Tell Me What You Crave

by Susan Sheehey

  Grace stared at her phone, sitting on the seat beside her. The screen had shattered from when she'd dropped it. It wouldn't even turn on now. She took in a shaky breath, and clasped her hands beyond the point of pain.

  Perhaps I should pray to someone else.

  “Meggie, sweetheart, I know you can hear me.” She swallowed. Tears pricked her eyes. “You’re so strong. You always were. Please, help Pax. I’m begging you, share your strength with him. He needs you again.”

  More silence.

  “I love you so much. I miss you every day.” Tears dropped onto her bare knees. Grace used her skirt’s hem to wipe them off, but more fell in their place. “I can't bear losing you twice.”

  After she wiped her last tear, the air conditioning kicked on. The draft blew across her shoulders, causing goosebumps to form along her skin.

  She wished she could call Dorian. He had a way of keeping her from the edge. Making her smile at even the hardest moments. His number was saved in her now broken phone. She hadn’t memorized it. Now was the time, more than ever, she needed his comfort.

  The way he’d tried to flirt with her their first few encounters after she’d moved in had unsettled her at first. Only because he was that enticing. During a time when she wasn’t ready for it. He was too charming. Those were his moments of bringing lightness into the world. A world that’d been so dark recently.

  This room seemed to get darker by the minute.

  A soft knock broke her prayers. She wiped her eyes, and hid her face from the door. “Come in.”

  “Aunt Gracie?” Daisy peeked her head through the door. She still wore her pink princess costume.

  “I never got the chance to tell you how beautiful you look in your gown.” Grace plastered on a sweet smile, the best she could muster.

  The girl returned her smile, just as slight. She pushed the door open more, and a tall figure stood behind her. “Prince Eric wants to see you.”

  Dorian stepped through entrance, wearing a dark shirt and loose jeans. His gaze locked onto hers, and gave her a smile that told her he knew everything.

  Everything about what she felt.

  “How did you—”

  “Ruben called me.”

  Her jaw dropped.

  “I’m getting a candy bar from the food box,” Daisy interjected. “Do you want one?”

  “No, thank you, princess.”

  The girl looked at Dorian. “Want one?”

  “Save one for me,” he replied with a wink, and gave her another dollar from his pocket.

  The door closed behind her, and Dorian moved up the aisle.

  Her legs were too weak to stand, but she didn’t have to. He knelt in front of her, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He held her there in silence, her heart uncinching itself with every heartbeat against his chest.

  “Photographers crashed the party, and Pax…he just dropped.”

  “I know,” Dorian whispered against her neck. “Ruben told me everything.”

  “I can’t believe he called you.”

  He pulled back, and rubbed her arms, chasing the goosebumps away. “He said you were the first person who got to Pax. Held him until the paramedics got there.”

  That was the moment in her mind that Pax’s face had turned into Meggie’s.

  “You need some water.”

  Grace shook her head.

  The scruff on his face was longer, and scratchy under her fingers. Caressing his strong jawline felt natural to her, calming.

  Dorian pressed his cheek into her touch, and kissed her palm.

  “Thank you for coming,” she whispered.

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

  “Do they know anything yet?”

  He shook his head. “Do you want to go sit with them?”

  With a deep sigh, she glanced at the cross. “Yeah. I’ve said all I came to say.”

  Dorian smiled, and brushed a strand of hair away that had fallen from her ponytail. They walked out, hand-in-hand.

  In the waiting room, Ruben and Julie spoke to a doctor in scrubs, a set of papers in his hand. They hung on his every word, and Julie held onto his jacket so tight, she was about to rip it.

  Dorian’s arm wrapped around Grace’s waist, and squeezed gently. “It will be all right.”

  When the doctor nodded at a question, the parents both sighed.

  The tension in the room eased along with their shoulders.

  Just as Grace reached their side, Ruben gave her a relieved smile. “He’s okay. All the heart tests are fine.”

  “Did he say what happened?”

  “Pax has strep throat, which made him dehydrated. Must’ve caught it at the beach last week.”

  Julie’s face was pale. “He never had a fever, and he never complained about anything hurting…I can’t believe I missed it.’

  Grace hugged her. “It’s all right. He’s okay.”

  “They’re going to keep him overnight, just to be sure. Since he’s a transplant patient.”

  “That’s good.” She gave her a reassuring smile. “You’re an incredible mom.”

  Daisy returned with her candy bars, the security guard following in her wake. She beamed when Ruben scooped her up and told her the good news. “I got him a candy bar, too!” She waved the chocolate bar in front of her dad’s face.

  The doctor led the family to Pax’s room, while Grace remained in the waiting area with Dorian. They sat on a couch in the corner, and she allowed her body to relax into him. His lips grazed her temple, and she absorbed his warmth.

  “What were you doing before Ruben called you?”

  “Getting fired.”

  Grace looked at him, and sighed. “How do you feel about that?”

  He fluttered a kiss along her cheek. “Duane was pissed. But I feel pretty good, actually. Being here with you… I just wish it were under better circumstances.”

  “I’ve always hated this waiting room.” She glanced around the semi-sterile surroundings, the walls a drab taupe, and the floors a thin carpeting. “Hospitals in general…not my favorite place.”

  “So, you’re saying this would be the wrong time to say I love you?”

  She pressed her lips together, but her smile kept spreading. There was no stopping it. The combined relief and joy flooding her heart was impossible to contain. She chuckled. “I’ve learned there’s never a wrong time to say those words.”

  “Well, good.” Dorian lifted her hand to his lips, and kissed her knuckles. “Because I do. Whether or not America’s favorite host likes me.”

  She chuckled again. “He’s open to a new hairstyle, at least.”

  That time, he laughed. “He can keep the Ace Ventura hair. I get you.” He placed his lips on hers, and smoothed his tongue along the seam.

  Grace opened for him, soft and slow. His mouth tasted salty and savory, like sweet tea mixed with her tears. There was a lot to work out when they re-entered reality, but this time she wasn’t doing it alone.

  “I have a confession,” she breathed, savoring his delicious taste.

  “Anything.” He rested his forehead on hers.

  On a deep breath, she let out the words she hadn’t said in so long. “I love you, too.”

  He grinned, cupped her face, and kissed her again.

  “Are you ready to face the inquisition when we walk out of here?” she asked.

  “I welcome it.”

  Dorian

  Ruben’s jaw muscles flexed as he stared hard at Dorian, outside Pax’s hospital room. Dark circles haloed the man’s eyes, and his skin was pale, despite the recent beach vacation. That man had endured more stress over the last few weeks than anyone’s fair share. “I apologize for losing my temper earlier.”

  He shook his head. “You have a better excuse than most.”

  “I don’t like the judgments tabloids have jumped to with regard to me and Grace. So, I won’t do the same with you.’

  Dorian swallowed. “Most of that was false.”

>   The celebrity crossed his arms and shifted his stance. “Which part was true?”

  “I used to be a Knight.”

  His brows scrunched together. “Explain the difference.”

  “Higher end clientele. A little more focused purpose.”

  This time, Ruben’s eyes drifted down the hall.

  Grace and Julie visited with Pax, now awake and talking inside his room on the other side of the wall. His wife laughed at something.

  “I assume Grace is aware of all that?”

  “Of course. I would never lie to her.” Dorian lifted his chin a little higher. “But she was never a client.”

  The man started to chew on the inside of his cheek, like he hated the taste in his mouth. “I know. You’re neighbors.”

  He squared his shoulders. “Either Grace told you that, or you’ve had me investigated.”

  Ruben tilted his head. “I did no such thing. My publicist on the other hand…”

  Dorian shoved his hands in his pockets. “Wherever you’re going with this, I don’t discuss my former clients, nor anything about that role.”

  “None of that is my business, even though my publicist is screaming for more details.” Ruben’s ringtone echoed down the walls, and he quickly silenced it. He scowled at the caller ID. “Case in point.” He ignored the call. “My only concern with regard to you, is Grace.”

  “Then we at least have that in common.”

  “If you hurt her, or are out to scam her like the others tried, I’ll set my whole team of lawyers against you. There won’t be anywhere you can hide.”

  Dorian tried to hold back a chuckle. “Do I look like the kind of guy who hides?”

  The celebrity shrugged. “You’d be surprised how men respond when the shit really hits the fan.”

  Now, he chuckled. “I call your fan, and raise you a roadside bomb. I know exactly how I respond to those. I’m a Marine.”

  His cocky expression disappeared on that one.

  “I’ll save you the effort of trying to defend Grace. Because she’s more than capable of doing that on her own. Which is why I’m in love with her. Now, I respect you and Julie a thousand-fold for everything you’ve done to help her, and kids like Pax. For living through watching your child fight for his life. That’s a struggle I can’t imagine. I’d love the chance to spend my life helping her with her dream. The rest…is between her and me.”

  Ruben looked sideways at him, and then finally extended his hand.

  Dorian shook it with a firm grip.

  “Good to hear.” He turned toward the door, and grabbed the handle.

  “One last thing,” Dorian interrupted. “This thing with her charity, and the investigation probably coming. Obviously, she’s done nothing wrong and that will come out. But if there’s anything you or your network can do to make it a little easier on her, I’d be grateful."

  The man’s expression softened, and he waved his hand. “Already on it. Let’s just say she won’t have to worry about sponsorship for a long time.”

  “Thanks.”

  “If you really mean what you said, that you want to help her live her dream…she’ll be going to a lot more charity fundraisers and formal events. Keep your tux dry-cleaned.”

  EPILOGUE

  Dorian

  Four months later.

  Grace set her scarlet satin purse on the dining room table, and removed her diamond stud earrings. She flashed him a smile as brilliant as the diamond-wreath necklace around her flawless neck.

  The jewels didn’t have Dorian aching nearly as much as her form-fitting lace gown, the same color as her purse. Strapless, a tight bodice holding in her ample breasts, and satin draped from her waist to the ground in a waterfall of glamor. An open slit on the right side revealed up to her lower thigh. He could almost feel that silky leg squeezing around him.

  “Why are you looking at me like you’re famished? You didn’t get enough to eat at the fundraiser?”

  “Their menu didn’t offer anything that satisfied my appetite.”

  Her blush extended down into her cleavage.

  Dorian nearly groaned from wanting at the sight. He removed his suit jacket and draped it around one of his dining room chairs. “You certainly had a better turnout at this one. I told you having that Harley signed by celebrities would draw in a lot more tickets.”

  She chuckled. “Thanks to you and your connections, you’ll be the best addition to the charity, setting up all those fundraisers.” Grace started pulling bobby pins out of her hair. Her long arms stretched over her head with an elegance that mesmerized him from the first day he saw her. The woman in 9C.

  Now the woman who ruled over his own condo. His heart.

  With a pull on the last bobby pin, her hair tumbled over her shoulders.

  He nearly groaned with need.

  “But I think one of the most attractive things about you is the way you make all those kids enjoy those monthly parties at the hospital. Complete with dance offs and glove puppet contests.”

  “Who knew latex gloves could be so much fun?” He smirked, then came up behind her to comb his fingertips through her curls, rubbing against her scalp.

  Grace hummed her approval, and tilted her head back. “I go through my whole day waiting for this moment.”

  “Your personal catnip.”

  “Better than drugs.”

  She grabbed his hand, and started removing his cuff links. The black stone with the diamond chip off centered, his memento from the agency as a Knight.

  That vocation now a closed chapter in his life.

  “Did you expect your life to be like this six months ago?” Grace kissed his knuckles as the last cuff link came loose from his sleeve. “Event coordinator for charities and pediatric hospitals?”

  “I certainly didn’t expect you to agree to date me, so, no.” Dorian kissed the arch of her neck, letting her perfume dance across his lips.

  “Do you miss it?” She turned in his arms, and braced her arms around his shoulders.

  He tilted his head, and waited a long moment before he answered. “I miss the free gym membership.”

  Grace chuckled, and pressed her lips to his.

  He opened for her, savoring each other’s tongues, and tasting the dessert that finished off their night of charity and dancing. So sweet, delectable, and never enough.

  “I’m sure several hearts were broken when you quit.” She smiled against his mouth.

  “Absolutely.”

  Her eyes widened.

  “Vaughn and Riggs are devastated.” He smiled. “But I promised Duane I’d still be around town to change his wi-fi password when he forgets. Old age is getting to him. He’s pushing fifty.”

  Grace smirked. “No longer on his shit list, are you?”

  Dorian shook his head. “I don’t like burning bridges. He’s a good guy, just hotheaded, and trying to protect his business.”

  “How did you even meet him?”

  He laughed, and slowly unzipped her dress from behind. “After the military, I hated the desert so much, I chose the water. Worked on a cruise ship for eight months. One of those entertainment coordinators, emceeing pool parties and stuff.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “That’s where I met Vaughn, too. Would’ve been an awesome gig for me, if I hadn’t been deathly seasick every voyage. Not even Dramamine helped. On my last voyage, the cruise line arranged a photo shoot for some of the male employees, for their spring break campaign, Hotties of the Sea. I only agreed because Vaughn insisted. Duane was a guest, and saw how we handled the shoot. Offered us both a job on the spot.”

  “And since you were already miserable with nausea, you figured—”

  “For a guy not ready to grow roots yet, it was a great way to do what I love. Meet new people, have fun, and enjoy life. Look who I met…” Dorian let her dress slip to the floor, pooling at her red heels.

  “Some might call that the Peter Pan syndrome…not wanting to grow up.” Grace threw a smi
le over her shoulder.

  “All I have to do is sprinkle my magic fairy dust. With all the fun we have, why hurry into growing up?”

  “Who says grownups can’t have fun, too?”

  The End

  SNEAK PEEK FROM TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED

  The next novel in the Knights of Texas series

  Chapter One

  Vaughn

  Vaughn Ayers dipped the woman over his arm, gliding his hand down her slinky, sequined shirt until he reached her navel. His heartbeat matched the rhythm and bass from the salsa music, the song ingrained in his soul. At least ingrained in his memory, he’d heard the song fifty times each cruise. After six years working for the cruise line, he had the DJ’s whole playlist memorized. Dozens of assignments all over the world, countless ports, and even more countless women.

  But the dancing would never get old.

  Courtney lifted her head, and stared at Vaughn, still poised in the dip, both of them lost for breath. But that glint in her eyes proved the hours of flirting over the day just paid off. With that one move.

  That’s why Vaughn loved dancing.

  He literally swept women off their feet. Worked every time.

  The ship swayed against a wave, making everyone on the multi-colored floor stumble. He wrapped his arm around her tighter, and helped her stand. He barely noticed the swaying now, so used to it after years of working among rough seas. The blonde gripped onto his neck, and pressed her mouth to his. Her tongue forceful against his mouth, and sweet. A precursor to the rest of the night.

  Her mouth lingered on his, and her gaze filled with lust. “My cabin or yours?”

  He grinned. Sleeping with guests was strictly off limits. On or off duty. Good thing Courtney wasn’t technically a guest. She worked for the cruise line, one of the camera crew from today’s photo shoot. “Yours,” he replied into her ear over the music.

  With a grin, she grabbed his hand and led him off the floor. Vaughn glanced over at Dorian, his friend and fellow cruise ship entertainment coordinator, who, last he saw, was dancing with some Spanish beauty. Except now, he stood over the by the bar, guzzling bottle after bottle of water.