by Hope Ford
I gasp. “In Kentucky?”
He nods. “Yes, Aunt Bethany will keep you on the straight and arrow until I let you come back. But you screw up, Gracie, and you’ll never come back to Whiskey Run.”
If he’d said those words to me yesterday, I would have been happy. But not now, not when I just met Aiden. “Dad, please don’t do this.”
He walks to my door and turns. “My mind is made up, Gracie. You disobey me in any way and I will destroy your friend. Everything he loves he will lose.”
And then he slams the door behind him.
Aiden
This has been the slowest day of my life. So many times I wanted to drive over to Gracie’s house just so I could get a glimpse of her. But instead, I’ve kept myself busy. I spent the morning cleaning my apartment that is over top of the Savage Ink shop. Then from the afternoon into the evening I’ve been busy with one tattoo after another. When night finally comes, I’m on edge, pacing back and forth. Treyton and Dawson have already left for the day, leaving me to my anxious waiting.
I’ve thought about what I’m going to do if she doesn’t show up. There won’t be any stopping me. I know she’s scared of how her father will react, but I won’t let him stand in our way. I dreamed about Gracie last night and the life we would have together. I know she’s the one, and I’m not going to give up on us or our future.
When the clock strikes eleven and she’s still not here, I grab my keys. I no sooner get out the front door of the shop and lock it up when I hear her. “Hey, Aiden.”
“You came,” I say stupidly. I had hoped she would and hadn’t doubted it until the last hour or so.
“Yeah.” She nods, looking over her shoulder as if she’s being followed.
I stride toward her. “Are you okay?”
She nods, but instead of looking at me, she’s looking down at the sidewalk. I walk toward her, holding out my hand. “Come on, my apartment is upstairs.”
She reaches for me, and I wrap her hand in mine, taking her up the side stairs to my apartment. I open the door and hold my breath. I know this is nothing like her family home. The apartment has been decorated with furniture I got on sale at local stores. Nothing fancy and honestly, I’ve never worried about things like this before. But with Gracie, I do. I want her to like it here.
She walks into the room and straight to the wall of artwork. I’ve had a lot of my designs framed, and they’re hanging on the wall in various forms. “Are these all yours?”
I nod and walk up behind her. She’s staring up at them, pointing out what she likes about different ones, and I go to the side so I can see her face. But what I see shocks me. It was dark outside, and I totally missed this. “Gracie, what’s wrong? Your eyes are swollen, your nose is red... what happened?”
She’s shaking her head. “Nothing. Nothing is wrong.”
But I don’t believe her. I tilt her chin up with my finger. “Is it your dad? Did he upset you?”
She clenches her eyes shut tightly and nods. “Yeah, he did. But I’m here now, and I don’t want to think about my dad.”
I want to know so badly what is wrong with her, but she won’t tell me. I don’t want to upset her even more than she obviously already is. “Okay, but eventually you’re going to have to tell me, Gracie. I’m not okay with sneaking around. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
Her eyes widen. “But you just met me...”
I nod as I take a step toward her. I’m right up against her, and I can feel the brush of her breasts on my stomach with every breath she takes. “Yeah, I just met you... a little over twenty-four hours ago, but it’s enough to know that I want you to be mine. There’s a connection between us that I’ve never felt before, and I’m not going to let you go, Gracie. I want you.”
Her hands go to my waist, and she tilts her head backwards. “Will you kiss me, Aiden?”
I lean down and press my lips to hers. I intend to go easy, but she’s hungry for my touch, opening her mouth like I taught her to. Our tongues tangle against one another, and her hands are moving up and down my chest. She lifts my shirt, pressing her hands against my warm torso. I pull back, panting. “I didn’t ask you here for this. We can wait. I don’t want to rush you.”
She’s shaking her head before I can even finish. “I don’t want to wait. Give me this, Aiden. Please, I need you.”
I cup her jaw with my hand, stroking my thumb across her swollen lower lip. “Are you sure?”
She nods, and I lift her up into my arms. Her legs go around my waist, and I put my hands on her ass, holding her tightly against me. Already, my cock is hard, pressed against her hot, molten center. Our lips meet, and I forget everything else except the precious woman in my arms.
I carry her into the bedroom and sit down on the bed with her in my lap. She is pulling at my shirt almost desperately, and I lift my arms so she can take it off. She stares at me, her fingers tracing the ink on my body. Her touch is like a spark, causing a flame to shoot through my body. “I wondered...”
“Wondered what?” I ask, pulling her shirt over her head. Her breasts are large, pouring out of her white bra. Her nipples are hard, and I touch them through the thin material. She gasps, pressing her body into my hands.
She moans, and her head falls backwards. “I wondered if you were tattooed everywhere.”
She leans back, looking at the trail of ink that disappears down the front of my pants. I shift, my cock harder from just having her look at me. “Yeah, almost everywhere.”
She nods and reaches for the button of my jeans. “I want to see.”
Fuck, how am I going to survive this?
6
Gracie
He stops me from undoing his pants and instead undoes my bra. He palms both my breasts, stroking his fingers over my hard peaks. I rock against him, feeling his hard cock underneath me. He may have gotten me distracted, but I won’t be swayed this time. I don’t have much time, and if I have to leave, I need this memory to get me through.
I reach between us, cupping his hardness in my hands. Even with the rough material of the jeans between us, I can still feel how big he is. He groans as he stands up and turns, laying me down on the bed. He makes quick work of removing my shoes and pants before discarding his own. By the time he lies down on me, my whole body is trembling at the contact.
Where he’s hard, I’m soft. Where he has hair, I’m smooth, and every soft touch is like a tiny flicker that makes the blood rush to my head. I put my hands on his shoulders, and he’s looking down, hovering over me. He’s trying to read me, and although in most cases I’m an open book, I can’t be tonight. I can’t let him know that I’ll be leaving Whiskey Run at daybreak and won’t be back for three months. Hopefully, for fear of what will happen to him if he doesn’t, I hope he does forget me. But there’s a small part of me that knows he won’t. I know what he means when he said this is special. It is special, and it’s going to kill me leaving him. That’s why I need this one night.
“I need you, Aiden.... please.”
He slides his hand between us, moving his thick fingers through my wet and swollen folds. “You’re soaking wet for me, Gracie.”
I nod. “I know. I’ve thought about you... about this all day.”
He leans down, his hot breath hitting my breast. “You’re all I’ve thought about since yesterday.” He suctions his lips to my nipples, and I arch my back on the bed.
He kisses down my belly, fitting his broad shoulders between my legs. He holds my legs open, and he’s almost salivating as he looks at my most private area. “I have to taste you, baby.”
He doesn’t wait for my response; he moves in, pressing his lips to my core. His tongue swipes through my folds as I clench the cover in my hands. He’s doing more than tasting me. He’s consuming me.
I lose all train of thought as I writhe underneath him. His strokes bring me to the edge and then he slows. Over and over, he torments me until I’m practically begging for him to let me come. I need that
freedom that I felt yesterday. I yearn for it.
“Please,” I beg him. “Please let me come.”
He slides up my body and positions his manhood between us. I can feel him there, his hard thickness swaying back and forth over me. “I want you to come on my cock,” he says as he kisses me. I can taste myself on him, but I’m not grossed out or disgusted; if anything, it brings me to a whole other level of desire.
“Yes. I want that too,” I tell him, lifting my hips, trying to urge him on.
His head falls between my breasts, and he sighs before looking up at me. “I don’t want anything between us, Gracie. I want to take you bare. I want to feel your silky, tight channel hugging me.”
His gravely, demanding voice pulls at my lower belly. I feel like I could combust right now. “Yes, I want that too.”
I know we should talk about things like protection, but right now, I don’t even care. I want to feel him, all of him, inside me.
“I’m going to hurt you... but then I’m going to make you feel good.”
His brow is creased, and I can tell it bothers him that he is going to have to cause me pain. But I don’t care. Nothing can hurt as bad as knowing that I’ll never have this again.
“I don’t care. You can do whatever you want to me, Aiden. I want it all. Please.”
He looks at me, no doubt wondering about the desperation in my voice, but I don’t give him time to think about it. I open my legs wider and shift my body so he’s lined up at my entrance. “Please...”
He pushes into me, barely an inch. “You’re so fuckin’ tight, baby.”
I groan at the intrusion on my body. I feel full already, but I know there’s more, and I want to experience it all. “Please, Aiden. Hurt me, please, get it over with and then make me feel good. I need to feel good,” I plead with him.
He plunges into me in one quick thrust. I gasp, and I can’t stop the tears from forming in my eyes if I tried. He’s buried inside me, fitted right up against me, and I struggle to catch my breath. My eyes clear, and I hear him telling me he’s sorry over and over. He’s kissing my eyes, whispering against my lips. “Gracie, baby, tell me you’re okay.”
I nod. “I’m fine, but make me feel better, Aiden.”
He reaches between us and goes straight to my clit. I’m already on fire and fully aroused, but his motions take me to the next level. I start to lift my hips, adjusting to the feel of him inside me. “Yes,” I breathe against his lips.
He smiles. “That’s my girl.” And just those few words go straight to my heart. I want that more than anything. I wish I could be his girl.
He starts to move then, and what I thought was good before was nothing compared to this erotic friction that feels like it might combust between us. His hips move up and down, and he never stops the torture on my clit. “I’m close,” I sigh.
“Come for me, Gracie. Come for me.”
I do, and the orgasm rushes through my body like a rocket. I can feel him everywhere, touching and pleasing me, taking me higher than I’ve ever been before. He’s grunting, his face clenched when he comes too, grunting into my neck as his body convulses.
We’re both panting. I have my arms wrapped around him, and I’m probably being too clingy, but I don’t care. We won’t have tomorrow, so right now I’m going to try to memorize the feeling of being in his arms.
“Are you okay?” he asks, pulling back enough to look into my eyes.
I nod. “I’m good. I’m really good, actually.”
He raises himself up, and I grimace as he pulls from me.
“Stay right there, I’ll be right back.”
He walks away, and I watch his naked body as he moves. He wasn’t kidding. He really is tattooed everywhere.
He comes back shortly, and I can’t help but stare at his muscular body with his manhood still semi hard between his legs. He stops next to the bed, and I raise my eyes to his when I realize he’s watching me.
“I would give anything to have you again, but I know I would really hurt you then. You need to recover.”
Aiden
My dick twitches as she stares at it. I would love to be inside her again, but I know it would hurt her if I took her again so soon.
I go around the bed, between her legs. She reaches for the warm rag in my hands, but I don’t let it go. I want to be the one to take care of her. “I want to do it. Open your legs, Gracie.”
She does, but almost shyly as if I wasn’t balls deep inside her just minutes ago. Her pussy is red, and the remnants of her virginity and our cum is leaking out of her. I don’t know why, but the image bothers me. I take my finger and push the jizz inside her. I then take the warm cloth and clean her gingerly. As soon as I’m done, I toss the cloth into the hamper and then climb into the bed beside her, pulling her naked body against mine. I know I should cover her up because she is way too tempting, but I need to have her in my arms.
She comes to me easily, and I wrap our arms and legs around each other. Her eyes are hooded, and I know she’s tired.
“Are you okay?”
She nods and yawns softly. “I’m really good. Thank you for tonight, Aiden. I’ll never forget this.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it because now that I’ve had you, I won’t be able to keep my hands off you, Gracie.”
She looks surprised.
“I dreamt of us last night. It was about our future. I know it’s too soon, but I’m going to tell you about it one day because it felt so real. For the first time ever, I want to settle down and buy a house, start a family.”
Her eyes widen, and I’m sure I’m freaking her out. She just lost her virginity and already I’m talking about getting her pregnant. “Don’t worry, we have all the time in the world. Let’s just enjoy tonight.”
She snuggles closer, and I want her to talk to me; I love hearing her voice. “Tell me more about you. What do you want to do with your life?”
She shrugs, and I lean back to look in her eyes. “Really, if you could do or be anything, what would that be?”
She doesn’t hesitate this time. “I’d be an artist. I would love to be able to make art and have it hanging in galleries or even in people’s homes. I just want to be able to share my work.”
Her eyes light up as she’s talking about her art, and I know exactly how she feels. I’m the same way about my tattoos. I love giving people a way to express themselves. “You should do it, Gracie. Just the artwork I’ve seen is amazing. You really do have a gift.”
Her chest expands against me as she takes a deep breath. “Yeah, maybe someday.”
“I can help you get started. I have savings.”
“I’m not taking your money, Aiden.”
I shake my head. I know it’s soon. She doesn’t get it or understand that I want her to be mine, and that means anything that is mine is hers. I don’t want to ruin it tonight. We have forever to work it out. “Well, the offer stands. I know you can make a success with your art. I’m just offering to help, that’s all.”
She kisses my chest and lays her head down on my shoulder. I can’t explain the look on her face, but there’s still a tinge of sadness in her eyes. I wish I could wipe it away, but the only way that is going to be possible is to get her away from her father.
She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “You don’t know how much it means to me that you believe in me.”
I pull her tighter against me. “Always. I’ll always believe in you.”
She looks like she might say something, but when she closes her eyes and buries her head into my chest, I leave it be. I lay my chin on her head and fall asleep with my future in my arms.
7
Gracie
I snuck out on him. I had to. I know I wouldn’t be able to leave and lie to him if he was awake and looking at me. I waited until he’d finally fallen asleep, and I carefully pulled from his arms. I don’t know how long I sat there, staring at him, memorizing everything about him before I made myself get up. I dressed as
quietly as I could before I pulled the already written letter from my purse and set it on his nightstand. He is going to hate me after reading it. I know he will, but it’s for his own good. There’s no way I could just let my dad destroy him and his business, and that’s exactly what he’d do if I tried to see Aiden again.
I was selfish and wanted one night with him, so that’s what I did. Maybe when I come back in three months, things can be different. Maybe I can appeal to my dad and he will have a change of heart. But even as I’m thinking it, I know it won’t happen. There is no future for Aiden and me, and the sooner I come to terms with it the better off I will be.
I walk all the way back to my house and sneak into my bedroom. I’m a nervous wreck, knowing I could be caught, but this was a chance I had to take. I couldn’t just leave Whiskey Run without seeing Aiden again.
I fall into my bed and look at the clock. I have to be up in two hours. My father is putting me on a plane to Kentucky. I’ve already made plans. I’m going to find a way in the next three months to get free from my father. I won’t be able to come back to Whiskey Run, but maybe, if Aiden doesn’t completely hate me, I could get him to come visit me. That’s the only hope I’m able to hold on to. I have to do something because I can’t live like this.
Aiden
The sun is barely risen, and I sit up, knowing something isn’t right. I’m still naked from the night before, but instead of feeling the heat of Gracie’s body next to mine, I feel chilled. The apartment is quiet, and I know that no one is here. She left.
I raise up and notice the letter on the nightstand immediately. It’s folded, and in big cursive writing it has my name on the front of it.
I reach for it, unfold it and start to read, with a feeling of dread already in the pit of my stomach.
