Page 78 of Fallen to Thievery
“Yes, like that,” I prompted breathlessly.
“Then open your eyes, Ava. And don’t you take them off me.”
I did as I was told, holding his gaze as he applied pressure to the tip of the blade, letting it pierce my skin. “Gods, you’re gorgeous,” I hissed as the sting registered through my body. He was undeniably the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Grayson chuckled, shaking his head. “When you’re ready, count to three.”
I took in a shuddering breath and counted. The knife sliced through my skin faster than I could saythree. Grayson’s eyes shot back to mine. Was it the hunger in them, or the burn that had me panting?
I threw my head back, trying to catch my breath, but Grayson grabbed my jaw.
“Again,” he growled, his eyes piercing mine.
I counted to three and yelped as the knife left another burning line through my skin. I followed Grayson’s gaze to the marks on my hip. He swiped at a trickle of blood with his thumb. His hand trembled as he brought it to his mouth and sucked it clean.
“Mine,” he mouthed soundlessly, still staring at the bloody lines, his eyes wild with emotion.
Tears pricked my eyes. Yes, I was his. So completely, it scared me. It was like free-falling through the sky; I had no control.
He sat up on his haunches, and ripped a piece of fabric from his shirt, like he once did in the back of Pete’s delivery van. He pressed the material softly against my cuts and buttoned my pants up, to keep the material in place. He zipped my jacket closed over my destroyed shirt and lowered his forehead to mine, deeply inhaling my still ragged breaths. “Fuck, Ava.”
I chuckled.
Grayson and I stumbled in the cabin door, just as the sun winked out. My giggles subsided as Gemma, on her way to the kitchen, froze before me, her eyes going impossibly wide.
“Ava, what…” She cut herself off, straightening and bringing her hand up. “Nope, I don’t wanna know,” she declared, continuing to the kitchen.
I looked questioningly at Grayson. He had a wide grin on his face as he took my hand and led me up the stairs. Hunter, who was sitting on the couch, didn’t even bother to look our way. He hadn’t spoken a word to me since I arrived this morning. He had made himself scarce the whole day.
Grayson pulled me into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I froze as I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror, my eyes as wide as Gemma’s had been. The whole side of my face and neck was caked with dirt. There were leaves and who knows what else sticking out of my hair.
“Really, Grayson?” I groaned as I turned to him. But my scowl slipped away as his head tipped back with laughter.
He took my hair down, then took my clothes off. He studied me for a second, his fingers gliding softly over my skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, then added with a crooked smile, “And dirty. Why does the dirt look good on you?”
I rolled my eyes and pushed at his chest, getting into the shower. I was pleasantly surprised when he followed me in, taking the soap from me. “Let me, Princess.”
I relaxed into his soft touch as he washed me from head to toes, taking extra care of the cuts on my breast and hip. The smile on my face only broadened. I was so happy it felt like I would burst at the seams any moment. When he had asked me if I wanted his help to wash, that first night at the cabin, I should have said yes. The thought had me giggling under my breath. Grayson worked the conditioner into my strands and then started massaging my scalp. I sighed in utter contentment, and leaned back against his firm chest, chiselled by the gods themselves.
“I swear I’m dreaming. You can’t be real,” I murmured softly. Not in my wildest dreams could I conjure up a man like Grayson.
He swivelled me around and lifted me off my feet, wrapping my legs around his torso. “I was thinking the same thing about you,” he said as he slid into me again.
Iwokewiththesunbeams through the window and a song in my heart. Was all this a gift from the gods? It had to be. I was unnaturally happy. A grin spread across my face as I stretched my gloriously aching body, reaching for Grayson. He was gone. In his place, was a tray with his chocolate chip pancakes, orange juice and a single stem of Blue Vervain flowers. The Vervain had me giggling and kicking my feet.
I ate fast and got dressed. Then added some new soothing ointment and butterfly plasters over my cuts. It was going to scar beautifully. Thinking of Grayson’s gorgeous face, those strong arms wrapped around me, moulding me against his firm body, had my hands moving extra quick as I braided my hair. A quick dab of mascara for my pale lashes, some flashes of the previous night to redden my cheeks, and a broad, happy smile, and I was ready. I took one last, deep breath to help settle the butterflies in my stomach, then flitted out the door.
Three steps and I stopped dead in my tracks, at the low urgent whispering. I peered through the railing to where Grayson was leaning over the back of a dining chair, his brow furrowed. It was Hunter who whispered in a frustrated manner. He was sitting next to Gemma at the dining table with his back to me, but from his hand gestures it was obvious that he wasabout to explode. Gemma was trying to calm him, or reason with him. I couldn’t tell which, so I moved a bit closer to the railings to hear better.
“For someone so smart, you’re being a real rube, bro!” Hunter exclaimed in a loud whisper. “You’ve waited so long… fought sohardfor this.Wehave worked too hard on this for you to throw it away over some pussy.”
Grayson’s head snapped up to Hunter, fury darkening his features.
“Hunter!” Gemma exclaimed in shock, leaning away from him.
Hunter threw his hands up. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Gray, okay? I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. I know you like her, and I respect that. But she’s messin’ with your head. You’re not thinking clearly with her.” He sighed and his shoulders sagged as he dropped back into his chair. “I just think you’re making a mistake, man.”
