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“How are you feeling this morning?” He asks, taking my hand from my lap and rubbing the back of it. It's such a small act but it says so much more to me than he even realizes. The way he's trying to comfort me with a touch, the look in his eyes, it's impossible not to see that at least in some small way, Zayne cares for me. Of course that could also be because of Alec. Maybe he just feels obligated to make sure I'm okay because of his friendship with my brother.

“I'm good.” I say, pulling my hand away to tuck my hair behind my shoulder. “I'm sorry about last night. I can't imagine how.. um... that must have been for you.” I say, feeling my cheeks flush slightly.

“I'm glad you came to me Grace. I'm glad I could be here for you.” He says, his voice full of sincerity. The music flows gently in the background and I pick up on the song immediately. Bush “Straight No Chaser” fills my ears and I close my eyes for a moment.

When I reopen them, Zayne is studying me intently. I smile sweetly at him and not being able to resist, I lean forward, gently pressing my lips to his. Like every other kiss we have shared, my insides light up immediately and desire outweighs all other thoughts and feelings.

Needing to feel the connection between us, I wrap my hand around the back of his neck and kiss him more fiercely. My need evident in the desperation of the way my lips move against his. Zayne stands, placing both of his hands on either side of my face and returns my kiss full force. Sliding his body between my legs, I immediately feel his arousal through his black lounge pants as my tongue explores his mouth more greedily.

He grips the bottom of my tank and gently pulls up, breaking away from my mouth just long enough to pull the material over my head. I immediately go for the band of his pants but he stops me, breaking away from my lips on a raged breath.

“Are you sure?” He breathes against my mouth.

“Yes.” My voice is thick and full of desire. “I need you. I need you to make love to me.” I say, sliding my hand down the front of his pants and grasping his erection through the material. He lets out a low groan and begins trailing kisses down my neck. I put my arms behind me and lean back, giving him full access.

He slides his tongue down my collarbone and then quickly pushes the material of my pink bra aside, his mouth engulfing my nipple as he begins sucking and gently biting the sensitive flesh. My entire body turns to liquid under his skilled hands. Arching into his touch, a soft moan escapes my lips as he works his way to the other breast, repeating the process until they are both erect and throbbing with desire.

When he makes it back up to my face, his eyes are hooded and his breathing is coming in short hot spurts. He reclaims my lips as his fingers work the button and zipper of my jeans. I lift up, supporting my weight on my arms as he peels the material from my body. He repeats the process with my panties before spreading me wide open for him.

He slides his hand down my torso, the other firmly grasping the back of my neck, holding me steady. When his fingers slide inside my folds, I gasp, loving the feeling of his hands touching me so intimately. His fingers work their way up and down before he slides one finger inside and then another. I try to lean back but Zayne's hand on my neck holds me firm, not letting me move an inch.

He slides his fingers in and out, his thumb working across my clit at a tortuously slow pace and within minutes I am withering against him. Sensing that I am hanging by a very thin thread, he slides his fingers out and makes quick work of removing his pants and boxers.

He pulls me to the edge of the desk and gently pushes my body back. I support my torso with my elbows, watching him as he grips his massive erection and guides it to my entrance. In one swift movement, he plunges inside of me. I cry out from the intense pressure, feeling overly full. I shift my body a little, trying to accommodate his size as he begins a slow steady rhythm pumping in and out of me.

My head falls back and I close my eyes on instinct but he leans across my body and grasps the back of my neck, pulling my face up to meet his. “Keep your eyes on me. God you're so fucking beautiful.” He says when I comply.

I try to focus on keeping my eyes open. I instinctively want to close them as the pleasure ripping through my body starts to reach a boil but I do as he asked and keep my eyes locked on his. As his thrusts become harder, my body takes over. Gently lifting my hips, I meet him thrust for thrust.

He pulls me further up, his lips crashing down on mine as one hand tangles in my long waves, the other holding firmly onto my hip. “Come for me Grace.” He breathes against my mouth. “God you feel so fucking incredible.” He tacks on, sending my already growing orgasm to the brink.

I let out a loud cry as it rips through me, my entire body quivering and pulsing underneath him. This sends him over the edge and after a few more thrusts, his head collapses on my shoulder, his breathing heavy and erratic.

“Are you sure you have never slept with anyone else?” He asks playfully, pulling back to give me a dazzling smile. I nod, my smile matching his. “I swear Grace, I don't know what you do to me but being with you, like this...” He says, grinding his hips, his now softening erection still deep inside of me. “It's the most incredible thing I have ever experienced.”

His confession causes a ripple to run through my entire body. I can't imagine that after all the women I am sure he has slept with, that I would be anything special. And yet, that's exactly how he makes me feel. His reaction to my body is just as intense as mine to his and I can't help but think, in some weird way, that we were made to fit together just like this.

Eventually he pulls out and helps me redress before pulling his boxers and pants back on. The music in the background has changed into a mournful tune. I don't recognize the woman's voice but the song is absolutely beautiful.

“Are you hungry?” He asks, pulling me into his arms and snuggling his face into my hair.

“Starving.” I answer honestly. I can't remember the last time I ate actually and until he mentioned food, I hadn't even thought about it.

“We could order in. What are you in the mood for?” I love that he's giving me a choice and not just choosing what he wants to eat. Considerate is not something I expected him to be but then again, very little about this man is what I expected.

“Everything sounds good right now.” I reply, not able to come up with one specific thing that sounds better than the other.

“We could order sandwiches from the deli down the street. They deliver and the food is really good.” He says, tucking my hair behind my ear, his hand lingering on my cheek for just long enough that a flurry of butterflies erupts in my stomach. My god this man makes me feel so perfect and yet so terrified all at once. The combination of emotions is dizzying and I struggle to get a grip on myself.

Zayne orders sandwiches while I take a quick shower, changing into a pair of his boxers and one of his plain white t-shirts before joining him in the living room. “I swear, you look better in my clothes than I do.” He says, holding out his arm, gesturing for me to join him on the couch.

I don't hesitate, immediately snuggling into his side. My wet hair instantly leaving wet splotches across his gray shirt. “Well considering I'm wearing your underwear, I highly doubt I look anything but a hot mess.” I laugh, pulling back to look at him.

His eyes dance across my face before he leans down and places the sweetest kiss across my lips. “More like the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” He says, pushing a clump of my wet hair over my shoulder.

“Oh yeah, well you should smell me. I'm totally wearing your deodorant too.” I say, laughing at the amused smile that stretches across his face. “You really should keep a variety of toiletries stocked for when you have company. I can't imagine many women are fond of walking around smelling like a man.”

“Well considering I never have house guest, other than Alec, I've never had the need to keep anything here. But for you, I think I can arrange something.” He smiles and gives me a playful wink.

“I find that hard to believe.” I say, hoping that the statement isn't offensive. “I mean, look at you.” I say, trailing my eyes up and down his perfect body. “There's no way you don't have women lining up at your doorstep.”

He lets out a light laugh and shakes his head. “I didn't say they weren't lining up, just not on my doorstep.” He says, laughing when I playfully smack him across his chest.

“Ass.” I say through my laughter. A knock on the door pulls us from our banter and Zayne quickly makes his way to the front door, reappearing moments later with our sandwiches and two bottles of soda.

We spend the next few minutes eating and watching
Fox News
. While I have never been one to watch the news, I don't like hearing about all the bad things that are going on in the world, Zayne apparently watches it religiously.

“Seriously, don't you care what's going on? What if we were in the beginning stages of a zombie Apocalypse? How would you know unless you went outside, at which point you would probably either be eaten or turned into a zombie yourself. I'm just saying.” He says, raising his hands up in defense when I shoot him a disbelieving look.

“I'm pretty sure if zombies were running through the streets I wouldn't need to watch the news to find out.” I say, rolling my eyes at him.

“EYES.” He growls. “I fucking hate that.” He laughs and then immediately stops when I roll my eyes again.

“I'm sorry, you hate what exactly?” I ask, playing ignorant.

“You are a major pain in the ass Grace Morgan.” He says, his smile returning.

“You want to do what to my ass? I'm sorry Mr. Evans but I am simply not that kind of girl.” I say in my best Country accent which is actually really awful and ends up sounding more English than Country.

He immediately bursts into laughter and I can't help but join him. Even though today is the day I dread every year, Zayne has found a way to keep me occupied and thoroughly entertained for most of it and for that, I am more grateful then he will ever know.

“I can think of a few things I'd like to do to you, only one of which involves your ass.” He says, grabbing my arms and pulling me into his lap.

––––––––

“G
race, you got a minute?” Emma asks, knocking lightly on my door. I've only been home from Zayne's for about an hour and I knew, considering I didn't come home again last night, that Emma would want some type of real explanation.

Emma knows me well and she knows that I despise staying at other people's houses, or at least I did until Zayne's. But regardless, I knew she would question me about it, especially given what yesterday was.

“Come on in.” I call to her, pushing myself into a sitting position in my bed. She walks in, crossing the short distance of my room before plopping down on the bed next to me. She's dressed unusually in a black one piece thing that kind of looks like a leotard. It clings to her perfect figure in all the right places but it's not an outfit many would be brave enough to wear. It takes me a second to realize that she is probably heading to the theater.

“How are you?” She asks, pulling her legs up onto the mattress.

“I'm good.” I say, giving her the 'I'm fine' smile that I have perfected over the years. The only difference is, the smile feels more genuine than usual and I know I have one person to thank for that.

“I'm worried about you.” She sighs, pulling her light brown hair into a loose pony tail behind her and securing it with a hair tie from her wrist. “I hate to bring up what yesterday was but this is the first time since it happened that we haven't spent the day together. It's just not like you.”

“I know Em and as much as I love you, yesterday was something I needed to handle without you. I need to start learning to heal and breaking out of the routine that holds me captive.” I say, reaching out to give her hand an encouraging squeeze.

“I get it... But Grace, you've also been staying out a lot here recently. Are you sure everything is okay? I mean, you don't come home from work some nights or when you do it's way past the time that a bar closes.”

Deciding I need to tell her something or she will never let this go, I opt for the lesser of two evils. “Okay so I have been keeping something from you. It's not a big deal, honest.” I say, holding my hands up when her expression immediately turns to frustration.

“I am working at a bar, that part is true. But I'm not actually working the bar, rather the stage....”

“You're a stripper!” The statement bursts out in complete disbelief hinted with a dose of panic.

“Oh god no!” I exclaim, shaking my head adamantly. “I'm playing music. Four nights a week I get up on stage, just me and my guitar and I play.” I see her visibly relax in front of me. Her full lips turning from an 'O' into a slight frown.

“Why wouldn't you tell me that Grace? That's amazing. Why did you feel like you needed to keep this from me?” She questions, not trying to hide the hurt in her voice.

“I just didn't want anyone to know I was playing. I was kind of embarrassed about it at first. I mean, I never really thought I was that good. But playing at
Vitos
has given me so much confidence.” I say, realizing my mistake immediately.

“Vitos
? The little place down the street?” She asks, her eyebrows shooting up. “It's kind of run down and scary isn't it?”

“It's actually a really cool place.” I say, trying to cover for the fact that I never intended to tell her where I'm playing. But now that it's out there, there's not much I can do about it so I give her all the details about the bar and tell her a little more about Becca and Jake, including how Jake's aunt and uncle own the place.

By the time I am finished, she seems more at ease, having blamed my late nights on staying over to work on some new music with Becca and Jake. While she seems to have bought my story, a small part of me feels like she suspects that there is more.

“I gotta get to work. If you are free tomorrow night, me and Carver are hitting up
Serenity
.” She says, standing to make her way towards my bedroom door.