SEVENTEEN REID

S EVENTEEN

R EID

Reid covered her mouth as soon as her eyes found Grayson there on bended knee. All around his apartment candles burned, and vases of roses covered almost every visible space. In the background, soft music played, and near the sliding glass door that led to a small balcony was Grayson, patiently waiting for her to take a few more steps closer so he could ask her a very important question.

Was she ready for this?

The hopeless romantic in her wanted to scream Yes! before the words had even come out of his mouth. The hopeful romantic felt their relationship was too new for this type of declaration. They'd jokingly said they loved each other, but neither had come out and made the avowal. Sure, she loved him—and, she sometimes suspected, more than he loved her, but that could also be because she'd loved him so long and he had a lot of catching up to do. Then there was the part about intimacy. He'd made advances early on, but she'd shut the door on anything between the sheets. Reid couldn't afford to get her heart broken again. Grayson hadn't brought it up. He never asked why she didn't want to have sex with him. This sort of bothered her. Shouldn't he want to be with her in every way? Was he afraid, just as she was?

As frightened of the future as she was, she confidently stepped toward him. Their eyes met, and both smiled widely at each other. Happy tears welled in her eyes as Grayson held his hand up higher.

"I had this entire speech planned ..." Grayson shook his head and cleared his throat. "I know this seems out of the blue, but I woke up last week from a dream and you weren't there, or I wasn't in your life anymore, and I thought I was going to die, and I knew I had to change things before I lost you for real." He looked at the ring in his hand and then at her.

"I'm in love with you, Sully. I have been this entire time but was afraid to let you in because of my issues. I didn't know how to exist as the man I was, the one who was slowly dying, and being the man you deserved. I do now. I know what I want, and that is you, in my life. In a life we build together. Reid, will you marry me?"

With zero hesitation, she nodded and wiped at the tears spilling over. "Yes," she said as she stepped forward. Reid bent to his level; avoiding the ring, she cupped his face and kissed him hard. When they parted, he stood and slipped the ring onto her finger, and then he kissed her again.

Afterward, he picked her up and spun her around. "Holy shit, I was afraid you'd say no."

He set her down. "Why would I say no?"

He shrugged. "I know a few things are missing from our relationship. Well, not missing, just not—"

"Are you talking about sex?"

Grayson blushed a deep crimson. He opened his mouth to say something and then quickly closed it. Reid laughed.

"It's not like we haven't had sex before," she pointed out.

"I know, but ... Shit, why is this so hard?"

Reid wanted to have some fun with him. She placed her hand over his crotch and gave him a squeeze. He started. "Not yet, but we can work on it."

"Sully!"

"Oh, don't ‘Sully' me." She laughed. "I'm the one who's pumped the brakes on sex this time. I needed time, and then when I reached the pinnacle of time, I didn't know how to bring it up," she told him.

"Oh, simple," he told her. "You say, ‘Grayson, take your shorts off because I need sex,'" he scoffed.

Reid rolled her eyes. "Always the romantic."

"Reid, listen closely to what I'm about to say: ever since the night we spent together and I foolishly pushed you away, I haven't been with another woman."

Her mouth dropped open in shock. "Wait, what?"

Grayson shook his head slowly. "No one, Sully. Not a single one since you."

"What about all those times Pearce set you up with someone?"

"Do you mean all the times I'd end up at your apartment afterward?"

She nodded.

"Do you really think I had sex with someone and then came over to your place?"

Now she was the one who was embarrassed. Yes, that's what she'd thought, and she'd often cried herself to sleep after he'd left. "I—I ..." She stopped talking.

"Jesus, Reid." Grayson ran his hand through his hair. "Hell no. I came here after those dates because you were the one I wanted to be with. Ever since meeting you, you're the only one I've wanted."

"I didn't know."

"Clearly." He rolled his eyes. "I'm fixing that now, though."

Grayson scooped her up into his arms, and she squealed. He carried her to his bed and set her down gently and then pulled the tie holding her dress together. It fell open, exposing her lacy black bra and matching panties.

"The first time I saw you like this, I knew it would never be enough." Grayson picked up her left hand and kissed her ring finger. "And now I get you forever," he said as he looked into her eyes.

Reid used her free hand to undo his belt and then the button on his slacks. She looked up at Grayson as she slipped her fingers into the waistband of his boxers, pulling them down until they pooled at his feet.

Her hand slipped under his shirt, her nails trailing along. She felt him shiver under her touch, exciting her. Reid started on the buttons of his shirt, wanting him undressed. He moved her hands aside and worked the small disks through the holes. When he got to the last one, he slipped it over his shoulders and let it fall to the floor.

The mood shifted as Grayson stepped closer to Reid and cupped her face in his hands, searching her eyes. He leaned down and softly kissed the corners of her lips before pressing his lightly against hers. His tongue searched for an entrance as their kiss deepened into something passionate yet gentle. Reid let out a small moan that caused Grayson to pull away slightly so he could look at her incredulously, asking with his eyes alone if she wanted more.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." Grayson whispered the words as his lips ghosted across her skin. Goose bumps rose, and she shivered. He smiled in response and began to leave open-mouthed kisses on her body until he was back to her lips. His hands were all over her, caressing every inch of her body. Reid let out a moan, and her head fell back as he cupped her breasts and played with her taut nipples. She shuddered when his grin turned wicked. He was toying with her. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. They'd waited so long for this moment. She was eager for him. But also, she wanted to savor every bit of the torture.

Grayson lifted her effortlessly and carried her to the center of his bed, placing her on the soft comforter. He kissed his way down her stomach until he'd reached the edge of her panties. He looked up at Reid and waited for her permission; she nodded.

He slid the lacy fabric down her legs and tossed it aside. He began to explore every inch of her body with his mouth, tongue, and hands, showing her just how much he loved and adored every part of her being.

Grayson settled between Reid's legs and took a deep inhale of her scent before burying himself in her. She moaned loudly and gripped a handful of his hair as he expertly worked his tongue over her nub.

"Grayson." She arched her back and gripped his shoulder to bring him closer to where she needed him to be. He complied and slid himself into her silken depths, slowly pushing until he filled her completely. His eyes rolled as he inhaled deeply.

"Fuck, Sully," he muttered.

"God, yes," Reid replied as she moaned and dug her nails into his backside, pushing him impossibly deeper. His hips rocked into her, thrusting with urgency to satisfy her. She brought her knees up, giving him a different angle. He hissed at the sensation and thrust harder.

"I'm close," she said breathlessly. He reached between them, pressing into her nub. Her moans became louder, her movements frantic. She muttered words of encouragement and adoration.

"Please, please," she begged him, wishing him to push her over the edge. He kissed her deeply to swallow her cries while pulsing inside her.

They lay there, spent and blissed, their naked bodies intertwined, until Grayson rolled off Reid and inhaled deeply. "Sully."

Her answer was inaudible.

"Yeah, same. We need to do that again."

"'K."

"Except we have dinner reservations with our family."

Reid sat up in surprise. "What?" She looked at a naked Grayson, with his arm over his eyes, breathing heavily.

"Yeah, it's part of the whole engagement surprise."

"Now you tell me." Before she could get out of bed, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her to him.

Grayson chuckled. "Give us a minute. I want to hold you."

She wanted him to hold her as well. Lying back, she nestled into the crook of his neck and slung her leg over his, grazing his slacked penis. The simple touch caused him to flinch.

"Uh-oh."

"What's ‘uh-oh'?"

"Seems like I'm about ready for a repeat and longer performance."

"I guess we'll have to wait until we get back." To remind him of what he'd started, she took him in her hand and stroked him. "We can do a little of this when we get back, but just remember, I'm not the one who forgot about the reservation when you started taking my clothes off."

Grayson groaned into the pillow. "Promise?"

"Promise."

They cleaned up, re-dressed, and made it outside to where a limo idled. "That's our ride," Grayson said. "I'm surprised he stayed."

"Grayson!"

He ran his hand through his hair and greeted the driver. "Thanks for waiting."

"No problem."

Grayson followed Reid into the back seat. He reached for a waiting bottle of champagne, popped the cork, and poured each of them a flute. "To us," he said as he tapped his glass to hers. "I love you, Sully."

"I love you, Grayson."

The entire time she drank, he never took his eyes off her. When she pulled the flute away, he leaned down and kissed her. "I'm so damn happy."

"Me too."

She held out her hand, admiring her ring. "It's beautiful, Grayson."

"Does it look familiar?"

Reid's brows furrowed as she pulled her hand closer, inspecting her ring. "Uh, I'm not sure. But I think ... Is it?"

Grayson nodded. "Reid, I asked your father for your hand in marriage before I even went to look for a ring. I thought we'd look together—at least that's what Pearce says people do now. However, when I was with your dad, he handed me your mom's ring. As soon as I opened the box, I knew that was the ring for you."

Reid cupped his cheek and pulled him toward her. "I love it so much. You have no idea." When she pulled back, she felt wetness on her cheeks.

"Don't cry," he said as he wiped her tears away.

"These are happy tears."

"Yeah? That's good, then."

They pulled in front of the Italian bistro where Grayson and Reid had danced on their first date. He guided her inside and toward the back where their table was, along with the small gathering he had arranged with their friends and family.

Reid went right to her father and hugged him. "Thank you, Dad."

"Anything for you," he said as he held her tightly. When they parted, she showed him the ring and then hugged him again when he teared up.

After she and Grayson had greeted everyone, they sat down to a nice dinner, followed by dessert and dancing. And when they got home, exhausted, Reid made good on her promise. As did Grayson.