Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
GRACIE
“Jesus, Gracie,” my stalker says, an air of disappointment in his tone and it does something sour to my gut.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“I know you, love,” he murmurs and takes a step towards me, still leaving a small gap between us.
“I know that you love your family, but you hate the pressure that comes with being an Aston. I know you used to wish you grew up with your aunt and her family because even though they have a different kind of difficult life, it would have been easier than what you had to deal with, being Cole’s shadow and the youngest Aston.
I know that your friends drive you insane, but you wouldn’t change them for the world.
” Another small step forward. “I know that you think your business degree is boring as hell and you’d rather not work at your father’s company one day, but you’re doing it because you think it’s what expected of you even though you’d rather do literally anything else.
“I know that you hate mornings and need your coffee to be so sweet it belongs on a dessert menu. I know that you’d rather chill at home watching mindless TV as you sketch than doing…
well, anything, really.” He tilts his head to the side and stares deep into my eyes.
I’m sure my emotions must be written all over my face at this point, but he doesn’t mention it as he continues.
“I know that you’d love nothing more than to get your art degree, but you’re too scared to bring it up with your parents because you’re worried about disappointing them, just like you hate disappointing anyone.
I know that you overthink every little thing, so it makes it easier to go along with everyone else’s wants and ideals because you’re scared of rejection. ”
What the fuck?
I can barely breathe as he stands and lists off things about me that barely anyone knows. Fuck, some of those things I’ve never told a soul.
He shouldn’t know this shit about me, and yet he does.
He knows far too much for this to have just started that night at the club.
He’s said before that I’ve always been his, but I thought that it was just a figure of speech, something he said to drive home the point of me belonging to him.
Clearly, I was wrong. This has been going on for far longer than I thought it had.
Another step towards me and he’s in my space, crowding me, surrounding me and making me forget how to breathe.
“I know that you have a darkness in you, something that only I can see. I know you have this deep seated need to worry over every little thing and you overanalyze every moment of your life but when you’re with me, you’re able to let go.
With me, you’re able to just be without your usual thoughts plaguing you.
I know that you crave what I do to you, what I bring out in you.
I know you love our little stolen moments as much as I do. ”
I chuckle, though it comes out as more of a strangled croak and stare up at him. “You know all of this about me… and yet, I don’t know a single thing about you.”
“Oh, love,” he whispers, something akin to sorrow in his tone that makes no sense in this moment. “You know that I belong to you, which is more than I can say for anyone else who knows me.”
He fingers graze my cheek before slowly trailing down my neck. “You know that no one can make me feel the way you do. You know that my life begins and ends with you.” His hands slide from my neck and down to my waist before and crouches by my feet.
He removes my shoes and my leggings from one leg and I let him, moving woodenly as he directs my limbs like I’m a puppet and he’s my master. He stands and hauls me into his arms until my legs are wrapped around his waist and my hands are holding his shoulders in a death grip.
He grips my ass and grinds himself against me.
I don’t bother to hide my whimper, knowing that he’s already in far too deep with me to let go of me now.
Before, it was a matter of hoping he’d give up on me, but this conversation has been…
enlightening, and I know that it’s going to take more than hiding my noises from him and my attempt at avoidance for him to let go.
“You want to know who I am? You want me to tell you about myself? Fine… here’s some things you should know about me.
I don’t care that you hide your true feelings for me, because I know they’re there.
” He backs us against the tree once more.
“I’ve never felt the way I do you about anyone else.
I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.
You say that you don’t know me, but if that’s the case then not a single soul does either.
When I’m with other people, I hide who I really am, but not with you.
With you, I’ve always been wholly and unapologetically myself.
That night at the club wasn’t a ruse like you no doubt think it was, that was just another side of me.
You bring out both the best and worst in me, and one day, both of those sides will merge once you find out who I am but today is not that day.
“Just because you don’t know my name doesn’t mean that you don’t know me, love.”
He reaches down and lines himself up with my entrance and this time, I don’t bother fighting him. I don’t try to hide the want in my eyes or my sigh of pleasure as he enters me. There’s no point, he already knows how much I want him and denying it would be pointless.
“No one else sets my body on fire the way you do,” he whispers against my ear as he slowly fucks into me, sending a shiver racing down my spine.
“I hide this part of myself from everyone in my life. I don’t hide from you because I know I don’t have to.
I know I haven’t told you who I really am yet, but there’s a reason for that.
You’ll find out eventually, but now isn’t the time.
You’re not ready yet, and you should also know that I’m a patient man.
I don’t care how long I have to wait for you to come to terms with us, because I know that one day you will, and I already know that day will be the best day of my life. ”
He starts fucking me faster, and I choke on a breath as I go to speak. “You’re so sure of yourself.”
He chuckles low and deep, the sound so fucking sexy that it has my need ratcheting up.
“Not sure of myself. Sure of us and what we have. I believe in us, love. Always,” he says, and I’m beginning to wonder if he really is delusional and is seeing things that aren’t there, because in what world could the two of us start a relationship and have it work out? He’s my stalker, for fuck’s sake.
With that, he seems to be done with talking because he wraps one hand around my hair and pulls my head back before burying his masked covered face in my neck and doubling his efforts to fuck me into the tree.
We’re a mess of need and want as we both get closer and closer to the edge, the sounds of my moans and whimpers drowned out by the sounds of his grunts and groans until we’re somehow moving as one, both filled with nothing else but the need to make each other come.
God, I wish I could see his face. See the way his mouth parts as he pants, see the way his jaw clenches as he fights for control.
I wish I could kiss him, and that’s the most terrifying thought I’ve ever had, because kissing him would lead to nothing but danger.
“Shit, Gracie,” he rasps, his voice sounding even more distorted than usual and my eyes roll as his dick hits right where I need it.
He lets go of my hair and reaches down to press his thumb to my clit.
“I need you to come for me, babe.” He makes slow circles with his thumb, the pressure just right and exactly what I need to get me there.
“I need to feel it, love. Are you gonna be good and give me what I need?”
I whimper, my head falling forward now that his hand’s not in my hair to support me and rest my forehead against his. The mask is cool against my skin, and I feel his breaths come through as he breathes heavily.
The knowledge that he’s just as close as I am right now only turns me on more.
“So good,” I whisper. “Feels so good.”
“Yeah, it does,” he groans. “Fuck, you’re so tight around me.”
He pinches my clit between his thumb and forefinger and somehow times it just right that his dick hits my G-spot at the same time, making me cry out as my orgasm crashes into me.
My vision goes white, a hazy feeling taking over me as euphoria thrums in my veins and I come so hard I almost pass out. I’m vaguely aware of my stalker cursing, his hips stuttering before he tenses and groans as he comes right alongside me.
I blink a few times as I slowly come back to the present. He’s panting, his entire body flush with mine and his head buried in my neck. I can almost imagine us being like this but in a fantasy version where the mask is removed and he places kisses up my neck before bringing his mouth to mine.
A boulder forms in my gut at the image. We won’t have that, because this is too freaking wrong for anything to ever come from it.
He sighs and pulls back to look at me.
“You’re amazing, love,” he whispers before pulling out of me and setting me down on my feet.
As soon as he pulls his dick free, a cold feeling washes over me as I realize how fucking stupid we’ve both been.
Not once did I realize he didn’t stop to put a condom on.
Even when he pulled out of me and we were standing there exposed just minutes ago, I didn’t think about it, and it’s not until now I have his cum literally dripping out of me, that reality kicks in.
“We didn’t use a condom,” I gasp, horror taking over me.
He shrugs casually before tucking himself away. “I know.”
I know.
Is he fucking serious right now?
He knew, and he just didn’t care.
Did he do this on purpose?
I’m on the pill, so I’m protected from pregnancy, but he didn’t know that.
And who knows how many people he’s been with. Is he clean? Or do I need to get tested? I mean… I’ll be getting tested regardless because I’m not taking that risk, but still!
“You knew?” I basically shriek as I pull up my leggings and try to make myself somewhat presentable.
“Is this some sort of game to you? What is it this time, trying to knock me up and trap me? You know, I knew you were insane, but I thought that maybe you cared about me on some level. Clearly, you don’t give a fuck what you do or who you hurt so long as it goes along with your plans. ”
He sighs and it’s a long, suffering sound before he takes a few steps backwards.
“You’re on the pill and we’re both clean.
I’d never risk you or put you in danger.
Despite what you seem to think, I have and will always put your needs above mine and anyone else’s, but if it makes you feel better to rage out at me then do it. I’m here for whatever you need.”
I can’t even process what he’s saying right now. The sun’s starting to set and my family will be beginning to wonder where I am, so I force myself to take a step, then another. He stays put, and I chance one last glance in his direction before I run.