Page 115 of The Cabin
“Grayson.” I shove my elbow back into his side.
He chuckles, bringing me back to his chest and resituating us so he’s touching what feels like every inch of my body. “Yes. Okay. I’m behaving. You read. I’ll be the perfect, silent gentleman.”
“You didn’t bring my book!”
His fingers trail under the hem of my shirt. “Whoops. Well, it’s too late now. We’re already snuggling. Can’t move for at least fifteen minutes.”
I put on my best Grayson voice and yell, “FIFTEEN MINUTES.”
We’re both giggling like little kids, but it feels really freaking nice.
“I can probably count on one hand how many times I’ve laughed outside the classroom in the last five years or so.”
“My cheeks actually hurt for the first few days you stayed here because I was smiling so much.”
“Come on!”
“I swear! I considered icing my face after the fair, the watering hole,andour dance recital.”
“Even though I know you’re lying, that makes me really, really happy.”
“You make me happy.” Another kiss on my temple.
I hum and close my eyes, rubbing patterns on his arms. We’re quiet for a while. I never thought I would experience this. This calm. This peace. This love. Even though Grayson played a huge part in it, I’m pretty proud of the last four and a half weeks. He’s right. If we went our separate ways, I would have to mourn the loss of him. But I would walk away a full human. Well, most of my heart would be missing, but I’d be able to live. I wouldn’t waste away in a dark apartment. I’d be able to pick myself up by my bootstraps, or whatever.
“Are you my boyfriend?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I’m your fuck buddy roommate that you’re in love with.”
I huff in amusement. “Oh, riiiight. Yeah, sorry. I forgot.”
His teeth graze my earlobe before he whispers, “Do you wanna be my girlfriend, Sol?”
“Do I get to keep the ‘benefits’ from ‘friends with benefits’?”
Kisses trail down my neck. “You actually get upgraded, with an opportunity for a promotion.”
“Do go on.” His hands are back on the prowl, rubbing and teasing and gripping.
“Girlfriend status would normally unlock the Move-In package. But since you were given that particular perk in advance, we’re prepared to offer you the Buy A House Together package instead.” Butterflies erupt in my stomach and I feel like I need to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. He can’t be serious? He’s gotta just be messing around. Being sweet.
“Is that so?” It comes out raspy because a) I want him to be serious and that terrifies me, but it also terrifies me that he might be just playing and b) his hands have found their way under my shirt and over my breasts.
“Mhhm.” Teeth skim my jaw. “And once you’ve unlocked the House package, a whole world of possible promotions opens up.”
I can’t believe I can keep up with this ruse at this point. This reminds me of the night with the phone. “Well, I really should have all the details so that I can make an informed decision…”
“The natural first promotion is obviously to Fiancée status.”
“Grayson,” I gasp at both his words and the fact that his fingers have slipped into my underwear and have found my clit.
“There are two choices for after Fiancée status. It doesn’treallymatter which one you choose first because they both end up leading to the same end goal.”
One hand slides my underwear down, the other sneaks a finger inside me. I’m still moaning as I say, “And those are…?”
Grayson switches up our position so that I’m in his lap, facing him, knees on either side of his thighs. I’ve lost the fill of his finger, but he moves his hands in between us and gets his thumb back where I need it.
It’s a minute before he answers me because he’s too busy kissing along my chest. “Wife status,” he murmurs, his lips making their way higher up. He pauses, bringing our faces together and cupping my cheek with his free hand.