GRANT
SEVENTY-EIGHT
Amelia moves from the table to the floor with the grace of a goddess. I can’t help but watch her, each step majestic as she shows off the curves and dips of her body. She stops when she’s in front of me, and I grab her chin. I kiss her, and she laughs against my mouth in the sweetest way.
“Do you want a dish towel?” I ask, and she blinks. “For your knees? The floor is hard.”
“Thank you for being so considerate, honey, but I’ll be okay.” She kisses my cheek then my neck. Her mouth moves south, her hands trailing from my chest to my stomach as she slowly lowers herself to the floor. When she does, she looks up at me. “I like doing this for you.”
I really fucking like it too. I like the way she folds her palm around my shaft and holds the base. I like when she covers my head with her mouth, wetting the length. I like when she starts to move, her head bobbing in the same rhythm as her hand.
Lia hollows out her cheeks and sits back on her knees to give herself the perfect angle. It lets her get deep, lets me work into her mouth until I hit the back of her throat, and when I do, I rest my hand on her head.
“Squeeze my thigh if I get too rough,” I tell her, but all she does is put a palm on my ass to urge me deeper into her mouth.
And I give in to it.
To how warm she feels around me, to her hand as she pumps me up and down. To how she tilts her head and drags her tongue up my cock from root to tip, swirling over the head with a low hum that sends a volt of electricity through my blood.
I yank on her hair, popping me out of her mouth. Amelia smiles up at me, a drop of drool on her cheek and her pupils wide with determination. I swipe my thumb over the saliva before sucking my finger dry, wanting to taste her while she does this for me.
“Baby,” I croak. My thoughts turn fuzzy.
I widen my stance and rest my palm on the back of her head, needing stability to keep myself from toppling over.
Liquid heat courses through me when she grips me harder, tighter with her hand, and I really want to see her swallow my cum.
“I love your mouth. Your fingers. Your tongue.”
I love you, my brain murmurs again, more persistent this time.
Shouting it out when she keeps her mouth on my cock but moves her hands to my balls seems really fucking inappropriate, but then Lia does something with her thumb and I—
I fucking whimper and jerk my hips so aggressively, she makes a gagging sound.
“Sorry,” I sputter. “That was—I like it when you… I didn’t mean to—”
“You can lose control with me, Grant.” She kisses my hip. Swirls her tongue over my head again and almost makes me start to pant. “It’s my birthday, and I want you to let go.”
“If you insist,” I mumble, voice thick with anticipation. “Anything for the birthday girl.”
I don’t let myself think after that, slipping into the sensation of mind-numbing bliss only Lia can bring me. Everything is so fucking good—it always is with her—and I welcome each swipe of her tongue while I fuck her mouth.
I cup her cheek and hook my thumb under her chin. I need to touch her. I have to touch her, and I swear to every fucking god that might be above that when she licks my balls, I nearly explode on the spot.
“Fuck. Lia. Baby. I’m going to—where should I—”
“Here is fine,” she says, all sweet and syrupy and so goddamn perfect when she taps her lips.
Her mouth closes around me again, and I know this is where I meet my end.
There’s no chance I last any longer, so I don’t bother to try.
I close my eyes. I drop my head back with a long groan, the orgasm racking my body in a fit of heaving breaths.
I keep my hand on her cheek as she sucks me through it, and when I’m entirely empty, every goddamn drop of my release expelled from my body, I shudder in relief.
Best orgasm of my fucking life.
I crack open an eye. I look at Lia and her red cheeks and absolutely messy hair, and my heart swells three sizes in my chest.
I love you, I think again.
“Open up,” I say instead as she slides her mouth from the base of my cock to the head.
She stays there for a second before releasing me from her hold.
I whine at the loss of contact, at the cold air compared to her sweet, hot mouth, and pull down on her lower lip.
Her mouth parts, and I see my cum on her tongue.
It’s the hottest thing of my life. “Swallow,” I tell her, the husk of a whisper.
I need a second to regain control, but then her throat bobs. She licks her lips, opens her mouth, and shows me there’s nothing left. I’m already ready to go again.
“All gone,” she muses. “And it was so good.”
I have no coordination, not an ounce of strength left, but I still sweep her off her feet. I carry her in my arm, kissing her like my life depends on it. I taste the salty aftermath of my release when her tongue brushes against mine, and I moan.
“You’re so perfect. That was… you’re out of this world.
Feels like I need to be saying thank you.
” I bury my face in her hair and open the door to the bedroom with my knee.
I head straight for the bathroom and set her on the vanity.
“You rearrange my brain cells whenever I’m with you, baby. You’re in my fucking DNA.”
“I never really cared about my birthday before.” Lia brushes a piece of hair out of my face with a smile. “But this has been the best one ever because I get to spend it with you.”
“C’mon. Let me wash your hair. I’ll clean up the mess in the kitchen, make some coffee, and we’ll figure out food.” I put my hand on her chest, right over her heart. I wonder if she knows how fast mine races whenever she’s around. “Gotta keep up that best one ever title.”
She laughs then shrieks when I haul her into the shower under freezing water that takes a minute to warm up. I kiss her again, and I decide if I get to spend every August 27th like this with her, I’d be the luckiest goddamn man in the world.
“Thank goodness for caffeine.” Lia drapes a blanket over her shoulders and holds her coffee mug tight in her hands. “You rocked my world, Everett.”
“Glad to know I have other strengths besides making pancakes. At least the frozen waffles came in handy.” I smile and pass her the syrup. “What do you want to do today?”
“I’m going to need a nap to start.” She yawns then cuts her waffle into tiny pieces. “After that, maybe we could go to the farmers’ market? I’m fine with having a relaxed day before our schedules pick up soon.”
“There’s nothing else you want to do?”
“There’s something I want to do, but it’s not possible.”
“Don’t doubt my determination. What is it?”
“I wish we could skate together,” she says, and I reach for her hand across the table. “Skating is my favorite thing in the world, and it sucks that we can’t go to one of our rinks and spend time together there. It would be too suspicious.”
“That would be risky.” I sigh and rub my thumb over her knuckles. “I’d say I could wear my fake facial hair, but even that might be obvious.”
“It’s fine. Just a silly fantasy.”
Amelia offers me a smile I know is forced. Her nose doesn’t scrunch in the way it does when she’s really happy. Her eyes don’t crinkle in the corners, and my heart sinks to my stomach.
I don’t like seeing her disappointed.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur. “I would’ve liked that. I would’ve liked it more when you kicked my ass in whatever drills we would’ve run.”
“At least I get to spend today with you,” she says.
“And with gifts.” I stand and wash my hands before heading to the closet in the hallway. I grab the presents I’ve been hiding and bring them to her, setting them on the table. “For my favorite girl.”
“I don’t need any gifts! In fact, I specifically said no presents.” She bites her bottom lip to stop a real smile from breaking free. “You spoil me.”
“They aren’t big, so don’t worry.”
“Which one should I open first?”
I tap the flat package. “This one.”
Lia peels back the wrapping paper and gasps when she pulls out a Dashboard Confessional record.
“How cool! My dad used to have a record player, and I’d buy vinyls with my babysitting money.” She traces the title, taking her time to touch each letter. “I always wanted a Dashboard one.”
“Now you have it. The record player will be your Christmas present. Surprise.” I chuckle. “I’m ruining it for you ahead of time.”
“Thank you, honey.” She grins and carefully sets the record down. “This one isn’t as big.”
“It’s something silly to keep with tradition,” I say, watching her rip the paper and open the next package. “The matchsticks are in the shape of the Stanley Cup. Cheesy, I know, and not intended to bring up an old wound. It’s more as motivation for next season, and I thought you might—”
“I love you,” Amelia blurts, and I freeze.
“I’m sorry. The kitchen table isn’t the most romantic place in the world, but I can’t go another minute without saying it.
I-I love you, Grant.” She looks down at the matchsticks, cradling them in a delicate hold.
“I love you so much. God.” Her laugh is stilted.
“I’ve never said that before. I probably did it all wrong and—”
I shove back in my chair and move around the table, not stopping until I’m between her legs. When I am, I sink to the ground, reaching up to cup her face with both hands.
“I love you too,” I whisper. My heart thumps to an erratic beat in my chest. My palms start to sweat.
“I love you so fucking much, Lia. A part of me has always loved you from the very first night we met, and every minute after. I love everything about you—your determination. Your tenacity. The softer side I get to see when no one else is around.” I stroke her cheek.
I smile at the pink that floods her face and the tear that clings to her eyelash.
“I love every part of you, and I’m going to keep loving every part of you for as long as you’ll let me. ”
“You love me too?” Her bottom lip quivers. “Are you sure?”
“Do you want to know my secret of the day, baby?”
“No. Yes.” She sniffs and wipes her eyes. “I’m scared.”
“I always thought I was behind when it came to sex and relationships. My teammates experienced all these milestones I never had, and I wondered if I was doing things wrong. But then I went to a restaurant in Denver. I saw a beautiful blonde going toe-to-toe with a shitty date. She ordered a slice of key lime pie, and I fell in love. It all made sense. Nothing ever worked out for me because I was waiting for you.” I smile when her shoulders shake with a silent sob.
“You were put into my life for a reason, Lia. Eight billion people on this planet, and I happened to be at the right place, at the right time, so I could meet you.”
“I love you,” Amelia says again. There’s more conviction this time, proof that she’s sure.
“I fought my feelings for so long, Grant. I didn’t want it to happen.
I didn’t think it was allowed to happen.
Even now I’m terrified by what I feel for you, but the best things in my life have always been the opportunities that scared me the most. You’re the only person I want to be scared with, and I’m so ready to stop running. ”
“Take a load off.” I push up to my knees and cup her face. “Stay. Let me be the one to love you the way you deserve.”
“What if I get hurt?”
“Not going to happen on my watch.”
“What if loving you hurts the most?”
“I’ll be gentle with your heart, Lia. I’ll protect it and guard it, and I’ll spend every day working hard to prove you’re safe with me.”
“I know I’m safe with you,” she whispers. “I’m at my best when you’re in my life, Grant. There’s no one else I’d rather have by my side.”
We don’t say much more after that. The waffles get cold.
The syrup sticks to the table. I carry her to her room and set her on the bed.
I hold her tight, and with her chest pressed against mine, I feel it happen: The moment my soul ties itself to hers.
Tethered together, a permanent mark she’ll leave behind.
I didn’t think I could be any happier, but with her eyes twinkling bright and my heart in her hand, I know this is as good as it gets.