Goodbye Secrets (The Lost & Found Series book #2) (15 page)

“Shit, sweetheart, there is something incredible happening in here,” he whispers against my neck. My backside feels the evidence. “I may have to take you like this.” He follows the words with a nip to my earlobe. I gasp. Pretty sure it’s a result of the nip and the feeling of him washing me between my legs. He drops the facecloth and brings the showerhead down to rinse me there. I’m almost waiting, no I am waiting for him to do something wicked and naughty like he did the last time he brought the showerhead down to rinse me. I brace myself, unable to contain my smirk—until I hear him place it back in its home.

Oh.
Mental disappointed sigh. Grayson’s right arm hooks around my waist from behind. His left hand reaches to the inside of my left thigh, pulling my leg up so that my foot sits on the soap shelf.

“Ugh!” I gasp again as he enters me harshly.

“Becca, sweetheart, I’m going to fuck you senseless now ... ready, baby?”
Baby ... it’s sacred.

“Yes.” Before the “s” comes out of my mouth, he’s off like someone shot the gun at the races. All I can do is try to concentrate on keeping my head from smashing into the tile. I’m sure rendering me unconscious is not what he meant by “fucking me senseless.” In the midst of his fun, I draw up plans to install “fuck me” bars on the wall. I am all about standards in safety and the prevention of accidents caused by intense sexual acts!

“Jesus ... Becca ... God!” He bites my shoulder and slams into me one last time.
Um ... yeah ... thanks for coming in!
Would’ve joined you, but I was busy at a safety meeting.

He pulls out and releases me.
I’ll just stand here for another minute, holding the wall up.
I suddenly feel the sting from him swatting my ass.

Grayson starts whistling as he washes himself. I half expect a faithful pup to roam into the bathroom with either his slippers or the paper. I suddenly feel crazy. Well ... it’s more of a sudden acceptance of the probability that I am crazy.

“Take a Chance on Me” by Erasure comes on, and Grayson starts singing it. I open one eye mid–shampoo lather to catch a glimpse of him. He’s dancing around. He smiles at me and grabs my hands, then starts dancing with me in the shower while serenading me. I find it hard to suppress my giggles. I’m not crazy ... he fucked himself senseless ... er, I mean I did ... oh, whatever! We both laugh as we dance and sing together in the shower—a well-deserved moment and a great memory in the making. The song comes to an end and we are in each other’s embrace, staring into each other’s eyes. His happiness is still evident in the corners of them.

“I love you, Grayson Michael James. You make me so happy. I feel so safe and so loved in your arms. You are my ever after.”

“Geez ... it was just a dance, lady!” He rolls his eyes, then laughs. “Aww, Becca, you have to know I’m wild about you. There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t feel grateful to have you in my life, to have your love, your faith ... your trust. I’m so afraid of losing you, sweetheart. If you ever left me, if anything ever happened to you,” he inhales deeply, “you might as well cut my lungs out. I wouldn’t be able to breathe anyway.” His lips form an “O” as he looks up and exhales steadily. He’s blinking in an “I’m passionate about what I’m saying” kind of way. I can see he’s fighting back tears. I palm his face and pull his mouth to mine. My tongue encourages his lips to part enough for its entrance. I deepen the kiss with every bit of passion I can muster. It’s my way of saying,
Everything is going to be okay, baby, I promise
. He crushes my body to his and we are lost in our kiss.

“Bloody hell, Becca! I think I got some of your shampoo in my eye!” He pushes me gently to the side to rinse his face. Who knew that shampoo not only washes away dirt, but also special moments?

“Sorry, an impromptu dance derailed me from rinsing.” I nudge him with my hip.

“Well, let’s see what we can do about that.” He grabs the showerhead and begins to rinse my hair out.

“Do you want to talk about why you were upset?” Grayson looks up sheepishly as he buttons his jeans. I’m too busy biting my lip to prevent a drooling incident to answer him. He is fucking hot just standing there in his jeans and nothing else.

“Baby, you are quite the magnificent specimen. And no, let’s just chuck it up to hormones.” Honestly, what he said in the shower squashed my rising insecurities.

“You sure, sweetheart?” He reaches out and takes my hand.

“Yes.” I look up at him. He completely towers over me. I love it, which is a bit odd for me. I never thought about height as a point of attraction. Then again, I’m not the same Becca from so long ago, the one who contemplated what she was interested in. For seven years, I turned those thoughts off or buried them. I’m not quite sure, but my preferences in the opposite sex were just not a thought that ever occurred to me. Obviously, I noted when a guy was good-looking, but it was just an observation. There was nothing behind it.

“So, I’m a magnificent specimen, huh?” He leans down and sweeps my lips with his.

“Yes, Mr. James. You are absolutely breathtaking. I could look at you all day.” I hug him and fight off the urge to outline every muscle on his chest with my tongue.

“The feeling is mutual, Ms. Campbell, especially now with your slightly swollen belly.” He places his hand there.

“Oh. You’ve noticed?” I can’t hide my disappointment. I thought only I could see it.

“You’re my favorite subject, Becca. I notice everything about you. Especially your body. I love seeing this.” He kneels down and plants soft wet kisses all over it. “Becca!” he says sharply, and sits back on his heels. “You haven’t told anyone, have you?” He almost seems panicked. Does he not want anyone to know?
My newest member, Insecure Sybecca, paces and bites her nails.

“No, baby, why?” I thought he wanted this.

“No one at all?”

Whenever he says
at all
in an urgent matter, it sounds like
a tall
—it’s so cute! God, I love his accent!

“Becca!” he snaps.

“Uh, sorry, no. Well ...” I wince.

“Well, what?” He stands and chucks my chin so I look up at him.

“I told Stacey.”

“
Jesus H. Christ!
” he yells, then and runs his hand through his hair as he walks away from me.

“Grayson, I thought you wanted this. You’re confusing me!” I meant to yell that last sentence, but instead, I’m crying. I feel like a blubbering idiot.
Fucking hormones!

“Oh, sweetheart, no, don’t cry. C’mere.” He pulls me into his arms. “Of course I want this baby. I just ... Becca, with everything going on, it’s best if no one knows about the little one.” He palms my belly again. “Not until we’re out of danger, sweetheart. Ugh, damn it.” He lays his forehead on mine. “What did she say?”

“Nothing, baby. She was still in a coma. You didn’t let me finish.” I sigh, finding his sudden laughter peculiar.

“Oh, baby, you drive me mad! Honestly, Becca!” He shakes his head and captures my lips. He’s calling me
baby
a lot. It’s starting to sound more natural from him, and I like it. I wrap my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss.

Hazel greets me at the bottom of the stairs like I’m her teenaged daughter coming in ten minutes past curfew. Her arched eyebrows ask,
What do you have to say for yourself, young lady?

“I’m a devout Christian, Hazel. I like to pray every chance I get.” I smirk playfully. She shakes her head at me, unable to hide her amusement. “Have you found Jesus yet, Hazel?” I ask in the most serious tone I can muster.

“Oh, Becca, what happened to my good girl? You’re so naughty!” She swats my arm as we walk, but then releases a giggle against her will.

“Your nephew happened. You did have a hand in raising him. So, this must be all your fault!” I grab the piece of paper she’s holding. “What’s this?” I go to unfold it.

“Wait, let’s go into the kitchen.” She looks around nervously.

Apparently, she didn’t receive the memo that we have a security team of twenty-five, give or take ... we are definitely being followed!

“Okay. Open it.” She nods as we get into the kitchen. I walk over to the island as I do so. It’s an itinerary of the few days before Christmas.

December 22
nd
Scottish Shortbread

Fresh evergreens

Ornaments

December 23
rd
Chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies

Mincemeat pies

Apple and Lancashire cheese pie

Pumpkin bread

Treacle tart

Bakewell Tart

Great British Pudding

December 24
th
Lasagna, sausage, and meatballs

December 25
th
Full British Breakfast

Sausage, egg, bacon, and beans

2:00 p.m. Dinner and Christmas crackers

6:00 p.m. Christmas Tea

At least one hour of Christmas carols a night!

“What is this?” I look to Hazel.

“I was looking through a box of pictures to try and find a picture of Gracie with my sister to frame for him here. I came across this. I had him tell me everything they did for Christmas so I could keep it the same for him. When he went off to university, he didn’t want to do it anymore.” She shrugs.

“Well, I would like to incorporate as much of these into our traditions as possible. Let’s just do it!” I smile. Hazel nods and she starts making a list of things we’ll need while I get on the Internet to search for any British food stores. “Ugh, we have to get down to Nashua!” I show her the page for the British Aisles food store. “He’s not going to let me go unless he knows exactly where I am.” I lean my face on my fisted hand.

“We’ll say we’re going to the outlets down there. I’ll ask him.” She taps the counter with her finger ... she means business.

“What are you two hens up to?”

I jump at Grayson’s voice and quickly click out of the website. I close the laptop as nonchalantly as I can.

“We were just discussing the Merrimack Premium Outlets. They opened this year. We haven’t been yet.” I slowly turn in his direction.
Shit!
He’s looking from me to the laptop. I pretend not to notice and turn my gaze to Hazel.

“Yes. Gracie, Becca and I would like to go to finish up our Christmas shopping.” Oh man, she totally hates this. Having to ask her nephew for permission? I’m right there with ya, sister!

“Becca’s done with her shopping, Auntie.” He looks back to me. Why is he so suspicious?

“Well, I have one more thing I need to get for you,” I say quickly. Maybe too quickly.

“And I have several items I need to get, Gracie,” Hazel pipes up.

“Becca, the only thing I want is you here safe. The answer is no. That goes for you too, Auntie.” Why is it that when he looks at me and tells me no, he’s abrupt and his jawline is twitching, but when he tells his aunt, he softens up? It’s infuriating. Kinda hot ... but infuriating!

“Oh, Gracie, you’re overreacting!” Hazel snaps. Uh-oh.
All Sybeccas put their earplugs in and hold on to anything nailed to the floor. Cautionary Sybecca locks herself in the panic room.

“
Overreacting?!
Aunt Hazel, my fiancée was kidnapped by her abusive ex-husband, who was then
murdered
! Stacey was raped and practically beaten to death, and somebody placed a bomb on my plane that
blew
it to smithereens. They almost killed our
daughta
! I am not
overreacting
! If you disagree, well, then
tough shit!
The
ansa
is
no
! I’m not losing anybody else that I love!” He slams a cabinet shut—Hazel must’ve opened it to get tea earlier.