Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Grace

Once Damien and Donna are set up with their pizza order, we head out to Francis' cabin. We picked up some hamburgers on the way, as he was unsure what he had at his place to eat and as usual my man is starving. When we get there, he comes around his SUV, opens my door, and helps me out. I think to myself that I finally found my gentleman in a badass biker/fireman of all places. Never saw that happening. Francis lets us in, turns some lights on, and drops the bags of food on his kitchen table. Going toward the table to pull the hamburgers out, I get halfway there and feel his hands around my waist.

He gently pulls me to him until my back is pressed intimately to his front. Damn, his body feels good, all hard and manly. I mean, well, yeah...he is hard there, too, but his muscles feel like molten steel against my soft female curves. I feel his breath on my neck while his hands move up my sides, past the curve of my breasts, to move my hair out of the way.

Being so close to him, I immediately crave more from him. We are finally alone and there is nothing holding us back from being together. Then his tongue is lightly gliding down the side of my neck, his lips nibbling after. My nipples harden as I feel my excitement flood my panties. Francis makes me feel so beautiful and sexy. Something about the way his hands touch me, reverently, his lips nibble me, and his tongue tastes me, makes me feel like I'm cherished by him. Lost in my sensations and feelings, I don't even realize I'm gasping for more, thrusting my body back into his again and again.

"Darlin', you smell so good. I love how you feel up against me. God, Grace, what you do to me."

"Francis, you make me feel so sexy. So desired and needed. Oh God, yes, that feels so good. Please, don't stop, honey. I need you so bad. "

Francis is nibbling on the skin behind my ear, and I had no idea it was a highly erogenous zone for me. The slight husky moan that slips from my lips startles me. My hands are hungry to touch him and feel his body, to mold my body to his, skin on skin. I am burning up with so much desire that my body is on sensory overload. I want, no need, him so badly .

Feeling like I'm burning out of control, I'm stunned when Francis moves back and gently pushes me away from him.

"Grace, we need to talk. Remember?"

I glance his way giving him stink eye while I scoff at him. I feel the anger building in me immediately. Really? That is his excuse to put the brakes on, that we need to talk. The last thing on my mind is talking for Christ's sake.

"Seriously, Francis, now? Yeah, you said you wanted to talk, but can't it wait? Damn it. You have me hot one minute then go cold the next, I'm so frigging confused. But I guess you're right; you need to explain how you knew I was in trouble this afternoon. Are you spying on me, Francis?"

As his face turns red, I shut my mouth immediately, turn and go sit at the table. He follows and after sitting, he reaches for both of my hands with his, giving them a squeeze.

"Darlin', we have shared a lot lately, but I've not been totally upfront. I don't even know how to explain this to you. Fuck! Have you ever wondered how I'm so in tune with you? Do you ever feel like maybe I can read your mind? Or that you wear your feelings and emotions on your sleeve? Well, got to be honest, and don't ask me to explain it—I can't. Please keep an open mind

"Since I was a small child, I have had the ability to hear things in my head like people's thoughts, and somehow understand their wants, needs, intentions, and emotions. This is just one of the unusual skills I possess. No, don't freak out or panic, please, Grace. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm just a man who has the capacity to either help or fuck with people through their thoughts and emotions. And it isn't all the time; I don't get to pick and choose when it will happen. So yeah, I knew you were in trouble because I had a vision of you in the grocery store with those bikers following you all around. Saw them go into the grocery store, so I called Brick and told him to get the fuck to you."

Listening to Francis, I'm in shock. How is this even possible, and what have I brought into Damien and my lives? I'm in the medical field and have never heard of anything so frigging crazy. Yeah, some people have told me they can read minds and I thought they were bat-shit psycho but this is far beyond that.

"Grace, yes, you allowed me into both of your lives. Don't push me away the first time we have shit come up."

I gasp with shock, and maybe a little bit of fear, as he has just proved to me that he can actually hear my thoughts at this moment. But I know Francis and he's a good man, so I don't think he would use these skills to actually harm Damien or me.

"I know this is a lot to take in, darlin', but I hope you know how much I really care about you. I mean, really care you. I'll never hurt you, Grace. Not you or Damien, I couldn't because it would be like hurting myself. That is why I am being totally honest with you. I don't want this to ruin everything, Grace. I'm asking you to trust me, darlin', ‘cause now you know everything there is to know about me, all I want—no, need—is to feel you against me. I want to kiss you, touch you, and finally make love to you. Yeah, I said make love and that is the first time for those words, Grace. Make love. Never thought that type of intimacy would be in the cards for a freak like me. But somehow I got fuckin' lucky in this life because, Grace, you're right here in my arms."

He waits patiently for my reaction; I know this now as he is in my mind and can read my thoughts. So, he has a front-row seat as I argue with myself. Talk about feeling freakin' crazy. I can't even attempt to keep my internal battle quiet.

He knows I need some time to process, so he keeps talking. And because he is so attuned to me, he is able to calm me down.

"I told you I've never had a girlfriend in my life. Never thought it was possible. Grace, we talked about my parents and how crazy they are. Not sure if that is why, but my three sisters and I all have special abilities/skills , or as we call them, powers. Maybe somehow the universe was trying to give us a hand or some kind of help to get through our nightmare. All I know, Grace, is my body is a mess: scarred and disfigured. That is why I haven't let you put your hands on me and touch me. It has nothing to do with you; I'm just fuckin' embarrassed. It would gut me to see you look at me with disgust. To me, you are a goddess. You might not believe it, but I thank God for leading Damien to me on that field trip. My life started that day."

Removing my hands from his, I watch Francis' head fall down and his shoulders hunch; I know he thinks I'm pulling away. I try to blank my mind as I get up quietly, moving to his side of the table. My hands touch his shoulders as I pull him up to me. His head hits my tummy and I can feel the tremors in his body. My big guy is losing it. I'm sure not many have ever seen this side of him. Holding him close, I give him some time. Then I lean down and kiss his head. His arms tighten around my waist and we just let the moment take over.

"Francis, look at me. Please, honey, give me this."

He lifts his head and I see his wet eyes. My heart fills with so many emotions for him.

"Honey, I can't lie, what you just told me scares the crap out of me. It is hard to even grasp, and then you go as far as telling me what I was thinking at that exact moment. Freaked me out. Regarding your scars, we all have them, some visible, some not. They are the road map to our lives. Scars are the snapshots of our lives good and bad. What you revealed about your secret just now...I can't comprehend. But, Francis, I care about you and so does Damien. We can work through this if we are honest with each other."

Watching his face, I know he still can't accept my words, so I continue.

"Yes, I care. More and more as each day passes. I kind of figured you were hiding something and knew we would get around to it. But, Francis, I want you, more than I have ever wanted anyone. You make me feel alive. You allow me to just be myself; so don't worry about things that don't matter. Okay, honey?"

He nods and stands, pulling me close. I can feel his heartbeat against my ear. I know, deep in my heart, if we are going to take the next step in our relationship, I am going to have to make the first move. So, as my arms wrap around his waist, I lean up on my tiptoes, my hands moving up and around his neck so I can pull his head down, and kiss his full lips. First, I nibble on his bottom one, then put the tip of my tongue on the crease between his lips, waiting to see his reaction. The growl that comes from his body alerts me he is totally on board for this next step. Finally.

His arms hold me tight for a moment as we continue to kiss hot, deep, and wet. He releases me, bends, and lifts me carefully in his arms. Carrying me like a precious fragile gift, he walks through his house to the master bedroom. My body leans into him as I run my lips and tongue all over his lips, jaw, and neck. I want him to know I am totally on board with this. God, I want him and am not afraid to let him feel how much.

Now that everything is out in the open, nothing will scare me away.