Chapter 27 #2
Grant knelt in front of her, his hands on her thighs. "Tell me what you want."
"You." Riley's voice was steady. "All of you. Everything."
"You have me." Grant's hands slid higher. "You've always had me."
He helped her out of her sweater, taking his time, pressing kisses to newly exposed skin. Riley's breath hitched, her hands finding his shoulders, his hair, holding on.
When she was bare from the waist up, Grant sat back on his heels, just looking at her.
"You're so beautiful," he said, his voice rough with emotion.
Riley's cheeks flushed, but she didn't look away. Instead, she reached for the hem of his shirt and tugged. "Your turn."
Grant helped her pull it off, tossing it aside. Riley's hands immediately found his chest, tracing the lines of muscle, exploring like she couldn't get enough.
"I love touching you," she whispered.
Grant groaned and captured her mouth in a kiss that was all heat and hunger. He eased her back onto the bed, following her down, covering her body with his.
Riley's hands were everywhere—his back, his shoulders, his hair. She arched against him, and Grant could feel her heart racing against his chest.
"I love you," he said against her throat, pressing kisses there. "God, Riley, I love you so much."
"Show me," she breathed.
So he did.
Grant took his time with her, learning her all over again. He kissed her shoulders, the curve of her collarbone, the valley between her breasts. Every gasp, every arch, every whispered sound of his name—he paid attention to all of it.
His hands roamed her sides, her hips, relearning what he already knew. Every touch was deliberate. Intentional. Like he was proving to both of them that this time was different. This time it was real.
"Grant." Riley's voice was breathless. "Please."
"Please what?" He kissed the spot just below her ear that made her shiver.
"I need—" She broke off on a gasp as his mouth found her breast. "I need more."
Grant looked up at her, his eyes dark. "Tell me what you need."
"You." Her hands fisted in his hair. "All of you. Now."
"I'm savoring you." Grant's smile was wicked as his hands slid lower, finding the waistband of her jeans. "Now that I know you're staying, now that this is real, I'm taking my time."
He helped her out of her jeans slowly, pressing soft, lingering kisses to her exposed skin—her hip, her thigh, her knee. By the time he'd worked them off completely, Riley was trembling beneath him.
"You okay?" he asked, brushing hair back from her face.
"More than okay." Her smile was soft and sure. "I'm exactly where I want to be."
Grant kissed her again, slow and deep, pouring everything he felt into it. His hand traced patterns on her thigh, her hip, her stomach, learning her. Riley's breathing quickened, her hands clutching at his shoulders.
"This is different," Grant murmured against her lips. "Knowing you're staying. Knowing this is real. It changes everything."
"Everything." Riley's voice shook. "And I can’t wait."
When he finally touched her where she needed him most, Riley arched off the bed with a gasp. Grant watched her face, mesmerized by every expression—the way her eyes fluttered closed, the way her lips parted, the flush spreading across her chest.
"Look at me," he said softly.
Riley's eyes opened, hazy with pleasure, and locked on his.
"I love you," Grant said, his fingers moving in slow circles that made her breath hitch. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." Riley's voice broke. "Grant, please, I need—"
"I know what you need." He kissed her deeply, then began trailing kisses down her body—her throat, her breasts, her stomach—until he settled between her thighs.
Riley's breath caught. "Grant—"
"Let me taste you," he murmured against her inner thigh. "I want to feel you come undone."
When his mouth found her, Riley cried out, her hips lifting off the bed. Grant gripped her thighs, holding her steady as he worked her with his tongue—slow and deliberate at first, learning what made her gasp, what made her writhe.
"Oh god," Riley moaned, her hands fisting in his hair. "Grant, that feels—"
He hummed against her, and Riley's words dissolved into broken sounds of pleasure. She was uninhibited like this, her body moving against his mouth, chasing what she needed. No holding back. No pretending. Just pure, honest want.
Grant slid two fingers inside her while his mouth continued its work, and Riley's back arched, a keening sound escaping her throat.
"That's it," he murmured. "Take what you need."
Riley was trembling now, her breathing ragged, right on the edge. Grant curled his fingers, finding that spot that made her see stars, and didn't let up.
"Grant, I'm—I'm going to—" Riley's voice broke.
"Let go," he said against her. "I've got you."
Riley shattered with a cry, her body tensing and releasing as pleasure crashed through her. Grant worked her through it, gentle and steady, until she collapsed back against the pillows, breathing hard.
"Wow," she breathed after a moment.
Grant kissed his way back up her body, grinning. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." Riley pulled him down for a kiss, tasting herself on his lips. "But I'm not done with you yet."
Grant's restraint, already hanging by a thread, snapped completely.
He stood just long enough to shed his jeans, then returned to the bed, settling between her thighs. Riley wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer, and Grant groaned at the feel of her against him.
"I love you," Riley said, her hands cupping his face, her eyes clear and certain. "I'm staying. I'm yours."
"I'm yours too," Grant said. "Always have been."
He kissed her as he pressed inside, and Riley gasped, her fingers digging into his shoulders. Grant moved slowly at first, letting them both adjust to the intimacy of it—not just physical, but emotional. Real.
"Perfect." Riley's voice was shaky. "You feel perfect."
"So do you." Grant kissed her deeply, his hips moving in a slow, steady rhythm. "God, Riley, you feel incredible."
He meant to take his time, meant to savor every moment, but Riley had other ideas.
"Wait," she said breathlessly, her hands on his chest. "I want—can I—"
"What do you want?" Grant stilled, watching her.
"I want to be on top." Riley's cheeks flushed, but her eyes were bold. "I want to ride you."
Grant's breath caught. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
He rolled them over in one smooth motion, settling back against the pillows with Riley straddling him. She sat up, and Grant groaned at the sight of her—flushed and beautiful and his.
Riley took him in hand, guiding him back inside, and they both gasped as she sank down, taking him deep.
"Oh god," Riley breathed, her head falling back.
Grant's hands found her hips, steadying her. "Set the pace. Take what you want."
Riley started to move—slow at first, rolling her hips, finding what felt good. Grant watched her, transfixed by the way she looked like this—confident and sensual and completely uninhibited.
His hands roamed her body—her thighs, her waist, sliding up to cup her breasts. When his thumbs brushed over her nipples, Riley moaned, her pace quickening.
"You're so beautiful," Grant said, his voice rough. "God, Riley, look at you."
Riley's eyes opened, locking on his, and she picked up speed. Grant palmed her breasts, rolling her sensitive nipples between his fingers, and Riley cried out, her movements becoming more urgent.
"That's it," Grant encouraged, his hips rising to meet her thrusts. "Take what you need, baby. I'm right here."
Riley's hands braced on his chest, her breathing ragged as she rode him harder, chasing her pleasure. Grant could feel her tightening around him and knew she was close.
"Grant," she gasped. "I'm—I need—"
Grant sat up, wrapping one arm around her waist while his other hand slid between them, finding where they were joined. His fingers found her sensitive spot and circled, and Riley's rhythm stuttered.
"Come for me," Grant said against her lips. "I want to feel you."
Riley shattered with a cry, her body clenching around him as pleasure crashed through her. The feeling of her coming undone pushed Grant over the edge, and he followed her with a groan, burying his face in her shoulder as his release took him.
For a long moment, they just breathed together, hearts racing in sync, bodies still joined.
Then Riley laughed—soft and a little breathless and full of joy.
Grant lifted his head to look at her. "What?"
"We're really doing this," she said, her eyes bright. "No more pretending. No more fake. Just us."
"Just us," Grant agreed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "For real this time."
"For real."
He rolled to the side, pulling her with him, tucking her against his chest. Riley fit there perfectly, her head on his shoulder, her hand over his heart.
"Stay," Grant said quietly. "Not just tonight. Stay."
"I'm staying." Riley pressed a kiss to his chest. "I already told you—I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me."
"Good." Grant's arms tightened around her. "Because I'm not letting you go. Not ever again."
They lay there in the quiet, wrapped in each other, and Grant felt something settle in his chest. Something that had been restless and aching for ten years finally at peace.
Riley was home.
She was staying.
She loved him.
And this time—this time it was real.
"Grant?" Riley's voice was soft.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for giving me another chance. For listening. For loving me even when I was being an idiot."
Grant pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You weren't being an idiot. You were scared. I get it. I was scared too."
"What were you scared of?"
"That you'd leave again. That I wasn't enough to make you stay." Grant's voice was quiet. "That I'd lose you for good this time."
Riley pushed up on her elbow to look at him, her expression fierce. "You're enough. You've always been enough. I was just too scared to admit what I really wanted."
"And what do you want?" He gave her a smirk.
"This." Riley gestured between them. "You.
The farm. Pine Valley. A life that feels real instead of some performance where I'm constantly trying to prove I'm good enough.
" Her smile was soft. "I want mornings drinking coffee on the porch.
I want to help with the Tree Toss next year.
I want to build my business and be close to my family and run into people I've known my whole life at the grocery store. "
"That sounds perfect," Grant said.
"It does, doesn't it?" Riley settled back against his chest. "I can't believe it took me ten years to figure it out."
"Better late than never."
"True." She pressed a kiss to his chest, right over his heart. "I love you, Grant Lawson."
"I love you too, Riley Monroe." Grant's smile was soft. "Soon to be Riley Lawson, if I have anything to say about it."
Riley lifted her head, eyes wide. "Grant—"
"Not right now," he said quickly. "I'm not proposing right now. But someday. When the time is right. I want you to know that's where this is headed for me. You're it, Riley. You always have been."
Riley's eyes filled with tears, but she was smiling. "You're it for me too."
They kissed again, slow and sweet and full of promise.
Outside, snow had continued to fall, dusting the fields in white. Inside, wrapped in each other, Grant and Riley finally had what they'd both been searching for.
Home.
Love.
Each other.
No more pretending.
No more fake.
Just real.
Just them.
Just forever.