Sal caressed her hair. He had bigger plans for her, but he wouldn’t lay them on her just yet. “Yep, anything is possible.” He kissed her forehead. “Ready for some more swimming?”
Grace sat up. “Yes, I’m getting good.”
“I told you. There’s nothing to it. When the weather heats up we’ll go camping for real. Maybe even take a drive to Elephant Butte.”
Her eyes lit up. “Rose would love that.”
“Yeah, we’ll take her. Maybe even make a group thing out of it. I’ll talk to my brothers. We haven’t done something like that in years. I doubt Alex will want to this summer with the babies being so young, but I’ll talk to Angel and my sister, even Romero.”
Sal was going to have to keep coming up with ways to excite her, because he couldn’t get enough of those bright eyes.
They stood up and jumped in the pool.
~*~
Roasting marshmallows using metal prongs over Sal’s expensive fire pit wasn’t quite the same as roasting them over a makeshift fire pit made out of rocks using actual twigs but it still brought back the memories. Sal had thought of everything, even bought salmon steaks to barbecue, and Grace whipped up some roasted potatoes and a salad.
The entire day had been one thing after another that proved to Grace how wonderfully thoughtful Sal was. He’d done all this for her. She glanced around his backyard, wondering how this could be. How did she end up here, with him?
“What are you thinking?” Sal pulled his marshmallow away from the fire and blew out the small flame that had started on the tip.
Grace held hers in the fire a little longer and stared at it. She liked hers crispy. “How lucky I am.”
“I’ve been thinking the same thing all day. How lucky I am.”
Grace smiled, feeling like this couldn’t get any better, but she knew they’d be in the tent soon and her stomach was already doing that thing it did, every time she thought about Sal making love to her.
They ate their marshmallows and roasted a few more before Sal walked to the small refrigerator in the outdoor kitchen and pulled out a bottle of wine. “We’ll have one glass each,” he said, as he walked back toward her with the bottle, two empty wine glasses, and a corkscrew opener. “I want you fully aware of everything that happens once we get in that tent. I want you to remember this night forever.”
“I’ll remember this entire day forever.”
Sal opened the bottle and poured them both half a glass. Grace took the glass he handed her. “Does that mean I get two of these?”
Sal laughed. “No, that is a glass of wine. You know that, Ms. Superstar Bartender.”
Grace smirked, taking a sip of the wine, hopeful that it would calm her nerves. Sal sat down in the chair next to her and held his glass out. “To good times.”
Grace clinked his glass with hers, feeling a blend of excitement and nerves accumulating inside her. “May there be many more.”
“Oh, there will be, Gracie. I promise.”
He leaned in and kissed her before sipping his wine. Grace sipped her own. When they were done, Sal set both their glasses down and Grace did feel a little calmer. He stood up and held his hand out. “Come on.”
She stood, thinking they were headed to the tent but instead, he t i littwalked toward the house. “Where are we going? I thought we were sleeping in the tent.
“Oh, we are. But we gotta shower first. You don’t wanna go to bed with all that chlorine on your skin. You’ll itch in the morning.”
Grace swallowed hard. She’d been mentally preparing herself to be in bed with him, but in the shower?
They walked into his bedroom. He’d given her the grand tour her first night there and she’d immediately fallen in love with his bedroom. Most of the other ones were empty but his was well decorated. Just like the stockroom at the restaurant, his exquisite taste in décor and attention to detail was evident in the furniture he chose and the decorations that adorned his room.
The master bathroom in his bedroom was bigger than Grace’s front room and kitchen combined. The shower alone had two shower heads and the marble on the wall must’ve cost a fortune.
Sal opened the door to the shower and started the water. He turned to Grace who stared at the water. “You can do this alone if you’re more comfortable that way or…” his eye fell into that smoldering gaze that always made her knees week and he smiled, “there’s enough room for both of us in there.”
Since they were both still in their bathing suits, Sal wore only his trunks. Grace walked in the shower taking him with her. Once under the shower Sal took her in his arms, running his hands freely over her wet body like he’d done all day in the pool. He kissed her softly as the water splashed over them.
Grace could feel it building, the same warmth she always felt in the pit of her belly begin to manifest throughout the rest of her body. Her heart sped up when she felt him undo the strings of her bikini top. First the ones on behind her neck and once her breasts were free of her top’s hold, she felt him take a deep breath. He brought his hands around and cupped her breasts in them, caressing them softly before pulling his lips away from hers and leaned down bringing one to his mouth.
Her breath caught at the sensation of his tongue on her nipple and she struggled not to pant. She undid the strings around her back taking the top off completely and let it drop on the floor. Taking a step back to support herself against the wall, she flinched at the feel of the cold marble against her back.
“You okay?” Sal asked, pulling away from her breast for a moment.
She nodded but refused to speak afraid he might hear just how aroused she was. He went back to sucking her other breast and his free hands made its way down to her bikini bottom, pulling it down on one side. “Lets get this off,” he whispered against her breast. She helped pulling down the other side. Once all the way down her legs, she stepped out of them and he pulled back to look at her, completely naked now.
With her own breathing labored now, she stood trying to control her emotions, as his eyes took her in slowly from top to bottom. “God, you’re beautiful.” He kissed her this time with even more passion, pressing his erection against her. His hand slid all the way down her stomach and with his knee spread her legs.
Feeling his fingers between her legs made her moan, remembering the night in the Jacuzzi. He pulled away from her and stared in her eyes as his fingers spread her. “Promise me you’ll tell me if it hurts,” he whispered.
She nodded, her eyes closing as she felt his finger begiis top off cn to enter. Expecting to feel discomfort, she waited for it but he slipped in and it felt so good she moaned softly, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You okay?”
“Yes.” She finally spoke.
He slipped in and out a few times then pulled his hand away and hugged her instead. “God, I can’t stand it anymore.” He pulled away and reached for the shampoo that sat on the shower rack. He squeezed some in his hand then held it out to for her. Grace held her hand out, palm open, surprised at the interruption. He poured some in her palm. “You drive me crazy, Gracie. Let’s just finish showering and get out of here. I want you in my bed.”
Gracie couldn’t even concentrate on washing her hair, thinking of his last sentence. After rinsing off her conditioner, she opened her eyes and froze. He stood under the other showerhead, rinsing off. He’d taken his trunks off. She’d seen naked men in pictures plenty of time. Joey had a whole calendar of them. But to be this close to one in person took her breath away. It didn’t help that his body was right up there with those models in Joey’s calendar.
Her eyes went from bottom to top, stopping at some of the most essential places. It wasn’t until her eyes made it all the way up to his big chest and the strong shoulders she’d indulged in touching all day that she noticed him watching her—watching him.
“You ready?”
That smile of his always did things to her but now it did more than just speed her heart rate. It burned her up. Boy, was she ready
.
CHAPTER 24
Sal had to regain control here. He’d nearly finished in the shower when he’d gone just a little further than he’d ever gone before with her. He stopped for the same reason he he’d stopped the first time, before going there in the Jacuzzi. How in the world would he get through this without disappointing her? He was too damn old to be feeling like a sixteen-year-old ready to explode just because he’d gotten past second base. But he knew this wasn’t just any girl. This was Gracie. He should’ve anticipated this, prepared himself more mentally.
After drying off, he took her by the hand back into his room. He headed for the bed. “I thought we were sleeping in the tent tonight.”
“We are,” he said, pulling her towel away and taking a very deep breath. “But we’re making our first stop here.”
She shivered and he realized even though she’d squeezed a lot of water out of her thick hair in the bathroom, it was still wet and draped down her naked back. He lifted the plush down blanket. “After you.”
Once she slid in, his heart could barely take the sight of Gracie naked in his bed. How many times, since she’d started working at the restaurant, had he dreamt of this? He’d lost count.
He undid his own towel, let it drop and slid in next to her. The moment he got in she wrapped her entire body against his and kissed him with a hunger like she had the day she’d asked him to make love to her. He had to slow this down but he couldn’t. His own hands roamed all over her warm body. He loved the feel of her leg wrapped around him. His hand slid up it until it reached her behind as he kissed her frantically. This was madness. He’d been in bed with a woman plenty of times, but he’d never felt this urgency.
He had to take it slow with her. He’d never forgive himself if he hurt her. With her leg over his, there was more than enough access to try what he’d tried in the shower again. It was important he prepared her for what would come next. His fingers caressed her and immediately the soft pants that drove him crazy in the shower began.
He slipped a finger in easily enough and concentrated on her face. That was one way to keep from going over the edge. Concentrating on her facial expressions, making sure he stopped the moment he detected any discomfort would help keep him under control. As he went in deeper he took the crease between her eyebrows and her closing her eyes as a sign and stopped. “Don’t stop,” she begged.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded and licked her lips. “I like it.”
He groaned, burying his face in her neck but continued. When he was ready to try for another, he brought his face up again to watch her as he did it. Normally he took pleasure in watching the facial expressions as his fingers worked their magic, but this time it was different. His concern outweighed the pleasure. He was actually thankful for it or he might’ve been a goner by now.
“Still okay?”
Once she accepted three, without any complaint, and instead seemed to be enjoying it he concentrated on getting her there. He knew he had to now, because the way he was feeling already, it was going to be over embarrassingly fast. As annoying as that was—her first time being over so fast, he was confident that after the first time, his performance would greatly improve. They were in for a long night.
He used his thumb to rub the spot that made her arch her back and moan while his fingers continued to do their job of prepping her. Continuing to be very gentle, he was determined to make this as pleasurable for her as possible. He felt her begin to tremble and she moaned a little louder. He kissed her softy, as her trembling heightened to a level that he knew was almost there. His kisses grew deeper at the feel of her accelerated heartbeat against his own pounding chest. She moaned in his mouth and squeezed her leg around him. He pulled away to watch her and slowed his fingers.
Her beautiful breasts rose up and down as she tried to catch her breath but he could see in her face, feel it in his fingers she was still enjoying it. He kissed her forehead. her ro“I love you, Grace.”
She smiled, closing her eyes with a look of complete satisfaction—exactly what he was striving for. He watched her for a little longer before leaning over to his nightstand and pulled out a condom. Glancing at Grace, he saw that she watched him. “You’re sure about this, right babe? Because I’d totally understand if—”
Grace touched his arm. “I’m sure—completely. And I couldn’t have planned today more perfectly than you did. Thank you.”
Feeling an ache in his heart and an overwhelming fear about the possibility of ever losing her, he leaned in and kissed her. “I’d do anything for you, Gracie. Anything.”
With the condom on, he lay over her again. Nothing fancy the first time. He just wanted her to get through it as painlessly as possible. Spreading her legs gently, he positioned himself between them. He held both her hands on either side of her face and leaned in to kiss her as he entered her slowly… carefully. He continued to kiss her softly, feeling her breathing accelerate, the deeper he went. “How you doing?”
“Good,” She nodded. “I love you so much, Sal.”
“I love you more.” He saw her wince and he stopped.
“No,” she whispered. “Don’t stop.”
“You sure?”
“We’re almost there aren’t we?”
Sal tightened his jaw. “Not even halfway, babe.”
Her eyes widened. “Don’t stop.”
He made his way in slowly. Since he was so worried about hurting her, he began to think it wouldn’t be over as fast as he’d first thought. He’d imagined this going very slow and gentle, but once all the way in and her initial discomfort gone, he began to accelerate his thrusts.
She reveled in it, lifting her hips for him, wanting him deeper so he complied. “You still okay?” He could barely speak.
“Yes! Oh yes… ”
Her longing voice only heightened his arousal and he drove in harder and deeper each time. Hearing her cry out with pleasure, he was only able to go a few more times before the enormity of the fact that he was making love to Grace kicked in and it was over. He squeezed her hands grunting as the incredible surge of pleasure pulsated through him.
He collapsed gently on her, feeling her heartbeat against his chest. He kissed her on the temple then her forehead. “My God, Grace. What you do to me. I can’t even tell you—”
She touched his cheek with the back of her hand. “You don’t have to tell me. I know. I felt it, too.”
Sal stared at her feeling the icy terror creep down his spine. After today, he definitely didn’t know how he’d ever live without her.
*
Sal made out Melissa’out"CENs blurry smile as she looked up at him. His arm was draped around her neck. “You got it, babe?”
He tried smiling back but could barely get the words together to respond. “G-got it.”
The hotel room opened and they walked in. Something was wrong. This whole situation was wrong but Sal could barely put two coherent thoughts together much less figure out what it was. As soon as the door closed, Melissa’s hands were on Sal’s pant’s zipper.
Sal jerked out of his sleep, the bright sun immediately making him squint. It took him only a second to remember where he was. In a tent, in his backyard with Grace.
He had a feeling he’d wake up early, but he thought it would be because of the sun coming up so early. Not because of this. His heart pounded. The dream was the exact memory he had of that night in Vegas only the snippet of memory was a little longer this time. Further proof that he had been with her that night. Gulping hard trying not to think about it, he checked his phone for the time. It was only six.
Even with his rude awakening Grace hadn’t budged. She still slept soundly on her stomach, her face on her pillow, facing him. He turned to face her, still breathing hard from his dream and studied her delicate features. The beautifully elongated eyes he’d loved staring into last night each time they’d made love. Those lips, he could kiss them forever and never tire of tasting them.
She g
asped suddenly. Sal stared at her ready to wake her if she appeared to be having a bad dream. The corner of her lip went up ever so slightly and she let out a very satisfied sigh. He had to wonder if she was dreaming about last night. He’d been so exhausted by the time they knocked out he hadn’t even dreamt, at least he didn’t remember dreaming anything—until the morning’s disturbing dream.
He lay back on his pillow again and brought his phone up to his face. Not wanting any interruptions yesterday, he’d placed his phone on silent the entire day. He figured if anything was important enough, they’d leave a voicemail. The whole day he had only checked his voicemail once and to his annoyance it had been from Melissa. He deleted it without even listening. But he had several texts he hadn’t checked
The first was a picture from Alex of one of the twins, smiling in her sleep. Like his mom had said a few days ago when he’d gone over and saw one of them do the same thing, “Probably gas.” Still he smiled and saved the picture on his phone.
The next three were from Melissa he turned the phone just slightly so there was no way Grace could see and began highlighting the entire thread to erase it. Damn phone. He wished there was a faster way to do this.
“Good morning.”
He was so startled by Grace’s voice, he dropped the phone and it promptly clunked him on the forehead.
“I’m sorry!” Grace giggled.
He picked the phone up, blinking a few times. Grace was already on her elbow leaning in. She kissed him on the forehead and nose “Does it hurt?”
“I’m good,” he said, rubbing his forehead then putting his phone aside and taking her in his arms. She yawned. “It’s too early—damn sun. You wanna go inside? I have solar? Iand shades on my bedroom windows. You’d literally think it’s night time unless you peeked out.”