She cries out and soaks me in her sweetness. Lifting my thumb to my mouth, I lick her honey from it, and I know at that moment; I’m owned. I’m a fucking claimed man, and it’s all because of her.
All I want to do is tell her how I feel. To be honest for once in my life, but I don’t. I allow us this moment to be. Just be. I allow myself to have her. Because I love her. I’ll tell her later. For now, I bask in the afterglow of being with the woman I love.
“I know.” Gabriel stalks into the living room, and I can’t turn to look at him. I spent another hour enjoying Mila, and when she passed out, I laid her in the bed and placed a kiss to her forehead.
“You know what?” I question, sitting back on the plush sofa. My body is still tense from what I just did with my niece.
“I’m not stupid, little brother. You’re in love with her.” His words halt my movement of lifting the tumbler to my lips. “I can see the way you look at her,” he confirms nonchalantly.
“There’s no doubt I love her.” I shrug, hoping to steer him off the conversation, but he doesn’t bite.
“You love her more than you should. You look at her like a man possessed, Grayson. I’ve seen that look. It’s how I used to look at her mother. I loved that woman with all that I was, all that I am. When I first saw her, I knew.” He sips his whiskey and regards me seriously.
My brother and I haven’t always seen eye to eye, but something between us shifts. It stills me, my mind and my heart, because he’s looking at me like a man would his equal. Don’t get me wrong. Gabriel has always been good to me when I wasn’t fucking up, but this is different. It’s as if he’s finally allowing himself to see that I’m a grown man and not a child.
Nodding, I respond calmly. “I do love her, yes. You’re right. Seeing her with other guys was difficult,” I confess, gulping my drink.
“Then you should stay the night and see where the day takes you tomorrow. It’s Saturday, so take her out, on a date.”
His words shock the shit out of me. “What?”
“You heard me,” he smirks. “She deserves a man who’ll look after her. And you know that if you ever hurt her, you’ll have me to answer to. Look, I know we’ve not had an easy relationship. Things were always strained because I just wanted the best for you, and of course you’re stubborn, but you’re a grown man, and I can see that she’s special to you. There’s no denying it, brother.” He finishes his drink and watches me intently.
“You’re really allowing me to be with her?” Incredulity is thick in my tone because somehow, I don’t believe he’s letting his little brother — the famous man-whore — get anywhere near Mila. He merely nods, and not giving me more, he pushes off the sofa and heads to the liquor cabinet. He pours another two-finger shot of the smoky whiskey.
“I am,” he answers, his back to me. I watch him down the whole shot in one swift gulp. “Don’t break her heart, Grayson. I’m warning you. If I see tears on her face, I’ll kill you.” With that, he turns to face me. “I’m going to bed. Take care of my girl.”
I’m left alone with my thoughts of what the fuck just happened.
Chapter 7
Mila
The sunshine streaming through the window wakes me with memories of last night running rampant in my mind. My feelings for Grayson slam against my chest painfully when I realize we were taking a step we couldn’t come back from.
I saw it in his eyes. He looked at me like that. It wasn’t the way a man would look at his niece. It was the way a man looks at the woman he could possibly fall for.
When my Uncle Grayson stares at me, his suave demeanor is full of his sexy smirk. It’s enough to unravel me, leaving me panting and needy.
I’m not sure what to do with it. Confusion clouds my mind, but when I feel a hand snaking around me, my body shudders at the tender touch. “It’s me, sweetheart,” he murmurs.
“Grayson?” We’ve been on a first name basis for so long it comes naturally to me. What doesn’t, though, is opening my eyes and finding him here, in my bedroom.
His short, dark brown hair seems always to look like he’s just gotten out of bed. Thick, dark brows frame incredible, deep mocha eyes. Always with a light dusting of stubble on his angular jaw, which makes me quiver with need.
His lips are made for kissing, the top one with a beautiful bow shape, and the lower shaped in a way that makes me crave to bite it.