With Gray’s help, Suzy was soon changed into a comfortable, lilac, silk baby-doll gown that ended above her knees. Gray stepped back and studied her, saying wryly, “Couldn’t be a granny gown, right?”
As Suzy leaned against the corner of the vanity for support, she smiled up at him and said, “Besides today’s sweats, have I ever given you a reason to think I’d own or wear something with the word granny in it?”
With a laugh, Gray said, “No, you certainly haven’t. Let’s get finished up in here so you can watch your game.”
“Sure, that sounds good.” The only game I have any interest in right now is rounding third base with you, tight buns. Suzy did her best to hide all the naughty thoughts racing through her mind as she brushed her teeth, and Gray took a washcloth and gently wiped her face. If he doesn’t take me in the bedroom and kiss me now, I’m going to suck his bottom lip between mine before he can sit that washcloth down.
Gray reached down to pick her up, and even though she protested, he insisted on carrying her to the bedroom where he deposited her gently on the bed. He’d turned the covers back and had a mountain of pillows propped up for her. He sat down on the edge of the bed beside her, reaching out a hand to stroke the line of her jaw before finally moving to her lips. His thumb rubbed gently back and forth as his eyes locked with hers as if waiting for her to pull away. Suzy reached up and put her hand over his, telling him better than words how much she wanted his touch.
Gray leaned over, never breaking eye contact, and gently pressed his lips to hers. Suzy felt her heart skip as wave of heat threatened to incinerate her. Gray nipped lightly at her bottom lip, seeking entrance into the moist heat within. With a moan, Suzy opened her mouth to his, and shivered at the first contact of her tongue sliding against his. Gray laid siege to every corner of her mouth, as if discovering a treasure he’d long been denied. At that moment, Suzy wanted nothing more than to pull him fully against her, and wrap her legs around him. Heat pooled between her thighs, and desire ripped through her. She’d never known this burning desire, bordering on frenzy, to join her body with another. Gray released her mouth, and was slowly trailing a line of kisses down her neck as his big hand came up to palm her breast through the thin silk of her gown.
The feel of Gray’s hand on her breast was driving her insane. She reached up for Gray to bring them into closer contact and gasped as pain ripped through her. He jerked back as if scalded. “Oh God, baby, I hurt you, didn’t I? I’m so sorry.” His face was flushed, and his eyes were wild as he looked down at her trying to locate the source of her pain.
Suzy’s heart broke at the obvious guilt on his face. She took his hand in hers softly saying, “It’s not your fault Gray. I was so um…excited that I twisted the wrong way trying to get closer to you.” Looking him directly in the eye, she added, “I don’t regret it, though. It was well worth the pain to feel your mouth on mine and your hand against me.” She pulled his hand to her breast so he could feel the hard peak of her nipple leaving him no doubt that she spoke the truth.
Gray brushed a soft kiss against her mouth, leaving his hand on her breast another moment before removing it. He went to the kitchen to get a glass of water and her medication and soon returned to her side. Despite her protests, he finally got her to take a pill and settled her back onto her pillows.
“Hey, how about putting the game on now. I’ll curse like a sailor, argue over all the officiating calls and ignore you for hours, how does that sound?”
With a smile, Gray asked, “Isn’t that supposed to be my line?”
“I believe in equality, slick, get used it to.”
Gray turned on the television and found the game for her. He walked over to his own suitcase and removed some fresh clothing. “Do you think you will be ok for a few minutes while I take a very cold shower?”
Suzy smiled at the rueful expression on his face. Her gaze automatically dropped to the crotch of his jeans, and her eyes went wide. There was no hiding the outline of his arousal, and Suzy had to fight the urge to moan. “Um…yeah, you do seem to have a big problem there.” Wiggling her eyebrows, she continued, “I’d love to help you with that; I was a girl scout you know. I learned how to use a big stick to make fire.”
Gray threw his head back and laughed until tears came to his eyes. This little slip of a woman continued to surprise him. She’d looked so small and fragile just moments ago, and now she sat in the bed with mischief dancing in her eyes, and she practically glowed. She was trying to take the guilt away that she knew he’d felt at her pain. “That’s great to know baby, but my stick already catches fire every time you’re near.” With one last look, Gray walked to the bathroom and left the door cracked to hear her if she needed him.
Chapter Nine
Gray stood in the shower, gritting his teeth as the icy jets of water blasted his over-heated skin. He hadn’t been kidding about the cold shower; he was so consumed with need for Suzy that he’d barely been able to leave the room. The reality of feeling her against him had been much more than any of his fantasies. Her tongue had tasted of pure honey as it hesitantly sought his, twirling around him as if finding a long-lost lover. His palm still tingled from the feel of her firm, breast straining against it. If not for her cry of pain, he wasn’t sure when or if he’d have been able to get control of himself. He’d always known there were hidden depths within her, he just had no idea how hot they burned.
After toweling off, Gray looked through the suitcases that Nick had dropped for him earlier. Normally, he slept in either boxers or nothing at all, but tonight that would be dangerous. He was grateful that he kept a pair of lounge pants to wear around the house in the evenings. He pulled them and a t-shirt on. He toweled his hair enough to get by without digging through some suitcases for a dryer.
Reluctantly, he pulled his cell-phone from the front of the toiletries bag where he’d stored it earlier. He had turned the ringer off, afraid that Reva would go on one of her mad calling sprees. Sure enough, there was a string of missed calls from a number he recognized as hers. He had to talk to Nick tomorrow to see if he’d found out anything. He was so tired of dealing with the whole mess. His life was finally going just as he’d hoped, and Reva could send it all crashing down. He could handle her messing with his life, maybe he even deserved it. He’d not allow her to cause Suzy any more pain. Reva would find out just how ruthless he could be if she threatened someone he loved.