I’m still angry by the time I sit down at the dining table, my laptop by my side. Usually I’d have waited for Gray so we could have dinner together, but today I don’t want to.
I’m strangely upset that he doesn’t care if I date Riley. Am I really nothing but a responsibility to him? All this time I thought he’d been enjoying my company, but now I’m wondering if I’ve been a burden to him all along.
It wouldn’t be the first time I misread a situation, after all. The sound of the front door opening startles me and Gray walks in, his eyes settling on me, his expression unreadable.
He walks past me and grabs himself a plate before joining me at the table. “Did you eat?” he asks, his tone rough, and I glare at him.
“I did. Not that it’s any of your business. I’m not a child, Gray. When Noah asked you to look after me, he didn’t mean literally.”
Grayson’s expression darkens. “Seems to me like you need a babysitter. You can’t even tell that Riley wants you. Or did you knowingly ask him out for coffee today?”
I grit my teeth, anger making me lose all rationality. “So what if I did, Grayson? What if I just wanted to go on a date? What’s wrong with that? It’s been months. I was bound to move on someday.”
He barks out a laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “And you thought you’d move on with Riley? Riley? If you’re going to spread your legs for someone, then at least choose someone better. You’re not exactly picky, though, are you? You’re literally going with the first man that showed any interest.”
I rise to my feet, my chair clattering to the floor loudly. “What did you just say to me? Are you seriously standing there and acting like I’m some sort of slut?”
Gray pulls his tie off and throws it onto the dining table. “I’m not doing this,” he says. “Fuck whoever you want. I don’t give a shit.”
He walks away, heading straight for the door that leads to the rooftop. I stare after him as he slams the door closed behind him.
What was that? We’ve never argued before, and this was… bad. It was bad.
I run a hand through my hair and inhale shakily. I’m blinking back tears, all the while angry at myself for it. I shouldn’t care this much, yet I do.
I grit my teeth and walk up to the door, following Gray. I’m not surprised to find him standing by his punching bag. He’s lost his clothes, standing there in nothing but black boxer shorts, his body on display.
I watch as he swings his fist toward the bag and sends it flying over and over again, the chains rattling. His muscles tense with every punch, and I hate how good he looks. I hate everything about this. I hate how much he wants Nyx. I hate that he acts like I’m a child that he needs to look after, and I despise myself for giving him that impression in the first place.
I walk up to him, and he tenses when he notices me. “Leave,” he tells me, and I shake my head.
I place my hands flat against his chest, and he tenses. I glare at him and push against him, my frustration mounting when I fail to move him.
“How fucking dare you,” I snap. “How dare you act like I’m seducing Riley?”
Gray smiles humorlessly. “You wanna fight, babe? We’ll fight.”
He lifts me up and throws me over his shoulder with ease. I thrash against him as he carries me to the boxing ring, throwing me over the ropes. I hit the thick cushions butt first and glare at him as I scramble to my feet.
“You’re a fucking hypocrite,” I tell him, attempting to throw a punch the way he taught me. I miss, of course. He evades me with ease. “You act like you’re a saint, but I see you flirting with Laura. I know she’s not the only one either. Who else is there, Gray? How many girls are you leading on? You’re a fucking asshole, making people feel special when they’re just one of many.”
He frowns, and this time when I push against him, he loses his balance. He falls onto his back, but he takes me with him. Before I realize what’s going on, he’s got us turned over, his body on top of mine, our position the same as it was the last time we were here… when I thought he was going to kiss me.
He grabs my hands and pins them above my head, locking me in. “What the fuck are you talking about?” he snaps. “Laura? What the fuck?”
I glare at him, trying my hardest to hide how badly my heart is aching. “I see you disappearing for lunch with her all the time. Do you think I’m blind? I see her sneaking into your office during office hours. Tell me, Gray. Have you been sleeping with her? Office quickies, maybe?”
He blinks in confusion, and then he smiles. His body relaxes on top of mine, and he shakes his head. “No. I haven’t. She’s setting up a subdivision of my company, baby. That’s all. The only one I’ve been sleeping with is you.”
“I know I’m not the only—”
He cuts me off before I can even finish my sentence. His lips come crashing down on mine, and he moans at the same time as I do. He pushes against me, and the way he’s hardening so quickly exhilarates me. He deepens the kiss, and I lose myself in him. I’ve wanted this for longer than I care to admit.
I push against his hands, and he lets go of my wrists just as I tangle my legs with his. I shift in an attempt to get him closer, and he moans.
“Aria,” he whispers, his lips dropping to my neck. His teeth graze my skin, and I gasp. Gray chuckles and moves his lips back to mine, kissing me leisurely this time before pulling back. He rests his forehead against mine, his breathing labored.
“It was always you,” he tells me. “You’re the only one for me.”
He looks into my eyes, and the sincerity in them kills me. It kills me, because I know he’s lying to me.
He shifts on top of me, his eyes roaming over my face. He smiles at me, and my heart breaks in a way I’ve never experienced before.
“Am I? Am I the only one for you, Gray?”
He nods and leans in, his lips brushing against mine. “Of course you are, Ari. I’ve thought of no one but you ever since you walked into the house on Noah’s birthday a few months ago. It’s you, and no one but you.”
He says it with such sincerity that I’m questioning myself, the same way I did with Brad. Grayson leans in and captures my bottom lip between his teeth, sucking on it before kissing me properly, his movements slow, as though he’s been imagining kissing me, as though he feels the same way I do.
He moves lower, pressing a kiss to my neck, and I moan when he grazes my skin with his teeth, his movements rough and impatient. I’m about to pull him back to me when his stomach growls loudly.
I burst into laughter, and Gray drops his head to my chest. “Hungry?” I ask.
He nods. “Starving.”
He lifts himself off me, looking embarrassed. He extends his hand and I grab it, letting him pull me up.
“Um, Gray,” I mutter. “I don’t think you should eat the dinner I made.”
He looks at me through narrowed eyes, and I smile nervously. “I was mad at you… so I made the food really spicy.” I like spicy food, but Gray hates it. “I’ll eat the leftovers tomorrow.”
He shakes his head and wraps his arm around me. “Let me take you out tonight, then. Let’s go out on a date.”
I look at him, wide-eyed. “A date?” I repeat, partially in disbelief, even after the way he just kissed me.
He grins and lifts his fingers to his lips. “Wait… did you just want me for my body?”
I can’t help the way my cheeks heat, and Gray laughs as he pulls me along.
