12. Ellie
12
ELLIE
I’m in bed, and Gray has waited on me hand and foot. I’m wrapped around my new pillow, and there is a steaming mug of tea on the nightstand. Gray is sitting on the chair across the room far away from me.
“What are you thinking about?”
He’s leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, and he’s worried about me. There’s no other way to say it. Instead of saying want I want to say, which is What the hell are you doing all the way across the room? I say something else that’s been weighing on my mind. “I’m a weenie.”
His forehead creases. “A weenie? Why would you even say that?”
I shrug. I hate feeling this way, and quite honestly, I’ve always thought of myself as some sort of badass or something. Obviously not, though, because I was freaked out. “Because during everything—I mean, the guys had guns pointed at us, and of course, I was freaking out. Not Tara, though. She was completely calm and cool about the whole thing. Literally, she was trying to keep me calm. She smiled, Gray, and said everything was going to be fine. She even gave up her wedding ring and told the guy she’d be getting it back.” I slap my hand over my mouth and sit straight up in the bed. “Oh my God, my wedding ring.”
Gray stands up and moves closer to me but sits on the end of the bed. He grabs on to my foot that’s under the cover and rubs it. “It’s fine. You’ll get it back.”
“Are you sure?” I ask him.
He nods. “I’m sure, and also, you’re not a weanie. By any chance did Tara tell you about her house fire?”
I shake my head side to side. Oh my God, I probably talked about myself the whole time. “No, she didn’t mention it. Did her house catch fire?”
He nods but has a big smile on his face. “Yeah, but it was a while back. It’s been rebuilt now, but let me tell you, after that experience, it’s no wonder she handled everything like she did tonight. Tonight was probably a walk in the park compared to that.”
I wrap my arms around the pillow and hug it tightly. It’s nothing compared to being in Gray’s arms, but for some reason, he’s keeping his distance. “What happened with Tara and her house?”
“She and Jason live up on the mountain. They were dating then, and one of her ex-boyfriends was not happy that she had moved on. Anyway, he lit the mountain on fire while Tara was in her house. She was completely surrounded by flames.”
My stomach drops. “Oh my God, what happened?”
“We all went up on the mountain to put the flames out. Jason flew in a helicopter and saved her from her roof.”
My mouth drops. “Are you kidding me?”
He laughs. “No, I’m not kidding. I swear it was like something you’d see in the movies. But see, that’s probably why she was so calm.”
I nod my head. “She did mention that the Guardians would be showing up.”
His hand is firm on my ankle. “Honey, any time you need me, I’m going to come for you. I promise you that.”
I open my mouth and close it quickly.
“What is it? Say it.”
I shake my head. “Nothing, it’s nothing.”
His hand runs up my shin. “Tell me, Ellie. Come on, you can tell me anything.”
I jut my chin at him. “Okay. Why are you down there? Why are you trying to keep your distance from me?”
His hand stills. “Because after everything you went through tonight—”
I don’t let him finish. “After everything I’ve been through tonight, I want to be held.”
He stands up instantly. He removes his shoes and his cut, draping it over the chair in the corner of the room. He walks toward the bed. “Which side do you want?”
I look up him. I have a feeling the only way I’m going to get what I want is to ask for it. “Whichever side you’re on.”
He stops and gazes down at me.
“Gray?” I ask him, sort of freaked out. He looks almost scared, and I don’t understand why. “I mean, if you don’t want to or you don’t want me, now’s a pretty good time to tell me.”
He walks toward me and pulls the pillow from my arms and tosses it onto the floor. He lifts the covers and is about to get into the bed when I say to him, “You’re not going to sleep in your jeans, are you?”
He shakes his head side to side. He undoes his belt, then his jeans. I watch as he drops his pants and steps out of them. He slides off his socks and then his shirt. Gray is standing in front of me in only a pair of black boxer briefs. I knew he was handsome, but I wasn’t expecting the six-pack. “Wow!” I say and then feel my cheeks heat.
He gives me a devastating smile before he pulls up the cover and slides into the bed next to me. I curl into him, putting my head on his chest and throwing my leg over his waist.
He groans, and it’s sexy the way the noise comes from deep within his chest. “Are you trying to kill me here?”
I run my hand across his abdomen and then up his chest, circling my finger around his taut nipple. He grabs on to my hand, holding it still. “Ellie, honey, I only have so much restraint.”
I lift my head and look at him. “Gray, I don’t want you to have restraint. Not with me.”
He’s shaking his head. “Honey, there’s no doubt I want you, but...”
He stops, and I lift off his chest to look at him. “But what?”
When he doesn’t answer, I pull back from him. His face is filled with pity. “What? Is it because I’m pregnant... I didn’t think...”
I scoot to the other side of the bed, and he grabs my arm. “Get back over here, Ellie.”
I stop, but I don’t move any closer. “I don’t want your pity or… or... whatever this is.”
When I don’t budge any closer, he moves to the middle of the bed, pushes me onto my back, and hovers over me. “You’re sexy, Ellie. Even sexier with your little rounded belly. I don’t care that you’re pregnant. I just think you’ve been through so much tonight that you don’t need me throwing myself at you.”
I blink up at him, wondering if he’s sincere. “You think I’m sexy?”
His smile is instant. “Sexy as fuck. All I’ve thought about is being with you, but I’m not in any rush, Ellie. I can wait until you’re ready and it feels right for you.”
I put my arms up around his neck. “I’m ready.”
I pull him down until he’s flush against my body. The weight of him feels so good.
He kisses me, and I tilt my head to deepen the kiss. His lips are firm against mine. I whimper at the possession he has over me as he lifts up.
My hands tighten on his back, and I pull my lips from his. “Where are you going?”
He shakes his head, his breath fanning across my cheek. “Nowhere. I don’t want to squash you or the baby.”
I widen my legs so he can fit between them. “You won’t squash us. I like the feel of your body on mine.”
He looks down at the V of my shirt. “You have too many clothes on.”
“Take them off me then.”
He moves to the side and sits on his knees. He pulls at the hem of my shirt and lifts it up my body. I raise up so he can pull it over my head and arms.
When I lie back on the bed, I’m in only my panties.
His eyes are glued to my breasts. My nipples harden under his gaze, and I clench my hands into the bed covers.