Grayson
God help him, she was at his mercy. And he couldn’t have her. She looked delicious; hair rumpled, eyes wide, legs spread under the blanket, and wearing his shirt. He’d been unprepared for her to steal his shirt, or for the effect seeing her in it had on him. It hit him hard.
It was a similar feeling he got from seeing a sub wearing his collar, but so much stronger.
As he teased her, he wanted nothing more than to climb into bed with her.
But there was no way he wouldn’t screw them both blind her if they were in bed together.
She needed serious sleep, not a sex marathon.
And given the chemistry between them, he very much doubted they would stop after one round. Or three.
Look at him already - he’d said he would only drive her home, then he’d come inside.
He was only going to order her food, and then he’d invited himself to the table.
He wasn’t going to lay a hand on her, and here he was at her bedside, playing with her.
It seemed that where his Alessandra was concerned, his willpower was absolute shit.
He knew without even touching her that she was ready for him; he knew women, he recognized lust, and he was starting to understand his Lexi. He brushed just one finger along her entrance, and pulled his hand out for them both to look at. It glistened in the faint light.
“There we go,” he said quietly.
Lexi looked up at him, waiting with a little pout. That mouth gave him an idea.
“Suck,” he said, and put his damp finger up to her mouth.
Her lips immediately clamped down on his finger and sucked hard enough he felt a shiver down his spine.
She didn’t look away as she sucked, taking more and more of him into her mouth, until his fingertip brushed the back of her throat.
Fuck, that looked good. The throbbing in his finger synced in time with the throbbing below his belt, and he was dangerously afraid that if she didn’t stop, he’d embarrass himself and cum right there.
“Enough,” he said, using his Dom voice. He withdrew his finger with a little pop.
Grayson forced himself to stand on shaky legs.
Everything inside of him was screaming at him to take her, and he couldn’t.
He wasn’t even sure at this point what she would remember in the morning, and he wasn’t about to take advantage. He took a steadying breath.
“Get off just once, Alessandra, and then go to sleep. Do you have any alarms set?”
She shook her head no.
“Good. You’re not going to set any, and you’re going to let me know when you wake up. Do you understand me?”
Still in the same position looking up at him, Lexi nodded. For the first time since he’d met her, she seemed so small somehow.
“Goodnight, Alessandra.” Grayson was almost at the door when he heard a muffled ‘goodnight’, and rustling sheets. He looked over his shoulder to see Lexi had one hand covering her mouth, her eyes were closed, and her other hand was working furiously beneath the blanket.
For fucks fucking sake, she wasn’t waiting until he left. He took a last giant step out of the room before his control snapped, and ducked out of sight. With his heart pounding through his head - and other places - he rested his forehead against the wall in her short hallway.
They hadn’t turned on any lights, so as night fell her house had become dark. Steeped in shadows, Grayson waited for her to finish. Even if he couldn’t trust himself to watch her, he had to hear her get off for him. She didn’t last long. Her panting led to choked off cries.
Her call was muffled, he assumed, by the hand she’d had over her own mouth.
As his heart rate slowed, Grayson opened his eyes to let them adjust to the dark.
He made his way into the living room, and found her phone by sheer luck.
With her phone in his pocket, he refilled her glass of water in the kitchen and swiped one of her protein bars.
At her doorway, he peered around the corner.
Lexi was on her side facing him, with the sheets and a small blanket tucked up to her chest. He made sure his steps were quiet, and set both the phone and water on the low table by her bed.
The protein bar he tore open a half inch and set across the top of the glass; she literally had to go through it to get to the water.
Even though he could barely see her, he stood for a long minute staring down.
She jerked a little in her sleep, and made a horrible whimper at the back of her throat.
His heart twisted. What did she see every night?
She would tell him eventually. Until then though…
he leaned over her, and pressed his palm against her sternum.
“No, Alessandra,” he whispered.
She stirred - just enough for him to think she’d heard him.
“No dreams tonight.” Gray waited another several minutes as her breathing leveled back out. He couldn’t be sure she’d heard him, or that her unconscious mind would take the hint and let her fucking rest. But he wanted it to be enough for her. Needed it to be.
“So closing wasn’t enough for you last night, huh?” Rio greeted him as soon as Grayson walked into the office.
Since Rio was usually downstairs using the stockroom as his office, Grayson hadn’t been expecting him. He’d thought he would at least have time to grab some coffee before getting yelled at.
“You’re in early,” Grayson said.
“Well, where else would I be, when I have so much to do today?” Rio emphasized his sentence by slamming his laptop shut at the end of it, and Grayson winced for the computer. Gray held out both hands.
“I know it’s a lot-”
“No, ese - a lot would be half of that list. A lot is closing last night and getting up at eight, let alone six in the puta manana. I’ve already been by the gym, thank you very much. You’re lucky there’s an Italian place with real coffee, damn you.”
Grayson had to smile, even with Rio’s death glare scorching holes into him.
“You met Mama Troisi?”
Rio harrumphed, and tidied a short stack of papers at his elbow. “Sweet little abuela. I’d like her more if she didn’t think you were just the best damn thing to ever happen to her Lexi.”
Grayson’s heart leapt. He wasn’t even paying attention to Rio’s horrible fake Italian accent.
“She said that?” Grayson cut in.
Rio assessed him coolly from behind Grayson’s own desk. “Yes, loverboy, don’t worry, you’re in good with the Italian Mama.” Rio paused. “Is that really Lexi’s mother?”
Grayson grinned. “No, she’s more like the neighborhood grandmother, I think. Seems like she adopts people.”
Rio nodded, and sighed as his phone rang.
Grayson used the brief respite to head over to the coffee machine.
He’d slept poorly, his mind replaying bits and pieces of being with Lexi the day before.
He wondered if she’d woken up through the night; if she’d had nightmares.
He’d texted her only once, reminding her to eat the protein bar, drink the water, and let him know when she was up for the day.
At seven, he’d given up trying to fall back asleep.
“So am I allowed to ask why the Hispanic guy is the one doing the manual labor?” Rio said dryly.
Grayson turned towards him with a scornful look. “Please. You’re the best handy-fucking-everything guy I know. You just happen to be Hispanic.”
Rio grunted. “Damn right I’m the best. Doesn’t explain why the gym people aren’t taking care of their own shit though.”
Setting a mug down under the machine, Grayson shrugged.
“I can’t figure it out, man. It seems like the gym doesn’t have any people, aside from Lexi and her assistant manager.” He stirred in creamer. “She hasn’t slept in about four days, she’s not eating, and she’s completely burnt herself out over this place. I’m about ready to find her a new job.”
Rio’s frown echoed Grayson’s.
“Who owns it?”
Grayson shrugged.
“Nobody seems to know, or wants to talk about it. I figure they’re scumbags who just hold the title and aren’t involved. Everything is on Lexi.”
Rio rocked back in the chair and ran a hand across his face.
“Fine. I’ll get everything done, and I’ll make sure nothing else is overdue at the gym. Because she’s yours, and because I like her.” Rio pointed a finger at Grayson across the room. “But you owe me, Gray. You owe me pretty damn big. I’m not gonna get any damn sleep myself.”
“Don’t worry Rio, you’re pretty enough, you don’t need any more beauty sleep,” Grayson said from behind his coffee mug. He easily ducked the pen Rio whipped towards the kitchen, and they grinned at each other.
Grayson’s phone buzzed and he opened it to a picture of Lexi. She was still in bed, looking sweet and rumpled. The picture was taken of her biting the protein bar. His shirt was a goner from the way it was wrinkled and twisted around her, and he didn’t mourn the loss at all.
“Dios, save me from this lovesick fool,” Rio said, and Grayson absently flipped him the finger, still smiling at his phone.