Grace's Broken Resilience

1. Chapter One

Chapter One

Grace

“Eli,” Grace breathed, her voice soft in his ear.

Eli stirred, though his eyes remained closed.

She traced a hand along his hip bone, grazing the skin above his waistband until the smallest smile appeared on his face. “Eli…”

He sighed, and she was fairly certain he was waiting to see just how far she’d go to wake him from his slumber.

She toyed with the hem of his shorts, her fingertips drawing a path across his stomach. He shuddered, and her thighs rubbed together as she considered every depraved thing she wanted to do to him. And luckily, they had all day to do it.

His breath hitched when she cupped him over his thin sleepwear.

“I know you’re awake, Eli.”

A tortured moan rumbled in his throat as she began to massage his balls. “I don’t know, Grace. It feels like I might still be dreaming. It’s hard to tell.”

With a soft laugh, Grace climbed on top of him, his rigid length easing the ache between her legs.

It had been less than a week since Eli had declared his participation in the Rite.

Would he grow tired of her invading his bed every evening and waking him up early every morning?

By the grin growing on his face, she was certain it hadn’t happened yet.

“You’re insatiable.”

“You know me so well.”

At last, he opened his eyes, and she melted into him. No one had ever looked at her like that. Like she was more than a title. She knew deep in her soul that if she’d been just another girl from Berland, Eli would’ve looked at her exactly the same. Like she was precious. Like she was meant for him.

As she leaned in to kiss him, he drew her close, his arms tightening around her. That groan resurfaced when she rolled her hips against him.

His lips parted, and she had no trouble sliding her tongue over his. Her hips moved faster, and she gasped when the tip of his cock brushed her clit.

“Take these off,” he said, gesturing toward her pajama shorts. She quickly removed them, as well as the matching top, and tossed them aside. When she moved to grab his shorts, he grabbed her wrists.

“Not yet.”

Eli held her hips and pulled her forward, bring her closer to the headboard until she was kneeling over his face. Her heart skipped a beat as his hungry eyes met hers. Again, he grabbed her thighs and squeezed. He held her, suspended only inches above his mouth.

“Sit,” he said, flicking his tongue out to tease her slit.

Grace’s legs trembled, but she obeyed his command and lowered until she worried she wouldn’t be able to hold herself up any longer.

Eli pressed his tongue flat against her pussy and made a swirling motion that had her whimpering. She grabbed the headboard to keep steady, but the things he was doing to her would inevitably cause her to combust.

She could feel it already—her skin turning blazing hot, her cunt dripping with arousal, her mind going hazy…

A needy moan escaped her lips as Eli plunged his tongue inside her. It was just enough to drive her mad with desire. When he hummed his approval, she squeezed her thighs against his cheeks.

“Eli, I need more.”

He pulled away just long enough to respond. “You’ll take whatever I give you, Grace.”

She couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t that long ago that Eli had seemed so reserved. She’d enjoyed teasing him, but now it seemed he’d learned a lesson or two in mixing pleasure with torture.

She ground her pussy against his face while he squeezed her ass.

Peering over her shoulder, she found his erection taut against his shorts, and she could just make out the outline of the head through the thin fabric.

If she wasn’t mistaken, that dark spot was evidence of his arousal gathered at the tip.

Another swipe of his tongue across her clit had her gripping the wooden headboard with all her might.

She looked down at him and watched as he greedily devoured her pussy.

It was a magnificent sight to behold, and the view sent her tumbling over the edge.

She let out a sigh of ecstasy and pulsed against his face. “Fuck, Eli.”

She felt him smile beneath her, though he kept licking and sucking until the last of her tremors ceased. When she tried to pull away, he gripped her tighter, still running his tongue over her sensitive clit.

Grace threaded her fingers through his messy hair and pulled his head away. “Give me a second.”

The intensity in Eli’s dark eyes had her second guessing whether he could possibly restrain himself. But he conceded and loosened his grip.

She rolled off of him and fell to her side, propping her head up on her palm. Her heart was still hammering in her chest, her limbs heavy, when Eli turned to face her and ran a teasing finger up her leg.

As her eyes traveled down his body, they caught on the large bulge in his shorts. She reached to free him, but he caught her around the wrist again.

“It’s your turn,” she said. She was aching to wrap her fingers around his cock, to please him the way he had pleased her. “You’re not going to let me touch you?”

Eli grinned. “Of course I want you to touch me. In fact, I’d prefer if you’d use me for your pleasure for the rest of your life.”

A mixture of heat and longing swelled within her as his gaze roamed over her body. She was completely enamored by the way he studied her with lust-filled eyes and spoke to her like he was content to serve her—to give her everything—rather than take from her like everyone else seemed to do.

Eli didn’t care about what he stood to gain by marrying her. He only cared about making her happy.

“You’ll let me do whatever I want?”

He looked a little wary but nodded. “Anything.”

“And if I want you to do something?”

“Just say the word.”

Grace thought for a moment of all the filthy things she’d like to do with Eli. The list was extensive. Hopefully they’d have the rest of their lives to explore each other.

She pushed up to a kneeling position, and this time, as she reached for the waistband of his shorts, he didn’t stop her. She tugged them down, pausing for him to lift his hips so she could slide them past his ass. When his cock sprung free, she inhaled sharply.

But she didn’t touch him.

“Show me how you touch yourself.”

Eli chuckled with amusement. “Yes, sweetheart.”

Grace watched as Eli moved his hand down his chest, down until he reached the base of his cock and wrapped a hand around his thickening shaft. He sucked in a breath, and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.

She tried not to squirm—this was supposed to test his self-restraint, not hers—but the sight of him pumping his cock set her skin on fire. Watching with undivided attention, she slid her hand between her thighs and began to rub circles over her clit.

Noticing her movement, Eli’s grin widened. “Does this turn you on, Grace?”

Quickening her pace, she nodded. “Show me more.”

Eli stroked himself with more intensity, adding small thrusts with his hips. His breath turned ragged and frantic as he pushed himself closer to the edge.

When he groaned and his head rolled back, Grace commanded him, “Stop.”

Eli gritted his teeth. A spark of lightning flashed in his eyes, but he dropped his hand immediately, clutching at the sheet beside him instead. “Fuck.”

Grace’s chuckle bordered on villainous.

The vein in Eli’s neck pulsed, matching the highly visible vein in his cock. “Do you enjoy torturing me?”

Grace slid her fingers down further, feeling the gathering wetness between her shaky legs. As she withdrew her hand, she grazed that protruding vein, leaving a trail of her arousal up his shaft. “Maybe just a little bit.”

Eli responded with a frustrated groan, his cock twitching at Grace’s delicate touch. “Please.”

“Please what?” she asked, brushing her fingertip over his sensitive head, painting him with her arousal.

“Stop taunting me.” The way he gritted his teeth seemed painful, and only excited her more.

“But it’s so fun.”

“Grace…”

Although she was enjoying taking her time and driving him wild, it wouldn’t be long before he snapped and flipped her on her back.

He could easily take control and she didn’t want to relinquish it.

Slowly, she inched up his body, dragging her tongue along the center of his stomach until her knees rested beside his hips.

Reaching between her legs, she found his firm cock and wasted no time guiding him inside her. They both released a sigh in unison.

Eli tried to reach for her waist, but she pushed his hands away, keeping them at his sides.

“You said I could use you.”

With a smile, Eli nodded. His eyes roamed her body—from her full red lips to her flushed chest to where his throbbing cock fit inside her.

It didn’t take long for her to adjust to his size. Leaning forward, she placed her hands on his shoulders and began to rock her hips. Faster, and with more fervor, she ground against him, chasing that explosion of ecstasy she felt building in her core.

Using him…she didn’t know why that idea excited her so much, but she’d always been taunted by wicked thoughts. Things that she could only put into action at Azalea’s, but Eli was keen to fulfill every one of her desires.

In public, she had to be the pristine, perfect heiress of Berland. But here, in private with Eli, she was free to be herself. He would never judge her.

Her pace became frantic. She could hardly feel anything aside from the ravenous hunger inside her, and when Eli groaned with satisfaction, she happily toppled over the edge with him.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she came down from her high, cheek pressed against Eli’s warm chest.

“Has your mom spoken to you?” he asked a few minutes later, stroking her hair. Ever since the moment Eli stood and declared his entrance to the Rite, Grace’s mother had been even more irritable than usual. They’d hardly spoken aside from official business matters.

“No,” she said quietly.

“I don’t know why she’s taking it out on you. I’m the one who defied her wishes.”

“Yes, but she knows I’m happy you did.” Grace smiled against his rising and falling chest. Even if her mother was angry with her, she wouldn’t change a thing. Eli was the one for her. “She’ll get over it eventually.”

“Still, I’ll never understand why she treats you the way she does.”

Grace propped herself up so she could look into Eli’s eyes. “I like it when you get all protective like this, but you don’t need to worry about me. I can handle it.”

He looked like he might argue, but he bit his tongue. Perhaps he realized that if he tried to intervene, he’d likely only make things worse.

A knock rapped against Eli’s door and they both fell silent.

“Were you expecting company this morning?” Grace whispered.

Eli shook his head. “If we both stay quiet, maybe they’ll go away.”

Grace held her breath, hoping whoever it was would move along. She’d been looking forward to spending all day tangled in the sheets with Eli. Just one day off duty—that was all she wanted.

Someone knocked again, and this time a voice rang out, sounding muffled through the door. “I know you’re in there, Eli. Stop ignoring me.”

Eli sighed. “Damn it, Ali.”

Grace reluctantly rolled off him and he rose out of bed, grabbing a pair of shorts as he headed for the door. Pulling the soft white sheets up to her chin, Grace waited patiently.

She heard the door swing open, and Eli greeted his friend. “Ali, what are you doing here?”

Ali was bursting with energy, speaking freely as she strode through the door.

“You can’t avoid me forever. I knew it. I knew it.

I told you to get your head out of your ass and go after her, but you just had to wait till the last minute to declare yourself a suitor.

So typical.” She prodded Eli in the chest, still not noticing Grace hidden under the covers.

Grace chuckled softly. When she had first met Ali, she’d wondered if Eli might still be in love with her.

How could he not be? She was beautiful, gentle, kind, poised—all the things Grace’s mother wished for in a daughter.

All the things Grace tried to be but could never live up to.

Not to mention the two of them had a very long and complex history. How could Grace ever compete with that?

Watching the two of them now, it was clear there was a strong connection between them, but he didn’t speak to Ali the way he spoke to Grace.

He certainly didn’t look at her the same either.

Maybe there would always be an unbreakable bond, but seeing them interact as mere friends eased Grace’s worries.

Ali moved further into the room, still rambling on. “You should’ve listened to me to begin with. You could’ve saved yourself—oh!”

Grace waved at Ali, who had finally spotted her in Eli’s bed.

Ali clasped a hand over her mouth, glancing back and forth between them. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Grace laughed. “It’s okay. We can’t stay cooped up forever.”

Even if she wanted to.

She gestured to the navy-blue shirt discarded on the floor. “Can you toss me that?”

Eli was quick to retrieve it and toss it in her direction. Both he and Ali turned away while Grace pulled it over her head. The button-up shirt belonged to Eli and was long enough to fall down to her upper thighs, but she kept her legs tucked beneath the blankets, just in case.

“Did you come here for a reason, Ali? Other than to yell at me?” Eli crossed his arms and looked as if he was seconds away from pushing Ali out the door so he could be left alone with Grace again.

Before she could respond, Grace chimed in, “Actually, I need to speak with you. I had planned on finding you later today, but if you’re available now, we should get together. Nik and Sam as well.”

Ali flashed a kind smile. “Sure. I’ll go grab them and meet you in the dining hall?”

“Be there soon.”

Eli walked Ali to the door and, once he closed it behind her, he turned to Grace. “What was that about?”

Grace slid out of bed and gathered her clothes. “Work arrangements,” she said, slipping on her shoes and planting a kiss on his cheek.

He stared with a bewildered look on his face. “What happened to spending all day together in bed?”

“This won’t take long. But if you want to climb back into bed, no one is stopping you.” She headed toward the door, but when she reached the handle, she turned and winked at him. “Don’t have too much fun without me.”