Page 54 of Ethan & Grace

She nodded without hesitation, and a warm wave of pleasure shot through my body. I touched Grace’s flushed cheek one last time before letting her go and reaching for the dark-cherrywood box on the sideboard next to the sofa.

Grace rolled her eyes when she saw what I was holding. “Of course you have condoms lying around in your living room.”

“You can’t deny it’s coming in handy right now,” I said with a grin as I tore open the foil and rolled the condom on.

She rose from the floor and, with the same easy confidence she’d shown in touching me, slipped off her shoes and trousers, until she stood before me in nothing but her top and black underwear.

I held out my hand invitingly, and she climbed onto my lap. The mere thought of what was about to happen was enough to push me right back to the brink Grace’s lips had just taken me to.

“You really want this?” I asked, just to be sure. Because if we went through with it, there’d be no going back. The night in the pool could perhaps still be swept under the rug—one time barely counted. And the blowjob had just evened the score. But if she chose to lower herself onto my cock, it would be because we truly wanted each other.

I waited for Grace’s reply, but none came—at least, not in words. Instead, she guided my hand between her legs. Her underwear was soaked, even though I had barely touched her. I stroked her through the fabric, and a sound of pleasure escaped her throat. She let me ease her into what was about to come. Her hips began to move, pressing against my hand. I pushed her underwear aside and slid a finger into her easily. Her muscles tightened around me, leaving no doubt as to how ready she was for me.

I drew my hand back and wrapped it around my hard cock while Grace positioned herself above me. My other hand rested on her thigh to steady her, helping her to take me in. Slowly, she lowered herself onto me—and nothing had ever felt better than sliding into her.

I held my breath to control myself and give her time to adjust to the sensation. In this position, I filled her completely. When I leant forward to kiss her, she no longer tasted sweet like she usually did, but salty—like me. It was a primal thought, but I liked it. It was as though I’d marked her, even if it was only for now.

“Is this OK?” I asked.

“Yes. Just give me a moment.”

“You can have as many moments with me as you want.”

She smiled. Bracing her hands on my chest, she began to roll her hips experimentally. We moaned in unison. Being joined like this felt incredible. Then Grace started moving on top of me in earnest, and from then, there was no holding back. We took what we needed from each other, the sound of bare skin meeting bare skin filling the room. Our movements were slow at first, then grew faster. Our ragged breath fell into the rhythm of our bodies. Sweat pooled on our skin, and Grace’s fingernails dug into my shoulders as she rode me. Her eyes were closed, but I couldn’t take mine off her. In that moment just before she lost control, she looked ravishing, almost unreal.

I slid a hand between our bodies and pressed a thumb against her clitoris.

Her eyes flew open. “Ethan!”

I grinned. I loved how she said my name. Even more than that, I loved how she moaned it. I moved my thumb in rhythm with our bodies. Her thighs trembled. And then she came. Her muscles clenched around me, holding me tight, pulling me with her. My whole body shuddered, and I thought I saw stars as I lost myself inside her.

When it was over, I collapsed weakly onto the sofa. I leant my head back and stared up at the ceiling, barely registering Grace climbing off my lap. The cushion beside me shifted, and her face came into view. She looked pleased with herself. My heart pounded so hard that it felt as though it might leap out of my chest towards her.

Though I could barely move, I raised a hand to pull her towards me. I kissed her softly on the mouth, feeling a tingling low in my body.

“I like the way you return the favour,” I murmured against her lips. Either I was suffering from memory loss and had forgotten over the past weeks how amazing sex could feel, or it had simply never felt this incredible before Grace.

“That was pretty good,” she replied.

“Give me five minutes, and then we can do it again.”

“There’s no time. I have to work.”

“Let the hotel guests live in their filth.”

She stood up from the sofa with a laugh and adjusted her underwear, which I’d only pushed aside. “Forget it. We’re not starting that. What just happened was a one-off, because I owed you. New rule: No sexy time during working hours.”

“Boring . . . but fine.” I pulled off the condom and tied a knot in the end, though I didn’t bother getting dressed. I’d have to shower anyway. “But just to be clear,” I said, “when you say no sexy time during work, does that mean this”—I gestured between us—“can still happen outside of work?”

Grace pulled on her trousers. “I wouldn’t be opposed.”

“I knew you’d get hooked on me.”

“Best be quiet before I change my mind.”

Silently, I ran two fingers over my lips as if zipping them shut.

Grace slipped on her shoes and walked past me to the cleaning trolley. She wheeled it towards the door, gave me one last dazzling smile—and then she was gone. She left behind not just silence but also a strangely warm feeling in my chest.