Divine Grace (7 page)

Grace looked at the three of them standing there, so handsome and strong. She looked in their eyes and saw acceptance, hopefulness, and desire. Charity had encouraged her to take her chance. Rose Marie had encouraged her to seize the day. If she didn’t act on that advice right now, she knew she’d regret it later.

She went to Jack first, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head against his chest. He leaned down to her, almost tentatively, tilted her chin up, and kissed her lips for the first time. His lips were warm and gentle against hers, making her feel small and precious to him. She was enveloped in his clean, masculine warmth, and she felt a little dizzy as she returned his kiss enthusiastically. She felt his strong hands skim down her ribs and come to rest on her hips, pulling her to him ever so slightly but enough that the erection growing inside his blue jeans pressed against her abdomen. She felt that yearning warmth begin in her belly and spread down to her throbbing clit.

She longed for a time when this might be the beginning and not the end of the evening. She was aware of Adam and Ethan standing nearby. She surprised herself, subconsciously recognizing them not as observers but participants merely awaiting their moment. How odd to feel that way. She had so little experience with men and this sort of thing, and she should have felt self-conscious about kissing Jack in front of them, but instead she was contemplating having the two of them kiss her next. It was over too soon.

Jack cupped her cheek, looking down into her eyes. “See you soon. Be safe.”

“I will. You, too.”

He looked at her for a moment like he wanted to say more, then released her and went out the screen door to start the SUV, leaving the others to their good-byes.

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He’d released her to Ethan, who gave her a knowing grin. He was anticipating his second kiss of the evening from her. He looked down at her with warm eyes as she rose on her tiptoes, and he leaned down to her. He caught her in a more passionate kiss than the first time. He pulled her to his hard, muscular chest, pressing her breasts against him, and she was sure he could feel how hard her nipples were and the way she trembled in his arms.

Unlike the first kiss, she opened to give him access. As his tongue caressed hers, her body bloomed into full arousal for him. He rested his hands on her hips, pressing himself to her, making her aware of how she affected him.

He released her to caress her cheeks, drawing his thumb across her damp bottom lip. “Call us if you need us, Gracie, no matter how late, okay?”

He nuzzled her cheek. “Sweet dreams.”

“I promise. Thank you for changing the locks. I feel much safer now. I–

I’m—uh,” she stuttered.

He bent down very closely and whispered, “I love you, Gracie.”

The words stunned her with their simplicity, and her breath caught in her throat. He smiled gently at her, and she looked up into his sparkling blue eyes and whispered softly, almost silently, “I love you, too, Ethan.”

“See you soon.” Then he, too, was gone, but not before she saw the hopeful, fiercely purposeful light filling his eyes.

She turned to her patient, gentle giant, Adam. She just reached for him as he leaned down to her, lifting her into his embrace. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as his lips brushed hers and returned his kiss with all the joy in her heart. His arms wrapped around her, one around her waist and one around her hips. She turned her head slightly into his kiss and arched her back, pressing her breasts into his chest. She heard a faint growl come from his throat as she brushed her tongue against his, and of their own volition, her legs wrapped themselves around his narrow waist, pressing her now very damp folds against his abdomen. One hand slid down to cup her ass, holding her tightly to him. The tightness in her belly increased, and she felt the muscles in her pussy clench uselessly. Adam groaned softly, and she might have moaned a little herself at that sensation. Thank goodness she was wearing blue jeans. Otherwise, she’d have gotten him all wet. As he put her down, she lowered her legs to the floor, and he slid her down his torso. His growing erection rubbed against her belly as she found her footing again.

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He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “I want you so much, Grace. We want you so much. All of us. You know you can trust us?” His eyes, like Ethan’s, were so hopeful.

His words stole her breath, and she held on to him tightly, looking into his eyes, nodding slowly.

“I trust you, Adam. I do. Thank you for saving me today.” Her chin wobbled a little. All these powerful sensations were getting to her emotions.

“I love you, Adam. So much,” she whispered.

She laid her cheek against his chest and felt such a profound peace steal over her. Not all of them had made declarations of love to each other, but she knew they loved her, especially Jack. Even though he hadn’t said it tonight, she felt it.

“I love you, Grace,” Adam murmured softly to her, wiping a tear from her eye that she didn’t even know was there. “Sweet dreams, baby.”

“You, too. Drive safe.”

He released her, and she watched him go. She waved to Jack and Ethan, who pulled away after Adam started his truck. Watching out for each other, as always.

“Wow, that was way better than porn,” Charity said as she came back in the living room.

“Charity!” Grace blurted out, laughing. Her cheeks literally throbbed with heat.

* * * *

On the drive home, Adam groaned as he remembered the little stretch and yawn she’d had when she got up from the couch. And the way she had arched her back into it. That little move made him instantly hard. The caveman buried inside him wanted to pick her up and carry her over his shoulder back to his cave and bury himself deep inside her. He could still smell her on him, the scent that was uniquely hers and all woman. Someday, hopefully soon because he was in agony, he was going to feast between her thighs and experience for himself what she tasted like, too. He needed a cold shower something fierce.

She took a huge risk and told him she loved him. That had to be a sign of trust. And Heaven knew he loved her, too. His heart lurched when he

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remembered the trusting way she’d reached for him and the sexy way she’d turned into their kiss, getting as close as she could to him. She had given as much as she could give to him, for now, in that kiss and held nothing in reserve. When he felt her wrap those long legs around him, the urge to turn and take her to the bedroom was a strong one, but he’d reminded himself that her sister was there. And knowing Charity, she was probably watching.

His heart was a lost cause. Grace now held it in her hands. Those trusting blue eyes had done him in for good.

* * * *

Jack glanced over at Ethan as he drove out of Divine toward the ranch.

Ethan had been awfully quiet since they left Grace’s house. Jack was curious about the cause.

“What’s troublin’ you, Ethan?”

“Nothing’s troubling me. I’m just thinking about Gracie. I told her that I loved her.”

“Well, that’s a good thing, right?”

“Of course it is, Jack. But I’ve only known her four days.”

“When you told her you loved her, did you mean it? Or did you just want to make her happy? Or are you just hoping to get in her pants and thought she’d let you if you told her that?” He knew none of those things were true but figured playing devil’s advocate might help Ethan work it out.

Ethan laughed. “You know me better than that, Jack. I wouldn’t say something like that unless I was positive I meant it.”

“Then why does it matter if it’s only been four days? The way I see it, you’re faster on the uptake than I am because I’ve known her for a couple of years. Sometimes it takes people a while to realize they love someone, and sometimes it only takes a day. I think Adam fell in love with her the moment he saw her walking up Dad’s driveway.”

“How do you feel about me telling her tonight that I love her? By rights you should have been the first one to tell her. Any stirrings of jealousy?”

In answer, Jack asked him a question. “How did it make you feel when she kissed me good-bye?”

“Honestly, it was a turn-on to watch her kiss you. Don’t get me wrong, Jack. I ain’t getting turned on by you or anything like that, but yeah, I liked
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watching the two of you. Maybe there’s a little more kink in us than we all thought, or maybe it’s different this time because she’s the right woman.”

“I wanted the two of you to have your moment with her, so I went outside. Maybe I should have stayed and watched, too.”

“I have a feeling you’ll get your chance before too long. Can I ask you a question?” Ethan asked.

“Of course.” Jack knew the only way they were going to navigate through this is by being totally open with each other and putting her needs first.

“You heard her talk about that dream she had. If she wants the three of us at one time, do you feel comfortable with doing that?” Ethan asked, turning to look at his best friend’s face illuminated by the dashboard lights.

“Can you deal with it?” Jack answered.

“Hell yeah. I already told you it’s a huge turn-on for me, and we have to put her needs first. There is no jealousy there. That’s not to say I won’t want to spend time alone with her all to myself, and I would expect you to want the same thing, as well. Adam, too.”

“I’m not sharing her with anyone else besides the two of you,” Jack said.

“I feel the same, Jack. I’m willing to share, but only with y’all. She doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who would want that. Man, that was some kiss. She is so responsive. I can still smell her scent. Mmmm.”

“Cold shower?”

“Make mine a double,” Ethan said, laughing. “And I still ain’t doin’ ya.”

They laughed for half a mile.

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Grace placed her hands over her hot cheeks as Charity snickered and sat down on the couch.

“Grace, you are one hot mama! You’ve got those men eating from the palm of your hand. Did you see the way they were looking at you tonight? I felt like fanning myself a couple of times, it was getting so hot in there.

They adore you! I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if they told you they were in love with you.”

“Ethan and Adam did tonight. That was also the first time I’d ever kissed Jack and Adam.” Grace joined her on the couch, recalling the effect their gentle kisses had on her.

“Are they good kissers? What am I saying? Of course they were good kissers. It was obvious. They are really into you. If I hadn’t been here, you might be in bed with all three of them right now!”

“It’s like something out of my wildest fantasies. I wouldn’t even know where to begin. They would have to figure all that out. How would they do that?”

“One of them takes you vaginally, one takes you anally, and you take the other orally, all at the same time,” Charity said with a lecherous grin, laughing at Grace’s shocked expression.

“Charity! I swear, sometimes you take pleasure in shocking me. I already knew how the sex works. I meant how do they decide who takes me first? I meant just regular, straightforward sex! Rock, paper, scissors? Girl, your mind is in the gutter!”

Charity snickered playfully, rubbing her hands together. “Yes, and I’m so glad you’ve joined me. You’re much more fun now that Owen got the boot. You must be exhausted. I think you’re probably running on nerves and adrenaline right now. You have to work in the morning, so why don’t we turn in?”

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“’Kay. I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be in there in a few minutes.”

The house was so nice and cool now. She’d sleep like a baby tonight for sure unless thoughts of those men and their hot kisses kept her awake. Just the thought sent a spear of heat to her clit.

Bad girl.

When she got out of the bathroom, she found Charity in her bedroom, stripping the bed and putting on fresh sheets and pillow cases. “Sorry, I could not take the chance he slept on the sheets I’m laying down on tonight.”

* * * *

It was too much to hope she would get a good night’s sleep tonight.

Grace had been in bed less than half an hour when the pounding on the door began, startling her.

Charity angrily threw the covers back. “Shit a monkey! I’m going to blow his frickin’ brains out,” she muttered angrily as they put on their robes and slippers.

“Stay put for a second, Charity. Don’t turn the lamp on yet,” Grace told her over the continued pounding.

She peeked out the blinds to see if it was Owen and whether or not he had any of his hoodlum friends with him. His truck was parked out on the curb with two of his buddies still sitting in the cab. All of his stuff was still piled in the bed of the truck. She had to snicker at that. No one had offered to take him in. Some friends he had.

He was still beating on the door, and she was worried the noise would wake her neighbors. She handed her phone to Charity and told her to do as Jack said—use Grace’s phone to dial 911, since it was registered to her address and the cops would have a faster response time, and use Charity’s phone to call Jack, who had programmed his number into Charity’s phone as well.

Good thinking, guys.