We lay there in his bed, Grant on his back, me cradled in his arms on my side. I’m tracing the branches of his tattoo with my fingers, over his abs, up his chest, admiring the detail of the artwork and thinking just how breathtakingly beautiful it is, he is, all of him. He watches my fingers move across his body and I’m wondering what he is thinking right now. I feel exhilarated, yet exhausted. I think that was the best sex I have ever had in my entire life thus far. I grin while replaying it over again in my head.
“You have a beautiful smile, you know that?” Grant interrupts my thoughts. I stop tracing his tattoo with my fingers and I look up at him still smiling. He leans in and kisses me, but it’s soft and delicate, not powerful and possessing like it has been up until now. I like it.
“Thank You.” I break away and sit up, wondering what time it is. Grant watches me with his turquoise eyes while I peak around him to look at the clock by his bedside table. It’s almost 9 o’clock. Time is slipping away quickly. I wonder if Kat has text me yet to make sure I’m still okay. I wonder how her night with Ethan is going.
“Are you okay?” He asks.
“Yeah, I’m good.” I smile. “I didn’t realize it was getting so late.”
“It’s only 9 o’clock. The night is still young. We’re just getting started.” He has a sexy smirk on his face again. Just getting started? I don’t know that I can handle another round of that so soon. I let out a light-hearted giggle and slump back down into his arms. “Just getting started?” I repeat.
He laughs. “Why, was that too much for you to handle?” I can hear the smirking in his question.
“No, not at all. It was quite invigorating actually. Might have been the best sex I have ever had even.” I give him a teasingly look.
“Might have been?” His tantalizing stare is causing the blushing heat to rise in my cheeks again. “Well sweetheart, it looks like next time, I’m going to make sure that it is the best sex you’ve ever had. When I’m done with you, there will be no maybe about it.” Oh my.
“Looking forward to it.” I say teasingly.
“Are you?” He smirks but I just grin and nod my head. Grant’s face transforms from sweet to devious and I see a shift in his expression and thoughts. “Raven, be careful what you wish for.” Huh? I give him a questioning look. He takes his fingers and brushes a curl away from my face and tucks it behind my ear.
“I think I know what I want.” I’m trying to get him to explain his comment further. He lets out a heavy sigh, raises up, and peers down onto me. He cups my face in his hand and I notice his expression is hardened; it almost looks dark.
“Raven, I’m not sure that you do.”
I frown at him totally confused. “What do you mean?” I ask.
“You don’t really know me. Not like you think that you do.” Where is this coming from? “I don’t know if you really want to.” He holds my stare, waiting for me to say something but I don’t know what to say; talk about a change in mood. Jeesh.
“Why would you say that? I don’t understand.” I’m searching his hardened stare for a sign of emotion but can’t I detect what he might be thinking. “Grant, what is it? Why would I not want to know you?” I push his hand back and sit up next to him. I’m not understanding how we went from sexual bliss to dark and depressing here.
Grant doesn’t take his eyes off me, and suddenly I am aware of how naked and exposed I am and I feel very uncomfortable. I pull the comforter up and cover myself. Grant lays back, puts his hands behind his head, closes his eyes, and lets out a heavy sigh.
“I really like you Raven.”
“I really like you too. I thought we covered all that. So what is this about?” I’m feeling annoyed right now. I’m try not to let the hostility come through my voice but I’m not doing a very good job of it. He opens his eyes and tilts his head up and looks at me, but this time his expression has softened again.
“You know what, it’s nothing. Forget I said I anything.” Oh hell no. What? My eyes widen and I give him a ‘What the hell’ look. He reaches over and takes hold of hand, while still laying beside me. He knows I’m not going to just let this go that easily. “There’s a lot we don’t know about each other. There’s a lot you don’t know about me. And I think if you got to know the real me, you might run away scared.” Didn’t see that one coming.
“Run away scared? Why would think such a thing? So far, I like what I see, for the most part.”
“For the most part?” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“Well, you’ve had your moments the past couple of weeks, but that’s totally understandable, considering-“ I shut my mouth. Not going there. “Look Grant, when I first met you, I thought you were one of the kindest, most down to earth guys I have ever met. Not to mention sexy as hell.” He cracks a smile when I say that. “And I know we’ve had our challenges lately, but you’ve done nothing to make me want to run away scared. I don’t know why you think that I would, unless you turned out to be a total psycho or something; but I wish you would let me decide all that for myself.” Now I sound like I’m pouting.
Grant sits back up and wraps his strong sexy arms around me, pulling me into a warm tight hug. “Okay Raven, if you say so.”
“What do you mean?” I whisper.
“I mean, I’ll let you decide for yourself.” I feel his grip on me tighten as he hugs me harder. Then he cups the back of my head with one of his hands and in a dark whisper he says, “But you might lose your innocence in the process.”

Copyright ©2014 –ND White