27. Delilah

Chapter 27

Delilah

" I s it just me or is today going painfully slow?"

Taking a break from the seemingly never-ending manuscript I'm due to have finished in a couple of days, I brew myself a second cup of coffee from the staff room in the office and return to my space, laughing at Grey's fake groan of annoyance down the phone.

"I don't think any more so than usual," I reply, setting down my steaming cup and ignoring the way my computer lights up with yet another email. "Why do you say so?"

"Today has been hellish. Someone slipped on the side of the pool, blood all over the place. The paramedic said it was a suspected concussion."

My mouth pops open in shock. "Somebody fell and they've got a concussion?!"

"Yep, but they're okay and stable, just being monitored in hospital for the night because of the blood loss. I'm stuck here doing the paperwork for the insurance. I'm supposed to clock off in an hour, but that doesn't look like it's happening any time soon. I'll probably be here for most of the evening."

I click my tongue in sympathy. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm still not halfway through this manuscript and it's due next week."

Grey exhales softly. "I know you'll get it done, gorgeous, but don't overwork yourself too hard, okay? Remember to take breaks."

Those words are still ringing in my ears when the clock strikes five pm and most of the office staff trot to the door.

After my phone call with Grey, I'd managed to get a chunk of the book edits sorted through, powered by my extra cup of caffeine, so I don't feel that much guilt when I decide to leave work for the day, too. It's something I've been working on, that feeling of guilt, ever since my conversation with Aurelia, when she'd held me on her bed while my heart was breaking. I've been working hard to tackle the feeling, not allowing it to ruin my self-care or linger around for the rest of the day.

I follow the crowd onto the street beyond, stopping off at a local shop for a bottle of wine, before hopping on the underground tube with an idea in mind.

By the time I get to the tall, ornate, set of apartments in which Grey lives, it's almost six in the evening. He usually finishes early on a Friday, so I'm almost sure he'll have finished his shift by now and is probably already upstairs changing out of his lifeguard uniform and packing his bag to stay another night at mine.

He's been staying at my apartment every night since we decided to give things another go, carving out a space for himself in my kitchen, on my sofa, in my shower, in my bed.

But after his text today about his difficult day at work, I'm thinking it would be nice to surprise him with a different plan, which is why I smile to the doorman and step into the marble foyer of his building.

"Can I help you, miss?" asks the bubbly redhead at the front desk.

"I-I'm Delilah Clark, Grey—"

"Oh yes." Her long nails click clack on the keyboard in front of her. "Mr Millen has added you to his approved list. Do you have a form of ID on you I can take a quick look at?" I flash her the ID I keep hidden in my purse. "Great! Thank you! I'll get you a key card to keep, which will be used in the elevator slot to get up to Mr Millen's apartment. Keep it safe and the next time you come in you'll just be able to go straight on up."

I take the shiny black key card from her clutches with a smile. "Thank you so much for your help."

"My pleasure, Miss Clark."

Heels clicking against the flooring, I jamb my knuckle into the button to call the elevator, ducking inside when it arrives. Thankfully, I'm the only one inside, so nobody is around to quirk their eyebrows up at me or watch as I struggle to understand how to use the key card I've been given.

I feed the sleek square into the slot above the panel, hit Grey's floor number with my thumb and breathe a sigh of relief when the button flashes green and my brand-new key card is spat back out at me. But still, the elevator doesn't move from the ground floor and I'm beginning to think I'll be trapped inside here forever, until pixilated words flash across the panel.

ACCSESS GRANTED.

The elevator begins to glide upwards smoothly, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

I bypass the other floors, giving me a tiny glimpse of other apartments in the high rise building, before the doors are pulling open and I'm stepping out, walking the short corridor to Grey's door.

I knock politely and step back while I wait for Grey to open the door.

Except, it isn't Grey who opens the door.

"Hi," I breathe, my free hand coming up to tug at my ear. "I'm—"

"Delilah, isn't it?" the man standing in front me asks. He's slightly intimidating with the tattoos crawling up one bicep, disappearing beneath his tight shirt and then peeking out again on the side of his neck. "I'm Hudson, Grey's younger brother."

I hadn't even thought about Grey's brother being here when I hopped on the tube to come surprise him. But of course, Hudson would be here; he's living here for god's sakes. I kick myself for not remembering, and then lick my lips, attempting to find my words.

"Yes, I'm Delilah. It's lovely to meet you, I've heard a lot about you. Grey even showed me a few pictures; he's very proud of his family."

Hudson laughs lowly, a matching twinkle in his green eyes akin to Grey's. "It's nice to meet you, too. I'm guessing you were looking for my brother?"

"Yeah…" I hold up the wine bottle in offering. "He rang me today, said he wasn't having a very good day at work, so I thought I might surprise him. But if he's not here…"

"Bloody paperwork is taking him ages. I don't think he'll be back for at least another hour or so."

"Oh." I try to hide the disappointment in my tone, but I don't think I do a very good job. "That's okay, I'll just—"

"You're welcome to come in, Delilah. I was going to make some dinner if you'd like some, save the leftovers for my brother."

"Oh," I say again, and then nod, without allowing my brain a second chance to think about it. "That would be really nice, thank you."

Inside, Hudson whips us up a pasta dish, handing me my plate and a fork while the food is still steaming. Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, Hudson is easy to get along with. We've hardly got a thing in common; he's a personal trainer with a successful social media account which helps gives tips to others in the gym, he's never read a book since leaving high school and he couldn't think of anything worse than being tied to a desk day after day.

But we find a common ground in our dissimilarities, even going so far as to laugh about it. He's a little bit harder to open up than his older brother, sometimes deflecting one of my questions so he doesn't have to answer, but I can't blame Hudson for that. Once he warms up a bit however, he's as quick witted as Grey, eyes twinkling with a mischievous look that doesn't always reach his lips.

I wonder what it takes to make him smile fully.

If I spent some more time with Hudson, maybe I'd be able to find out, but there's a click of the door interrupting our flow of conversation, footsteps sounding behind me, and a set of slightly chapped lips pressing to the side of my hairline.

"This is a nice surprise." Grey smiles, showcasing his dimples. "What are you doing here, gorgeous?"

Twisting fully, I turn to steal a proper kiss from Grey's lips, needing to feel him. "I came to surprise you because I knew you hadn't had the best day at work. So… surprise!"

"Mm, you're the best surprise."

"I'm here, too," Hudson mutters, one side of his lips ticking upwards slightly. Interesting.

Grey whacks his younger sibling on the back of his head playfully, heading into the kitchen. "Did you make something for dinner?"

"Leftovers are in the pan, G."

Grey chows down on his portion of leftover pasta while he bemoans over the paperwork he had to file after today's accident at the pool. Sitting beside him on the sofa while he talks, our thighs pressed together, curled up under his arm, I soak in his presence. I've spent every waking hour outside of work with him, he's been in my space, sleeping in my bed, but we've yet to have sex since we got back together and now, I feel like I'm burning with the need to have Grey as close to me as I can possibly get him.

At first, I wasn't ready yet; my brain still getting back on board and processing our relationship again. Then, my period had arrived with a series of painful cramps and bloating. I didn't want to be touched nor could I bear the thought of showing up to my Wednesday swim class. Grey had respected my wishes without a word, leaving it up to me to tell him when I was ready.

I think the hormones currently running through my system speak for themselves.

Leaning my head on Grey's shoulders, I smile to myself when he absentmindedly kisses my forehead, carrying on his chat with his brother like me being there is nothing out of the ordinary.

"I really like you being here," Grey admits when Hudson excuses himself for something or other.

Peering up into his eyes, I nod my head. "Me too."

"You gonna stay over?"

"If you'll have me."

"I'll always have you, Delilah. I thought I told you that already."

This man…

"Do you want a bath running?" Grey smooths his thumb over my temple. "I've got a pretty good tub if I do say so myself… might have some muscle relaxant bubbles too."

"That does sound pretty good," I muse.

"Come on, then." Grey untangles himself from our spot on the sofa, holding out a hand for me to grab. "Night, Hudson!"

"Goodnight you two. Try and keep the noise down, won't you?"

I feel myself flush scarlet, heat scrawling over my chest, but Grey simply laughs, flicking his middle finger up at his younger brother, before pulling me away from the living room and into one of the bedrooms down the hallway.

Grey's bedroom fits him to a T; calming dark blue painted walls, bed half arsed made, nightstand full of glasses of water in varying states of fullness, an empty crisp packet and the most recent romance book I've allowed him to borrow. I don't quite know why he's still reading them, because as I told him, he certainly doesn't need help in that department. But I'm not going to complain about it, because the knowledge Grey has taken a keen interest in a passion of mine, makes my heart do a strange flip in my chest.

I follow Grey through to his en-suite bathroom, looking around at the large shower enclosure with multiple shower heads, the warming towel rack, the twin sinks and finally a bathtub so big it could easily fit more than one person inside it.

Grey twists the tap, eliciting a rush of water and empties a bottle of bubbles into the tub. Steam curls in the air, followed by the strong, but relaxing, scent of fresh eucalyptus and something minty. Something I've come to associate with Grey as much as the permeant chlorine staining his skin.

"Hop in. I'll go get you a towel and something to sleep in."

Not wasting another second, I secure my hair up so as to not get it soaking wet, strip out of my blouse, leather pencil skirt and underwear and sink beneath the deliciously warm scented water.

A pleasured sigh escapes past my lips, the muscle relaxant getting to work straight away to take away the ache in my calves from walking and the constant throbbing in my feet from wearing heels.

"I'm kind of jealous I didn't get to peel that leather skirt from your skin. Guess you'll just have to wear it again so I can."

My eyes flutter open to find Grey leaning against the doorway, watching me, a towel and a shirt in his hands. He cuts a lean figure; chest bare displaying his toned physique, the V of his Adonis belt leads down to a pair of shorts hanging low on his hips. I want to press my lips there, feel the heat of his skin, and the ridges of his muscles.

"I suppose I will," I hum, the bubbles fizzing around me.

I watch as Grey hangs not one, but two, towels on the heated rail and then stalks towards me, his eyes flicking to my body hidden beneath the pearlescent foam. "Can I join you?"

"Of course, Grey."

The temperature in the bathroom feels like it skyrockets when Grey pushes his shorts down his legs, cock soft between his thighs and steps in the tub behind me. The bath is big enough to fit both of us quite comfortably, but still, water and bubbles splash over the side with the sudden movement.

Grey's arms band around my middle, pulling me backwards until my back is to his chest, and I can feel his cock twitch ever so slightly against the curve of my arse. He presses a wet kiss to the crook of my neck, above my racing pulse, and then sighs.

"This is exactly what I needed after today."

I smile, turning my head to peer up at him. "I'm glad. You deserve a treat after the day you've had."

Grey's dimples pop. "And you? How's the manuscript editing going?"

We quietly chat back and forth, taking comfort in each other's presence, while the bubbles fizzle out and the water begins to cool. I, however, still burn red hot, my skin prickling with the awareness of Grey and his fingers.

Those fingers which are tracing seemingly random patterns on the sensitive undersides of my breasts, above my tummy button, the sides of my thighs.

Tipping my head back to rest on Grey's collarbone, I try to focus on the lapping of the water and not the throbbing of my core. I'm supposed to be relaxing, winding down from the day, building back up Grey and I's relationship with different types of intimacy rather than just sex.

But my body is having other ideas.

When Grey's thumb grazes the delicate flesh of my nipple, a soft moan slips past my lips, eyes fluttering closed. I wait for him to touch me there again, to maybe cup my heavy breast, but he doesn't, instead his hand moves away to the tops of my shoulders, gently kneading the flesh there.

It's obvious he's waiting for me to make the first move, to let him know when I'm ready for something more.

Reaching behind me, I wrap my hand around the nape of Grey's neck, pulling him down until our faces are level. My eyes search his face, taking in the pretty green tint of his eyes, the beginning of creases around the thin skin, his strong nose, his smile, those dimples I love and then I press my lips to his.

As soon as I seal our lips together, Grey is fisting the hair at the base of my neck, long fingers disappearing into my bun, deepening our kiss. He's been holding himself back, waiting for me, but now I'm giving him the green light, he's taking every inch of me he can, devouring me like a man starved.

"Touch me. Grey, please," I beg. "Touch me."

Skilled fingers skim the ladder of my ribs beneath the water, ticking the inner portion of my thighs before they slid through my folds and up to the hood of my clit. Small circles dance over my nerve endings, ecstasy zipping down to my toes and up to my nipples.

Whimpering into Grey's mouth, I latch onto my own breast, fingers slipping against my wet skin. I widen my legs as far as the bathtub will allow, urging Grey to press his middle finger inside of me, quickly followed by another.

Notched inside me, he crooks them until he hits the spongy spot at the front of my walls, pulling a mixture of a gasp and a whine from me that echoes from the tiles.

The water around us sloshes at a steady pace now, moving with the pump of Grey's hand, fingers dragging in and out of me while the heel of his hand grinds against my clit.

"This sweet little pussy gripping my fingers so tight…" Grey mutters against my skin, pulling his lips away from mine to suck at my jaw. "I've missed her."

I'm boneless in his arms, unable to do anything but lie there, allowing Grey to push me closer and closer to my orgasm. I pinch one of my nipples, feeling myself tighten up and flutter, that balloon of heat spreading out across my stomach, my core, the tops of my legs.

"Grey… Grey… Grey…" I chant, voice high pitched and broken to my own ears.

I tip my head back, hips bucking so much Grey grips my hip with his free hand, holding me down.

"Let go, gorgeous. Come on. I wanna feel you cum on my fingers."

Grey's words plus the lack of release I've had in the last few weeks has me tipping over the edge with just another pass of his hand against my pulsing core. I dig my nails into Grey's forearm as my orgasm washes over me, leaving me shaking and sensitive, my mind in a haze.

Gently slipping his fingers from me, Grey kisses the top of my head, reaching for a washcloth just off to the side. With glassy eyes, I watch him pour a healthy dollop of shower gel onto the cloth and begin to soap up my chest, vaguely feeling the length of his now fully hard cock against my backside.

I feel in a daze the entire time Grey washes me, taking measures to be gentle when he gets to my folds. Only when I'm standing with a large towel wrapped around me, a matching one wrapped around Grey's waist, staring down at the mixture of bubbles and water being sucked down the drain, do I find my voice.

"My legs feel like jelly."

Grey laughs, rubbing at his hair with a smaller towel. "My ego is very happy to hear about your jelly legs, gorgeous. Are you okay? You scared me a little bit with your silence after you'd…"

"I'm okay," I assure him, sealing my promise with a kiss. "My head just felt all floaty is all. Too floaty for words."

"Mm," Grey hums, grinning. "I do take pride in my work."

I'm so happy in this moment I could be sick – my heart a gooey mush and not just because of my orgasm.

Sliding my hands up Grey's bare shoulders, I trace the work of art that is his body, gliding over his toned arms, his abs, his fine line butterfly tattoo, his happy trail, feeling a rush of gratitude burst inside me that he's here, in front of me, and he's mine.

I'm so close to him I can feel the heat of the bath water radiating from his chest, I can feel the constant beating of his heart, I can see the dilation of his pupils when he stares down at me, so it's impossible for me to miss the kick of Grey's cock under my handsy movements, reminding me I've gotten off, but he hasn't.

"You want some help with that?" I remark, glancing at the bulge beneath his towel.

Grey shakes his head. "No, it's fine, I meant it when I told you there was no pressure, Delilah. When you're ready—"

"And if I told you I was ready now?"

Grey opens his mouth, but no words come out, and I think I've rendered him speechless.

"I thought my answer was obvious by asking you to touch me?" I continue, feeling my pussy clench at the sheer thought, greedy for me.

"Delilah—"

"I'm more than ready, Grey."

We're a tangle of limbs, bodies damp from our bath, leaving behind a trail of towels on the floor before we make it to Grey's bed. His sheets are soft against my skin, the scent of him stronger here than anywhere else.

I straddle Grey, hands planted beside his head, my knees bracketing his hips. Sweeping my hair to one side, I lean down to feel his lips move against mine, the movement allowing the blunt head of his cock to slide through my slick flesh.

Grey's hands tighten on my waist, his jaw ticking, throat bobbing heavily.

"Stop holding back," I tell him, sucking at the spot behind his ear I know drives him insane. "Please—"

Groaning, Grey pushes his hips up at the same time as pulling me down, grinding my clit along the length of him until we're both gasping. Unable to take his teasing anymore, I sit up tall, holding Grey down with a palm in the centre of his heaving chest and grabbing the base of his cock to line him up with my wet core.

I sink down without hurrying, closing my eyes to savour the feel of him inside of me, finally. Filling me up until it feels as if I can't breathe, stretching me out with his size, grazing every sensitive spot inside me in ways no one else has ever been able to.

When I stop shivering on top of him, I peel open my eyes, finding Grey staring at me, a broken, "gorgeous…" leaving his mouth. I lick my nickname right from his tongue, and then I circle my hips, finding my rhythm quickly.

Raising up on my knees, I drop down slowly, grinding in a circle to rut my clit against Grey's pubic bone and then rising back up until only the tip of him remains inside my wet heat.

Pleasure blooms over my skin, Grey's never-ending stare filling me with confidence and love and something addicting.

Leaning back, I plant both of my hands on Grey's thighs, tipping my upper body backwards and my pussy forward. Grey's thumb flicks across my exposed clit hood, his eyes stuck to my breasts and the way they bounce and jiggle.

I feel powerful like this. In control. Wanted.

Peeling one hand from his thigh, I trace the length of my stomach, up to my breasts, cupping and rolling the heavy flesh. Grey watches me, eye lids at half mast, mouth slack.

Another flick of Grey's thumb and I twitch, speeding up my movements when I feel myself flutter, the balloon swelling in my lower stomach. Cool air kisses my damp skin, the tips of my hardened nipples, stimulating them without me even having to pinch or pluck.

"I'm going to cum…" I warn Grey on a moan, pitching forward to burrow into the crook of his neck before I shatter into a million pieces.

My hips continue to roll as I climax, prolonging my second orgasm of the night, the sheer power of it making tears prick up behind my eyes.

Grey pulses hotly inside me, thrusting up once, twice, three, four times and then groaning in my ear, spilling rope after rope of his seed against my fluttering walls, setting my orgasm off again until I'm trembling.

"Are you still…" he wonders, able to feel me still clamping down on him.

"Uh huh," I manage to breathe out, mindless with ecstasy.

Exhaustion hits me hard when the last of my aftershocks die down. I roll over off Grey, feeling the mixture of the two of us trickling out of me, but I'm too tired to do anything about it.

"Now, I'm the one who can't feel their legs," Grey jokes, turning us onto our side until he's the big spoon.

I hum my laughter, closing my eyes for a second when they get too heavy.

"Gorgeous?"

"Hm?"

"Delilah?"

I stir at the use of my name, turning in Grey's arms so I can face him. "Yes?"

"I'm in love with you."

Grey's declaration sinks into my skin, making a place for itself in my heart, in my soul, in my very being.

I blink up at him, waiting for the feeling of terror to crawl over me.

But it never comes.

Instead, I'm warm and content, safe and secure.

My heart beats at its usual rate, not racing with fear or adrenaline or…

"I'm in love with you, Grey. I love you."

Grey breaks out into that smile I love; so wide it takes up his whole face and his dimples pop.

Hearing those words… I move my lips over Grey's and then bury my head in his shoulder. But I can't hide my own smile. It etches itself onto Grey's skin, until I know he can feel me smiling against his flesh.

I can't stop the happiness from bubbling up inside of me and spilling out at the knowledge; Grey Millen is in love with me.