Page 30 of Aisle Be The Groom (Bristlecone Springs #1)

OZZIE

G ray looked so peaceful asleep, the sheet I’d pulled up to his chin earlier softly rising and falling with each breath that I loathed waking him. The ranch house was quiet, the only sounds the rustling of the leaves outside. The alarm on my phone vibrated quietly, signaling it was time to check on him again.

Stifling a yawn, I gently placed a hand on Gray’s shoulder and lightly shook him. I’d been following the doctor’s orders to a T, waking him up every three hours, and making notes on my phone of my observations. So far, he seemed fine, but I didn’t want to miss anything.

“Gray,” I whispered softly, leaning in closer to place my lips on his forehead. “Gray, wake up.”

He stirred, his eyelids fluttering open slowly. For a moment, his gaze was unfocused, but then it settled on me, and a small, tired smile played at the corners of his lips. “Hey,” he murmured, his voice raspy from sleep. He slid his hand under the sensible cotton pajama top I had on. “What are you wearing? What about the sexy lace I love seeing you in?”

I frowned. “Gray, do you remember what happened?”

“What do you mean?” He skimmed his fingertips over my tummy, making my stomach flutter.

“The accident.”

He stopped moving his hand and groaned. “Shit. I thought you were here to sex me up.”

I chuckled. “You have a concussion, mister. Might as well take sex off your mind. You’re holding a rational conversation with me, though, so I don’t have to be worried. Do you feel any nausea?”

“No, Ozzie, I already told you I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me, baby. Now come here and give me some sugar.”

He tried to haul me onto the bed on top of him. Alarmed, I’d hurt him if I resisted, I allowed him to pull me closer, the soft fabric of his shirt brushing against my cheek as I leaned in to peck his lips gently.

“Sugar delivered,” I mumbled against his mouth.

“No, not like that.” Gray cupped the back of my head, and his other hand landed on my backside. He pushed his tongue between my lips, kissing me with an intensity that left me breathless. God, the sounds he made, the way he moaned as if he couldn’t get enough of me, went straight to my cock. He tightened his hand on my ass, and I caught myself just in time to refrain from rubbing against him like I wanted.

“Gray,” I protested against his mouth, even as I kissed him back. “Can’t have sex—”

“I’m just kissing you, baby.”

But kissing could lead to more. So much more. Yet I relaxed in his arms as we rolled onto our sides, necking and stroking each other like horny teenagers.

“Gray.” I tore my lips away from his, gasping when he pinched my nipple between his fingertips. “Gray, I need to catch my breath.”

“Hmm.” He cocked his head into his hand propped up by his elbow on the bed. Even though he was no longer driving me wild by playing with my nipples, he gently stroked my tummy. I squeezed my eyes shut. I loved this with him—the way he touched me.

“I can’t keep my hands off you,” he groaned. “I always want to touch you…kiss you. I love you, Ozzie. Thank you for taking care of me tonight.”

I smiled weakly. “Emma helped.” She’d insisted, even though I’d told her she didn’t have to.

“Ozzie.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t have to worry about Emma. She’s my past. You’re my present and my future. Okay?”

I nodded, pulling his calloused hand up and pressing a kiss to the back of it. “Okay,” I whispered. What else could I say? I wasn’t used to being reassured about something of this nature. Carter always told me to stop being paranoid and jealous.

“I don’t mean to be a jealous fool,” I whispered. “It’s just that—I-I like you an awful lot, Gray, and I’m afraid.”

“Of what? Losing me to someone else?”

“Yeah. I’m afraid you’ll wake up one morning and wonder what I’m doing in your bed.”

“Are you kidding me? Baby, when I wake up alone, it’s the opposite. I want to do everything in my power to ensure you’re right next to me every morning. You’re beautiful, sweet, smart, and so damn sexy.”

My cheeks were burning from his proclamation. He took great pleasure in my embarrassment, chuckling as he pulled me even closer into his arms.

“Gray.” I sighed against his chest, his heart beating in a comforting rhythm that alleviated my fears.

“Yes, Ozzie?”

“I love you too,” I whispered.

“I know, baby.”

“Good.” I tried to shuffle off the bed, but he placed an arm around me, trapping me against him.

“Where are you going?”

“Back to my room. I’ll be back in three hours to check on you.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. Just stay right here.”

There was nowhere else I would rather be but still… “I can’t. Someone else might come in to check on you.”

“Then lock the door.”

“With me inside?” I squeaked.

“Yes.”

Did he mean…? He was ready to out us? My chest rose and fell at an alarming rate. When Carter had heard about Gray’s incident, he’d finally booked a flight. At least he wasn’t heartless and cared about his father. I’d thought I was prepared to expose ourselves, but the thought made my chest tight and my palms sweaty.

Once our secret was out, there was no going back. The words would be said, the actions done. Everyone would know—Carter, the ranch hands, Emma, the whole damn town. Goose bumps prickled my skin.

“Okay.”

Gray’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. He seemed genuinely thrilled at my decision, and the thought of revealing our relationship to the world didn’t faze him the slightest bit. His eyes sparkled with excitement, the small crinkle forming in the corner of his eye as he grinned widely.

“Really?” he asked, and I nodded, swallowing the lump threatening to settle in my throat.

“Yes.” My voice sounded smaller than I wanted it to. Gray’s smile instantly softened, and he leaned in closer, pulling me against his chest once more.

“All right, then. Let’s do it. I’ll close the door.”

I pressed a hand to his chest. “No, you’re the one who’s unwell. Let me do it.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” he grumbled, but he didn’t fight me on it.

The bolt slid into place with a satisfying click, and the hairs at the back of my neck stood up. This was it. There was no turning back. Tomorrow everyone would know I spent the night with Gray behind closed doors.

Gray’s intense stare made me feel like I was gliding on a cloud instead of almost tripping on my feet from nerves. He held out his arms for me, and I slipped back into them as though they were my home. A giddy laugh bubbled up, and despite the swirling whirlwind of fear, anticipation, and exhilaration, a profound sense of calm washed over me. Our secret, our precious bubble, was on the brink of popping, but as long as I had him—his arms around me, his laughter in my ears—I could handle the criticism.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered, his breath warm against my neck. “I always will.”

“Am I a fool for believing you? Even if I am, I don’t mind being a fool for you, Gray. I’ve never been this happy. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Giving me my confidence back. For making me realize I didn’t have to settle. For showing me that real love is always worth the risk.”

His fingers, which had been tracing idle patterns on my back, stilled. “You don’t have to thank me for that, Ozzie.” His voice was filled with such tender sincerity my heart clenched. “You are worth every risk.”

His confidence was contagious, and I mirrored his smile. “Alright.” I snuggled closer to him and let out a contented sigh as Gray ran his fingers through my hair. The warmth of the moment wrapped around me like a comforting blanket, helping to push away the lingering tendrils of fear.

“Gray?”

“Love?”

I squeezed my eyes shut against the sting of tears. “Say that again.”

“Love. Ozzie, my love. Always my love.”

Tears welled in my eyes, but they weren’t borne out of fear or sadness. They were tears of joy, of relief. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and in its place was a sense of warmth, acceptance, and love. So much love.

Everyone should have this kind of love.

A sob escaped my throat, heavy with all the raw emotions that were threatening to overflow. Gray tightened his arms around me as though to keep them in. I held on to him, pressing my face into his throat and letting the dam break. The tears flowed freely, but they were not bitter. They were the sweetest tears I had ever shed. No sadness. No heartache. Just the unadulterated truth I was loved as much as I loved.

The moment stretched on in silence. The only sounds were our breaths, synchronized and steady. The world outside faded into insignificance. In its place was a bubble enveloping us in warmth and safety, a perfect cocoon where nothing else mattered but us—our fears, our joy, our shared secret that would remain but for a few hours more.

“Whatever happens, we face it together.”

“Together,” I echoed.

Oh, what the hell!

I pulled the sheet over my head and shuffled down Gray’s body. The doctor had said to avoid strenuous activities. But if I used my mouth, and he stayed still, maybe we could navigate around the doctor’s orders.

“Ozzie, you don’t have to.”

“I want to, but you have to stay really still. Remember, doctor’s orders.”

“Okay. I’ll be good.”

The thought of Gray being good made me giggle, but when his cock popped out of his shorts, the laughter faded. I inhaled deeply, drinking in his thick, musky smell, and carefully took him in my hand.

His flesh was hot and firm as he grew even bigger. I placed a kiss on his tummy, and he sucked in a breath, the hard muscles shifting beneath my lips. I took pleasure in his reaction, his body taut and quivering, every muscle strained and waiting.

I swallowed down his cock as far in my throat as possible. A sharp hiss tore from him, and his hips jerked up. Guided by my hands, I moved my lips up and down his length, taking my time to savor him, his taste and texture imprinting on my tongue.

“Fuck, Ozzie.” He dug his fingers into my hair, winding his fingers gently into the strands.

There was something incredible about sucking him off without him being able to see my face. I felt like I was just a mouth meant to pleasure him, and for the man I loved, I was okay—more than okay—with that. His skin against my lips, his taste on my tongue. I wanted nothing more than to give him this pleasure.

I loved the way he felt in my mouth, hot and heavy. I loved how he reacted to every swipe of my tongue, every touch of my lips. I loved how he whispered my name like a desperate prayer, how his hands tightened in my hair as if holding on to the physical embodiment of his sanity.

I loved him.

His body twisted beneath me as a low growl rumbled from deep within him. His restraint slipped away with each passing second. He gripped my hair tighter, but I didn’t stop. I let him guide me, losing myself in the rhythm set by his eager body.

His breathing grew ragged and uneven as he neared climax. All control was gone now, replaced by raw instinctual need. He held me down as he punched up his hips, wrecking the back of my throat.

The bittersweet taste of his cum hit my tongue.

“Ozzie.”

The flood came, pouring down my throat in thick, hot ribbons. I swallowed eagerly around him, his cum pooling into my belly. My heart thudded, my cock pulsed, and I let out a strangled cry as I came.

The aftermath was a mess of panting and trembling limbs. I moved up and lay on his chest. “You made me come in my pants.”

“That’s fucking sexy.”

“Only you’d think that.”

“My one disappointment is that you didn’t come while sitting on my face.”

“Gray! Your brain’s been rattled already today. I’m not going to deprive it of air as well.”

His laugh rang out loud, so loud I placed my hands over his mouth. “Shh, you’re going to wake everybody.”

“Everyone’s already sleeping. No one cares what’s happening here, but you should probably get out of those pants. Dried cum is a bitch to clean off.”

I snorted. “You can say that. Yours is inside me.”

“Damn straight it is.” He punctuated the statement with a soft, possessive stroke down my back. I shivered at his touch, the warmth of his hand seeping through me.

“You are—”

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The breath flew out of my lungs. Someone had heard us.

Gray placed a finger over his lips, and I nodded.

“Gray? Gray, are you awake?”

Emma. I glared. What was she doing looking for Gray in the middle of the night?

Gray shrugged.

The doorknob rattled. “Why the hell is the door locked?” She tried the knob a few seconds more, then stopped. Her footsteps receded down the hallway. I exhaled in relief. Gray grinned at me, his dark eyes glittering with mischief.

“See? Nothing to worry about.”

“For now. Let me get out of these clothes.”

I slid from his body, the sheets pooling around my waist. His eyes tracked me as I sat up, their intense focus making me feel wanted and exposed all at once. I slipped into the bathroom and closed the door.

The light was already on, casting a soft yellow glow over the small space. Carefully I stripped out of my soiled clothes, grimacing at the sticky mess I’d created. I needed a quick shower.

A few minutes later, I hopped out of the shower. My skin was flushed and tingling from the hot water. I glanced in the mirror, slicking back my damp hair with my fingers. There was a certain glow about me, a satisfied glow. I grinned. Gray looked good on me, and for that I would have no regrets.

No regrets.

I started putting on Gray’s bathrobe but stopped. Dizziness washed over me. Did I dare? Gray had undressed me for sex several times. We’d been naked around each other a lot, but I’d never gone naked when we weren’t having sex.

But I can start now.

I replaced the robe on its hook and stepped back into the bedroom.

“—understand why you locked the…”

Emma stood inside the room, a bunch of keys in her hands. Her mouth fell open as her eyes widened with shock, darting between me and the bed where Gray lounged, a sheet drawn up to his waist.

“Emma!” I squeaked, covering myself with my hands. They weren’t adequate. “This isn’t what it looks like.”

Frowning, Gray got out of bed, taking the sheet with him. He gently draped the material over my body. “We’re not hiding anymore, remember?”