Dinner went by quicker than she had expected, but it was fun. Vroom and Curries were sitting with their friends Daniel and his mate Kiara, as well as Matthew and his mate Willow. This was the rendevue point for everyone to meet at before heading to the cabin. it also ensures that everyone has something to eat. when someone her coffee over to take their order, she ordered the Vegetable Prima Vera, as well as a glass of red wine with an ice water. Once everyone had their orders, the conversation turned to the block party that was happening in two . Grace remembered having gotten lost in the crowd as a child, and anxiety flooded through her. Having sensed it, Rhys reached under the table and laced his fingers with hers.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, squeezing Rhys' hand for reassurance. He squeezed back, giving her the reassurance she was looking for. She could feel him in the edge of her mind, pressing to find what could be wrong. "Rhys." He looked up to see Brok, Matt, and Daniel standing with their jackets. "We're gonna get some air. Let the girls talk. Are you coming with us?" He looked at Grace, who gave him a simple nod. "Yeah, I'm coming." He stood, leaning over to give her a quick kiss. "I'll be back." She watched him walk out with the rest of the guys, leaving her with Miranda, Chelsea, Kiara, and Willow. They all immediately turned to her. "The three of us haven't officially met."
The blonde girl across from her smiled, holding out her hand. "I'm Kiara. And this is my sister Willow." The other girl just looked at her with an expression of disgust. Kiara just rolled her eyes. "Don't mind her. She's just jealous. She had a thing for Rhys once upon a time." Willow punched her sister, who just laughed. "And I'd have him too." Willow stood, grabbing her jacket. "If YOU hadn't come along." She stormed off, and Grace looked at Miranda in confusion. "She and Rhys were partners for The Haze each year. Now that he has you, though, he ended it with her." Grace could see Rhys standing outside with the other guys. When he looked at her, He smiled. He had ended a fling with Willow for her with her. She should be grateful. But the only thing she could feel was pity for Willow.
~ * ~ * ~
An hour later, Grace was back in the truck with Rhys and Miranda. They still wouldn't reach the lakehouse for another two hours, so Rhys had her and Miranda grab some snacks at the mini-mart while he got gasbefore leaving town. Miranda fell asleep in the back seat before they even hit the main road. After they had gone into the mini-mart, Miranda had gone on and on about Brok. Grace sound have known that the two would end up together. They would be good for one another, she knew this, at least. Once they had gotten back on the road, Grace watched the darkness of the open road to by outside the truck. Rhys looked over at her once in a while, taking in her features. She looked exhausted, thoroughly exhausted. He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Get some sleep. It's gonna take a while to get to the lakhouse." He didn't need to tell her twice.
when she woke, the truck was parked in the dirt driveway of a cabin. Miranda was gone, but Rhys was talking to Brok by his jeep. They must have just gotten here. He came back to the she of the truck and pulled the door open. "Hey. Come on, I've got you. Just put your and around me." She did, and he lifted her into his arms. Her head rested on his shoulder, her breath fanning across his neck. He carried her inside and to one of the bedrooms. Setting her down on the bed, he pulled the blanket over her. "Get some sleep. I'll handle the bags." Getting up, he moved to leave the room. However, he stopped when she grabbed his hand.
"Hey." His voice was barely above a whisper. He ran his thumb over her cheek. "Go back to sleep. I'll be back." She sat up, her eyes meeting his for the briefest moment before moving to his lips. After the moment they had shared lodge the restaurant earlier tonight, she wanted to kissed him. TO REALLY kiss him. He didn't seem all that opposed to the idea because he didn't move away from her. Moving the slightest but closer, her lips met his. The tension she found feel in him went away, and he relaxed.He rested his hand on the back of her neck, tilting her head back to deepen the kiss. She moaned into the kiss, causing him to growl.
He pulled her to him so quickly they she gasped, laughing a little when she found him on top of her. His lips found hers again, and his hand moved to her side. He trailed his lips down her cheek and across her neck. A soft modem escaped her lips, her hips bucking slightly when his lies found the sensitive spot on her neck where his mark wound eventually be. It sent shivers down her spine. Just as quickly as he had combed over her, he was gone. When she sat up, Rhys was standing in the shadows across the room. His chest was heaving, and his eyes gleamed. "I'm sorry." Even from where she sat, she could see how hard he was trying to control himself. He ran a hand through his hair, looking about the room. "I'm sorry. I...I have to go." He grabbed his jacket from the end of the bed, closing the door behind him as he left the room. Gazing around the room, she pulled her knees up to her chest as hot tears stung her cheeks. What the hell had just happened? Did he...not want her? She pulled the blankets closer around her, curling into a ball underneath as she cried herself to sleep.
When she woke in the morning, she found that Rhys still had not come back. His luggage was still across the room, so he hadn't completely left altogether. He was still here somewhere. She pulled herself out of bed, taking a shower and changing into a pair of shorts with a tank top and sandals before leaving the room. When she reached the kitchen, she found Miranda, Chelsea, Kiara, and Willow. Willow looked at her and stood. "I'm sorry about last night. it wasn't fair for me to do that." She motioned to a chair next to her. "Are you hungry? Kiara made flapjacks." With a smile, she accepted the seat. While she ate, she and Willow got to know each other a little bit. They actually had a lot more in common than she originally thought. Had they been the same age, they could have been sisters.
When she was finished eating, she and Willow went out to the veranda. Upon getting out there, Grace's heart dropped. Rhys was playing table football with the guys on the back lawn. Willow didn't miss the pained expression on her face. "What happened between you two last night? He was really distraught when Matt found him." Grace gave her the entire rundown on what had happened last night, and Willow was angry. "I can't believe he did that to you." Grace's eyes never left Rhys as he was talked by Brok. It looked like a rough one, but she didn't care. "He left me alone all night." She said quietly. Willow shook her head. "That's not cool."
Brok helped Rhys to his feet, both of them laughing. Rhys looked up towards the house, and his smile vanished when he saw her. He said something to Brok and started toward her. Grace got to her feet and started back inside. "Grace, wait!" He followed her inside, grabbing her arm once he was close enough. "Let go of me!" There were tears in her eyes when she turned to face him. He could see now that he had hurt her far more than he knew. "Grace..." He wrote her tears away with his thumbs, shaking his head. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you." Shaking her head, she tried to pull away. But he wouldn't let her. "Look at me." He said softly. "Look at me." When she lifted her eyes to his, she could see her own pain reflected in his eyes. by hurting her, he had hurt himself as well. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "I'm sorry."
he lifted her head to look at him, doing her face in his hands. Shaking his head, he closed the gap and kissed her. There was a fervent want for more coming from them both. A sob escaped her lips when he pulled away. "Don't leave me this time." She begged. He smiled. "I don't intend to." He pulled her to him, deepening the kiss. It was slow and gentle at first but became more fervent. He pulled away for a moment, resting his forehead on hers. "How far are you willing to take this? Because I want you. Now." She let go of a breath she didn't know she had been holding. "All the way."