Page 49 of Grumpy

“Kells,” he said gently, “we don’t have to figure this out now. Whatever feels natural to us is more than fine with me.”

“Okay, good.” Kelly nodded like a judge making a final decision. “But, uh, I should warn you that I’m not exactly… I mean, I don’t generally… Fuck.” She wiped a hand down her face. “Why is talking about sex with you so difficult? It should be simple. It’s natural and beautiful, and it’s all I’ve wanted for a decade!” She let out a shaky breath. He continued to watch her carefully in silence. “You must think I’m so immature and inexperienced.”

Grumpy reached across the console and rubbed her thigh, hoping the action soothed her. “Just the opposite. I think you find it difficult because it matters so much. Because you’ve wanted this for a decade and built it up in your head.”

She glanced at him before returning her eyes to the road. “And you haven’t?”

“Of course I have.” He practically laughed, finding her question ludicrously hilarious. “Kells, I’ve rubbed my dick raw thinking of nothing but you.” He lifted his hand to show her his clean palm. “If that old wives tale was true, my palms would be covered in hair.” She giggled, her shoulders loosening. “But I also know that what I imagined passing between us isn’t possible now. At least, not for a long while. So I’ve put those expectations aside. Maybe it’s not going to be wild, crazy, monkey sex, but it’ll still be us, Kell Bell, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Kelly smiled sweetly at him, her attention split between him and the road. “You’re right. My timing sucked to talk about this—because now I want to stop and make out with you for a while but we still have an hour and a half to go!”

“Not like we have reservations or tickets that have to be claimed at a certain time,” he pointed out.

Kelly truly looked like she was debating. “No! No. We’ll never make it anywhere if we keep stopping to have make out sessions at gas stations. Besides, I’d rather the comfort of our hotel room to the cramped SUV.”

She had a point, but Grumpy still couldn’t help the disappointment he felt at having to wait to get his hands on her again.

“Just sit there and stop facing me,” she ordered, shooing him away with her right hand. “I need to put something on to distract me from thinking about sex with you for a while.”

Grumpy’s blood started to heat when he noticed her squirm in her seat, as if she was trying to relieve an ache.

“…bound to his bed, spread-eagle with my legs stretched wide, my heart thundered in my chest as Devon crawled onto the mattress. Power radiated off this man, his intentions clear as he stroked⁠—”

“Nope!” Kelly shouted, scrambling to hit the Pause button. “Not helping.”

“Really? Because I’m kind of curious as to what his intentions are. Also you cut it off before I learned what he was stroking.”

Grumpy could practically feel Kelly’s glare burrowing into the side of his face. “I think I liked you better when you were moody and silent.”

Grumpy’s chuckle was low and sensual as Kelly pressed Play on the audiobook again.

* * *

“Two.”

“Five!”

“Two and a half,” Kelly countered, trying to keep the laughter from her voice.

“Four and a blowjob.”

Kelly nearly swallowed her tongue, but was thankfully able to save face. Maybe. “Would you like the blowjob in the parking lot or are we waiting until later tonight?” she asked, hoping to call his bluff.

“I’ll take the parking lot if you’re offering. The windows are dark enough that no one will see.”

Kelly tried and failed to keep her cheeks from flushing. She could not tell if he was serious or not. “Counteroffer,” she strained to say. “I’ll agree to four hours and a hotel blowjob, but we rent a wheelchair for you.”

Grumpy’s groan rumbled louder than the engine. “I am not sitting in a fucking wheelchair.”

“It’s more of a just in case,” Kelly pressed. The Corvette Museum was only twenty minutes out now. She’d put off bringing up this topic for as long as she could, but regardless of his pride, she knew it was what they needed to do. She honestly didn’t care how long they stayed at the museum. The topic of cars didn’t really mean much to her or rev her engines. What she loved was the rare excitement in Grumpy’s voice when he spoke about it, which was why she was all for giving him as much time as he wanted in the place. But she also knew that this stop was going to wear him out. Why force him to walk? Based on the website, the museum was huge, with multiple connecting galleries. What if they got all the way to the end and he just couldn’t make it back? Or worse, he hurt himself pushing through to force himself back to their car?

“I’ve been sitting all morning. I don’t need a wheelchair,” Grumpy grumbled. Kelly specifically didn’t glance at him, not wanting him to think that she was doubting him. Why was it so hot when he lowered his voice like that? That growl should be illegal, the way it turned her on.

“Maybe I do,” she told him. “That’s a lot of walking and my legs are going to get tired, and I still have to drive,” Kelly added like she just thought of that reasoning.

She could practically feel his glare. They both knew that she’d backed him into a corner. Grumpy wouldn’t refuse her the use of a wheelchair if she wanted or needed one, and once they had one, all she had to do was look at him with pleading eyes and he’d cave. Grumpy might be a hard ass, might be too stubborn for his own good, but he loved her. He’d already proven that his pride was secondary to that.

Which she absolutely loved, respected, and adored him for. In her limited experience, that was a rare trait amongst men.