3. Chapter 3

Chapter three

Grady

I help Scottie out of the car, thank our driver, then walk her up to the garage.

“God, this place hasn’t changed,” Scottie murmurs as I unlock the office door and pull her inside, locking it behind us. The only light in the space comes from the moon and street lamps outside the windows. Scottie wanted to see everything about my new life, so I carefully guide us through the office and into the garage.

“Oh, come on. The outside has a new coat of paint and the name is different. You’ve got to give me credit for that.” I flip the lights on just as the smell of rubber and oil hits our noses, followed by the sound of the lights buzzing to life.

Scottie’s eyes scour the space. There are several cars in the bays still, customers who needed more than just routine maintenance. The Camaro that was giving us trouble last week is ready to be picked up on Monday, and in the far corner, under the sheet that keeps her safe, is my ’73 Nova—my own project that I’ll get to someday.

“This is a big change from swinging a bat and wearing a glove.” She meets my eyes .

“Yeah, it is. But working on cars is the only other thing I really liked besides baseball.”

She reaches out her hand to me and I take it. “Show me around.”

I give her the tour, showing her the tire balancing machine, the welding station, and how to use the vehicle lift before we end at the tool shelf.

“It’s a lot cleaner than I expected.” She wrinkles her nose at me. “But this stands out like a sore thumb.” She strides over to the Nova. “What’s under here?”

I lift the sheet and rip it off the car. “My project.”

She tilts her head at the car. “Doesn’t look like you’ve done much.”

Laughing, I reply, “Haven’t had much time.” That’s a lie. I could make time, I just haven’t. I haven’t had the motivation—for this or much of anything lately.

She runs her hand over the hood, dust collecting on her hand before she wipes it on her jeans. “She sure is sexy though.”

I wait for her gaze to meet mine again before replying. “Yeah, she sure fucking is.”

My pulse hammers as our breaths grow shallow, but neither of us moves.

“Are you ready to prove that coming here wasn’t a mistake?” she asks breathlessly, her chest rising and falling rapidly. My self-control snaps, and I quickly close the distance between us, burying my hand in her hair.

I pull her head back slightly, grip her hip possessively, and say, “Nothing between us could ever be a mistake, Scottie,” before crashing my mouth to hers.

With one taste I know that this woman just might ruin me .

Scottie’s lips mirror my own, licking, seeking, and when our tongues meet, a groan travels up my throat and vibrates against her mouth.

“Fuck,” I mumble against her lips.

“Don’t stop, Grady.”

Lifting her up by her hips, I place her on the hood of the Nova and press her against the cool metal surface. God, I want to devour her right here, but she deserves better than this. Better than a rush to get each other naked, better than fumbling sex on the hood of my car. Our mouths move over each other, my hands trace her body, memorizing her curves, how soft her skin feels as I run my palms up her arm, how fucking incredible she tastes and sounds, dragging me even further under her spell.

But before I can suggest we go to my house, she pushes me backward, hops down from the hood, and strips off her jacket, tossing it to the ground. Then she unbuttons her jeans, kicking off her wedges before peeling them down her legs, leaving her standing there in her red top and black G-string.

I drag a hand down my face, trying to pick my jaw up off the floor. “Jesus Christ, Scottie.”

“Touch me, Grady,” she whispers, and I fight every ounce of my control not to pounce on her immediately.

I lift her back on the hood of my car, spread her legs open, and lower my face to her pussy, dragging my nose through her slit and inhaling her scent through the thin strip of silk before biting the inside of her thigh, trying to pace myself. She moans, lifting her head up to watch me as I apply pressure to her clit through the fabric with my fingers.

“You’re sure you want this, Scottie?”

She nods hurriedly. “Hell yes. ”

Without any more hesitation, I grab the strings at her hips, rip the thong from her body and drag my tongue through her slit, watching her eyes roll into the back of her head. “Oh God, yes…”

I lick her slowly, drawing a moan from her as her fingers dig into my hair.

Jesus Christ. Even her pussy tastes like heaven—pure, unfiltered heaven .

My cock weeps behind my jeans, begging for his turn, but not yet. This woman is going to come on my mouth and then I’ll sink into her tight heat, bring us both to the edge, and fuck her over and over until we both can’t keep our eyes open any longer.

I need it. I need to feel her . And by the way she’s riding my face right now, I have a feeling she needs this too.

I circle her clit with my tongue and suck, feeling her grow wetter against my mouth. Lapping up her arousal, I make sure to explore every inch of her before coating two of my fingers in her wetness and sinking them inside her.

“God damn,” I grate out, watching my fingers disappear in and out of her before bringing my tongue back to her clit, teasing her with soft strokes and circles. “I could eat your pussy all night.”

Her body slides down the hood of the car, but I fall to my knees so I can still reach her, not wanting to stop for anything. Her thighs shake, her hands tighten in my hair, and just when I feel her constrict around my fingers, she screams through her orgasm, her pleasure echoing in the empty garage. I peer up just in time to watch the ecstasy paint her features, her eyes squeezing shut as moans escape her lips.

And right then and there, I commit the sight to memory because nothing is more perfect than Scottland Daniels climaxing on the hood of my car .

“Holy shit,” she breathes as I pull my fingers out of her and lick them clean, locking eyes with her as I do.

“We’re not even close to being done, Scottie,” I say, rising from my knees.

“Good. Because now it’s my turn to taste you.” She slides off the car and drops to her knees, reaching for my belt buckle.

“Fuck, woman.” I push her curls from her face so I can see her eyes. “This is really fucking happening, isn’t it?”

“Don’t ruin the moment, Reynolds,” she teases as she pulls my zipper down, pushes my pants down, and pulls my cock dripping with pre-cum from my briefs. “God, yes,” she says as she admires my dick, licking the slit before circling the head with her tongue.

“That’s it, baby. Suck me.”

She pulls me in halfway, flicking her tongue on the underside of my shaft before pulling me all the way out. And then she takes me deep, so deep that I hit the back of her throat, making her gag, but she handles it flawlessly, easing me out just enough to find a rhythm that brings me to the breaking point quicker than I wanted.

“Fuck, Scottie. Keep doing that and I’m going to come down your throat.”

She releases me long enough to say, “Please,” and takes me back in her mouth, using her hands in combination with her lips, cupping my balls as she works me over, pulling my orgasm from me.

Facing the ceiling, I brace for the white-hot pleasure that’s about to shoot out of me, but I drop my head back down just in time to watch Scottie’s eyes flutter shut as the first spurt of cum hits her tongue.

“Fuck…yes…” Groaning, I keep fucking her mouth, watching her take every last drop until she releases me and smiles up at me, proudly. I lift her up and pull her to my chest, cupping the side of her face befo re planting my lips on her. “I think it’s safe to say our friendship is effectively ruined.”

She shakes her head. “I think we just unlocked a new level of friendship.”

I reach down to pull my pants up, then toss her jeans at her. “Come on. Let’s go to my house. It’s warmer and there’s a bed.”

She pulls her pants up, fluffs her hair, and says, “Lead the way.”

When I worked here as a teenager, Mr. Rogers lived in the apartment above the garage, which was fine for a single man without a family. But I wanted an actual home, so I built a house on the back half of the property—and I spared no expense.

We trek across the field that separates the garage from my house, treading lightly through the grass so she doesn’t fall. But before we reach the front porch, Scottie deviates toward the huge oak tree in front of my house, staring up at it as I put a few feet of distance between us so I can watch her.

“Wow. Now that’s a tree.”

“Is that the alcohol talking, or are you seriously mesmerized by it?”

She smirks at me over her shoulder. “Am I not allowed to appreciate a good tree, Grady?”

I walk over to her, wrapping my arm around her waist and slowly backing her up until her back hits the trunk. “I think you should appreciate anything that makes you happy, Scottie.”

Her eyes crinkle at the corners. “Do you remember the last time we were under a tree? ”

“You mean the night you did a keg stand at Derek’s party?”

She laughs. “Yeah. Swinging in that tire wasn’t a good idea.”

“I tried to tell you that, but you were always more concerned with me throwing up than yourself.”

Her smile falls and then she reaches up and pushes my hair back. “If I hadn’t thrown up, would you have kissed me that night, Grady?” Her voice is a whisper, but those words travel right down my spine.

That night lived rent free in my head for years. I would think back to my missed opportunity, but then remembered that kissing her wouldn’t have mattered. I still would have left, and so would she.

“I wanted to, Scottie. Fuck, I did.” I lean my forehead on hers. “But we were both leaving and…”

“Would you kiss me now? Under this tree?”

Our eyes are locked on each other’s. All I can hear is the sound of crickets chirping in the distance and the beat of my heart in my ears. I just had my mouth between this woman’s legs, but for some reason, this feels more intimate.

“I’d love nothing more than to kiss you, Scottie. And I plan on doing it all night long until we pass out.”

Wasting no time, I dip my mouth to hers and savor the taste of her once more, but without feeling rushed, without feeling like she might evaporate from my arms. Our tongues meet in a slow swirl, blood rushes right down between my legs again, and I reach down to grab Scottie’s leg, curling it around my hip while I press her against the tree.

I bury one hand in her hair and pull her closer to me with the other as I angle her head to the side and deepen our kiss.

Scottie pulls away, breathing heavily, and says, “Fuck me, Grady.”

And my body jolts back to life with desperation, pulling her toward the house.

The second we’re inside, I spin her around, push her against the door, and dive my tongue into her mouth again. Both of us just came but I know my dick is eager for more.

“Take everything off, Scottie. Now. ”

“So bossy.” She giggles as clothes go flying. And when her bra falls to the floor, my mouth waters at the sight of her breasts.

“I want these in my mouth,” I say as I cup both of her breasts, pinching and rolling her nipples.

“Yes,” she mewls, pulling my face down to her chest, making me bend over to reach her pebbled peaks. So instead, I hoist her up, wrap her legs around my waist, and push her back against the door, sucking on her nipples as she rubs her pussy against my stomach. I can feel how wet she is still, more than ready for me. But I want her in my bed. I want my sheets to smell like her. I already know that one night with her isn’t going to be enough, but I can’t think about that right now.

Right now, the only thing I need to focus on is making her come on my cock this time.

Her arms tighten around my neck as I lift her from the door and start walking down the hallway, locating my room in the dark with ease. We fall to the bed with her beneath me, her legs still wrapped around my waist.

Our lips continue to move, exploring and drawing pleasure from each other as she rubs her pussy against me again. I settle in the cradle of her hips and all it would take is one thrust to bury myself inside her. But I have to be level-headed in some respect. The whiskey is already clouding my judgment.

“I need to get a condom,” I say between kisses, forcing myself to pull away as I head for my nightstand and take out a rubber. I’ve had these condoms for so long that I almost forgot they were there, but thank God I have something. I tear the wrapper, cover myself, and walk back over to the sight of Scottie splayed out on my bed. “Jesus, you look perfect like this.”

She opens her legs to me, giving me the perfect view of her glistening, pink pussy. “Like how? ”

“Ready for my cock. Willing to let me own you.” I crawl over her and bracket her head with my forearms as I stare right into her eyes. “Like this was how you were always supposed to be—mine.”

Her lips part on a gasp. “Grady…”

Dragging my nose up the side of her throat, I line my lips up to her ear and whisper, “Tell me this isn’t a dream.”

I can feel her shake her head against me. “It’s not.”

“Tell me you want this just as badly as I do.”

“God, yes. Please…please fuck me, Grady.”

I don’t say another word before lining up my cock to her entrance and sliding home. Ecstasy races through my veins as her tight heat surrounds me, pulling me in deeper. Her heel slides up the back of my thigh, pulling me closer until my pelvis hits her clit, and we grind together, moaning at how good it feels.

How fucking right it feels.

“So good. You’re so fucking tight, Scottie. Squeezing me so hard.”

“More, Grady. God, don’t stop.”

I search for her nipple with my mouth, sucking and nibbling on her as our bodies writhe, our hips collide, and my dick grows impossibly harder. Her moans and trembles are cues I listen to as I find a pace that feels so fucking natural. I can feel Scottie dig her nails into my back, marking me, claiming me the same way I’m claiming her. With each thrust, I let my hands explore her body—brushing my knuckles along her soft skin, kissing and licking her neck, squeezing her thigh tighter around my hips as I work us higher and higher, chasing that release that I know is going to be fucking mind-blowing.

Her pussy spasms around me, signaling that she’s close. “Come on my cock, Scottie. Fucking milk me, baby. ”

She moans loudly as I reach between us and apply pressure to her clit while circling my hips, thrusting in long strokes that make her moan with each pass of my dick inside her.

“I’m coming,” she moans against my lips before I cover her mouth with mine and swallow her cries. She tightens even more around my dick, and then I let myself join her as numbness crawls down my legs and it feels like my soul leaves my body.

Collapsing against Scottie’s chest, I fight to catch my breath as she pants beneath me. That was over much quicker than I wanted, but I’ll be damned if she leaves my bed without me having her again.

When I finally feel stable enough to stand, I pull out of her, press a quick kiss to her lips, and head for my bathroom to deal with the condom.

Scottie lets out a yawn as I walk back into my room.

“None of that,” I say as I crawl back into the bed, positioning her across my chest.

“Sorry. It’s just way past my bedtime.” Her hair tickles my nose, and I brush it out of the way so I can stare down at her. The heat of her body warms me all over, and holding her in my arms makes me realize how long it’s been since I’ve had someone else in my bed.

But nothing compares to having her here.

“Then close your eyes. Rest for a while. You don’t have to leave yet.”

“I don’t want to leave at all,” she whispers, before we both drift off to sleep.

***

“Ride me, Scottie.” I smack her ass again, urging her to move faster and fuck me until she comes. “Make yourself come. Make me break with you.”

“Grady!” she cries, rubbing her pelvis over me, working herself closer to her climax. “I’m there!” And then I feel her tighten before she screams and takes me over the edge with her.

When we come down from the high, she turns to her side to face me. “So good.”

I huff out a laugh. “Fucking amazing.”

“I definitely didn’t anticipate my night ending like this when my mom told me to go out with her.”

It’s three in the morning. Scottie and I drifted off for about an hour before I woke her up with my head between her legs again. And then she climbed on top of me and rode me until we both saw stars.

“It’s not over yet.”

“No, but at least it was memorable. I mean, you ate me out on the hood of a car for crying out loud.”

My lips tip up like they have a mind of their own. And the memory of Scottie splayed out on my Nova like that will live on in my brain for all eternity. “I can do it again if you want.”

She shakes her head at me. “Are you ever going to rebuild that car? Does it even run?”

I blow out a breath and turn to face the ceiling as she rests her head on my chest again. “I want to. I just…”

“I get it. But maybe it would help to have something to focus on, Grady.” She draws circles through my chest hair. “I know I said I wouldn’t bring up baseball again, but…”

“You’re going to anyway.”

She nods against my chest. “Have you ever thought about coaching? ”

Just the mention of the word has my entire upper body tightening. “Why do you ask?”

She’s silent for a moment before she speaks again. “Well, after I found out I was pregnant, I wasn’t ready to give up the game entirely. I asked my coach if I could still practice with the girls, but as an observer. It sucked not being able to play, I’m not going to lie. But watching and being able to help the girls improve, especially the girl that replaced me, made it a little bit easier to let go.” I trail my fingers up and down her spine. “I still loved the game, I just got to appreciate it on a different level.”

My jaw is tight, but I manage to say, “I’ll think about it.” And that’s not a lie. I have been thinking about it, especially after Dallas called me out at lunch last week and the new coach at the high school is still pursuing me. He even showed up at the garage a few days ago. I just don’t know if it will make things better or worse for me.

But it might help you feel unstuck .

Scottie glances at the clock on my nightstand. “I need to get home soon. It’s late, or early, however you want to look at it.”

Reaching for her hand between us, I intertwine our fingers. “It’s still dark. Get some more sleep first.”

She lets out another yawn, and then snuggles in deeper to my body. “Just a little bit of sleep and then I’ll go.”

I don’t argue with her. I just savor the feeling of her in my arms. But I do know one thing for certain—before she leaves, I’m going to get her number. This isn’t going to be the last time I see Scottie or feel her wrapped around me. It can’t be, not when my soul feels like a piece of my past and present just snapped into place.

Unfortunately, Scottie didn’t feel the same way, as evidenced by her stealth departure after I fell asleep .

She didn’t leave a note. Hell, not even a scrap of paper with her number scribbled on it.

And when I drive to her mom’s house the next afternoon, eager to confront her on the matter, her mother can’t look me in the eye when she says, “She’s gone, Grady.”

“What?”

“She went back home. Something about an emergency.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she eyes me up and down, but there’s a hint of something behind her eyes I can’t read.

“What kind of emergency?”

She arches a brow at me. “The kind that doesn’t exist.”

“Lisa,” I start, but she cuts me off.

“I know my daughter, honey. And if she left, there was a reason, one she didn’t want you or me to know.” She shrugs, but I can tell she’s not happy with her daughter either.

I push a hand through my hair and blow out a breath. “Well, can I get her number then? Please?”

Shaking her head, she looks down at the ground. “If she didn’t give it to you herself, then I can’t help you.”

“Seriously?”

“I’m sorry, Grady.” She moves to shut the door. “This is what Scottie wanted, and I have to honor that. As her friend, I hope you understand.”

The sound of the door clicking shut is like a nail being driven into a coffin, and with it I bury my feelings back where they belong—six feet under, where all my dreams have gone to die anyway.