Chapter Nine
Sophia
Grayson has to be mad at me.
He tells me he loves me, then leaves the room. I feigned sleep when I heard him coming out of his closet. His whispered words had sent a thrill through me, but then his abrupt departure left a sting.
I wonder what he’s doing now. What are his thoughts?
Did he mean it? Does he really love me, as I love him?
Or is he reconsidering his feelings for me? Maybe he’s thinking that I come with too much baggage.
My thoughts wander to Daryl. I sincerely hope he’s okay wherever he is now. Did I do too much in protecting Daryl from Grayson?
He’s the only family I have left in this world. I hope Grayson understands that.
I conjure up the image of Grayson hitting Daryl. He looked so fierce, so brutal. I’ve always known about that side of him, but seeing him in that light today made me understand the reason he hides his savage nature. It’s brutal and unforgiving.
I wasn’t scared for myself, but more scared for Daryl. I sincerely thought Grayson was going to kill him. What if I hadn’t intervened? How far would Grayson have gone?
I don’t know the answer, but I know that I don’t want him to have blood on his hands.
I wonder what will happen to Daryl now. Even though he doesn’t deserve it, I still worry about him. How will he get along by himself? Who will look after him?
All these worries make it impossible for me to sleep. I check the time—it’s just past ten p.m. I sneak out of my room and head to the guest suite. I push the door lightly and poke my head in, but he’s not there. So I go to the other place where I’m sure he’ll be. His home office.
My whole body aches as I gingerly go down the stairs to the ground floor, then turn left to go down the corridor that leads to his sanctuary.
I see lights under the door, so I knock softly and open the door. He looks up from his computer and my heart races at the savage beauty of him. I enter and we stare at one another in silence.
“I thought you were asleep,” he says.
There’s a brief pause before I whisper, “I wasn’t asleep. I just didn’t know what to say to you.”
Another pause. “Do you want to join me?” he asks, moving back and patting his thighs.
I walk slowly around his desk and settle sideways in his lap, pressing my body against him until I feel his warmth seep into me. He sinks his hand into my hair and starts to massage my scalp the way I enjoy.
“Why couldn’t you sleep? What were you thinking about?” I ask him.
“Everything.”
“Good thoughts?”
“Not all of them.”
“I was thinking about today too. I’m sorry about Daryl.”
Grayson sighs. “I shouldn’t have hit him so hard. It’s just that when I saw him on top of you I totally lost it. I wasn’t in control of myself anymore. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t stopped me. And afterward…I was angry. I hate to see anyone hurt you, and I never had a family of my own so I don’t know what all the rules are. I’m sure you’re justified for still feeling protective of him. I’m sorry for how I acted.”
It’s almost as if he read my mind. He’s saying all the things I’ve been dying to hear.
“Anyone would have acted like that,” I admit. “If I came in and saw any man beating you up, I don’t know what I’d do.”
This makes him laugh, and that helps to lighten the mood. “What could you do against someone who can beat me up?”
“I dunno. Maybe use a knife or something,” I say, remembering how I ran to the kitchen for a knife when Daryl pursued me. I can’t believe that I’m the same person who thought of stabbing him.
“Let’s hope we never get to that place.” He tilts his head and kisses my forehead.
“I’m worried about Daryl,” I say softly.
“Worried? Don’t worry, he won’t ever hurt you again. I’ll make sure of it.”
“No, that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m worried about what will happen to him when he’s by himself. There’s no one to look after him. I’m the only one he has.”
Grayson grunts, unconvinced. “Isn’t the older sibling supposed to look after the younger one?”
“It’s not a rule. But I’m serious. I know that Daryl has been a terrible person. It’s not always his fault, though.” I look up at him.
“Yes. You explained this to me before—he had a difficult childhood, so now he’s allowed to be an asshole to his sister,” Grayson says sarcastically.
I roll my eyes but can’t help giving him a small smile. “It’s not that. I know there’s no excuse for his behavior, and I’m glad I don’t have to worry about him hurting me anymore. But…Daryl used to be so kind to me when we were children. After our mom left us, he would go hungry to make sure I had enough to eat.”
Grayson’s arms tighten around me, and I lay my head on his shoulder. “It all changed as he grew older. He started doing drugs and getting involved with a bad crowd. But no one cared enough to investigate further or offer him any help. His friends introduced him to gambling, and he’s only gotten worse since. He just…he needs help and I’m the only one who can help him.”
“Well, if he’s truly addicted to drugs and gambling, then he needs professional help,” Grayson says. “And you’re wrong. You’re not the only one who can help him. I can help him too. Do you know if he would agree to go to rehab? I’ll pay the bills—I’ve found a good program that comes highly recommended.” He shows me the website that he already has up on his computer.
This is what he came in here to do? Try to find ways to help my brother? I’m touched by Grayson’s generosity and thoughtfulness. I can’t find the words to express how grateful I am.
“I’ll talk to him, I’ll convince him. Thank you so much,” I say, my voice thick with emotion as I kiss him squarely on the lips.
“Someone has to be there when you talk to him, though,” Grayson warns. “I won’t let you face him alone.”
Tears of gratitude roll down my cheeks in torrents. Why did I ever doubt his feelings for me?
“What is it? Did I do something wrong?” he asks in panic.
“Nothing’s wrong—they’re happy tears,” I assure him, smiling at his visible show of relief.
“I only want to see happy tears from now on. No more sadness,” he insists sternly.
I smile up at him, my heart feeling so much lighter now. “Thank you for taking such good care of me.”
His eyes meet mine. “Sophia, if you’ll let me, I want to take care of you forever. Say you’ll be mine.”
In his arms, I stare deeply into his midnight eyes, reveling in the intensity of my emotions for him. “I’m all yours, forever,” I insist. I press my lips to his and he returns my passionate kiss, our bodies pressing closer together.
“I love you,” I declare softly.
“I love you too, baby,” he murmurs against my lips before giving me a deep, searing kiss and tasting me in a slow, unhurried movement.
His passion and hunger explodes across my senses, and I whimper, my hands trailing over his sculpted body. His answering groan vibrates through me, tightening my nipples and sending goose bumps racing across my skin.
He slides his hand between my thighs, his fingers going straight to my wet and swollen clit. My core spasms at the soft strokes of his fingers. I tremble in his arms, moaning deeply and clutching his huge biceps.
He lets go of my lips and arches his brows. “Hmm, we’ll have to do something about that.”
I blush under his hooded stare and sensual smirk. He pushes his computer to the side, clearing a space. Then he gently lifts me off his lap and places me on the desk. Anticipation grows in my gut as he closes the space between us.
I rest on my elbows as he grips my thighs and parts them as wide as possible, exposing my drenched sex. My breath quickens at his show of dominance, and my mind is hazy with desire.
Without warning, he ducks down and gives the sensitive bud an eager flick of his tongue, then closes his mouth over it and sucks. I cry out, moaning and angling my hips, offering myself to him.
“ Grayson ,” I whimper.
I dig my nails into his scalp, my hips rising to his torturous ministrations and twisting in sexual frustration when he takes his mouth away, just as I get to the edge. I’m gasping for breath, my head tilted back and my eyes closed. I hear the sound of his belt unbuckling and let out a moan when he suddenly eases himself inside me.
I breathe out slowly, my slick walls gripping him tightly. He leans down to meet me, invading my mouth with his tongue as my hips arch to allow him deeper inside me. He begins to thrust, hitting places inside me where no one has been before, stretching me and filling me to the fullest.
His hand slides down between our bodies to move against my clit, and I buck hard at the dual sensation—his cock sliding in and out, and his skilled fingers wreaking havoc on my clit. My breath comes in ragged pants as he keeps up the rhythm, and I scream as the tension inside me shatters. I come with a shaky sigh, my inner muscles clenching around his pumping length. He keeps his rhythm steady, trying to make the pleasure last, growling as he gives into his own pleasure and comes inside me, raining kisses on my lips, my neck, and my trembling breasts.
As the quaking inside me slowly fades, he whispers words of praise and love into my ear, and I know that I’m exactly where I belong.