Chapter 39
QUICK STUDY
GREY
When I pick her up to carry her to the bathroom, she only protests a little, mostly chuckling, then sighing, then tucking into my chest. I almost don't want to put her down when I reach the clawfoot tub.
If I could guarantee I could step in without potentially killing both of us, I'd do that.
But instead, I put her on her feet, and she climbs in, scooting up to make room for me.
It takes a second to get situated, but then it's bliss, her soft body against my chest, the hot water lapping at us, my heart ten times too big for my chest.
The intensity is only just starting to ease, every breath heavy with her. It was more than I expected, but easier than I expected too. Right. It felt right. She felt right.
Everything felt right.
I grabbed one of her scrunchies when she was getting in, and I use it now, gathering her curls gently to the very top of her head like I've seen her do, then tying it up with the satiny band.
"How you feeling, peaches?"
"Good," she says dreamily. "How are you feeling?"
"Never better," I answer honestly.
I feel her hesitate before asking, "Was that…okay?"
The question is so absurd I almost laugh. When I was buried in her, when she came with my cock inside her, when my name was riding her lips, I almost blacked out.
"Perfect," I answer, leaning in to kiss her temple. "Everything was perfect."
She relaxes into me a little more. "I was worried."
"You never have anything to worry about, not with that. Not with anything." I reach for the soap, wet it in her lap, lather it up in front of her. "Sit up, baby."
She does, and I drag my hands down her slick back, her shoulders, her arms.
"I don't wanna go to work tomorrow," she laments, and I'm with her. Sounds fucking terrible.
"Good news is, it's almost spring break. Eleven days, just you and me."
"Eleven days! Can we just stay home the whole time?"
"Anything you want," I answer, rinsing her back. "C'mere." She leans back, and I lather up again to wash her breasts thoroughly as she strokes my legs under the water.
"My parents have been pushing to come visit."
I hear the worry in her voice and a flash of it runs through me too. "Do they know about me?"
"My mom knows I'm seeing somebody, but I haven't told her everything."
Everything being the twenty-year age gap. "Tell them to come."
"You're not worried?"
"Are you?"
"No, but--well I mean, a little, just because they're not going to get it.
I've never even had a boyfriend before. They're newer at the idea of me dating than I am.
They'd be freaks about it whether you were older than me or not.
And I just don't want to deal with it. Is that bad?
I just want this for a minute, just you and me. No drama, no confrontation."
I think about the town and their gossip but don't bring it up. "Well, whenever you're ready, we'll deal with them together."
"They're not going to like it."
"They'll come around."
At that, she turns around in my arms so she's facing me, tucking her arms in my sides, looking up at me with big, brown eyes.
"I want them to see what I see in you."
This time, it's a flash of pain. I stroke her cheek. "So do I."
"But I don't care if they disapprove. I love them, but I'm not letting them come between us."
"And I'm not losing you again. So whatever happens, we'll handle it."
Her smile makes me feel whole for the first time in a long time. Maybe ever.
"How'd I get so lucky?" she asks.
I stroke her cheek, my heart aching. "I ask myself that every day."
"It's not as scary to think about dealing with my parents or the town giving us a hard time knowing I'm not alone."
"You're not alone. You'll never be alone again."
She stretches for a kiss, and I hold her face with both hands, giving her everything, giving her all of me. Then she lays on my chest, and I recline a little to make space for her arms to wrap around my waist.
"They're not going to make it easy for us, are they?" she asks.
"No. They're not. Let them talk."
"But what if it gets worse? I keep thinking…what if this costs you something? Your reputation, your job--"
"Stop. Don't do that."
"But Grey, you've been here your whole life. Everyone knows you, respects you, and I just--"
I pull her up a little, saying, "Look at me." She does. "There is nothing--nothing--more important to me than you. Not my reputation, not this town, not anything. You hear me?"
Her eyes shine with tears, breaking my heart all over again. "I just don't want you to regret--"
"The only thing I regret is ever letting you go. Fuck all of them. You and me against the world, peaches."
She looks up at me, something shifting in her. "You and me against the world."
I kiss her soft and deep and long enough that she's arching into me, panting, and my cock is starting to notice her breasts in great detail. So I break it, smile down at her. She smiles back looking mischievous, her face flushing.
"So…now that we've done it…"
"Yeah?"
"How soon can we do it again?"
Laughing, I pull her closer. "Greedy."
"I blame you. I thought the first time was going to be all blinding pain and no orgasms, but you knew just what to do. I probably should have known, coach."
I kiss her nose. "That's all I wanted--for you to be okay."
"Well, you exceeded expectations." A pause. "Will it hurt as much next time?"
"No, next time should be easier, and the time after that a little easier."
"Good, now I have a new goal--be dick ready by Thursday. But that requires us to be sleeping together at least once a day."
"At least."
"Mhmm. So you should probably come stay with me."
"Glad you think so because I was already planning on it."
Again she flushes, deep and pretty and delighted. "Oh, thank god. I thought I was gonna have to talk you into it."
"The days of you having to talk me into anything are over, peaches. And I plan to spend most of spring break in bed with you."
"Most of it?"
"Gotta fix the house."
"Ugh, responsibilities." She thinks for a second, and I watch her feet swing in the air behind her, ankles crossed. "I'm surprised it didn't hurt more. Honestly, ever since I saw the size of your dick, I assumed you were gonna split me in two."
A laugh cracks out of me. "I'm glad I didn't hurt you. We can go slower next time if you need."
"Or faster?" she waggles her brows.
"You're gonna kill me."
"I'm just saying, now that I know what I'm doing--"
I can't stop laughing. "You do not know what you're doing."
Her mouth pops open, and she splashes me. "Rude!"
"You're a fast learner, but there's a lot left to teach you."
She perks up. "Like what?"
I thumb her chin with a smirk, saying low, "So many things."
"I can't wait," she says with a wicked smile that I kiss right off her.
Because I can't either.