Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
“Because you found your home, then you left it. It’s time to come back.”
“This is my home,” I say, waving my hand around the room.
Grayson shakes his head. “No, it’s not.” His eyes never leave mine. The green specks glitter under the light. “Your home is back with me, and you know it.”
“I—”
“You can, and you will.” He pauses, waiting for my argument. But this time, I don’t have one. “Can I touch you now?” His arms are out and ready to touch me.
I think about it for a second. What are the consequences of his touch? Will it scar me more than I have already let it? Do I want it?
I’m not even sure.
His touch does things to me, and he doesn’t let me think clearly.
So when the words leave my mouth, I can’t stop them. “Yes.”
He wastes no time pulling me to him until his face is buried in my stomach. I suck in a breath at his touch and stay still as he holds me. Neither of us move for a few minutes.
“I need sleep,” he says into my stomach.
“You want to sleep here?” My hands lift and touch his hair, but they hover, unsure of what to do. He stays where he is, his breathing soft and even as he leans on me. I manage to release my breath and lay my hand on his head.
“Let’s go to bed,” I tell him.
Grayson stands, lifting me up with him. I slide down his body and cling to his neck, my legs going around his waist as he walks us to the bedroom.
It feels natural to have him hold me.
To be back in his arms again.
I missed it.
And I love it.
He walks us to my bed, lays me down, then slides off his pants. The ink on his thighs is new. I grin before I scoot over to let him in.
He climbs in next to me and pulls me straight to him. “Why are you grinning?” he asks.
“The flower on your thigh.”
“It’s a lily. Do you know what it means?” Our bodies are touching, and I can feel every inch of him. Feel the comfort his touch brings me without even trying.
“Tell me,” I say.
“It means magnificent beauty or a sign of rebirth. It means you, Avani.” I’m pretty sure I stop breathing at his words. “Do you not like it?”
“Why would you do that?” I whisper.
“Because I was going to be the one to help give you a new life, and you are the most beautiful fucking thing on this earth. It was fitting and right.”
“But we hate each other,” I say, so confused about everything I’m feeling. “Yet here you are in my bed, in a different state, with a tattoo on your leg that means me. And you’ve never been in a real relationship until…” I pause. Was it me or Charlotte? “Anyway. Are you sure this will even work?”
“We can work that out tomorrow. I’m tired, and I know I’m not going anywhere ever again if you are not there with me.”
“Oh, are you sure of that?” I sass not being able to help myself.
“Positive.” He squeezes me. “And if you run, I will find you. Again.”
“I’m not sure I want to run again,” I confess, settling myself against him.
“Good, because we know you are slow, and I’m fast. I was on the track team, after all,” he boasts.
“What, in school?” I start laughing.
“Hey, I was great. And I can still catch your ass when you’re running.”
“That’s because I was never on the track team.” I smile.
“Yeah, just your own team. Which I want to be a part of.” He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear.
“We shall see,” I reply.
“Oh no, we are not seeing. I know. Where you go, I will follow even if you don’t approve. I have stalking tendencies… Haven’t we discovered this already?”
“Oh yes, we have.” I put my arm around his waist and hold him to me. “Luckily, you’re good-looking.”
“Yeah, the best.” He yawns, and before I can say anything else, I hear him softly breathing in sleep.
Chapter 30
Run again?
Grayson
She’s gone when I wake up.
My body leaves the bed quickly and starts moving without even thinking. I stop when I see Avani in the kitchen trying to cook. She turns around when she hears me, then smiles and returns to what she’s doing.
“Did you think I ran?”
“Are you cooking?” I reply, ignoring her. The smell of the food calms me slightly as I lift my hand and run it through my hair.
“Yes but be warned. I don’t cook, so it might taste like shit.” She laughs.
“You should be packing, not cooking,” I tell her.
She doesn’t react to my words, just turns with a plate full of pancakes and hands them to me. “Eat.”
I look down at them. They look unappetizing because they are flat—no fluff whatsoever.