Chapter 54 I Would Never Regret Anything
Chapter 54 I Would Never Regret Anything
Gracie
I enter the house. Melissa is still there but will leave soon, so we’ll be alone shortly. I plan to quickly say hello before rushing upstairs to hide the condoms in my room, as I don’t want either of them to see them in case I change my mind. I’d rather Melissa not know what I’m thinking.
I head towards the living room, but stop in my tracks when I hear my name mentioned.
“Mom, Gracie is going to be okay, right?” Ryland asks, sighing.
“She will be, son. Gracie is more resilient than you realize. She is stronger than she gives herself credit for.”
“I know that. I wish I could find a way to get her away from that monster. Being next door is still far too close.”
“Gracie will be safe as long as she's with us. Try not to worry too much. She truly means a lot to you, doesn’t she, son?”
I shouldn’t be listening to the conversation, but I can’t help it.
“Yes, she has become my entire world. I love her. I have never felt this way before. It scares me a little, but that is okay. I couldn’t imagine my life without her now,” Ryland says softly.
Tears run down my cheeks, and I smile at his words.
“You two are good for one another. You need each other more than you realize.”
Sometimes I still doubt why someone would love someone like me, but then Ryland says things like that, and all my doubts and worries vanish.
“Hello,” I call out, as if I have just arrived.
“We are in the living room, beautiful,” Ryland calls out.
I pop my head in, smiling, and say hello. “I am going to put my things in my room. I will be back in a minute.”
I head upstairs to drop off my belongings, tucking the condoms away in a drawer hidden beneath my clothes. I'll take a shower and change shortly. When I come back downstairs to join them, Melissa immediately offers me a coffee. She knows me so well.
I sit down beside Ryland, who then puts his hand on my knee. “How was your girl time with Lola?”
I gently lean in and kiss him. "Good. We really enjoyed ourselves."
Ryland slips his arm around me, and I snuggle into his side.
“Are you looking forward to going out?” I ask.
Melissa nods. “Yes, it has been a while. I need to find something to wear first.” She laughs.
I also chuckle. “You will find something.”
Ryland shakes his head, laughing. “You girls are so particular about getting ready.”
“You're one to talk, babe. Sometimes you take longer than me to get ready," I tease.
He tries to deny it, but we know better and continue to tease him until he starts pouting at us. His reaction makes us laugh harder. After a bit, Melissa excuses herself to get ready to go out.
The moment I hear her go upstairs, I turn to Ryland. I hold his T-shirt and pull him closer, covering his lips with mine. A deep growl escapes him, vibrating against my lips. He wasn’t expecting such an intense kiss. I smirk into his lips. Lola was right—I can easily turn him on, especially if a kiss is enough to do it. He grabs my hips, holding me steady, and kisses me back with equal hunger.
I abruptly pull away from the kiss. A kiss that is enough to leave us both breathless. “I am going to shower and change,” I say, then stand and walk away from him.
“Gracie, that was mean,” he calls after me.
I pause before leaving the living room, then turn to face him, smiling sweetly and batting my lashes innocently. “I don’t know what you mean, handsome.”
I don’t give him a chance to say anything. I wink at him and rush out of the living room and upstairs. I can hear him groan in frustration from the living room. I giggle. I will call it revenge for what he did to me at school this morning.
I go to my room to get some towels and clothes to take to the bathroom. Not even two minutes after I enter the room, Ryland comes strolling in.
I rest my hand on my hip and raise my brow. “Can I help you?”
Ryland strides towards me, confident. “Don’t play little miss innocent with me.”
I bat my lashes at him once more. “I am not playing. I am innocent.”
He shakes his head and laughs, pulling me close and resting me against his chest. My arms instinctively wrap around his neck.
“One more kiss, and I will let you be. I will start on dinner while you shower.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “Hmm, I am sure I can do that.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to speak further. His lips immediately cover mine, silencing me. Mmm, I love his kisses. The kiss is sweet, unlike the way I kissed him, but that’s okay. I enjoy his tender kisses.
Ryland pulls away from the kiss first. “I will see you downstairs, beautiful.”
“I won’t be long.”
Ryland pecks my lips before leaving the room, softly saying he loves me. I smile and reply happily, never tiring of hearing those words from him. The only others who have expressed such feelings were my mom and Lola, so those words are not familiar to me.
I smile and gather my belongings as I head toward the shower. I'm still nervous about tonight, but also excited. He doesn’t see it coming, which makes it more fun and thrilling. Even if I initiate it, Ryland will follow the pace I need. He won’t pressure me and will be gentle. I trust him completely, which is why I know I’m ready. I can’t imagine my first time with anyone else. There will be no regrets after tonight. I could never regret anything with Ryland. Even if things don’t work for us, which I really hope they do, I still wouldn’t regret a single thing.