19. Rosay
Chapter nineteen
Rosay
S ay what you want, but an orgasm before breakfast is the only way to start a day off right. I was a firm believer of this rule even before this weekend, but after Graham gave me two amazing orgasms with his mouth then hands before ten o’clock, this is a hill I’ll die on.
Though Winnie kept snickering and making innuendos about our tryst in the back room, breakfast went on without a hitch and my dad was none the wiser.
Wendy and Waverly were thankfully already in town picking up more floral arrangements and catering dishes for the ceremony, or else they would’ve caught on to Winnie’s comments.
“Are y’all ready to play paintball?” Dad asks, rubbing his hands together.
I jerk my head back. “?Estas jugando?”
His bushy eyebrows scrunch together. “What? Like your old man can’t hang?”
Laughter bursts from all the kids, and Graham covers his mouth to stifle his own smile.
It takes us twenty minutes to arrive at the paintball site and another twenty minutes for the worker to take us through the rules, which are fairly simple.
No face shots, no groin shots, and the person with the least amount of paint splatters at the end of the hour wins a free pizza from the café and a coupon to return.
“Aren ’t you afraid of getting bruises before the wedding?” I ask Winnie as we put on protective gear.
She shrugs, placing a guard around her neck. “We’re doing low impact paintball, plus that’s what makeup is for.”
I smile at her nonchalant attitude. That’s what I’ve always loved about Winnie. She’s eager to experience life and has no qualms about taking the bull by the horns. Others’ opinions of her don’t seem to faze her, and even though I’m the big sister, I still hope to be more like her when I grow up.
Since we decided against teams, we’re sent off in different directions and told to wait for the sound of a bullhorn.
I crouch behind a tree and rest, taking a moment to wrap my head around everything that’s happened since last night.
Pride rises in me that I finally got Graham to act on this thing between us, but frustration lingers because it’s only for this weekend.
I shouldn’t be scared to tell him I want more, but there’s more than just our jobs holding me back.
Connor’s infidelity and my own messed up thoughts on my self-worth run rampant in my head, reminding me that while Graham might want my body, but he doesn’t want all of me.
He doesn’t want the reject of her family.
I'm a woman with a felony who can’t even chase my own dreams because I constantly fucked up.
The promotion pops into my head again, a reminder that I have other options—good ones that will provide for me the rest of my life if I continue working my ass off for my clients.
The piercing screech of the bullhorn draws my attention to where the worker’s distorted voice tells us we’re on the clock.
Not even twenty seconds later, two loud snaps ring off in the distance.
I’m on alert as I creep through the forest, scanning the trees for any hint of movement.
Like a deer, my head is on a swivel, listening for branches snapping.
It takes me a f ew minutes of sliding between trees before I reach a rock enclosure with a window I can see through.
Jordan and Winnie are hunkered down between two towering trees in the distance. They frantically point their hands and nod, seemingly coming up with a plan of attack. Husband and wife against the world. From my viewpoint, I can see Kieran creeping down the hill behind them with my father.
Instead of watching the couple’s demise, I head off to find Graham.
Getting away unscathed myself is difficult, but Winnie’s screech gives me leeway to be a little louder as I clomp over the branches.
I find Graham on the outskirts of the property, distracted as he taps away on his phone under a thicket of trees.
Though I came over here with the intention to make a pact to take out the others, I can’t help popping off two rounds, one on his butt and another on his arm as he spins around in shock.
“Seriously?” He returns fire but misses my waist.
“It’s not my fault you were distracted.” I approach him warily, hands raised in surrender. “What kind of fiancée would I be if I let you get away with mediocrity?”
He lets his weapon fall to the side and pulls me to him, covering his lips with mine. “I’ll make you pay for that later.”
“Sure, you will, big guy.” I pat his chest, flashing him a winning smile. A vibration against my side reminds me he was staring at his phone. “Everything okay? You seemed pretty focused there.”
Something flashes behind his eyes, but it’s gone before I can pinpoint what it was. He tightens his hold on me and kisses the top of my head. “Just Tanya giving me an update. Dad is back home and settled.”
“I’m sure it was pretty scary for them, and you. How are you doing with everything?”
He looks over my shoulder, scanning the area to ensure we’re not about to get ambushed. Though there are lots of pops happening in the distance, we’re apparently in the clear because he sits at the base of a tree and pulls me onto his lap.
“I’m doing okay. Getting any type of call from my dad is terrifying because it’s usually me that has to call him for updates. We’re all each other has.”
I dig my toe into the dirt, hoping my question doesn’t cause him to shut down again. “What happened to your mom?”
His chest collapses behind me with his sigh. “She abandoned us. Took all of my dad’s savings, whatever he had tucked away for my college, and left. No note left behind or reason for why she…why she didn’t take me with her.”
Emotion clogs his throat, and I lean back into him, brushing his hair away and smoothing at the crease in his forehead. “It’s her loss.”
He grabs my hand and kisses the middle of my palm. “It was, and she eventually realized that.”
“Did she come back?”
He pauses a moment to listen, and it sounds like the two teams are still trying to take each other out by blowing through their ammo.
“Only when she saw my name in a Forbes magazine someone left in her doctor’s office.
She was probably looking for her next husband to bleed dry.
” He scoffs and shakes his head. “She turned up at my work and caused a scene until I agreed to speak with her. It took ten thousand dollars to get her to leave.”
My nose scrunches at his description, and something dawns on me.
I wonder if Graham has been so stern about this being just a deal—even though it’s clear there could be so much more between us—because he feels like no one actually wants him for him.
That he’s only good for wha t he can provide to someone else.
From what I’ve seen, the women he’s trusted used him—his mom with her financial robbery and abandonment, and then Bethany with her cheating and lies.
“I’m sorry they took advantage of your kindness.” I hold his stare, hoping he can feel sincerity in my words.
He tilts my head back and teases my mouth with soft kisses at the corners. “Thank you.”
Branches crack in the distance, and we both freeze and hold our breath. My heart thunders in my chest, and when I go to ask Graham what to do his hand covers my mouth.
“Left side of the field,” he whispers into my ear.
I follow his finger, zeroing in on Kieran and Dad slowly pushing through a group of bushes. Another set of branches snap, but this time off to the right. It only takes a moment to realize both teams have banded together to come find us.
Traitors.
I motion for him to go left and intersect the boys while I take care of Winnie and Jordan.
He drags me to him and plants a firm kiss on me before crawling across the leaves and dirt.
I don’t miss how he takes every opportunity there is to touch and kiss me, taking full advantage of our deal.
My stomach flutters with the promise of what’ll come when it’s finally just us tonight.
I slither to the side behind a red oak tree with a hulking base, thighs screaming as I hold myself still.
It’s just large enough where I can lay on my stomach with my feet kicked up and not be seen as I line up a shot.
After years of sisterly fights where weapons came in the form of shoes, hairbrushes, and pretty much anything within reach, I know Winnie’s aim is worse than my abuela trying to throw her sandal at me from across the room.
Targeting Jordan is the smart way to go.
Leaves cr unch beneath my elbows as I prop them up and look down the barrel, setting my sights on my future brother-in-law.
He’s waving his hand at my dad as if telling him to go ahead, and when he leans far enough out, I release the trigger and shoot five balls in rapid succession, hitting Jordan in the arms and torso.
I duck down, and Winnie shrieks loud enough that any birds within the area scatter.
She flails around, making it easy from my position to pop off a few shots on her legs.
There are other shots and shouts going on, but I can’t focus on Graham right now.
Jordan ensures Winnie is okay then turns his sights back to where I’m hunkered down.
Sweat drips down my back as I hop up from the ground and run further into the trees for cover.
My muscles burn when I jump over a fallen log and burst through another copse of trees, skittering to a halt at the edge of a battle between my family and my fiancé. Well, my fake fiancé.
With quiet movements, I dash behind an enormous cedar, staying out of sight as I maneuver into a position to help Graham. Kieran and Dad are at separate sides of the field with Graham taking cover at the rear of an abandoned outhouse.
“You’re cooked, Miller,” Kieran taunts.
Dad snickers and yells, “Come face us like a real man and I’ll give you my blessing to marry my daughter.”
I stifle a smart remark about being old enough to make my own decisions and line up with my target. My finger hovers over the trigger as I inhale a few deep breaths.
“With all due respect, sir.” Graham’s voice echoes in the open space. “She’s already mine, and I’m not letting her go.”
I roll my lips between my teeth, holding back the smile trying to burst forth.
She’s already mine, and I’m not letting her go.
Butterflies erupt in my stomach a t his declaration.
The confidence in his voice is hot, and without a doubt, it’s true.
I’m his, and there’s no point in denying it any longer.
Pink splatters across Kieran’s back as I squeeze the trigger.
He curses and spins around, searching for where the shots came from.
It’s enough of a distraction for Graham to come out from where he’s hidden to pelt my dad with paintballs.
Dad gets off one erratic shot, and Graham goes down in the middle of the field.
“Oh, shit.” I race over to where he’s curled up into the fetal position, groaning. “Are you okay?”
“He clipped me,” he says between short breaths, rubbing his crotch. “It’s okay.”
The high tone to his voice shows me it’s definitely not okay, but he’s trying to put on a good show.
Dad apologizes profusely, unable to do anything else as I help Graham sit up.
The bullhorn blares, signaling the end of the match.
Winnie and Jordan find us as we’re helping Graham up, and we all head back into the building to return our paintball guns and for me to grab my free pizza.
The scent of pepperoni and jalapeno fill the car as Kieran drives us back to the rental. After another apology from my dad and Graham’s insistence that he’s okay, we head inside. I put the pizza on the counter and collapse onto a stool.
“You doing okay?” I ask.
“I’m better now.” Graham pours us both a glass of water, and I chug mine down, relishing in the cool liquid sliding down my throat. My skin heats as he watches me, and I’d be remiss not to notice the tension hanging in the air between us.
We’re finally alone.
Able to finish what we started earlier.
Like we ’re on the same wavelength, Graham encroaches on my space and tilts my chin up. “Get upstairs now.”
Goosebumps break out along my arms, and my breasts swell at the command. The devilish glint in his eyes sets a chill down my spine as I hop off the stool and damn near high knee it up the stairs. He’s quick on my heels, and I barely make it to the landing before he’s on me.
Firm arms wrap around my stomach, and his mouth suctions to my neck, nipping at the salty skin. I moan into his touch, unbuttoning my tight pants and trying to shimmy them down my hips. It doesn’t work. Graham drops to his knees and pulls them down, using the moment to bite my ass cheek.
“Ouch,” I say, though I’m more surprised than hurt.
“This ass has starred in too many daydreams at work,” he says, helping me out of the pants and leaving me in a black lace thong. Thinking about Graham with a hard on at work brings a smile to my face. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who lets their mind run rampant.
“Stop talking and take off your shirt.” I push him away so I can take off my own, expediting the process.
Smooth skin ripples over taut muscles, and I drink in the way his biceps flex as he sheds his clothing except for his boxers, not that it would matter because I can see every ridge of his cock pressing against the thin material.
Small purple welts dot his skin from where the paintballs hit, and my mouth waters at the sight of him.
“You’re gorgeous,” he says. His gaze trails from my painted toes to my lace thong then my heaving breasts, cataloging every curve and dip. He prowls toward me with long strides, eating up the short distance.
I squeal when he scoops me off the ground and wraps my thighs around his waist, settling my pussy directly on his length.
He grips my ass and plasters his mouth to mine in a devastating kiss where teeth clink and tongues tangle, fighting for dominance.
My hips move of their own accord, chasing the high that accompanies rubbing myself against him.
Hot lips score a line down my neck, passionate and furious in their exploration of my body. My back meets the plush mattress with a bounce and Graham’s powerful body hovers over me, securing my hands above my head with a tight grip.
“Don’t move your hands.” A cool breeze skitters across my skin when he stands.
With my legs hanging off the bottom of the bed, I rub them together to stem the ache.
There’s a sound like friction against the floor, then something creaks in the corner of the room.
As Graham comes back into view, warmth rushes to my center when I realize what he has in hand.