”
“What if the water makes a mess?” she asked, a wicked grin on her face.
“I’m a contractor. I’m happy to repair any damage from our sexual escapades.”
She tucked her lips between her teeth and pressed her breasts against my chest. Her nipples were clearly hard enough that I felt them.
“I mean, I did ask for lessons, and this is a new one.”
“I’m nothing if not a good teacher of sexual pleasure,” I said, tucking the loose strand of hair that had broken free behind her ear. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun on top of her head, and her face was clean of makeup. She looked fucking stunning.
She pushed up, positioning my tip between her thighs, and then she froze. “We don’t have a condom.”
“Fuck me,” I groaned, gripping her hips to lift her out of the tub.
We were going to have to move our party to the bedroom.
“Wait.” She pressed down on my shoulders. “Have you ever been with anyone without a condom?”
“Never. No.” I had no hesitation, because I’d never considered it.
“Neither have I,” she said, the words breathy, and I could see the way her chest was rising and falling. “And I’ve been on the pill since I moved to Paris.”
“What are you saying, Jeege?” I asked, my voice gruff.
Because the thought of fucking my girl with nothing between us?
It was more than I could wrap my head around.
Pun. Intended.
“I want to feel you without a condom.”
I wanted to feel every inch of her. Experience everything with her.
I nodded. “Me too.”
The sexiest smile spread across her face. She’d gotten her confidence back since being here. She was asking for what she wanted. What she needed.
She wasn’t adapting her needs for someone else.
I fucking loved it.
Lucky for me, we wanted the same things most of the time.
She pushed up just as I sank down lower into the water and gripped my dick to make it easier for her.
She slid down, taking me in slowly, gaze locked with mine.
It was early in the morning, so the sun was just coming up, and the little bit of light illuminated the bathroom.
I filled her completely, and I had to squeeze my eyes closed for a minute because I’d never experienced anything like this.
She was wet and tight and warm.
She had my dick in a vise, one I never wanted to break free from.
She started moving.
And holy shit.
Holy motherfucking shit.
Feeling her around my bare cock was overwhelming.
Nothing had ever felt better.
I just watched her in awe.
My girl.
My fucking girl.
The most beautiful girl in the world.
She rode my cock like her life depended on it.
And I never wanted her to stop.
“That’s it, baby. Look at you riding me like you were made for me,” I grunted as she smiled down at me, moving faster.
Water was splashing over the sides of the tub, and I didn’t give a fuck.
I couldn’t get enough.
I gripped her hips, driving her up and down as I thrust into her over and over.
She was panting and moaning, and it was sexy as hell. I moved my thumb to her clit, and I’d barely touched her when she gasped.
“Cutler,” she cried out, and I jolted forward one more time and came so hard I couldn’t see straight.
Unloading myself into her.
The sound that escaped me was barely audible.
I tugged her mouth down to mine, and she moaned against my lips as my tongue slipped inside.
When we stopped riding out our pleasure, she fell forward, tucking her face beneath my chin as her breathing slowed.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too.”
We’d said it hundreds of times over the years.
But this time it felt different.
And I was fairly certain we both knew it.
We’d taken a shower after our bathcapades and laughed our asses off at the mess we’d made. We’d gotten everything cleaned up, and now Gracie was standing at the stove making breakfast when the doorbell rang.
I wrapped my arms around her from behind and tipped her head back to kiss her one last time before we’d have to keep our distance for the next few days.
All of this public affection would be toned way down.
Letting Gracie’s parents or my parents know that anything was going on between us would be a disaster.
The expectations would be outrageous, and they wouldn’t understand what this was.
Hell, I was having a hard time wrapping my head around it.
“I’ll get the door,” I said as I smacked her on the ass and walked toward the entryway.
When I pulled the door open, I found Cage and Presley Reynolds standing on the other side, with big smiles on their faces and two suitcases. They were family to me. I’d grown up with them. I wrapped my arms around Gracie’s mom first, and then Cage pulled me in for a big hug.
They’d been to my home a few times over the last few years, but they’d never stayed with me.
“Hey, guys, come on in,” I said, and we set their bags to the side, because I knew they were anxious to see Gracie.
She came running around the corner and threw herself into her father’s arms, and then into her mother’s embrace.
They’d always been very close.
She took them to the kitchen, and I grabbed their bags and rolled them down the hallway to the guest room.
Gracie would be staying in her room this weekend, one she hadn’t stayed in over the last few weeks.
We’d both be sleeping alone, which I wasn’t thrilled about.
But it was definitely the right move with her parents staying here.
They wouldn’t understand, as our families were just too connected.
This is why friends don’t typically cross the line—or so I’ve been told…by my very own type A best friend, whom I just had sex with in the bathtub less than an hour ago.
Involving our families was a can of worms neither of us wanted to open.
We were talking and catching up, and Gracie set down a stack of pancakes and a large bowl of scrambled eggs in the center of the table, and I pulled the bacon out of the oven and set it down as well. I made sure everyone had a fresh cup of hot coffee, as they’d gotten up early to drive here.
“You look so much happier than when we saw you in Paris,” Presley said. “I’m so grateful you came here, and that you two got to spend this time together before you leave for New York.”
I felt my chest tighten at the mention of her leaving. I knew it was coming. I knew it would suck.
But I felt it physically, which surprised me.
Like a deep, heavy pain moved into the center of my chest every time I thought about it.
“It’s been great having her here,” I said, taking a sip of my coffee.
“You two have always been thick as thieves. Everyone needs a best friendship like the two of you have,” her mother said.
“I’m grateful she’s got you looking out for her,” Cage said.
“I don’t think there’s another guy on the planet that I’d be comfortable letting Gracie stay with other than you.
As a father, I can’t even tell you how much it means to have that peace of mind.
” His gaze locked with mine, and I suddenly felt like he could read my face.
Like he was aware of what had just happened in the bathtub right before he arrived.
I jumped to my feet and moved to the coffeepot.
“Of course. You know I’ve always got her back.” I cleared my throat because I was certain it was closing. “Does anyone need a topper?”
My God. This was Cage Reynolds. I loved this man.
And I’d totally crossed the line. What was I thinking?
He’d never look at me the same if he knew what we’d been doing.
What I’d been doing to his little girl.
I filled their mugs and then topped off Gracie’s, and she looked up at me with wide eyes, as if she could tell that I was freaking out.
Well, guess what.
I am freaking the fuck out.
“That’s plenty,” Gracie squeaked, and I realized I’d filled it so high that she’d have to lean down to take a sip because it would spill over if she tried to raise it.
I put the coffeepot back on the counter and sat down at the table. They asked us both a bunch of questions about how work was going and how the family house was coming along, and of course they asked if either of us had been dating at all.
“No. I’m taking a break from men, remember?” Gracie chuckled. “I’ve sworn off them so I can focus on my career. No more distractions.”
Apparently, I was not a distraction. It shouldn’t have bothered me, but for whatever reason, it did.
“I think it’s a good idea for you to focus on yourself and your career right now, sweetheart,” Cage said.
“New York will be a fresh start for you. You don’t need to tie yourself down to some asshole here, when you aren’t staying.
Gabriel was enough for a lifetime.” He winked at his daughter, and a sick feeling settled in my stomach.
I am the asshole here.
“Trust me, Dad. It was a tough lesson, and I won’t be changing my plans for any man ever again, so you need not worry. I’m excited for this opportunity in New York.” Gracie sighed, and she glanced over at me.
I would normally be adding to the conversation, but I was at a loss for words.
I needed to pull my head out of my ass.
“Nothing is stopping our girl, and I’ll make sure of it. I’ve had to fight off all the single dudes in town to keep them away from her.” I reached for a piece of bacon and took a bite.
“I knew I could count on you, Beefcake,” Cage said with a smirk. “Sorry. Couldn’t help myself. Feeling a bit nostalgic right now.”
Gracie laughed and shook her head. “Why? What is happening?”
“Dad and I were so worried about you in Paris. And we wanted you to come home, but once we knew that you were going to stay with Cutler, we completely relaxed.” Presley turned to look at me.
“She’s a grown woman, but she’s still our little girl, and just knowing that she was with you, someone we fully trust, I can’t begin to tell you the peace of mind it’s given us. ”
I was the fucking devil.
I deserved a one-way ticket to hell.
I’d completely betrayed them.
As if Gracie could read my mind, she clapped her hands together. “This is a bit theatrical, isn’t it? I’m a grown woman. I don’t need anyone to take care of me, including my best friend. I’m grateful that he opened his doors to me and offered me a temporary job, but I don’t need rescuing.”
“I know you don’t, sweetheart. But from a father’s perspective, it’s just nice to know that a kid, one whom I consider to be a second son to me, is watching out for you.” Cage cleared his throat, as if he was overcome with emotion.
A second son.
I deserved any karma that came my way.
The doorbell rang, and I jumped to my feet, anxious to get away from the conversation, but Gracie’s father clearly had the same idea.
“I’ll get that,” Cage said, stepping in front of me.
Presley had a big smile on her face. “We have a surprise for you. You’ve done so much for us, and for our girl, Cutler. We couldn’t resist.”
“Surprise!” I heard my mother’s voice before she even came around the corner. I froze for a second, my chest tightening. Then I saw her—my mom smiling at me, and everything hit at once: relief, joy, and definitely shock.
She and my father walked into the kitchen with wide grins on their faces.
“We came to have a big family weekend with the six of us,” my mother said, a big smile spread across her face.
“Hey, Mama,” I said, pulling her into my arms.
My Sunny.
The woman who’d been the brightest light in my life from the time she entered it.
“Surprise, son,” Pops said as he wrapped his arms around me.
We had both sets of parents under the same roof with me and Gracie.
Karma was definitely here for me.