by Sherri Hayes
She circled her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, letting him know she was in the moment as much as he was. “Sounds good.”
It would have made more sense for them to put things on the back burner until after they ate, but he couldn’t seem to stop kissing her. Alexander began walking backward toward the kitchen. She followed him step for step, not allowing any space to come between them.
When they reached the table, he used one hand to push the napkins that were lying in the way onto the floor. He’d worry about picking them up later. All he could think about at the moment was Grace and getting inside her.
He lifted her until she was sitting on the table and spread her legs so he could position himself between them. She was warm and inviting, and the little moans coming out of her were going straight to his cock.
“Lift your arms,” he muttered between kisses.
She didn’t hesitate and neither did he. Alexander reached for the hem of her shirt, worked it up her torso, and threw it on the floor, not caring where it landed. He went for her bra next and it soon joined her shirt on the floor.
“I love your tits,” he said, cupping one of her breasts, feeling the weight of it against his palm. “They fit perfectly in my hand.”
Her fingers pressed into his scalp when he brought his fingers together and pinched her nipple. He loved playing with her breasts, but that wasn’t what was at the forefront of his mind. The need to feel her surrounding him was too strong to deny.
He removed his tie, letting it fall to the floor, before unbuttoning his dress shirt. She met his gaze and held it. This felt different. At least it did to him. He hoped she felt it, too. There was no playing, no protocol. It was just the two of them. Being together. Connecting.
Grace helped him push the shirt off his shoulders, running her hands back up his arms. Her fingers left a trail of heat in their wake. He picked up one of her hands and pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist. “You are so beautiful.”
Almost immediately he saw the color rise in her cheeks. “Thank you.” Then she surprised him by using her free hand to draw a line from his collarbone to the top of his slacks. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
Something passed between them, a moment that had him thinking that maybe his feelings for her weren’t all one-sided. That maybe, just maybe, she might be able to feel the same way about him someday.
“My bed was rather cold last night.” It was a way to say he’d missed having her in his bed. He was afraid if he came out and said it that it might scare her, which was the opposite of what he wanted.
She pressed her lips together and looked down, her gaze on the hand with which she was fingering the top of his pants. “I’m glad you’re staying tonight.”
It wasn’t exactly as good as saying she’d missed him, but he’d take it. He released her wrist and went for the button on her jeans. She watched as he popped the button and eased the zipper down. “Lean back a little.”
Grace placed her hands behind her on the table, leaned back, and lifted her hips. He worked the material down her legs, removing her shoes in the process. She stared at him with such trust in her eyes that he couldn’t help but react. His heart beat hard in his chest and his erection pressed impatiently against the seam of his thin dress slacks.
Alexander placed his hand on her chest, letting her know he wanted her to lie back. He hooked his fingers into the sides of her panties and got rid of them as well, leaving her completely naked before him.
Taking his time, he knelt down and spread her open with his fingers. He leaned in, allowing her musky scent to fill his senses, before taking a long leisurely lick. There was something about going down on a woman that Alexander loved.
He did it again and again, circling her clit, sucking her labia into his mouth, and dipping his tongue inside every now and then to taste even more of what she had to offer. Grace’s hand came off the table as if she wanted to reach for him, but then she let it fall again. He realized she wasn’t sure if that’s what he wanted or not.
Shifting a little, he took hold of her hand and placed it on top of his head, giving her permission. Grace laced her fingers through his hair. He loved when she touched him. She didn’t try to control his movements. It was more tactile—another point of connection, grounding.
He felt the trembling of her limbs and knew she was close. But suddenly he didn’t want her to come this way. He wanted to be inside her when she fell off that cliff.
When he stood, her hand fell away and she opened her eyes, worry in them. He swiftly put to rest any concerns she had that she’d done something wrong by removing his pants and rolling a condom down his length.
Alexander didn’t waste any time once he was sheathed. He nestled himself between her legs once more and pressed his cock against her entrance.
Holding her gaze, he pressed himself home, feeling her walls contract around him. It took everything he had not to close his eyes to savor the sensation, but he hadn’t wanted to break eye contact.
He reached for her and she came willingly, sitting up and wrapping her legs around his waist. While he had no issues making love to her spread out on the table, she was too far away.
They kissed and touched while they moved. There was no hurry, nothing that required their attention outside the two of them. He’d never felt anything like it before and he knew why.
I love youwas on the tip of his tongue, but he bit it back. She wasn’t ready. He knew that. Instead, he chose different words. Words that expressed how he felt, but that she could take in a number of different ways. He grasped the back of her head, forcing her to look at him as he reached between them and began massaging her clit. “Mine.”
Grace gasped as her orgasm approached and he gripped her head tighter. She dug her nails into his biceps as he pumped in and out of her, driving her higher. His signs of dominance were making her hot.
“Say it,” he demanded.
Her breath hitched and he felt her muscles contract around his cock in response. “Yours.”
“Damn right,” he muttered before crushing his lips against hers. “Now come for me.”
He thrust into her harder, faster, not relenting until he heard her muffled screams into his mouth.
Only then did he let go and join her, allowing his release to flow through him as he held her.
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Chapter 22
Grace pulled her ponytail tight and took a final look at herself in the mirror before leaving the house. She was running a little later than usual but she couldn’t bring herself to be sorry. Alexander had woken her up in the most delicious way. She could still feel his hands ghosting over her body . . . his teeth nipping at her skin. He seemed to know exactly how to touch her.
“You look happy this morning,” Beth said when she and Grace were alone a few hours later.
She had no reason to deny it. Besides, if Beth hadn’t already heard about what had happened at the club Saturday night, she probably would. Especially since she was part of Alexander’s circle of friends. Grace grabbed several bottles off the shelf next to her and began filling them. “I am.”
“I’m glad. You deserve it.”
Grace didn’t respond.
Unfortunately, Beth picked up on her silence. “Something wrong?”
“No. Everything’s good. Great, even.”
“Why do I sense a but coming?”
“It’s nothing.” She focused on what she was doing and Beth didn’t pry. Thing was, Grace wanted to talk to someone about what she was feeling and her options were limited. There was no way she could tell her sister, and Alexander wasn’t an option either. Not about this. She needed someone that was unbiased but who understood. At least in part. “Do you think it’s too soon?”
Beth carried on as if there hadn’t been a break in the conversation. “Too soon for what?”
This was the hard part. Finding the words to explain. “Alexander. He’s . . . he’s mor
e than—” She searched for the right words. “What I feel . . .”
Beth placed a bowl in the large industrial sink and selected two clean ones from the shelf. “You’re falling for him.”
Direct and to the point. In some ways Beth was a lot like Grace’s sister. But Beth seemed to pick her words a little more carefully.
“Shouldn’t it be too soon?” It was an honest question and one she’d been struggling with for a while. With every passing day her feelings for Alexander grew. He’d become important to her.
Beth eyes softened as she met Grace’s gaze. “Only you can answer that. Do you think it’s too soon?”
“My sister doesn’t think so.”
“That’s not what I asked.” The Domme in Beth was coming out a little and hit its mark.
“I don’t know. A part of me says it is, but then when I’m with him I just . . .”
“Forget about everything else but him?”
Grace nodded. “Yeah.”
Beth grinned. “Then I think you have your answer.”
“I know Kurt wants me to move on.”
It was said more to herself than to Beth, but her boss heard it nonetheless. “He wants you to move on?”
“What?” Grace asked, confused.
“You said Kurt wants you to move on. Not that you know he’d want you to move on.” Beth paused. “You can tell me to butt out if it’s none of my business.”
Right then Grace made a decision. If it was anyone else, she would probably have made something up or said she’d said it wrong, but she didn’t think Beth would judge her. Or Kurt.
She took a deep breath and released it. “Kurt wrote me a letter. Before he died. He asked Alexander to deliver it to me if anything happened to him.”
“I see.” Beth said, wiping her hands on a nearby towel. “So this letter . . .”
“Kurt said he wanted me to move on. To find another Dom.”
Beth took Grace’s hand and squeezed, offering her a bit of comfort. She knew this wasn’t easy for Grace to talk about. “That’s why you came to the club.”
“Yes.” Grace used the back of her free hand to wipe the moisture from her eyes. “Kurt had done some research and found out about the club and Katrina. He’d . . . he’d known I would come back to St. Louis to be near my mom and sister.”
“Sounds like he was a good husband and master. Very prepared.”
Grace smiled despite the heaviness in her heart. “He was.”
“And now you seem to have found another man who wants that place in your life.” It wasn’t a question and Grace had to wonder how much Beth had picked up on in the little time she’d seen Alexander and her together.
“He wants a relationship. Outside of play.” They were slow at the moment, the morning rush over. Otherwise there was no way they’d be able to have so much uninterrupted time to talk. Grace was actually surprised Tommy hadn’t burst through the double doors yet.
Beth propped her hip against the counter. “And that’s not what you want?”
The way she said it gave Grace the impression that Beth didn’t believe that for a second. Considering the smile she’d strolled in with that morning, it was the obvious conclusion. “I do.”
It only took a moment for Beth to connect the dots. “So what’s the problem?”
“I guess it’s insecurity. I mean I was with Kurt for ten years. I don’t know how to be someone’s girlfriend anymore.” Grace lowered herself onto one of the stools. “Stupid, right?”
Her boss’ eyebrow rose and she gave Grace a look she was all too familiar with. Did all Dominants get pulled into a room and shown how to give a sub that look of disapproval?
“Sorry. Poor choice of words.”
“Yes.” Beth went to the big walk-in refrigerator and retrieved a bag of lettuce. She placed it on the counter and tore it open. “I won’t tell you I know what you’re going through because I don’t, but your husband went out of his way to let you know he wanted you to find someone else who could meet your needs. If Alexander is that man, why not embrace it and let things happen naturally?”
“You sound like Alexander.”
Beth grinned. “Wise man.” She pointed to the counter a few feet away from Grace. “Can you hand me those cucumbers over there?”
Grace hopped off her stool and brought the cucumbers to Beth. “It’s easier to do when I’m with him. It’s only when I’m alone that I can’t get my brain to shut off.”
“Give it time. If it’s meant to be, it will all work out. Look at what happened with me and Drew. I wasn’t exactly looking for a relationship when we met, but he was persistent. Eventually, I had to give in.” She said the last part with affection.
Every time she’d seen the two of them together, the love between them was there plain as day. Then Grace had seen them together at the club. They had a connection, a bond. She’d had that once with Kurt. She wanted it again.
That afternoon as they were leaving, Beth pulled her aside. “If you ever need to talk, call me. It doesn’t matter what time.”
“I couldn’t—”
“Yes, you can.” Beth took hold of both her hands this time. “I may be your boss, but I’m also your friend. I know you have Alexander, but sometimes it’s good to have another female to talk to. Especially one that understands the lifestyle you’ve chosen.”
She hesitated and Beth raised her eyebrow again.
“All right. Okay,” Grace said.
“Good. Now that we have that settled, do you have any plans tonight or would you like to grab some dinner with me? Drew’s working, so I’m going to be stuck at home by myself unless I can convince you to join me.”
Grace was tempted to roll her eyes, but she didn’t. Dominant types didn’t tend to like that. And even though Beth wasn’t her Dom, it still felt as if doing so would be very bratty behavior. “I don’t have any plans.”
“Great. I need to swing by my house to shower and change. How about we meet at Imo’s in an hour?”
“Sounds good.”
As soon as Grace walked through the front door of her house, she hung up her coat, kicked off her shoes, and reached for her phone to text Alexander. She had no idea if he was planning to come by tonight, but she didn’t want to worry him if he did stop by and she wasn’t home.
Beth invited me to dinner. Drew is working. – Grace
While she was waiting for his response, she trotted up the stairs to take a shower. Working in a restaurant, no matter what, at the end of the day you smelled like food. It was inevitable.
By the time she stepped out of the shower ten minutes later, she felt much cleaner and she had a message from Alexander.
I’m still stuck at work. Have fun with Beth. – Alexander
Grace bit her lower lip as she considered her response. Should she ask him to come over tonight? That was an acceptable thing for a girlfriend to do, right?
Would you like to come over later? – Grace
Several more minutes passed that had her second-guessing herself. Given he’d be coming over after dinner, it was clear she was asking him to spend the night. Again.
It might be something a girlfriend would ask, but she wasn’t only his girlfriend. She was his sub. Had she overstepped some sort of boundary?
I’ll have to stop by my house for some clothes. Around 8? – Alexander
She breathed a sigh of relief. It had been years since she’d had to navigate the dating waters, even if it was with Alexander.
I’ll see you then. – Grace
Several more minutes went by and she wondered if maybe it was taking him so long to respond because he was in a meeting. That would make sense.
I’m very much looking forward to it. – Alexander
And Grace, make sure you eat well. You’ll be burning off a lot of energy tonight. – Alexander
Two sentences and her body temperature rose by at least ten degrees. She blew out a loud breath and glanced over at her bed—the bed she and Alexander had shared sever
al times now. A smile pulled at her lips. She was sure the guilt would keep cropping up now and then, but she wasn’t going to try and pretend this wasn’t what she wanted anymore.
She sent him a quick text back before she headed out to meet Beth.
I’m looking forward to it, Sir. – Grace
***
Fucking lawyers. They were the thorn in his side these days. Why they didn’t get medical degrees of their own if they were going to try cases involving malpractice he didn’t understand. They certainly thought they knew better than everyone else, including those who actually had a medical degree.
He’d been stuck in that conference room for six hours. Six fucking hours, attempting to explain to that pompous jackass of a lawyer that the scenario he was proposing was not only absurd but downright impossible. But the idiot had been convinced he was right. Even Alexander’s boss agreed, but still the man persisted. In fact, after a while Alexander began to think the man dug in his heels because of Alexander’s boss backing him up. Janet might not be a doctor, but she’d been in this business for close to twenty years. She wasn’t stupid.
Alexander tried to shake it off. What he needed was something to get his mind off the idiot he’d left up on the fourth floor. What he needed was Grace.
After climbing into his car, he drove home. He had some time to kill since it was still early. When Grace had texted him to say she was having dinner with Beth, it had given him a moment to catch his breath and not strangle a certain lawyer. He was glad she and Beth were forming a deeper relationship. Grace didn’t have many friends. Any, that he knew of actually. Hopefully going to the club would change that. She could connect with other subs and not have to worry about them judging her.
After showering and changing out of his suit into something a bit more comfortable, Alexander swung through a drive-thru before making his way to Grace’s. He was a little early, but he had no problem waiting.
Grace pulled into her driveway around seven forty-five. The sun had already set, but the lights from the streetlamps bounced off her blond hair, drawing the eye of anyone who was watching.
