Grayson
. . .
SEVENTEEN
It’s been two weeks since that night I almost tore all the walls down, consequences be damned.
I keep finding myself in situations where I can’t help but be drawn to her, but I drew the line that night after taking her home.
I was so close to kissing her vulnerable lips just one taste to satisfy me.
I knew she could see it written all over my face, but she could also see that it wasn’t going to happen.
Dick of the year award goes to me.
The past two weeks, I’ve made myself scarce, only seeing her on the off occasion we were in the barn at the same time. Ches took over showing her the ropes around the ranch and filled me in on how good she’s been doing. A natural, he had said. I didn’t doubt him.
I’ve skipped the last two family dinners, giving the Foxes one excuse after another.
The few chances I did get graced by her presence, she gave me the death glare.
I just let her, but my balls shriveled a little each time.
Her eyes can be deadly, especially when she can tell I’ve been avoiding her after she pleaded for me not to.
Friendship, she had called it. I can’t just be friends with Maisie. I’ve lived off stolen glances and yearning from a distance the past two weeks. No matter how much it hurts, it's a necessary evil.
I’ve also been called in to fight twice since that night. The more I try to pull away from them, the more jobs they seem to give me. It used to be once or twice a month, giving my body time to heal before getting it ripped to shreds again. Now, it seems like they are summoning me weekly.
My body hates me, but not as much as I hate myself.
I’ve been working on a plan to distance myself, reaching out to one of the good guys within their organization to see what he can do for me. None of them are angels, but some of them still have souls.
I met Emilio Moretti during my first fight.
He pulled me aside after the fight to congratulate me and warn me about the organization.
He could tell I got wrapped up in the wrong crowd, that this was no place for a man like me.
I respect him for having the balls to speak to me behind their backs.
He’s been able to text me warnings if he knows they are going to summon me, or insider knowledge about my future opponents.
I can tell he’s up to his own scheming behind the scenes, but I’m not sure exactly what.
He lives in New York, so he isn’t always here—that’s why he gave me his number.
I know he’s in deep, I’m just not sure how deep.
I know I can’t fully trust him, but it feels good to have one person looking out for me.
I’m reminded to text him, asking how the progress of getting my ‘debt’ paid off is going.
We both know I’ve won my share and more to cover my debts from the fights I’ve competed in.
It’s about power and control for them. They don’t like losing their favorite pets, and I’m bringing them too much money for them to just let me go.
Emilio’s response comes immediately. He’s always straight to the point. I’m working on it is all it says, and I believe him. It’s just so hard to sit around and do nothing, knowing they own me. They know where I live, I’m sure, which means they know where Maisie and the Foxes live.
I need a clean break, some kind of leverage to get out from under their thumb so I can move on with my life.
Do I think it’s realistic? Not a chance, but I’ll die trying if I have to.
I’m done rolling over on my back for them.
Ever since a honey-eyed angel barged into my life, I’ve had dreams of wanting more, living the life I always dreamed about as a little boy.
Speaking of said angel, I round the side door in the barn and find myself right behind her. This is the closest we’ve been to one another in two weeks. We haven't talked, not unless you count glaring.
I remain quiet, taking her in. She’s wearing a white cropped jean jacket with a pair of skin-tight wranglers, Kiss My Ass, Cowboy embroidered into the back pocket in red.
They look fucking divine on her, hugging all her curves.
I chuckle under my breath, catching her attention.
I wonder if she had those imported just to spite me.
Secretly, I hope she did, because that would mean she was thinking about me.
I’m down bad.
She looks over her shoulder, sees it’s me, and dismisses me just as fast. That just won’t do. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten to play with my little flame.
“What are you up to, honey?” I ask, approaching her back.
She grabs a bale of hay, bringing it over to a stall. “Honey,” she scoffs under her breath, continuing to ignore me. “What’s your name again?”
She thinks she can pretend to not remember me and I’ll just walk away. Too bad for her. I follow her into the stall, watching her spread the hay. Once she’s done, she tries to exit, but I’m blocking her in.
“Grayson,” she seethes under her breath.
I smirk, feigning innocence. “So you do remember my name.”
“Get out of my way.”
I spread my arms out, an easy smile on my face. “Make me,” I taunt.
Am I intentionally pushing her buttons? Yes. Did I think she would actually attack me? No. I should have known, though. She’s been full of surprises since the first day she breezed into my life, never one to turn down a challenge.
She charges me, throwing her hands out to push my chest. “GET!” Shove.
“OUT!” Shove. “OF!” Shove. “MY!” Shove. “WAY!” The last shove, she decides to mount me like a koala.
I’m not ready for it and lose my balance, twisting at the last moment so I take the brunt of the impact when we collide with the floor.
Maisie ends up on top, straddling my hips. Her long locks fan around us, creating a shield from the outside world. I look up at her and take in her heaving breaths. My dick also notices the way it’s being squeezed painfully under her, but I pay it no mind.
“Feel better,” I whisper up to her, stroking her cheek with my thumb. It doesn’t count if my hand does it without my permission.
“No,” she mumbles under her breath. She turns her head away from me, and I curse internally. I did that to her. I put that pain there.
Once Maisie realizes she's straddling me, she hops up, patting her jeans off. I follow right behind her, leaving the dirt on mine. Let it be a reminder of her.
I rock back on my heels. “How’s, uhh, writing going?”
“Fine.”
Just fine. One word is all she has the energy for me now.
It’s what I deserve, but it still hurts all the same.
I realize I don’t even know what type of writing Maisie does.
I don’t know much about her, honestly. Maybe the younger version of her, but not the version sitting in front of me now.
The one with goals and aspirations. Who has been through hell and came out the other side.
I want to know it all down to the last detail. Friends can be allowed that…right?
“I’m watching Nova tonight.” Why did I feel the need to tell her that?
She doesn’t care, and I certainly don’t need her back in my house.
I might not be able to hold myself back this time.
Maybe it’s because I loved having her under the same roof as me, even if I made her think the opposite.
I imagined her sitting on the kitchen counter next to me while I cooked dinner for us, a quiet, peaceful life content with one’s company.
Maisie’s “I know” snaps me out of my daydreaming.
“You do?” I press.
Maisie goes back to grabbing hay, giving me the cold shoulder. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
I follow closely behind her. “I do.”
She huffs under her breath, throwing the new bale into the following stall. “Girls’ night. Hunter invited me and Laine over, hence babysitting duty.”
Well, that’s news to me. Laine asked if I could watch Nova, and I said yes, no questions asked.
Am I happy about this? On one hand, this is good for both Maisie and Laine.
I know after the year Laine’s had, she could use some girl time.
And Maisie, I haven’t seen her call or text a single person since coming here.
I’m starting to wonder if she has any friends back home.
On the other hand, I don’t need Maisie injecting herself deeper into my life, getting tangled so far that she can’t be easily removed.
She’s leaving soon, which means one morning, she’s going to wake up and leave us here, and we can’t do a damn thing about it. I don’t want her having any reservations of leaving here and chasing her dreams, or any danger following her out.
I clear my throat, letting her get back to her work. “Well, have a fun time. You deserve it.”
Maisie’s distorted face, laced with confusion by my words, follows me out the barn and haunts me the rest of the day. She’s not used to me being nice to her after two weeks of being met with a brick wall.
I hate myself for it.