Chapter 17 Grayson
SEVENTEEN
GRAYSON
“Ready?” Danny asks, locking up his truck next to my bike.
Securing my stalker alter ego in a bag for easy access, I pull my party costume into place.
“Let’s go.”
With anticipation, I scan the room as we enter. My entire body tightens, catching sight of her. She’s fucking perfect.
The way the dress clings to her curves. The secret she’s hiding beneath it.
My cock aches in my jeans, demanding more than just control.
I reach into my pocket and pull up my phone, hitting a pulse setting on the vibrator app. She abruptly tenses up, nearly spilling her drink, squirming.
Beautiful.
The smirk on my face is downright diabolical.
I kill the vibrations before she can catch me. Slide my phone back into my pocket. Unlocked. Ready.
Danny peels away to find Viv, and I trail behind him, my eyes never leaving her.
She sees me. Swallows. Hands fidgeting. Chest rising just a little faster.
I make her nervous.
Good girl.
I step in closer, lifting my animal skull mask, crowding her space. “Damn! Bambi’s mom looks a bit alright.”
She laughs. “Yeah, I go, okay.”
I tilt my head, dragging my gaze down her body, slow and deliberate. “You gonna sing for me tonight?”
She bites her lip and nervously grins. “That was a one-off. You snuck that one in for free!”
She shifts under my stare.
She’s beautiful.
“So, who’d you come as?” she asks, deflecting to break the silence.
“The Beast,” I reply. She looks me over with a cocked brow piecing together my version of the costume and meaning.
“Beauty and the Beast? Have you seen it?”
“Nope,” I admit. “But I get the idea. He’s a beast. There’s a pretty girl. She falls for him, kisses him, and he falls for her wanting to be less of a beast.” I twirl the rose between my fingers, then hold it out to her. “I can relate.”
She stalls a few beats. “Aren’t you the bad boy?”
“For the right girl, I could be good.”
I’m about to offer to get her a drink when my moment of chivalry is cut short. A passing group of partygoers knocks me forward into her. She doubles over, clutching my arm, letting out a strained sound.
“Did I hurt you?”
She shakes her head quickly. Too quickly. Cheeks burning.
I piece it together–my phone got knocked.
She’s trying so hard to keep it together.
I let her squirm. Let her fight the pleasure flooding her system.
God, I could watch this all night. “Do you need a drink? Water or something?” I ask, biting my tongue.
She nods fervently, turning to face the wall.
I bite back my grin as I walk away and reach into my pocket to grant her some respite.
I make good of my escape down the stairs, sending her a text.
Me:
You ready to go to a real party?
Meet me out back on the curb x
I quickly change costumes, putting on my bike helmet. A few minutes later, she emerges.
“That was so embarrassing! Was that necessary?” she groans, running a hand over her face. “You keep doing that, you’ll break me!”
Baby, I’m not just going to break you. I’m going to fucking destroy you.
I tap on the backseat, holding out the spare helmet.
“Where are we going?”
I type out a text to show her.
Me:
I’m not quite Aladdin, but I can show you some things.
Pulling off her mask and headpiece to put on her helmet, she gets on behind me, muttering, “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
I grab her arms and pull them around me, giving them a rub for reassurance. We ride fifteen minutes north of the city, arriving at the boat pier on the river. Danny had left me the code for the shack to push my bike inside for safekeeping, along with the key to his dingy.
She gets off the bike, gives me her helmet, and watches me nervously. While putting everything into lock up, I switch out my helmet for the hood and mask and grab a pre-packed duffle bag.
Hopping into the boat and firing up the prop, I motion to her to join me.
I hold out my hand. She takes it begrudgingly and sits in front of me. Taking her mask and ears, I put them back on her. Then I hold out a hood.
“You’re kidding, right?” she deadpans.
I say and do nothing. Her eyes are getting glassy with fear, but she trusts me enough to comply. Turning her to rest against my chest, I pull in the dock line before putting a protective arm around her, and we head off.
She’s breathing as hard as I am but for the opposite reasons. Her skin pebbling against the wind chill. She’s scared while I’m absolutely salivating with excitement.
I allow my hand to wander, my thumb circling the hardened peak of her breast through her dress. Just to fuck with her brain a little bit more.
The buzz of anticipation courses my veins like electricity. A pulsing current of suspense for the core memory we’re about to make together.
The very start of a beautifully twisted us.
God help any fucking moron who tries to stand between me and my forever.
She has no idea the lengths I will go to to protect what is mine.
But she will.