Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

LUKE

I can't take my eyes off Gracie as she moves around my kitchen like she’s done it a hundred times before, wearing nothing but one of my old tees that barely brushes the middle of her thighs and her blonde hair piled up into a knot on top of her head. She’s every man’s wet dream.

When she reaches up on her toes for mugs in the cupboard, my T-shirt slips off her shoulder, revealing a tantalizing expanse of creamy skin that makes my mouth water.

“Coffee?” she asks, glancing over her shoulder at me. I grunt an affirmative, forcing myself to look away.

Christ, I need to get a grip. She's Jason's little sister, for fuck's sake.

Off-limits.

As much as I know this, my body doesn’t seem to have gotten the message.

“Here,” Grace says softly, placing a steaming mug in front of me. Our fingers brush as I take it, and I have to fight back a groan at how silky soft her hands are.

“Thanks,” I manage to say, my voice gruffer than I intended.

With a mug for herself, Grace settles onto the stool next to me, her knee brushing against my thigh.

I shift, trying to put some distance between us, but there's nowhere to go. My tiny kitchen suddenly feels claustrophobic. “So,” Grace says, blowing on her coffee, “what's the plan for today?”

I take a long sip of my coffee, buying time.

The truth is, I have no fucking clue. I'm not used to having a woman around. Usually, my days are filled with maintenance around the property.

“We need to get you some clothes,” I say finally. “Can't have you running around in my sweats forever.”

Grace looks down at herself, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “Right,” she says. “I didn't exactly pack for an extended stay.”

“We'll head into town,” I decide. “Get you what you need.”

Grace nods, but I catch the flicker of fear in her eyes. “Is it... safe?” she asks hesitantly.

I reach out without thinking, my hand covering hers on the counter. “You don’t have to worry about that jackass finding you out here, Gracie.”

She looks up at me, her green eyes wide and trusting.

It hits me like a punch to the gut how much faith she's putting in me, and I hope the promise I was making was true.

“Okay,” she says softly. “I trust you, Luke.”

I squeeze her hand once before pulling away. “Finish your coffee,” I tell her. “We'll head out in twenty.”

As Grace disappears into the bathroom to get ready, I lean against the counter, trying to get my shit together. I need to focus on keeping Grace safe, not on trying to get into her panties.

When Grace emerges from the bathroom, dressed in yesterday's clothes, I have to clench my fists to keep from reaching for her. “Ready?” I ask, my voice rough.

Grace nods, wrapping her arms around herself. “Yeah,” she glances down at what she’s wearing. “This is as good as it’s going to get for now,” she adds with a weak smile.

The drive into town is quiet, and the tension in the truck is palpable. I keep one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the center console, hyperaware of Grace's presence beside me. Every bump in the road that jostles her closer makes my dick harder.

As we approach the town limits, I notice Grace's breathing quicken. Without thinking, I reach over and take her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “It's okay, baby,” I tell her. “I've got you.”

Grace nods, her fingers intertwining with mine. The simple connection feels like a live wire, and I have to force myself to focus on the road.

Twenty minutes later, we’re pulling into the parking lot of the only department store in town. It's not much, but it should at least have something Grace can wear.

As I cut the engine, I turn to face her. “Stay close to me,” I instruct.

Gracie’s eyes widen. “I thought you said I was safe up here?” She looks around like she expects Derek to suddenly appear.

“You are, but I’d rather be safe than sorry, yeah?”

She nods, relaxing slightly. “Got it.”

I hop out and come around to her side of the truck, opening the door for her. As she slides out, I place my hand on the small of her back, hoping it’s sending the message that everyone else needs to keep their eyes off of her. Possessive? Maybe, but it feels right.

Once inside, I follow behind Gracie, watching as she moves through the aisles, picking out clothes. I’m pleased at how efficient she is and how practical her choices are. It strikes me how different she is from the women I've known before. There's no fussing over brands or styles, just a quiet determination to get what she needs.

As she reaches for a package of lacy underwear, I have to look away before I start getting any ideas of how they’d look laying on my bedroom floor.

Jesus, I'm acting like a horny teenager.

“Luke?” Grace's voice pulls me back to the present. She's holding up two sweatshirts, one blue, one green. “Which do you think?”

I swallow hard, imagining her in the green one that matches her eyes. “Green,” I say gruffly.

The green one that matches her eyes? Fuck. I might as well hand over my man card and ask her if she’s got room in her purse for my balls.

Grace smiles, adding it to her basket. “Thanks. I think I’m about done here.”

Thank the Gods. The sooner we get back to the cabin, the better.

As we make our way to the checkout, I notice a man with his eyes glued to Grace’s tits, and instantly, my hackles go up. Mine!

I take a step closer to her and settle my hand at the small of her back.

“Problem?” I growl at the man as we pass.

He quickly looks away, shaking his head. “No,” he mumbles at the same time I feel Grace tense under my hand.

“What was that about?” she whispers.

“He was staring at your tits,” I growl.

Gracie’s body starts to shake under my hand, and I drop my eyes to find her quietly laughing.

“Think that’s funny?” I frown.

“Yeah. A little bit.” I shake my head.

Women.

Gracie continues giggling as we make our way to the front of the store. At the checkout, she loads all her stuff onto the counter, and I can tell she’s getting nervous as the total continues to rise. I pull out my wallet before she can protest. “I've got this,” I tell her.

“Luke, no,” she starts to argue. “You've already done so much. I can't ask you to?—”

“You're not asking,” I cut her off. “I'm offering, baby.”

Her face softens, and thankfully, she steps aside to let me pay.

As we’re leaving the store, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and I scan the parking lot. Everything seems clear, but I can't shake the feeling that we’re being watched. I usher Gracie quickly to the truck, my hand never leaving her back.

“What is it?”

“Nothing,” I lie, opening her door and closing it once she’s safely inside.

Once we're back on the road, I feel her relax beside me. “Thank you,” she says softly. “For everything.”

“It’s not a thing,” I say, glancing over at her.

Gracie smiles. “If you say so.”

Back at the cabin, I help Gracie carry her bags inside, and as she starts to unpack, I lean against the doorframe to watch her. She looks more at home here than she has any right to, and the realization hits me like a ton of bricks.

I want her to stay.

Not just until this stalker situation is resolved.

“Gracie,” I say, my voice low.

She spins around to face me, her brows pulled together. “Yes?”

I open my mouth, then close it again. What the hell am I supposed to say? I've known you for all of twenty-four hours, and I'm already imagining a future with you? The thought of you leaving makes me want to burn the whole fucking world down?

Instead, I step into the room, closing the distance between us. Gracie's eyes widen as I cup her face in my hands, but she doesn't pull away.

“Luke?” she whispers, her voice breathy.

“Tell me to stop,” I growl, my thumbs tracing her cheekbones.

Grace shakes her head slightly. “I don't want you to stop,” she admits.

That’s all the permission I need.

I grab Grace's hips, pulling her flush against me as I claim her mouth in a searing kiss. She tastes like coffee and sugar, and I can't get enough. My tongue delves into her mouth, tangling with hers as I walk her backward towards the bed.

When the backs of her knees hit the mattress, I break the kiss, my hands moving to the hem of her shirt. “Arms up,” I command, my voice rough with desire.

Gracie obeys, lifting her arms so I can peel the fabric off her body, and I take a moment to drink in the sight of her, my eyes raking over her bare skin. She's perfection, all soft curves and creamy flesh. I want to touch every inch of her.

“So perfect,” I rasp as my hands slide up her sides, cupping her breasts through the thin lace of her bra.

Gracie arches into my touch, a soft moan escaping her lips. “Luke,” she breathes, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt.

I lean down, capturing one hardened nipple between my teeth. I suckle and nip at the sensitive bud, reveling in the way Gracie's body reacts to my touch. She buries her hands in my hair, holding me close.

Releasing her nipple, I trail open-mouthed kisses down her stomach, and I settle between her thighs, looking up at her through hooded eyes. “Tell me what you want, baby,” I murmur, my fingers hooking into the waistband of her panties.

“Please,” Gracie whimpers, her hips lifting off the bed. “Put your mouth on me.”

I slide her panties down her legs and toss them aside. “Fuck,” I groan when the sweet scent of her arousal fills my nostrils, making my cock throb against the zipper of my jeans. “This pussy’s mine,” I growl, nuzzling into her slick folds.

Gracie cries out as I lick a stripe up her slit, her fingers tightening in my hair. I moan against her flesh, the taste of her exploding on my tongue.

Gracie's wound so tight, her body’s trembling beneath me, and fuck me if she’s not already close. “Do you want to come, baby?”

“Please, Luke. I need to come.” I growl, focusing on her clit and sucking the swollen bud between my lips.

“Yes, yes, yes!” Gracie chants, her thighs clamping around my head. “Don't stop, Luke, please don't stop!”

I double my efforts, my tongue flicking rapidly over her clit as I slide two fingers into her tight heat.

Gracie’s head thrashes back and forth until finally she screams out my name as she comes undone. Pulling the pulsing bud between my lips, I suck hard, savoring the feeling of her pussy clenching around my fingers as she rides out her orgasm.

“You're so fucking gorgeous when you come,” I murmur, climbing up her body.

Gracie sighs as her legs wrap around my waist. “You should make me come like that every day,” she teases.

I grin down at her, my heart feeling fuller than it has in years. “Careful what you wish for.” I roll onto my back, pulling Gracie with me. She settles on top of me, straddling my hips and sending a bolt of lust straight to my already hard cock.

“Not that I'm complaining,” I grunt, my hands settling on her hips. “But what do you think you're doing, baby?”

Gracie rocks against me, biting her lip as she feels my hard length through my jeans. “I want to feel you inside me,” she whispers, her nails digging into my chest. “I want you to fuck me, Luke.”

I groan, my hips bucking up involuntarily. “Gracie, Jesus.” I reach down, fumbling with my zipper. “Shit! I don’t have a condom,” I manage to get out.

Gracie kisses me hard, swallowing my words. “I'm on the pill,” she breathes against my lips. “I'm clean. Are you?”

I nod, my hands sliding up her thighs to grip her ass. “Yes, fuck, Gracie, yes.” I'm already losing my mind, but the thought of burying myself inside her pussy without a barrier between us—fuck.

Gracie reaches between us and tugs down my zipper. My cock springs free, the swollen head already leaking with pre-cum.

She licks her lips as she takes in the sight of me, her green eyes darkening with lust. My dick throbs under her gaze, and I’m more turned on than I've ever been in my life.

“You're so big,” Gracie breathes, wrapping her small hand around my shaft. I hiss through my teeth at the contact, my hips jerking up involuntarily. “Fuck, Gracie...”

She strokes me slowly, her thumb swirling around the tip, gathering the bead of moisture there. I grit my teeth, trying to hold back from fucking her hand like an animal.

“Baby, please,” I groan, my hands tightening on her hips. “I need to be inside you.”

Gracie smiles, a wicked glint in her eye as she rises up, shifting her weight until the head of my cock nudges against her slick entrance. “Then take me,” she challenges, her voice breathy with need.

With a roar of pleasure, I thrust up, burying myself to the hilt inside Gracie's tight heat, and we both cry out at the sensation.

“Holy shit,” I pant, struggling to catch my breath. Gracie feels like heaven. It’s like her pussy was molded to fit me perfectly.

Mine.

“You're so fucking tight, baby. So perfect.”

Gracie rolls her hips, taking me even deeper. “Move, Luke,” she demands, her nails digging into my chest.

Slowly, I sit up, wrapping my arms around Gracie's waist as I capture her lips in a searing kiss. Gracie melts into me, her fingers tangling in my hair as she returns the kiss.

Rolling, I lay Gracie down on the bed, settling between her thighs. Giving us both what we want, I start to move, pulling out slowly before thrusting into her roughly.

Gracie moans, her back arching off the bed. I set a steady rhythm, my hips slapping against hers as I bury myself inside her over and over again.

“That's it, baby,” I groan, my face buried in the crook of her neck. “Take every inch of my cock. Fuck, you feel amazing.”

Gracie’s legs around my waist tighten, her ankles locking at the small of my back. The change in angle allows me to go even deeper, and I feel her walls flutter around me.

“Yes,” Gracie cries out, her nails raking down my back. “Harder, Luke, please!”

Picking up the pace, I pound into harder and faster. The bed creaks beneath us, the headboard slamming against the wall with the force of my thrusts.

“Come for me, Gracie,” I growl, my hand sliding between our sweat-slicked bodies to find her clit.

Gracie shatters with a scream, her pussy clamping down on me as she rides out her high.

The feeling is too much, and with a final thrust, I bury myself deep and let go, spilling myself inside her with a guttural moan.

We stay like that for long moments, our bodies joined as we catch our breath.

“That was—” Gracie starts, her voice trailing off. She looks up at me, her green eyes shining with satisfaction. “Amazing.”

I grin down at her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You're amazing,” I correct her, my voice soft.

Gracie blushes, ducking her head shyly. “I don't think I can move,” she admits with a laugh.

I chuckle, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Good,” I murmur. “I don't want you getting away from me.”