Chapter 46

We were in Graham’s bedroom when I turned to him and asked, “You got an apartment an hour away from your campus?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

He gave me an amused look. “Why do you think, baby? I was hopeful we could live together.”

My eyes widened.

“Too much?” He raised his eyebrows. Though he was smiling, I noticed the nervous energy oozing off him.

“You’re crazy.”

“I am. You have no idea the lengths I would go for you, but if you feel we’re moving too fast…”

I shook my head, stopping him. “I want to move in with you.”

“Great, because I was starting to calculate how much gas it would require me to visit you every day.”

I laughed and sauntered over to him. I looked at him deeply before rising to my tiptoes and kissing him.

At first, it was soft and languid. Then his mouth turned desperate. He tasted me like he couldn’t get enough. He held me like I was the most valuable thing he had.

“I love you so much.” I bunched my hands on his shirt and pulled him closer. I blurted out the words without regret. They had been lodged in my throat for a long while.

I didn’t take them back when Graham pushed away and stared down at me with wide eyes full of wonder, surprise, and shock. And then he scooped me up in his strong arms and carried me to bed. He laid me down softly and hovered over me.

“Keep saying those words,” he whispered.

I kept chanting them to Graham as he kissed me. The more I said them, the faster he worked. He was desperate as he removed my clothes. With each exposed sliver of skin, he pressed a hungry kiss, licking everywhere. He seemed addicted. I panted, pressing my thighs together to relieve the throb in my core.

“Graham….” I said. Though I needed him inside me, his mother was still a few feet away.

“We’ll be quiet,” he reassured me, kissing my shoulder. “But I need you.”

Graham unclasped my bra and tugged at my nipples. His hands roamed on my sides, arching my back. He kissed down until he reached my jeans and pushed down the material, along with my underwear.

He stood up to look at me. His eyes burned everywhere they went. I squirmed in bed.

He never removed his eyes from me as he removed his clothes in quick jerks. First, his shirt went off and was tossed aside. His jeans and underwear were down before I could blink.

His length was erect and tantalizing. I parted my legs invitingly.

Graham didn’t waste a second before he crawled over me and pushed inside. My folds stretched and I rolled my eyes at the familiar feeling of his weight pressing down on me and invading me. I canted my hips for him to go deeper. He groaned once he was all in.

“I love you too, baby. So fucking much, it hurts me,” he whispered against my mouth.

He grabbed my hands and clasped them together. He pinned them beside my head and propped himself up to look at me as he retreated and thrust back in. I gasped as our chests brushed against each other.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, needing him closer. With my guard down, I allowed the intimacy and sweetness to engulf me. Graham kept me close, like he couldn’t deal with the distance between us. Not anymore.

With each thrust, Graham’s breath changed. He croaked, “I’m going to take care of you.”

He promised as my abs clenched and my mouth parted. He kissed me and I writhed beneath him, feeling too much. My climax built up the more he pushed inside me.

“I’m going to fight for you for as long as I can,” he vowed.

I moaned softly, but it was hard to contain all the emotions. My head was dizzy and spinning as he ground harder and faster. The muscles in his shoulders clenched. I whimpered again, feeling high until my orgasm rippled through my body and I slammed down.

But Graham never stopped, and he pounded faster and faster, seeking his relief.

“And I’m going to love you and make you happy, love.”

I smiled at the new nickname. He groaned and filled my insides, and continued moving until he was powerless and landed on top of me. He took a few breaths before rolling off and out of me but bringing me on top of him. He squeezed me into him, unwilling to let go.

I kissed his pec on the spot where his heart was pounding hard. He stroked my back softly. He kissed my forehead and then my hand. He brought my hand to his heart and laced our fingers together there.

My lips curled in a satisfied smile. I sighed and closed my eyes.

I couldn’t wait for college and to wake up next to him each morning. I couldn’t wait for the endless teasing and jokes. The long weekends watching movies and making love. I could wait for the rest of our lives.

“Keep saying how much you love me,” Graham’s said hoarsely. “I’m not getting tired of those words any time soon.”

I chuckled and craned my neck to him. I whispered against his lips. “I love you.”

“Probably never,” he mused before kissing me hard.

***

On Saturday, Graham decided to talk to his mother about their relationship and how to fix it. I asked him if he wanted me there, but he only kissed my lips and said he’d be back.

I waited for him in his bedroom the entire time, but I could hear their hushed murmurs from the kitchen. My heart swelled with the need for everything to go right. From what I had gathered during the weekend, their relationship was salvageable.

Kathleen cared deeply for her son, and Graham wanted to be around his mother.

When he returned after long hours, he cuddled in bed with me and held me close. He exhaled as though in peace and closed his eyes.

I rolled to face him and studied his expression.

“How did it go?” I asked Graham, brushing my finger over his forehead.

His eyes fluttered open, and a lazy smile curled his lips. “Good,” he answered. “I mean, we need time, but it went well. We compromised. I told her I’m not my father, and football isn’t my entire life.”

“What did she say?”

A smile stretched. “She said she had noticed that. That my focus might be someplace else.”

He squeezed my hip, and I chuckled.

“She apologized for being bitter about football. For not supporting me. It was wrong of her. She’ll try to work on it and be more supportive from now on. She’s going to go to my football games in college. She knows it makes me happy. And I told her I could come here a few weekends to help her with work and to hang out. I told her you’d tag along, obviously.”

I chuckled again, rolling my eyes playfully. “Obviously.” It wasn’t that obvious, but I liked the idea of being here with Graham. Of being anywhere with him.

“And now, it is a matter of giving it time. A relationship doesn’t build overnight. But this is a start. We are going to work on it.”

“I’m glad. I’m really happy you were ready to give it a try.”

“Thank you, love, for making this the best Thanksgiving ever.”

My lips curled. “I haven’t done anything.”

“You didn’t have to, being here was enough. You’re everything.”

My heart melted when he lowered his lips to mine and kissed me reverently.