Chapter 43
Chapter forty-three
Thirty-four Weeks
It’s just after seven when I pull into the driveway after group therapy.
Tuck and I were asked by our therapist to join an earlier session that had younger people in the group.
Both of our journeys with grief started in our early twenties, and he thought it might be good for them to hear how the healing never stops.
It’s not a race to be won. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve, you just gotta keep showing up for yourself every day.
Recognising the good days and the harder ones, because all of them represent your choice to never give up on yourself.
I switch off the car and take a few moments to breathe before I go inside.
I let my mind centre on the things I’m thankful for, like the opportunity to have August in my life, as short as it was.
For having a family that is supportive and understanding.
For finding friends like Tuck and, more recently, Dylan, who hold space for me to be silent and messy as I process my emotions, and teach me to be kind and patient with myself.
And my Isabelle. My very own angel. My light, my heart, the hand I get to hold as I move through this life, knowing I’ll never truly be alone again.
She keeps me safe and protected from the shadows.
She’s led me to a path I never thought was in the cards for me.
Feeling grounded, I get out of my car and head inside through the kitchen door. There’s a chopping board on the bench with various vegetables scattered over it. Hallie’s sitting on the counter, and as soon as she notices me, she’s up and walking along the edge, seeking a head scratch.
“Hey, Grim. How was group?” Isabelle asks as she messes with the microwave. She’s wearing fuzzy lilac sleep shorts with one of my T-shirts stretched over her bump. I can’t believe our daughter is due in only six more weeks. And in three weeks, Iz and I will be married.
Running my fingers under Hallie’s chin, I smile over at Isabelle, frowning as I notice what she’s doing. I flick my lip ring as I decide the best way to tell this beautiful woman she’s trying to put a saucepan in the microwave right now.
My steps are slow and calm as Isabelle huffs out a frustrated growl to herself, twisting the saucepan handle and pushing at the microwave door with growing frustration.
“Buttercup?” My hands come up, landing on each of her shoulders and giving them a reassuring squeeze.
“Yeah?” she says. “What is wrong with this stupid thing? Why won’t the door close?”
Placing a kiss on the back of her neck, I whisper, “The saucepan goes on the stove.”
I wait for her to respond in some way, but she just stands in my arms, her back to my chest, as we both look at the saucepan handle sticking out the microwave that was never going to fit.
I hear the tiniest sniff and when she turns her head to look up at me, her eyes are filled with unshed tears. I don’t even think before I pull her back into my chest.
“It’s okay, baby.”
“I just wanted to make you dinner.”
I turn her in my arms, trying not to laugh at how cute she’s being. My hands cup her face. She looks so small and delicate between my tattooed hands.
“You’re so sweet.” I leave a quick kiss against her lips, and because I’m such a sucker for her, I put one more lingering one there, just to savour it a little longer. “Why don’t you go sit down? I’ll make us dinner.”
Her arms circle my back. “You do so much for me. I just wanted to do something for you, too.” She sniffs again, a rogue tear escaping her eye. I quickly catch it on my thumb, sweeping away the evidence, and rest my forehead on hers.
“I like doing things for you.” I crave it. I like being needed by Isabelle. Being the only one who can provide for her in this way.
A thought crosses my mind. I bring my finger to her chin, tilting her head up. “I am quite hungry, though.”
Pressing my lips against hers, long and deep, my fingers trail down her neck until I’m gently collaring her throat. I hold her in place so I can keep kissing her, then I guide her out of the kitchen and into the living room.
She has the electric fireplace on, and I can feel it warm my back as I pull my T-shirt over my head. I toss it aside, then drop to my knees, pulling Isabelle’s shorts and underwear down her legs as I go.
“Sit down, baby.” My words are a gentle request.
Isabelle lowers to the couch, her knees bent together in front of me. My hands gently pull them apart, kissing the inside of her thigh before I lift them one at a time over my shoulders.
“Now, sit back and relax while I have my dinner.” I lean forward and spit on her pussy. “Or are you my dessert?”
Isabelle sinks into the couch cushions, leaning her head back with a sigh. I bring a hand up, spreading the wetness around, and circling her clit a few times before I drag my tongue over her.
Her back arches as a moan vibrates in her throat, letting me hear how easily her body submits to my touch. She reaches a hand down to hold on to the fingers I have resting over her thigh.
Buried between her legs, I look up, loving the sight of her heaving chest and the ecstasy on her face. My cock grows hard in my jeans, and I’m regretting not removing them when I took my shirt off.
My tongue laps greedily up and down before flicking over her clit. I groan as I suck it into my mouth, and Isabelle’s legs squeeze around my head. I keep repeating the motion, coaxing her slowly, and bringing her to that precipice that has her screaming my name.
“You’re doing so good, Izzy,” I say, making her whimper, and I can feel the slight tremor in her feet as she digs them into my back
I bring a hand under my chin so I can tease her cunt, just barely dipping inside.
Isabelle’s been more sensitive over the last few weeks, going crazy for light touches.
It’s been a welcome challenge for me since I’m so desperate for her, and I have to restrain myself from giving into my urges, hard and fast, the way I want to.
My dick twitches in my briefs. It’s going to be fucking beautiful when I come inside her.
With two fingers, I ease in. She’s so fucking wet as she squeezes around me. I keep my fingers slow, my tongue light but fast.
“Are you gonna come for me?”
She nods, blowing out a breath as she leans forward and buries her hand in my hair. My eyes roll back as she pulls on the strands.
I add a third finger and roll my wrist, increasing the speed, and nip at her clit.
She gasps. “Yes! Just like that, Gage.”
I don’t dare fucking stop what I’m doing, giving my girl exactly what she needs. Her legs tighten around my head again, and I’m suffocating in the most satisfying way.
“Yes! Yeesss! Ahhhhh.” Isabelle floods my tongue and fingers as she cries out.
I have to shake my head a few times because I see stars whenever I get to earn any one of her orgasms.
Drawing my fingers out slowly, I bring one to my mouth, sucking it and humming over the taste. I lean over her body, holding my middle finger to her lips where she’s panting.
“Open up, baby.” Her blue eyes look at me in a daze, and as she opens her mouth, I ease my finger in and drag it down her tongue. “Tastes like you belong to me,” I rasp.
Lust blazes through her eyes as she stares at me. She smashes her lips against mine, pulling on my neck to draw me closer to her, before she huffs against me and pulls back with a pout.
“What’s wrong, Buttercup?” I ask as my hand slides under her shirt, rubbing her bump.
“I love being pregnant, but be warned, I’m making a list for all the things I’d be doing to you if this belly wasn’t in the way.” She points a finger at me. “And I’m coming for you after she’s born.”
“Oh yeah?” I rub my hands up and down her thighs. “What are you going to do to me?”
She uses my shoulders for leverage to stand up, then starts to walk away from me. I twist around, arse on the carpet with my back against the seat rest to watch her as she goes to one of the armchairs with a laundry basket sitting on top.
“I think the first thing I might do to you is show you how nice it is to give up control.” Her words sound harmless, but the intent is meant for destruction and ruin.
“Go on,” I say.
When she turns around, she has my boxing wraps in her hands, running her fingers over the long length.
“I love when you command my body.” Isabelle slowly crosses the living room back to me, pulling the shirt over her head as she does, leaving her naked. “But I think I might love it more if I command yours.”
“Baby, you already do.”
She bites down on her bottom lip and smiles. “Lie down, please.”
I shuffle down, bringing my legs around her to rest my back against the carpet.
She reaches her hands out to me, and I grab them, supporting her as she eases herself down to her knees.
Once she’s seated between my thighs, she brings my palms together and wraps the soft cotton straps around them.
When they’re secured, she pushes them over my head, guiding my fingers to the leg of the couch.
“Keep your hands there. You’re not to let go until I tell you.”
The fabric bites into my skin only making me harder. “Just how long do you plan to keep me like this?”
Isabelle crawls around me, coming between my legs and tugs at the button of my jeans.
“Until you come for me like a good boy.” I feel my eyes widen as I nearly choke on my spit. My breath turns rapid as heat licks up my spine from the words she spills like a dare.
My jeans are tugged down my legs, and I’m squirming to help get them off faster. The need burns in me, igniting and fucking engulfing me in flames. Isabelle pulls off my briefs next, and my cock springs out, slapping against me.
Precum drips onto the tattoos decorating my stomach. I think my heart flatlines when Isabelle swipes a finger through the mess, then brings it to her mouth, humming in approval.
She braces her hands on my chest as she throws a leg over to straddle me, her bare cunt slipping up and down the barbells.
Fuck. The image of her above me, breasts pressed together, stomach round, and her pussy rolling over my barbells will be seared in my memory for eternity.
“That’s it, baby. Use me,” I pant, hands clenched as the fabric bound around my wrists, sear the possession she has over me into my skin.
Isabelle flicks her hips faster, looking down at me with her mouth dropped open, her cries getting louder and more erratic as she bears down.
My feet dig into the carpet as I fight for control to not come before I even get inside her. My fingers flex, desperate to reach out.
Her hips circle, rubbing her clit against me as she throws her head back and cries out my name.
Don’t come. Don’t come. Don’t come.
Before Isabelle has a chance to recover, she grips my cock and guides me inside her. On instinct, my hips drive forward, rooting myself deep in her wet, pulsing pussy.
“Fuck, Isabelle. I’m not gonna last,” I groan, as I look down to where our bodies are connected. My head feels so light, I think I might pass out.
Her hand comes up to my chin, forcing my eyes back up to hers, the blue turning dark like the depths of the ocean.
“I don’t want you to last, I want you to fill me with your cum,” Isabelle says, one hand still gripping my chin as she bounces on my cock.
I have to force a swallow down as I keep my eyes fixed on her.
“You’d do anything for me, wouldn’t you, Grim?” The words are a decadent taunt.
“Fuck yes, anything.” I snap my hips, still fighting against the binds as I ache to fasten my hands to her body.
Isabelle leans forward, her face mere inches from mine. “Then be a good boy, and come for me,” she whispers, then slams her mouth to mine.
My cock jerks, and I think I see two of her as the rest of my body tenses up, and I moan against her lips, spilling my cum inside of her.
Isabelle drapes herself over me, as best she can with her stomach between us, running her hands up my arms. She unlatches my fingers from the couch where they’re gripping the metal like it’s a lifeline.
“Holy shit.” I gasp, making Iz chuckle. “I didn’t know that was a thing for me.”
“What?” Isabelle asks, nipping at my lips.
“The good thing.” I stumble over the words.
She smirks. “Good boy?”
Like a reflex, my cock flexes inside of her. “Stop it.”
Isabelle throws her head back and laughs. “Are you gonna make me? Your wrists are still tied.” Her fingertips drag down my sternum. “Huh? What are you gonna do about it? Good boy.”
I’ll tell you what I did. Demanded she untie me so I could fuck her hard from behind and remind her how very bad I could be.