Page 75 of Grace

He pulls off his black tank top and settles his baseball cap on his head, the brim turned backward. He’s always been good at providing a distraction… and he knows about Billy and Daisy.

I give him a friendly smile, then discreetly look him up and down. I take in the tattoos on his skin, the thin black hairs below his navel as they disappear into his pants, trailing toward his groin. This man is a force of nature.

When the cheering on the TV subsides, I hear Billy’s voice. The reporter shoves a mic under his nose and bombards him with questions. Daisy clings to his upper arm, grinning into the camera with blindingly white teeth. Cyrus grips my thigh empathetically. I place my palm over his hand, then leave the room with an apologetic smile. I turn up the radio and open the tap before I start washing the dishes.

“Grace, what’s—”

I turn off the hot water and turn to Cyrus, who’s leaning half-naked against the doorframe. He bores his huge, dark brown eyes into mine. Last night didn’t go the way I’d planned—I failed miserably. Neither of us brought it up. Still, the fact that it happened meant a lot to both of us.

“We’re doing good,” I reply quickly. “We’re doing good. And we’re a good team, Cyrus.”

“What happened with Wendy… it happened because—”

“I know. It’s not easy for either of us, but you’re protecting me. You said he can’t kidnap me again.”

“I’d protect you with my life.”

I smile.

“This is why we’re doing good. I don’t blame Wendy, either. She’s in love with you, and… I asked her to do this.” I bite my lip.

“I don’t blame you for the kiss. I reacted poorly. I have no idea what you went through when they almost… Again… So it’s not your fault, baby. And stop asking Wendy for this. I know you did this for me, but this isn’t fair to her. And to you, either.”

“I know.” I look down guiltily and trace a circle on the linoleum with my big toe. When I look into his eyes again, my heart clenches. Cyrus’s dark eyes are heavy with desire. I have no idea how to navigate our sexual life from now on. I turn away and grip the edge of the counter.

“I don’t know how…” I whisper.

Hot air rolls off Cyrus and hits my back, sending a chill down my spine.

He wraps an arm around me and kisses my neck. For a second, my body tenses as my heart and my mind fight for dominance, but when his hand slips down my side, my muscles slowly relax.

He gets my long, brown hair from my neck, then his fingers wander down to the lines of my hot pants. He unties the tight knot, and pulls the shorts down with my panties. He turns me around and makes me sit on the counter. He pulls my T-shirt off with a quick movement and tosses it on the ground. I have no bra on, and my breasts move softly as I’m gasping for air. My chest is filled with fear and excitement.

Cyrus kneels before me and slides one finger inside me. His beard scrapes the sensitive skin of my inner thighs. I’m ready to let go completely, to surrender myself to the pleasure. Physical intimacy was absent from our relationship for far too long.

Chapter 8

Chase

“A drink?”

“No, thanks.”

“I want one.” Nikky drops her bony ass onto the seat beside me. “Don’t look so disappointed. What were you expecting? That my sister would just throw herself into your arms and you’d live happily ever after?” She laughs derisively. “She’s been with Cyrus for years. Okay, they were only friends when you were sentenced, but since then… I guess things have changed. Apparently, their relationship has gotten… deeper.” She licks her red lips provocatively. “Cyrus has probably taken a deep dive into her… personality.”

When she reaches for her drink, I grab her by the elbow. A tingling races down my spine, my mind flooding with red-hot anger. I’d love to break her arm. I wouldn’t feel bad about it afterward—not even a little.

“You took part in it, too.”

She looks at me defiantly, her lips twisting into a crazed smile.

“You hurt her. I can’t understand why you guys were left alive.”

“Because we’re good. Well, I’m the only one left, so… because I’m good.”

“I’d love to kill you, too.”

“They say make love, not war. Why don’t you go down on me instead? That sounds so much better.” She grabs my dick.