Chapter 13
The next afternoon, Chelsea found herself sitting on her bed and staring at her phone, trying to come up with the words to say. It was vital that she lay it all out to him.
Chelsea had felt that she needed to be fair to herself and fair to Grady and make her decision within the next day or two. She’d agonized over it, her fears battling her feelings for him.
She didn’t call her sisters because this felt too personal, too private.
They hadn’t known about her battles with accepting George’s alcoholism—she’d hidden it from them, and in some ways she felt like a failure.
Deep down, she knew none of it was her fault, but a part of her thought that if she had been a different woman, maybe he would have stopped drinking.
Should she have tried harder to get him to go to AA meetings?
Her way of dealing with it had been to stand by his side quietly and not fight him over it. She had a non-confrontational personality, and she hadn’t known what to do. She hadn’t wanted her brothers and sisters to know about George’s alcoholism and her inability to handle the problem.
After he’d passed, she’d promised herself she would never put herself in that position again.
And here she was.
She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, concentrating on each inhale and exhale. In her heart, she knew she had made the right decision, but it hadn’t been easy.
One more deep breath, and she opened her eyes. She had taken everything into account, and she knew she was making the right decision.
It was Grady’s last day of his vacation, so she was pretty sure he’d be home. She entered his number and brought her phone to her ear.
He answered on the first ring, his voice soft, hesitant. “Hi, Chelsea.”
“I made my decision.” Her heart beat faster. “I’ve done nothing but think about us since last night. I believe it comes down to trust.”
He said nothing, the link heavy with him knowing their fate as a couple balanced on one word.
“I trust you, Grady.” The words came out full and strong. “You have given me your word, and I trust you.”
“Thank you, Chelsea.” His voice sounded full of emotion. “I will never let you down.”
She felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “If you’re free, why don’t you pick something up for dinner, and I’ll get to that dessert I planned for last night?”
He had a smile in his voice. “I’ll be there in an hour.”
Grady arrived with two takeout bags from Giovanni’s, the restaurant where they’d had their first date. He smiled. “Special delivery.”
She let him in, and as the door closed behind him, he set the bags on the tile floor. He brought her into his arms and held her close in a long hug. She felt like she could melt into him and was glad he didn’t let her go until a long moment passed.
When they parted, he kissed her softly, then picked up the bags and carried them to the kitchen.
As he gathered everything they needed for dinner, she put a square, covered casserole container into the oven to bake while they ate.
They sat close at the table, and she placed her hand over his before they started eating. “I feel I need to explain what I had to consider when it came to your addiction.”
He put his other hand over hers. “I do want to know.”
Chelsea paused a moment. “The biggest difference between George’s addiction and yours is that you have conquered it for eight years. You’ve sought help, and you’ve explained how you made your decision and how important it is to stay sober.”
He just focused on her and didn’t say anything.
She continued. “George didn’t think he needed help. He didn’t even try to stop drinking.” She shook her head. “I felt like a failure as a wife because I couldn’t help him. He didn’t even want my help. So, I just lived with it. When he died, I said never again.”
Grady squeezed her hand and waited for her to finish.
“Then you come along.” She gave him a soft smile. “My heart tells me that you’re different in every way. I believe in you.”
“Thank you.” He held her gaze. “I will never betray your trust.”
“Why don’t we dig in?” Her heart felt brighter. “But first you have to give me back my hand.”
He grinned, released her hand, and picked up his fork. “I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
Dinner wasn’t the least bit awkward like she’d been afraid it might be. They talked and enjoyed the Italian food, continuing their week-long round of dating and activities as if there hadn’t been the intense break between them.
She left the dining table when the timer went off for the dessert, brought it out of the oven, and let it sit on a trivet to cool.
When they finished eating, they cleaned the table and went into the kitchen.
“That smells amazing.” He nodded toward the casserole dish. “What is it?”
She gave him an impish look. “It’s a dessert from an old family recipe that you’ll never get out of me.”
He grinned and tugged a lock of her hair. “Wanna bet?”
“Yep.” She lightly smacked his hand with hers and smiled, then she headed for the oven.
She took one of the Santa potholders she’d purchased on Friday at the Christmas festival and used it to take the lid off the dish. “It’s white chocolate bread pudding.”
She spooned it into two dishes. She drizzled white chocolate sauce over the crispy top.
As soon as they were sitting, Grady dug in. He immediately gave an orgasmic groan. “Oh, God, this is incredible. I am so getting this recipe from you.”
She shook her head. “Never.”
They chatted comfortably while they had the bread pudding. After dessert, they cleaned the dishes and put them away. Then they put on their jackets and went for a walk. The evening was chilly, with the sky clear and stars sparkling overhead. A dog barked in the distance, and a cat yowled.
They enjoyed the Christmas lights and decorations as they walked for a good half hour before returning to the house.
“What movie would you like to watch?” She looked for the remote as they stood in front of the TV. “I think there are a couple of new movies out that we haven’t watched yet.”
He caught her off guard by turning her so that she was now in his embrace. He drew her close, so their bodies touched from her breasts to her thighs. Her body heated up, and her nipples grew taut against his hard chest.
His kiss was as warm and delicious as expensive wine as it traveled over her tongue and down to her belly. She gave a soft moan into his mouth, a sigh of pleasure that skimmed her flesh. She was on fire, and that fire would consume them both.
He trailed his fingers down her sides to the waistband of her skirt, his touch causing her to shiver and her breasts to ache.
The most intense sensations gripped her. She needed him, wanted him.
Grady’s voice came out low and husky. “I need to go home.”
She met his gaze. “Why?”
He focused intently on her, pain in his gaze. “I want you too badly right now, and—”
Chelsea cut him off. “Sit down.” She grasped Grady’s hand and led him to the overstuffed couch. He sat in the middle, holding both of her hands as she stood over him. She put one knee on the cushion and slid down, straddling his hips.
He blew out his breath as she scooted up so her heated center was over the hard ridge behind his jeans. He rubbed his palms up and down her upper arms. “You do know that I may not be able to let you go. Abort now if you have any second thoughts.”
“Danger, Will Robinson.” She gave him a sensual smile before she lowered her mouth to his and kissed him. He groaned, and she braced her palms on his shoulders as she rocked on his lap.
Her heart thrummed, and she grasped his hands and moved them to her breasts. His heated palms and the way he brushed his thumbs over her nipples caused her to gasp as the most amazing sensations made her feel more alive than she could remember feeling since she’d competed on ice.
Alive and free.
A gasp escaped her, and she caught her breath. She’d never been so sensitive to touch before. She thrust her breasts forward and tilted her head back as she rocked in his lap.
Dear God. He made her crazy with his touch, his mouth, his scent.
She grasped the plunging neckline of her blouse and pulled it wide before she tugged her lacy pink bra down and beneath her breasts so that they jutted out, large and free.
He caught one of her nipples in his mouth and lightly sucked.
The exquisite warmth and flicks of his tongue caused her to moan and squirm on his lap.
She needed him so badly that she didn’t think she could wait any longer.
She was tempted to take him now. All she would need to do was free his erection, pull aside her panties, and slide him inside her.
“You’re so responsive to me.” His murmured words had an edge to them. “It’s like you were made for me.”
“Yes…” She hissed the word as she moved her hips forward and back, rubbing herself against him, trying to assuage the need within.
He touched and sucked each of her nipples as she made small cries and whimpers that she couldn’t hold back.
Grady didn’t know what this woman was doing to him. She had taken control of him from the moment he saw her. Something about her smile, her laugh, her presence, her heart, her soul—he couldn’t get enough of her, and he needed more.
“I need more of you.” She echoed his thoughts as she wriggled out of his hold and slid down his legs until she was on her knees between his thighs.
He hissed in a breath as she wrangled the buckle on his belt and unbuttoned his jeans. She worked it easily and had the belt off and jeans unbuttoned in moments. She pulled down his boxer briefs just enough to free his cock.
Damn.
She slid him inside her mouth and sighed with pleasure.
“Chelsea.” He buried his fingers in her thick hair and groaned as she licked and sucked him.
He grew lightheaded as she teased and tantalized him with her tongue and gentle suction that caused him to groan even more. He moved his hips as he gripped her hair in his fists. Her hot, wet mouth brought him so close to climax that he could barely hold back.