Page 25

Brooke

I’m a little tipsy. Not drunk, but I might as well be as I make out with Grant Anders in a pool, of all places.

He deepens our kiss and slips his tongue against mine, and I helplessly let out a quiet moan that has him pressing me closer to him. I'm wrapped around his waist, and he holds me firmly pressed against the pool's side. I'm fairly sure no one can see us, but it's still pretty public.

I pull away, and we are both panting. "Grant," I say, trying to catch my breath.

"Please don't say you regret that," he groans, dropping his forehead against mine, and our breath mingles together as we breathe heavily.

"I was going to say I think we should head back to the apartment.

" Biting my lip, hoping I'm not making assumptions here, but he's feeling the same vibes I am, and I don't want to be at a party full of people.

I just want to be alone with him. "I mean, we can stay if you want to?

" I add on, the fear of rejection comes in strong as I look into his eyes, hoping I'm not putting myself out here for nothing.

"Brooke, the last thought on my mind is staying at this party after that." He laughs and kisses me again, taking away the giggle that surfaced, and before it goes any deeper, he pulls away, and I can't help the disappointment as he releases my legs. "I'll grab my stuff and call a sober ride?"

I nod at him shyly, and I catch a glimpse of him adjusting his shorts under the water, and I can't help but smirk. “Meet you on the deck?" I bite my lip again. I know my face is flushed, and we are still against the side of the pool. He leans in and kisses me softly.

"Sounds like a plan." He smiles as we wade to the steps, both of us scanning the pool area. Most people have moved into the main house to continue the party as it gets later.

He jogs off outside of the pool house, and I walk back to where Savannah, Megan, and I had been sitting, grabbing my towel and making light work of drying myself before having to slip on my shorts and top over my wet bikini and wincing at the thought of the temperature outside.

Once my boots and jacket are on, I venture out into the yard towards the deck and see Savannah and Megan walking down the steps. "Hey, we were just about to say we are going to grab some pizzas and head back to ours if you want to come," Savannah says.

"Oh, I wish, but Grant's heading back, and I said I would catch a ride with him." I smile, grateful that they had thought of me. "Next time?"

"Of course, ah, you're so lucky hot guy to escort you home." Megan sighs, and Savannah gives me a knowing smile, and I laugh.

"I had fun, though; we should get together for drinks soon?" I ask hopefully.

"Of course, you've still got my number from class, right?"

I nod and we say our goodbyes as I walk up the deck steps. I turn back to look where I'm going, and notice Grant is cornered by a girl.

"It's one drink, Grant, come on," she whines, "I've barely seen you in weeks."

He shakes his head and looks up, spotting me, and gives me that Grant Anders smirk; he moves towards me. "Sorry, I've got plans," he dismisses her.

I grin up at him as we slip past the girl who scoffs, and I turn back and give her my best sickly sweet smile as I pass. She looks like she is about to explode, and I can't help but snort a laugh.

"What?" Grant laughs as we wait for people to walk out the doors ahead of us.

"Just these girls being all over you." I shake my head as more girls walk past and eye him up or boldly say hi, even though it's pretty clear. We are here together.

"Jealous, are we?" He leans into my space just the way I like it.

"No, not at all." I blink up at him before saying, "I now understand why your head is so big, your ego taking up all the room in there.

" I tap his forehead and wink at him, walking ahead through the doors and feel his hand slap my ass making me gasp in shock before he grips my hips, moving me through the house.

We get stuck twice as we leave with people pulling Grant into conversations, but he keeps a hand on my back, and slowly we progress through the house out to the front and hop into the car that's waiting. I settle back in my seat as Grant gives the driver directions to our apartment.

Is this a bad idea? Our friendship is on the line, not to mention our friends would get caught up if this all goes wrong.

We should have ironed out all these details before we kissed or left the party.

Then again, that's not Grant Anders' style; he's definitely an act and deal with it later kind of guy.

Grant sits back, takes my hand and starts playing with my fingers, instantly making me forget what I was thinking about.

This guy makes my brain go silly.

"You, okay?" he asks, and I look across the car at him with the opportunity to tell him this is a bad idea.

He's looking at me with a smile, his head resting lazily back on the headrest, and I'm once again struck by why I like this guy so much.

He calms me down and makes everything seem a little smaller.

Just sitting here together makes me forget about my doubts.

Even if this is a one-time thing, I know I want him.

"I'm good." I smile back and rest my cheek against the headrest facing him, and he grins back, making my heart melt a little more.

When we get to the apartments, we walk up the steps and stop in the space between our two apartments. Grant scratches the back of his head as he asks.

"If you've changed your mind, we don't have to do anything.

" He coughs nervously. "We could always watch a film and order some food?

" I raise my eyebrows at him and smile. I've never seen him like this before, and it's endearing.

Any other guy would have rushed me inside by now, eager to get back to what we started, but not this guy.

"I haven't changed my mind," I say, taking a step towards him.

"Unless you have?" I offer self-consciously.

"No," he shouts, shaking his head before saying more quietly. "Sorry, no, I haven't."

I splutter out a laugh, and he joins me, laughing at himself; he steps forward and does my new favourite things; he grabs my hips like he owns me, and I feel a rush of excitement.

"Okay, so we've got a dilemma." He leans in as he presses me against the wall of the entry balcony between our two apartments.

"My apartment?" He sweeps an arm towards it.

"Gunnar was mid-argument when I left, so he might still be in an argument or on the sofa drinking a beer.

" He then moves his arm over to mine. "Or a very unhappy Cami, who has warned me away from you frequently, which is the lesser of the two evils? "

I smirk up at him. "Cami messaged while I was at the pool to tell me she's staying the night with her date." I slip under his arm and saunter backwards towards my door.

"Ding, we have a winner." Grant moves quickly and crowds me against it, kissing me, and I reach up, running my fingers through his hair as he pushes me against the door and effortlessly lifts me. I wrap my legs around his waist, and his hands stroke my hips as we get lost in the moment that passes before I remember we’re still out in the open and I’m dripping wet and cold from the pool.

“Keys?” he mumbles against my mouth, clearly thinking the same thing. He sets me down, and I fumble the door open. The second it closes behind us, he has me backed against the wall opposite it, pressing into me.

I rake my hands through his damp hair. “You’re cold,” he murmurs, brushing his hands up and down my sides to warm me.

“I need to get these wet clothes off.” My head bumps gently against the wall as his lips trail down my neck, sucking and licking a path that makes my breath hitch and my fingers tighten in his hair.

“I can help with that,” he says, sucking on my pulse point as he picks me up again. I grind against him instinctively, and we both let out low moans.

He carries me down the hallway to my bedroom and lays me gently on the bed, like I’m something fragile. Then he climbs over me, his body hovering above mine.

I reach under his shirt and push it up; he pulls it over his head and tosses it aside.

I sit up and tug my top over my head, tossing it to the floor.

We stare at each other for a beat before I slowly lift my hands and untie the strings around my neck, letting the top fall, then pulling the last knot at my back. Grant’s eyes widen.

He crushes his mouth to mine in a bruising, impatient kiss, then trails his lips down my neck. His hands move to my breasts, squeezing gently.

“I was supposed to do that,” he growls against my skin. “Don’t worry, I’ve got the rest.”

A fresh wave of heat rushes through me as his hands slide lower and his mouth wraps around a nipple.

I arch into him, needing more, threading my fingers into his hair as he undoes my shorts and slips them down my legs.

Had they not already been wet, his touch alone would’ve soaked my bikini bottoms.

He kisses up the inside of my thighs in slow, torturous progress. His fingers toy with the ties of my bikini bottoms, and I squirm beneath him, desperate for more.

“Grant,” I moan as his mouth moves up over my hip and stomach.

“What do you need, baby?” he murmurs, his voice vibrating against my skin as he returns to my breasts, giving them lavish attention. The way he says baby sends another rush of heat flooding through me.

“You,” I whisper, tugging on his hair while he teases both nipples one with his mouth, the other with his fingers.

“Where?” He moves his fingers to the ties again, teasing.

“Grant,” I gasp as he slips a finger under the fabric and presses against my clit. I arch off the bed with a moan.

“My mouth or my fingers?” He moves lower.

“Both,” I gasp.

He finally unties the knots and licks up my centre. “Oh God,” I moan as he pushes a finger in. My hips lift instinctively. Another finger follows slow, deliberate, stretching and teasing like he knows exactly how to undo me.

“So tight, Brooke,” he groans, continuing to lick and suck until I can’t hold back. I come with a moan, tugging hard on his hair.

He doesn’t stop until I’m trembling, and when he finally moves back up, he opens his mouth probably to say something cocky but I grab him and kiss him, tasting myself on his lips.

My hands move down to his shorts, pushing them down. He helps, then leans over the side of the bed to grab a condom from his wallet. I slide back on the pillows and realise we haven’t even made it under the covers.

“You sure?” he asks as he joins me. I glance down at him he’s big. Bigger than Josh.

“No pressure if you want to stop.”

“Um.” I meet his eyes, wide with nerves. “I still want to. I’m just not confident that’s going to fit.” I let out a nervous laugh.

He chuckles too. “We can make it fit.”

Another wave of heat pulses through me. I bite my lip and nod, kissing him again as he rolls the condom on. He lines himself up and slowly pushes in.

We both moan.

“So tight,” he growls, pushing in deeper.

“It’s been a while,” I admit with a soft sigh, the fullness making my head spin.

“How long?” he asks, resting on his elbow above me.

“Is this really a conversation you want to have right now?” I wiggle beneath him to get him moving again.

“I’m trying not to make this a quick experience, Brooke. Humour me.”

I laugh. “Ten or eleven months, maybe? I don’t remember exactly.”

Josh hadn’t been interested in sex. He said he only did it when he had time and wanted to. That was enough for him. He never asked what I needed, thank God for the vibrator I bought to fill in the gaps.

“You’re kidding, right?” Grant suddenly thrusts in deeper, and I gasp into his mouth.

“How the hell could he stay away from you?”

He starts moving, and I meet each thrust, whimpering at how good he feels.

“He didn’t want the distraction,” I breathe, and he hits the spot that makes me see stars. I drag my nails down his back, and he takes the hint, slamming into me just right.

“Distract me,” he groans. “Distract me whenever you want.”

“Grant, I’m so close,” I whine as he sucks a mark into my neck. He slows his pace, and I clench around him desperately.

“Yeah?” he breathes against my skin, his mouth trailing fire. I can barely form words.

“Mmhmm,” I whimper, gripping his neck and circling my hips.

One last thrust sends me over the edge. I cry out, grateful Cami isn’t home, because I couldn’t be quiet if I tried.

He keeps moving through it, and when I come down, I meet his eyes. He looks wrecked in the best way.

I kiss him and shift my hips to show I’m ready again. He grabs my hips, lifts them, and thrusts harder.

I’ve never felt sexier. He’s biting my neck, moaning like he can’t get enough of me. When he finally comes, he grips the base of my ponytail, and the sharp tug pushes me to the brink again.

We collapse together, his weight comforting as he breathes heavily against my neck.

“We are doing that again,” he murmurs breathlessly.

“Oh, definitely,” I grin, nose to nose with him.