Chapter 9 Grace
GRACE
I’m still breathless from my orgasm as I eagerly watch Lucian strip.
His eyes never leave mine as he unbuttons his plaid shirt, letting it fall to the floor to join my clothes.
My mouth goes dry as I take in his broad chest—a thick, solid block of muscle, smattered with dark hair.
He looks even bigger with his clothes off. Huge and hulking and so freakin’ hot.
Still staring at me, he unbuckles his belt, then yanks down his jeans and boxers in one quick movement.
Then he kicks them aside, straightening up once more.
My eyes drift down his chiseled body, past the trail of hair on his navel, until I’m staring at his thick cock.
It’s as big as the rest of him—long and girthy.
Desire burns deep inside me, flooding my whole body.
It pulses between my legs, making my head spin.
I’ve wanted Lucian ever since he rescued me from the river the day we met—but I was starting to think nothing would ever happen.
After he left my room earlier, I decided I had to talk to him.
Ask him why he was holding back. So I mustered up all my courage and opened the door to find him standing there, waiting for me.
As soon as I saw him, I knew something had changed.
I could see it in his eyes—that he was done holding back.
Done ignoring the spark between us. And now we’re naked in his bedroom, Lucian easing his giant body on top of me.
Oh God, this is really happening…
He feels warm and hard against me, his muscles unyielding against my curves, pinning me to the mattress. His gray eyes look molten in the lamplight, and I suck in a breath at the intensity of his gaze.
“I’ve got you,” he says. “Hold on to me.”
I wrap my arms around his neck, letting my legs fall open as he positions himself between them. I can still smell my arousal on his beard, the raw musk mingling with his pine-fresh scent as he leans in to kiss me softly.
“You okay, sugar?” he asks as he pulls away. “You look nervous.”
I swallow. “I’m okay. It’s just…this is my first time.”
I’m worried it will put him off, but instead, he kisses my forehead and says, “Mine too.”
“Really?” I ask, struggling to hide my surprise.
“Yeah. Was never really interested in dating. Then after everything that happened, I shut myself off.” He wraps a lock of my hair around his finger, adding, “Never really cared. Didn’t feel like I was missing out or anything.
But then I met you, sugar. From the minute I saw you, I wanted you like crazy. ”
I blush at the compliment, beaming up at him. “It was the same for me, Lucian.”
He makes a noise deep in his throat, resting his forehead against mine. “Good. ‘Cause I’m gonna be your first and your only. You’re mine now, beautiful.”
His voice is a possessive growl that makes me shudder, and a moment later, I feel his cock poke against the junction of my thighs, hard as granite.
He pierces me with those stormy eyes as his length pushes inside me, squeezing my walls open around his girth.
The friction sucks the breath from my lungs.
It feels so good. So intense. When he finally bottoms out, I feel so full of him, his cock buried impossibly deep.
“Fuck, Grace, you’re so tight…” He grits out the words like they cost him effort, sweat beading on his forehead. “How does it feel, sugar?”
“Amazing.” I wriggle beneath him, getting used to the sensation. “It stings a little, but in a good way.”
Lucian nods, and I see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows hard.
His thick brows furrow in concentration, every muscle in his body tensing as he starts to rock his hips.
He fucks me with slow, deep strokes, a gentle rhythm that makes me sigh with pleasure.
I wrap my legs around him, my heels digging into his back, savoring the way our naked bodies rub together.
It feels incredible, but Lucian is moving like he’s scared to break me, and I’m desperate for more.
“You can go faster,” I tell him. “I promise I’ll be okay.”
He lets out a deep breath, his face so close to mine that his beard brushes my chin. Then he grabs my hands and pins them above my head.
“My girl,” he murmurs, his deep voice barely audible over the lashing rain outside. A shudder of delight runs through me at his possessiveness, but suddenly he’s fucking me harder, faster, and all my thoughts dissolve to nothing.
“Oh!”
Lucian’s cock smacks into me, pumping my pussy in a brutal rhythm.
Wet slapping sounds fill the room as he moves, and a deep, primal moan escapes my lips.
He’s so deep, stuffing me full of his cock again and again, brushing sensitive nerves I never knew existed.
I squeeze my eyes shut, relishing every thrust as he claims me, dominates me.
“Open your eyes, Grace.”
I do as he says. His gaze is fixed on mine as he fucks me, burning with something feral. I whimper but don’t look away, even though the intensity almost hurts.
“Fuck, you’re so beautiful,” he grunts, running his thumb over my bottom lip. “So pretty with my cock inside you.”
I shiver against him. His voice is so deep, a rumble of thunder running through my body.
“It feels so good,” I whimper, pushing against him, bucking my hips.
“Fuck, sugar, that’s it. Just like that.”
With Lucian’s encouragement, I keep going, meeting his thrusts, desperately trying to keep up with his punishing rhythm.
We grind against each other, rutting like animals, the sweaty sheets tangling beneath us.
It’s messy and desperate, our hands grabbing wildly, teeth clashing as Lucian kisses me hard.
Oh God, yes…
This is heaven.
“You want to ride me, sugar?” Lucian growls against my ear. “I’d love to see you on top of me.”
I feel a flutter of nerves in my belly, but I nod, eager to try.
Lucian slides out of me, and I instantly miss his warmth.
He rolls onto his back and I climb on top of him, resting my knees either side of his hips.
He holds his cock in position, and I shudder as I sink down onto it, tipping my head back with a sigh.
I toss my hair over my shoulders and rest my hands on Lucian’s chest for balance, feeling the thud of his heartbeat against my fingers.
“Fuck, you look amazing,” he says, trailing a hand up to my chest, his thumb brushing my sensitive nipple. “I want to see you come for me, princess.”
His praise encourages me, and I tentatively start to move. It feels different—being in control like this—and I take a moment to find my rhythm. But eventually, my body takes over. I ride Lucian’s cock hard, bouncing desperately, chasing my orgasm.
“Oh, fuck,” he groans. “That’s it, sugar. You’re doing so good.”
I bite my lip, relishing his praise, mewling as I take him deep. He grabs my ass and helps me move, pulling me up and down on his cock until I’m breathless, panting. I never knew I could feel this good. Every nerve cries out with pleasure, my toes curling, fingers digging into Lucian’s shoulders.
“That’s my girl,” he murmurs, gazing at me like he can’t believe I’m real. “Fuck, look at you…”
I can feel my orgasm blooming inside me, pressure building between my legs. With a whimper, I keep my eyes on Lucian’s rugged face, riding him desperately. “I’m close…”
“Good girl.” His hands tighten on my ass cheeks, still guiding my movements. “Keep those pretty eyes on me. I want to see you come.”
My body trembles, everything coiling tight. “Oh, Lucian…”
“That’s it, sugar. You can do it. Come hard for me.”
It doesn’t take long. My rhythm turns sloppy, hips jerking, and then the world explodes.
Pleasure rockets through me, pulsing between my legs, wave after wave crashing over me.
My vision turns white. From somewhere far away, I hear Lucian let out a strangled cry, his hot cum spurting up inside me.
Then I collapse on top of him in a sweaty heap, languid and spent.
Our breathing slowly returns to normal. Lucian’s arms wrap around my back, his hands rubbing my bare skin as I come back to myself.
My eyelids flutter open and I turn my head to look at him, my stomach flipping when I see he’s staring at me.
For a moment, we don’t speak. Instead, something passes between us, a shared understanding that there’s no going back.
All the mental barriers and defenses are gone forever.
Now there’s just us—Lucian and me—wrapped up so tight that I don’t know where his body ends and mine begins.
“You were amazing,” he says finally, his large hand cupping my cheek. “Better than amazing.”
I grin at him. “So were you. That was perfect.”
His chiseled features look softened in the lamplight, his gray hairs muted.
I gaze at him for a while longer, memorizing every inch of his face, every line and shadow.
But sleep is already threatening to drag me under.
The storm outside lulls me, the warmth of Lucian’s body making me doze.
I feel so safe in his arms. More at home than I’ve ever felt before.
“I could stay like this forever,” I mumble, barely conscious.
“Good. ‘Cause you’re mine now, beautiful.” His arms tighten around me. “I’m never letting you go.”
His words settle deep in my chest, and I fall asleep with a smile on my face, wrapped up in Lucian’s firm embrace.
When I wake up the next morning, the first thing I notice is the quiet. The rain has stopped. Bleary-eyed, I blink away sleep, rolling over to face Lucian’s side of the bed with a yawn. It’s empty. There’s a note on the nightstand, and I reach for it.
Gone to Cherry Hollow to get us some breakfast. The bakery there does great pastries. Hope you woke up hungry. See you soon, beautiful.
Lucian
I beam at the note, running my fingers over Lucian’s untidy scrawl. Then I push myself off the bed and head for the bathroom, taking a hot shower. Once I’m clean and dressed, I pad into the living room where Midnight is still curled up by the fire.
“Have you even moved since last night?” I tease her, reaching down to pet her dark fur.
She purrs in response, shifting positions before closing her eyes once more.
I decide to let her sleep, debating whether to make myself a coffee when a knock sounds on the front door.
I hover uncertainly for a second, then open it to find Mila waiting on the doorstep.
“Gracie!” she says, pulling me into a hug. “I’m so sorry about last night. We just got back from the hotel, and Holden is fixing the generator now. I feel terrible for leaving you stranded like that.”
I almost laugh. Being stranded was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. It’s what led me to Lucian’s cabin.
“You don’t need to apologize, Mila.” I hug her back, then flash her a bright smile. “I had an amazing time.”
“Really?” She rests her hands on my shoulders, inspecting me with worried eyes the same color as my own. But her worry quickly gives way to surprise. “Wow…Gracie, you’re literally glowing. What the heck did I miss?”
I grin as I launch into an explanation of everything that has happened between Lucian and me, from the moment he saved me from the river to our night together. As I talk, my sister’s eyes grow wider and wider.
“Holy crap!” she says. “Honestly, there’s just something about this mountain…must be something in the water.”
I laugh, remembering the way Holden and Mila fell for each other instantly when they met out here last month. Maybe she’s right—there really is something special about Cherry Mountain.
“Seriously, though, this is amazing!” Mila continues, grabbing my hand. “I’m so happy for you, Gracie. You deserve this. You deserve to be happy.”
“Thanks.” I squeeze her hand, my heart bursting with affection for my sister. “I love you.”
“I love you too. And don’t forget, you’ll always have a home with me and Holden if you need it.”
My smile falters, confusion taking over. “What do you mean? I’m not moving in with Lucian…he hasn’t asked me.”
“He will.”
“But—”
My reply is cut off by the sound of a truck approaching. My heart flutters when I see Lucian’s shadow in the driver’s seat, and I have to force myself to breathe.
“How do you know?” I ask my sister, my gaze still focused on the truck.
“Trust me, I’ve learned a thing or two about mountain men.” Mila gives me a knowing smile. “They’re possessive as heck. He won’t want to let you go.”
I think back to last night—to what Lucian said before we fell asleep.
“You’re mine now, beautiful. I’m never letting you go.”
The groan of the truck door opening draws me back to the present, and I feel Mila give me a quick squeeze, saying, “I’ll leave you both to it. Text me later, okay?” She slips away before I can reply, hurrying through the trees back to Holden’s cabin.
A second later, Lucian climbs out of his truck, reaching back inside to grab something.
Then he straightens up and looks at me. I’m still standing in front of the open door, blinking at him in the morning light.
Crisp golden leaves fall to the ground, drifting down like snowflakes as he strides toward me, never once breaking eye contact.
He said he’d never let me go.
And as he holds my gaze, his mouth breaking into a smile beneath his beard, I desperately want to believe him.