Where Promises Die: A Second Chance Romance

by R. C. Stephens

  Grace snickered, looking to Eisav. “I see you’ve taught him well.”

  “Angel, I hope to teach him lots of things. I have years to make up for.”

  “You will.” Grace sighed lovingly.

  The limousine finally came to a stop in front of a store. Many people were lined up outside. Grace noticed a black SUV stopped in front of them. A moment later four large men exited the SUV. Two of the men made a straight line for the limousine while the other two took a position at the front of the line. In the dusk light of evening, Grace noticed they had earpieces. She looked to Eisav, cocking a brow.

  “It’s okay. It’s my security team,” he assured her.

  “Are you signing autographs here or something?” she asked, feeling confused.

  “Not exactly.”

  A moment later the limousine door was held open for them to exit. Eisav immediately took Cain in his arms and held Grace’s hand. There were people waiting in line, a calm bunch. Grace heard some of them whisper Eisav’s name and a few people called out his name. The same men dressed in dark clothes, Eisav’s security team, guided them toward the front door and helped them inside, locking the door behind them.

  Grace’s gaze darted around the space, noticing a sign on the doorway that said Ainsworth Gallery. As she took a few more steps inside, she saw a large picture of herself with a short biography. Her breath hitched as Eisav pulled her deeper into the gallery. All her paintings adorned the walls.

  “What? … How? …” She had a history of being speechless at moments, but this trumped them all. She looked to Eisav with swollen eyes.

  “This is an art show showcasing your art. You have real talent. It’s not something that can be forced in a classroom, although if you want to go to school to learn art, I’ll make it happen. I had an art curator flown in from France last week. His response to your work was…” Eisav made air quotes with his hands “…In this modern age I haven’t come across something so exquisite. He’s a very influential man and he invited art buyers to view your work tonight. It’s up to you if you want them sold, although he believes you’ll be garnering some high numbers.

  “I … uh … I …” Grace stuttered. She couldn’t believe that Eisav had the time to put this all together without her knowing. She also couldn’t believe people were actually here to see her art. She also couldn’t believe the art dealer felt like she had real talent. Her heart fluttered as she felt the need to pinch herself.

  Eisav grinned then looked toward the entrance.

  Grace felt wind on her back and a moment later heard Ilana’s quirky voice. She turned quickly.

  “Wow, girlfriend, do you clean up nice.” Ilana winked and Grace leaned in to give her a hug, blushing a bit.

  “So what do you think?” Ilana waved her hand over the gallery.

  “It’s a dream come true,” Grace replied, covering her mouth with a shaky hand. She was on the verge of tears, but she didn’t want to ruin her makeup.

  Marie came up to her and gave her a hug too. Marie and Ilana were wearing elegant pantsuits in matching colors. It was a cute idea.

  She looked back to Eisav, who was still holding a sleepy Cain in his arms and whispered, “Thank you,” holding a palm over her heart.

  With his free hand, Eisav placed a palm over his heart and whispered, “Thank you.”

  Ilana rubbed her hands together. “Okay! We have about forty-five minutes to eat. There’s a back room with a lot of good food waiting for us. Then we open the doors and the waitresses will go around serving wine.” Ilana was all business as she directed them into the back room. A long table covered in white linen was set up with delicious looking dishes down the center of it.

  Grace noticed how Ilana had everything taken care of to the last detail. Cain even had a child’s meal of chicken fingers and taters waiting for him. The friends and family ate a hearty meal filled with good conversation and great wine. On schedule, the doors opened forty-five minutes later to art buyers dressed in suits, art enthusiasts with ripped jeans and many piercings and, finally to Dr. Vittorio Accorsi, head of an art gallery in Italy. He was visiting and scheduled to give a speech at Columbia.

  Eisav took in the simultaneous overwhelmed and heartened look on Grace’s face but as always, it was her smile that warmed his heart. She clapped her hands over her mouth when she asked, “Eisav, how many strings did you have to pull to make this night happen?”

  “Babe, I would serve the entire world to you on a platter if I could just to see you smile.” She gazed at him lovingly and he felt like they were kids again and he tried to make her smile. As Grace chatted with the many guests there in her honor, Eisav stood a few feet away from her, like a protective shield. She wondered whose benefit it was for. He’d barely left her side since the accident but the truth was that it felt good to have him close. It made them both feel better.

  As the guests inquired about her artwork, Grace spoke at great lengths about her inspiration on the farm. It all seemed so surreal; these people were interested in the small moments in her life depicted in these paintings. With the scent of good wine swirling the air and the flowing conversation, Eisav came up behind her. He now had Cain resting in a stroller in front of him.

  “Where did that stroller come from?” Grace asked. Any baby stuff she had owned had been hand-me-downs from Greta or she bought at the thrift shop because that was all she could afford. Even Isaac Duncan, who had known the truth and had known that Cain was his grandson, didn’t offer to help her monetarily.

  “I had Ilana order it online. I figured this would run late and the little guy would be tired. Besides there’s a lot of street walking to do in New York.” Eisav shrugged.

  Grace adjusted his collar and gazed at him, star struck. “Is there anything you and Ilana haven’t thought of?” she asked sarcastically.

  “I hope not. I want this night to be perfect for you.” He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her lips.

  “It’s better than my wildest dreams. Dr. Accorsi said I have real talent. He invited me to Paris in October. He’ll be spending time at the Musee d’Orsay,” Grace explained with round eyes and a high-pitched squeal to follow.

  “That’s amazing, Grace. Let’s do it.”

  Grace glared at him, furrowing her brows. “This doesn’t feel real. I can’t just pick up and become an artist … put on shows …” she said in such a way that Eisav would know how preposterous it sounded.

  “Why the heck not? That’s how it works, Grace. The public is hungry for what you have to offer. This is your life’s passion. If that’s what you want, you go for it.”

  Grace just laughed. “Don’t be silly. Look at me. Simple me … I’m not an artist … I’m not a girl who sips wine and discusses art … I’m …” Thick sadness coated her throat.

  “Grace … Angel … you can be who you want to be … do what you love to do. Your experiences are a part of you, yes, but they don’t define you. They don’t have to control you either. You’re in control of your own destiny. I hope tonight teaches you that. You have a God-given talent, and if you want to share that talent with the world, then do it. If you want to keep those paintings for yourself, I’ll respect that decision too, but don’t make the decision based on your fears. Make it because it’s what you believe in your heart. The sky’s the limit. Now you need to define your wants.”

  Eisav’s life-altering speech left Grace feeling breathless, turned on, and exuberant.

  “Sorry to interrupt, guys,” Ilana cut in. Her voice felt like a bucket of ice cooling down the heated moment. “People are asking to buy your paintings,” she stated then waited expectantly, looking to Grace for a go-ahead to sell or not to sell the paintings.

  Eisav cocked a brow.

  Grace took a large gulp. If she sold her paintings, it would help pay off the recent loan she took for classes to complete her high school diploma. “The money could pay off my debt,” she mumbled to herself.

  Eisav shook his head. “No, you can’t look at i
t that way. Any debt you have I’ll take care of. If you sell, then you sell because you want your work out there gracing someone’s walls.”

  Grace rolled her eyes playfully. “You’re not paying my debts, you overbearing man.” Then she inhaled a deep breath. “Yes … I want to do it. I want to sell. Those paintings represent my past.” She looked to Eisav for consolation.

  “Ilana, I’m her first buyer. That painting over there and that one are mine,” Eisav said, pointing first to the painting of the two of them as youths and then the one of a dark-haired girl holding a small baby with dark hair at her bosom, a wistful wind blowing around them and a warm sun shining brightly on them by the pond.

  “You aren’t paying for those. If you want them, they’re yours. If you would have let me finish I was going to say that those paintings are part of my past, and now I want to paint my future. Being here in New York has sparked something inside me. I wish I had my brushes and canvases here …”

  “We can get those to you, Grace. There’s an empty room in the penthouse with great lighting if you want to stay in New York … but I’m not pushing for that tonight. This evening has been enough of a whirlwind for you.”

  Grace sighed. She was feeling spent from all the excitement.

  Ilana stood off to the side, waiting for her answer. “So we’re selling then, right?” She nodded, letting out a knowing smile, before stalking off to take care of business.

  Marie stepped in. “Let me take Cain to the back so he can rest peacefully.” She took the stroller Cain was passed out in and turned it around to wheel him to the back.

  “Thanks.” Eisav smiled.

  Marie paused. “Maybe Ilana and I should take him back to our hotel so you guys can have some privacy,” she suggested, looking between Grace and Eisav.

  Eisav took a step back to let Grace decide. Grace nodded her head. “Thanks, Marie. He would love to spend time with you.”

  Marie smiled sweetly and lifted her shoulders in excitement. “Good, I’ve missed the little guy.”

  As the paintings were stripped from the walls, one by one, Ilana took care of the transactions. Grace stood by bidding each painting farewell and feeling content that the buyers had been so moved by her work. As her eyes roamed the gallery she thought of how wonderful it would be to one day own an art gallery like this one.

  A good hour later Ilana stalked toward Grace with her suit jacket over her shoulder. She was now in a sexy off-white camisole and dress pants, looking a little more laid back. “They’re all gone … every one of them. Sold … Grace, you vixen. You made two hundred and fifty grand tonight,” Ilana said, doing a ‘whoop-whoop’ kind of dance and sashaying her hips.

  Grace’s breath caught in her chest. “Come again?”

  “You heard me, girlfriend. Everything’s gone except for the two Eisav called dibs on. We’ll have to ship everything out.”

  “Whoa.” Grace held onto her heart, feeling a little lightheaded. Was tonight even real?

  Eisav stepped in behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’ve got you and I’m proud of you.” He kissed the back of her head, and she fell into him, allowing her body to melt into his.

  Grace and Eisav sat side by side in the limousine, holding hands. The night had gone better than his wildest dreams and now the excitement of the evening was still crackling through his body. He leaned over and grazed his lips across her jaw. Watching her tonight in her element and in that red dress drove him wild with need. He was waiting for this moment to finally have her to himself.

  She curved her neck into his feather-light kisses. “Mmm, that feels nice,” she purred.

  “Don’t moan, Grace, it’s taking everything in me not to take you right here in this backseat.”

  She tilted her neck to give him better access. “Would that be so bad?”

  He snickered. “No, but I’m trying to convince myself to go slow and easy this time.”

  Grace scoffed. “You, slow and easy? Yeah right.” She rolled her eyes playfully. Then her face turned serious. “I’m good now, Eisav. I’m feeling much better. My injuries are healing. I almost don’t have any pain … Besides, you know I like it hard and fast.” A blush crawled up her cheeks.

  Eisav growled. “You’re killing me right now. You know that, right?” He directed his eyes toward the tent in his pants.

  Grace licked her bottom lip then bit down on it. “I was kind of fantasizing about sex in the limo as we were driving earlier tonight,” she admitted with a heated gaze.

  His shock turned into a knowing grin as his chin padded across her jaw. “You never cease to surprise me, my wild one.”

  Grace curved her lips upward. “It’s you. You bring out that side of me. You make me feel alive. I always feel most like myself when I’m with you … if that makes sense.”

  Eisav gave her a loving stare. “I do. I feel the same. I think it’s because we’ve always accepted one another for who we are. Now enough of the small talk …” He placed his hand with the thumb ring on her thigh and spread her legs. He felt her breath catch as he dipped his hand between her folds and rubbed his thumb along her moisture. She was already wet for him and it only turned him on more.

  “Eisav, that ring … please,” she said, her voice raspy. “It feels so good, so cool … it’s driving me crazy.”

  He worked her over so more. Allowing the cool ring to rub her clit in all the right places. She was writhing beneath his touch. “Eisav, please …”

  “What, Grace? Do you want to ride my dick? Look at what you do to me,” he said, urging her to look at his erection. Her eyes landed on him and within seconds she was frantically unbuckling his belt, then his button, and finally his zipper. He lifted his hips to lower his boxers and jeans. He was breathing heavy while she worked quickly to remove the thong she had been wearing.

  Then she straddled him, but he didn’t give her access to his dick. She cocked a brow at him, and he grinned playfully, lowering his hand back to her pussy, rubbing her wet heat around, and enjoying her fast, cool breaths along his neck.

  “That feels so good. That ring feels amazing …” she moaned.

  He captured her lips, allowing his tongue to dive in her mouth. As their lips collided and meshed, hot need burst through them like a volcanic eruption. He reached down to grab a condom.

  “Let me.” She pulled the condom out of his hand, earning a knowing smile from Eisav.

  “That’s it. My little vixen is back,” he hissed.

  She was getting ready to ride his cock when he placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

  “Wait!” he grinned widely. “Give me a second and stay quiet,” he said, and she pressed her lips together. Eisav pushed a button on the console for an intercom.

  The driver responded, “Yes, sir?”

  “Felix, can you please drive around for at least half an hour? I’d like to show my girl the sights in the city.”

  “Of course, sir.”

  Eisav released the button, and Grace’s cheeks grew flushed as she moved forward, allowing him to penetrate her. She gasped, “That feels so good.”

  She began to move her hips at a hungry pace. Eisav moved his own hips in rhythm while rubbing her clit with his thumb and ring.

  “I’m going to scream! Jesus! I’m going to scream. Can … he … hear … us?” she asked breathlessly, referring to the driver.

  “I hope not, angel, because those sounds are for my ears only. I’m beginning to think you like sex in public after our night back at the farm.” He chuckled.

  Grace smacked his chest but began moving faster.

  Eisav growled. “Fuck, you feel so damn tight around my cock, Grace. I fucking love when you ride me. Ride me, baby, ride me.” He thrusted up into her and gave her ass a little smack. Then he moved his hands over her breasts, gripping them roughly and running his hands over the fabric of her dress. “I would have preferred you naked for this…” he grunted between thrusts “…but I don’t want you to slow down because my c
ock is on fucking fire.”

  She rode his cock frantically while gyrating her hips as he pressed into her, filling her to the hilt. Loud moans of ecstasy escaped her lips and as Eisav came, Grace’s pussy continued to clench and milk him as her own orgasm continued.

  Once they both came down from their high, they were heaving and panting. Grace shifted off his lap so he could get rid of the condom.

  “I’m not done with you yet,” he warned. “I need you in bed, stripped naked.”

  Eisav advised the driver to take them back to the penthouse. They were both a disheveled mess as they made their way through the lobby and up the elevator. Once they entered the penthouse, Eisav got to work lifting her dress over her head. He had advised the personal shopper to bring sexy lingerie to match the dress, but he hadn’t expected her to be spot on with her choice.

  Removing Grace’s dress now revealed she had been wearing a lacy red bustier with a red ribbon flowing down the front and a red lacy thong to match.

  The dark pools in Eisav’s eyes had turned to liquid lava, and Grace grinned. “Not the Christian school girl anymore.” She made a little twirl, showing him her backside. With her nude pumps still on, she looked like the ultimate seductress.

  “Fuck me,” Eisav gasped.

  Grace laughed. “I plan to.”

  Eisav nodded his head with a playful grin. So much time had passed but in this moment it felt like time had stood still as the two lovers gazed at each other with heavy eyes and playful, taunting grins. Eisav’s chest filled with hope that he had previously been hesitant to feel.

  Surprising him, Grace turned around and made a run for the bedroom. “That is if you can catch me.” She made a dash toward the back of the apartment, in her heels.

  “Oh! I plan to,” Eisav said with a wicked laugh. He decided to give her a head start because she was heading exactly where he wanted her. He took a minute to shoot Marie a quick text to check in on Cain. It made him feel good that he shifted into the role of father so effortlessly.

  “Where are you, Gracie?” he called as he made his way to the bedroom.