Chapter 15 - Cora #2
Her laughter faded as his words settled between them. His eyes were locked on hers, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. The tension in the room shifted, subtle but undeniable, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure if she should move closer or bolt.
“Grayson…” she began, her voice faltering.
“You don’t have to say anything. I just… I want you to know I see you, Cora. All of you. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your choices.”
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. She didn’t know what to do with his words, with the way they stripped away every defense she’d spent years building. All she knew was that she couldn’t look away from him.
“Why do you care so much?”
“Because I care about you. Whether you believe it or not.”
Her breath hitched, and before she could second-guess herself, she leaned across the table and pressed her lips to his.
It was only supposed to be a fleeting moment, a silent thank-you. But as soon as her mouth touched his, everything changed. Grayson went still, his body tense, and for a moment, she wondered if she shouldn’t have done it.
Then he pulled her closer, and the world fell away.
He kissed her with an urgency that left her dizzy, and her hands moved of their own accord, sliding into his hair and pulling him closer.
His stubble scraped against her skin, sending shivers racing down her spine.
Her pulse raced, her entire body alight with a need so powerful, it bordered on desperation.
His tongue brushed against her lower lip, and she parted them eagerly, letting him explore. His taste sent a flood of heat through her core, and she arched closer, craving more. A low sound rumbled in his throat, and the sensation nearly undid her.
His hand slid down her back, tracing the curve of her spine until she thought she might come apart under his touch. The heat of his palm through her thin shirt was maddening, and she wanted nothing more than to strip it away and feel him everywhere.
The chair underneath her tipped as she leaned into him, and her elbow knocked the empty plate aside. It clattered to the floor, but she was too far gone to care. She needed this, needed him—more than she could remember needing anything else in her life.
He pulled her into his lap, hoisting her up and over as though she weighed nothing.
His hard length pressed against her through his jeans, and she ground down on him without hesitation.
Grayson groaned, and his hands gripped her hips tightly.
She could feel him throb beneath her, and the sensation drove her wild.
She broke away, panting, her eyes searching his. For a moment, neither of them moved. She could feel his pulse thrumming against her palms, his breath warm on her cheek.
In a sudden blur of movement, Grayson stood, lifting her in his arms. She clung to him, wrapping her legs around his waist, and he carried her to the bedroom. The door slammed shut behind them, and the next thing she knew, he had her pinned to the wall.
He kissed her again, rough and deep and hungry. Her fingers tangled in his hair as his lips trailed along her jaw, her neck, and her collarbone. His teeth nipped at the sensitive skin, and she gasped. His hand slid up her shirt, leaving a trail of fire in its wake, and her mind blanked completely.
He cupped her breast, and her head fell back against the wall. Her nipples hardened instantly under his touch, and his thumb circled one, teasing her through the thin fabric of her bra.
She writhed against him, aching for more. Grayson growled low in his throat as he whirled her around and dropped her on the bed, looming over her. His gaze burned into hers, and she had to resist the urge to squirm. She couldn’t look away, couldn’t even breathe.
Then he tore his shirt off, and the moment shattered.
Holy shit.
She stared, transfixed by the expanse of tan skin and rippling muscles. She’d felt his strength before, but seeing him like this was something else entirely. He looked like he’d been carved from marble, the kind of beauty that inspired art and poetry.
She reached for him, running her fingers along the ridges of his abdomen. Her other hand joined, sliding across his chest, exploring. He shivered under her touch, and the sight of it sent a rush of heat straight between her legs.
In a flash, he pulled her upright and ripped her shirt over her head. She barely had time to catch her breath before his mouth was on her again. His hands roamed her body, his touch hot and insistent.
She was so focused on his touch that she barely noticed him unhooking her bra. He pulled it free, exposing her body to him, and a low groan escaped his throat. He bent down and took one nipple in his mouth, and his tongue swirled around the hardened peak.
She gasped, her head falling back as pleasure raced through her. He palmed her other breast, squeezing gently, and she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. Her hands roamed his back, nails scraping against his skin, desperate to pull him closer.
He switched sides, lavishing attention on her other breast, and her legs trembled. She was soaking wet, aching for him. Needing him.
With a gentle touch, he guided her back to the mattress, his mouth never leaving her skin. Her fingers trailed down his sides and tugged at the waistband of his jeans. He released her long enough to kick them off, and the sight of him made her stomach tighten.
He was rock-hard and thick, his cock jutting up between his thighs. He was larger than she’d imagined, but the idea of taking him only made her burn hotter.
He hovered over her, his hands sliding up her legs. When his thumbs hooked the edge of her shorts, she lifted her hips, letting him slide them down. He tossed them aside, then hooked his fingers under the lace of her underwear.
In a single motion, he ripped them off, tearing the fabric away. Cora didn’t care. All she wanted was for him to touch her, to quench the fire burning inside her.
He dipped his head, his stubble brushing her inner thigh. She trembled at the sensation, her fingers twisting in the sheets.
When his tongue grazed her slit, she couldn’t hold back. A low moan escaped her lips, and her hips arched toward him, silently begging for more.
Grayson gripped her ass, pulling her closer, and his tongue delved deeper. He explored her, tasting and teasing, and it made her see stars. Her fingers slid into his hair, guiding him, her body writhing under his touch.
He found her clit and flicked it with his tongue, and a bolt of lightning shot through her. Her breath caught, and her heart was pounding so hard, she was sure he could feel it.
When he eased a finger inside her, she nearly lost it. Her body clenched around him, and her hands tightened in his hair. His tongue circled her clit as he worked her, each stroke bringing her closer and closer to the edge.
“Grayson,” she panted, her eyes squeezed shut. “Oh, fuck. I’m gonna…”
“Come for me, Cora,” he murmured, his voice husky.
At the sound of her name on his lips, she broke. Her entire body shuddered as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her. She cried out, the sound echoing off the walls, her back arching off the mattress.
She didn’t come down from the high for several moments. Her body shuddered under the force of her climax. When her breathing finally steadied, she opened her eyes, meeting his gaze.
He watched her with a look of such intensity that it took her breath away. She pulled him to her, kissing him deeply, savoring the taste of herself on his tongue.
He settled over her, his hips pressing into hers, and she gasped. She was soaking wet, but even with that, the stretch of him was almost too much. She wrapped her legs around him, opening herself to him, and he slid into her inch by agonizing inch.
She whimpered as her body strained to accommodate his size. He filled her completely, his thickness stretching her to the point where the sensation bordered on pain. But even as her muscles strained, she wanted more.
When he started to move, her eyes rolled back. His strokes were slow at first, giving her body time to adjust. But the heat building inside her demanded more, and her hips rose to meet his, encouraging him.
He picked up the pace, his thrusts growing deeper and harder. The friction made her vision blur, and her body sang. She’d never felt this full before, this complete.
His hand slid under her back, lifting her, angling her just right. With the new position, he hit a spot deep inside her that made her gasp. She clung to him, nails digging into his skin as he pumped into her.
He felt so damn good, so perfect, and she never wanted him to stop. Her breath came in ragged pants, and her legs wrapped tighter around his waist. His mouth found hers, and the taste of him, the heat, only heightened the pleasure coursing through her.
The pressure inside her built, coiling tighter and tighter with each stroke. She was close, so damn close, and she could feel him nearing the edge, too. His rhythm grew erratic, his movements harder and more desperate.
His hips slammed into hers, driving her into the mattress, and she came apart. The dam broke, and her entire body trembled under the force of her climax. The intensity was like nothing she’d ever experienced before, and for a moment, she wondered if she’d pass out from the pleasure.
A low growl tore from his throat, and he buried himself in her. His cock pulsed as he spilled inside her, filling her completely. She clung to him, riding the waves with him, feeling every twitch and shudder.
It was several moments before either of them could speak. Their ragged breaths echoed in the room, and Cora felt like her heart was going to pound out of her chest. She didn’t know what had just happened or how to put it into words.
All she knew was that it had changed everything.