Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
T ightening my arm around Grace, I stroke a few tendrils of hair behind her ear and watch her sleep. The small frown lines she’s been holding throughout the day smoothing out to show how unblemished her porcelain skin really is. Her rosy red lips finish the picture, making my already blue balls that much more painful.
Glancing at the window behind her, the first rays of light are slowly starting to seep through the forest beyond. Casting rays of soft sunlight to hit her face, she truly looks like an angel in my arms.
Despite the light creeping in, the rest of the room remains in relative darkness aside from the roaring fire across the room and the candles surrounding the bed and on the bathroom counter tops.
Thankfully, the guys stoked the fire and lit the candles just before they went to fix the breakers after the asswipe in the other room decided to sabotage it. I don’t know why the fucker didn’t simply flip them. After all, it’s not like he’d be able to get anywhere out in the blizzards anyway, so he’d need the electricity to survive just as much as we do.
Ideally we should have fixed the breakers last night, but it would have been difficult with the lack of light, so we decided to go the old fashioned route overnight and use fires and body heat to keep warm. Adding in the fact that we were all shaken from what happened to Grace, none of us wanted to leave her side. Apart from taking a moment to dole out a whole load of hurt to her asshole ex that is. Despite the overwhelming urge though, we all managed to keep it in check. For Grace’s sake.
To be totally truthful, I think I’ve shown a hell of a lot of restraint in not smashing up his face or breaking bones after last night, let alone for everything he’s done to her over the years. I’m just thankful we got there before anything more sinister went down, as I can’t say for certain that he’d still be alive if it did.
Stirring slightly, Grace shifts under the covers, revealing her ample cleavage blushed red with warmth. Her white lace, snowman sleep set falls down over one shoulder, revealing her breast and pert nipple. Battling with my self-control, I slowly move the strap back up over her shoulder, trying not to wake her.
I want just a little bit longer to admire her without interruption. It’s not often we see her so relaxed. With Jason still around, even though she’s enjoying herself, she doesn’t ever fully relax. I don’t even think she knows she’s doing it, but her eyes dart around looking for him when entering a room. We watch as she catches herself going to call his name for dinner, before shaking her head and calling us all as one.
Even though he hurt her--in more ways than one, the bastard--she’s still trying to get over what happened and come to terms with it. It’s also why I worry about her and us. Grace is a sensitive soul and always puts others first. Often to her detriment. She’s a people pleaser and she doesn’t like to see people hurt, despite their shortcomings or their actions.
It’s also why I see her holding back with us. Not that we’re an item yet, or even gone anywhere near those discussions, but we would like to. At some point.
As poncy as this may sound, I’m head over heels for her. I fell for her the second we stormed in to find her sweet face red with anger and tarnished with tears. And with each second we’ve spent together since, I’ve fallen deeper. Although we haven’t spoken directly about it, I know the guys have too.
I think last night served to be a catalyst for our relationship and my feelings towards Grace. Hell, likely the guys too. I saw the same emotions reflected in their faces that were flowing through my body. Terror. Worry. Despair. We’re used to combat situations with colleagues and civilians. But never someone we love.
Wait. Someone we l-
Grunting softly, Grace draws me out of my thoughts as she rolls backwards out of my arm and stretches. Yawning wide, I simply watch on, taking in every movement and memorizing it. Opening her bleary eyes, it takes a couple of blinks for her to recognise where she is.
“Key?” She asks sweetly.
“Good morning, Sugar. Sleep well?” I smile, propping myself up on my shoulder and hand to lean over her and place a tender kiss to her forehead.
“Mhmm, out like a light apparently.” Raising her head up, she rests her hand on my chest as she leans up to give me a peck on the lips.
Pulling back slightly, that keeps her face only a hair’s breadth away from mine. Tracing her features with my eyes, I raise my hand and trail a finger down her cheek.
“You’re so beautiful,” I whisper against her lips.
Freezing for a second, she looks at me surprised until she ducks her head. Her cheeks blushing a rosy hue as some of her hair falls over her face.
Lifting her chin up with one finger, I force her to look me in the eye. “Can’t do compliments, Sugar?”
“No. Well. I-” She stutters, trying her best to look away from me.
Rolling over her, I coax her to lay down on her back and place my hands on either side of her head. She releases a shaky breath as her body flushes and her eyes dilate, blowing wide.
“You know, last night-” I pause, collecting my thoughts. “I nearly lost it when we thought you were in danger. I don’t know what we would have done had-”
“ Shh ,” she whispers, placing a finger on my lips. “I was never in any danger. My three knights in shining mistletoe armor saw to that.” Winking at me, I can’t help but chuckle.
“Mistletoe armor? Surely that’s not all that comfortable for the wearer. Then again, it would make a brilliant crowd surfer costume or an aerial attack for war.”
“Oh my gosh, shut up. I was trying to be Christmassy and that was the best thing I could think of so early in the morning!” She whines, playfully whacking me on the chest with the back of her hand.
Grasping her wrist, I pin it to the bed by the side of her head and grab her other one, mirroring the movements. Stroking my thumb across her pulse point, I feel it thrumming as I lean down to rest my lips upon hers.
“Maybe I should just occupy this mouth to keep you from spewing anymore god awful Christmas puns.”
“Maybe you should,” she returns meekly, her warm breath skating across my lips and stoking a fire deep inside me.
Slowly lowering my lips onto hers, we get lost in each other's taste as the crackling fire burns brightly behind us. Its warmth encasing us as the scent of the cherry candles wafts over our senses.
Not once breaking our connection, I run my hands down her arms and across her chest. Moaning, she arches into my touch, causing her top to ride up. Running my hands underneath, I caress each inch of skin until I reach her nipples and run them through my fingertips.
Mewling into my mouth, her legs shift, allowing me to place myself in between them. I reluctantly stop my ministrations to reach down and remove her top and bottoms, baring her to me. Tossing them over my shoulder, I waste no time in crawling up her body, leaving open mouthed kisses on every exposed inch of skin I can reach.
Trailing my hands up her sides, my cock pulses with each whispered gasp she releases. The need to be in her is overwhelming, but the need to worship her and show her how truly special, is even more overpowering.
Covering her body with mine, I run my hands through her hair and trace a path down her soft skin as I gaze into her beautiful mercury eyes. Meeting my eyes, we kiss and explore in the candle light, getting lost in one another's touch until she’s so wet, neither of us can stand it anymore.
Foreheads touching, eyes locked, I shift her legs open with mine and push inside her slowly. Her mercury irises blow wide as a shaky moan leaves her lips. Her cheeks flush once more and her breath comes out in stuttered gasps as I slowly thrust inside her. Running my hands down her legs, I stroke her creamy skin as I pick up the pace.
My abs contract and my movements become a bit harsher as she traces my torso with her fingertips. Completely focused on her exploration, she looks ethereal as the morning rays of sun start to penetrate the cabin and light up her beautiful features. Catching the light, even the sheen of sweat on her skin adds to her allure. Adorning her pale skin, my mouth waters at the sight of her splayed out beneath me, lost to lust and desire.
Coveting every moment, we forget everything going on around us and simply get lost in one another. For what feels like hours, we tumble in the sheets, not once rushing to end our time together. Simply enjoying one another's company and getting lost in each other. Just how making love should be.
With her head thrown back against the pillow and her hair splayed out like a halo around her, my need for her rises ever higher. Lust and devotion grapple for dominance as my heart races and my breaths quicken.
Unable to resist driving myself deeper and harder, I rest my elbows on either side of her head and she grasps onto them with her nails, letting out a languid moan.
“Yes, Key. Right there. Oh god!” She gasps, losing the breath in her lungs to the pulse of my cock inside her.
“That’s it, Sugar. Let go for me. Let me feel you come apart.” A hiss escapes me when her core begins to pulse around me, the movement nearly forcing my release.
“I’m so close,” she moans, writhing beneath me.
“You are. Just a little bit more-”
I groan, biting down gently on her neck to muffle my shout as she cries her release. Throwing her head back, she wraps her legs around me as her pussy pulses, bringing about a release that is so intense, I nearly black out.
Thrusting inside her a few more times, our pace slows as our breathing evens out. I slowly pull out and maneuver myself off to the side and lay next to her, draping myself across her so I’m not putting my whole weight on her. Dropping my head to her chest, I lay there trying to catch my breath while she runs her hand through my hair, the movement somewhat calming.
“Thank you, Key,” she whispers, vulnerability clear in her tone.
“What for, Sugar?” I tilt my head up to look at her.
“For treating me like a human being.” My brow furrows.
“What-” I go to ask, pushing up on my arm, but she silences me.
“A conversation for another time perhaps. Just ignore that I even said anything.” She smiles down at me, no hint of sadness in her voice.
“Fine.” I narrow my eyes at her. “I’ll let it go for now, but only because I’m enjoying my head strokes.”
Throwing her head back, she bursts out laughing, bringing a grin to my face. It’s a beautiful sight that I could get used to seeing for the rest of my life.
“Head strokes it is then, pretty boy,” she chimes.
I laugh, relaxing back down and enjoying the silence for a little while.
Piercing the silence, the wind starts to pick up outside as snow begins to fall again in thick slurries. Watching on in fascination, the patchy sunlight creeps evermore between the trees, casting its warm light over us and eliminating the dark edges of the room. With the fire crackling away in the hearth and the scent of sex and cherries, we simply lay there running our hands over each other like we have all the time in the world.
That is, until Grace brings up such a pressing matter that it requires our undivided attention.
“Erm, Key. Not that I don’t like them, or think that it's really romantic. But why are there candles everywhere?”
A belly laugh erupts out of me. “You’ve just noticed that now?”
“I mean, I was kind of a little preoccupied for a while there,” she says bashfully, refusing to look me in the eye.
Her innocence is adorable. One minute she’s this strong ass woman who kicks ass and the next, the smallest little compliment is making her blush.
“When they got up to fix the breakers, there was a slight chill in here, so they stoked the fire and lit some candles. They won’t provide much heat, but Teddy thought you might like the cozy atmosphere while you wait for the lights to come back on, so he added a few more for good measure.”
Supplying her with a wink, the corner of her mouth tilts up in a smile.
“What would I do without you guys?”
“Let’s never find out,” I reply, kissing her sweetly. “Now roll over.”
“Huh, what?” Totally bemused at my words, I grin cheekily as I flip her over. She squeaks as I spread her legs again and lean over her.
“You’re going to lay here and relax while I give you a massage.”
“But-” She goes to interrupt.
“No buts,” I lay my hand on her back, pushing her back down into the bed. “Relax,” I purr into her ear as I start working my magic.
It’s not long later before the lights come on and I’m bringing her to release once more. Laid boneless in the middle of the bed, I leave her light snores behind to go run her a bath before carrying her in and leaving her to soak for a while.
Closing the bathroom door behind her, I chuck on some clothes and head out to locate the guys.
I think someone needs a good talk with Jason, and you can bet your ass I’m going to volunteer. He just might not be able to talk or walk when I’m finished with him.