grady barrett (ashadowgrows) wrote in shadows_rpg, @ 2021-07-19 09:16:00 |
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Entry tags: | #june 2018, dahlia, dahlia x grady, grady |
Who: Grady and Dahlia
When: Evening, Wednesday, June 13
Where: Dahlia’s apartment
Status: Complete
Warning: Turns NSFW
Grady felt terrible for having to bail on his date with Dahlia. His job was unpredictable and took priority, especially when there was a murder or suspicious death involved. And Camila Ward’s death was suspicious enough to keep him busy for the entire day and into the evening. By the time he was finally leaving the station, it was late enough that the streetlamps had already turned on.
After checking in on Jen, Grady decided to take a chance and grab some Chinese takeout before driving over to Dahlia’s. Her car was in the parking lot, which he took as a good sign, and Grady grabbed the bags of food to carry them up to her door. He knocked gently, more than ready to leave if she wasn’t in the mood for company, but he really hoped that she was. He had been looking forward to taking her out all week so it figured that his job would get in the way.
Dahlia had been admittedly disappointed to get the call from Grady that he had to cancel their date. He hadn’t told her much about what had happened, only that work needed his attention, and she could hear the sincerity through the phone so she knew he hadn’t been blowing her off. He would’ve been foolish to do so anyway, and Grady hadn’t struck her as a fool at all yet. She’d been understanding and told him that of course they would reschedule very soon, then wished him luck with his case.
Since Elodie wasn’t around and she suddenly had the evening free, Dahlia had gotten to work painting in the living room, spreading out since she was alone. She’d been doing most of it with headphones on, but Grady had good timing -- Dahlia had gotten up to get something to drink and take a little break, so she actually heard the tap on the door. Brows lifting, she went to peek through the peephole, then made a pleased sound. Dahlia unlocked and opened the door with a smile. “Well hey there,” she said, looking Grady up and down. “Didn’t expect to see you.”
Grady returned her smile, thankful that she didn't look annoyed at the unexpected drop in. "I know, I'm sorry. I should have called but thought it might be nice to surprise you." He held up the bags of food. "I don't know if you've eaten yet or not... I should have checked. But I have Chinese. I know it's late but if you're up for some company..." Everything had sounded much smoother in his head when he was driving over. But it had been a day, to say the least, and eating dinner with a beautiful woman had sounded much more appealing than going home to pop a frozen pizza in the oven and then pass out. Plus, this way they still got their date, even if it wasn't quite what he had initially imagined.
He was still in uniform, though the top couple of buttons on the shirt were undone, and Dahlia was sure that never happened when he was on duty. She had plenty of strong opinions and uncharitable feelings toward cops in general, but Grady was a good man in a tiny town, so she allowed herself to appreciate that he was hot in a uniform, even when he was tired. It didn’t hurt that he’d been thoughtful enough to still show up at her door with food. “I’m always up for company that feeds me,” Dahlia said lightly, dimpling at him again as she stepped back and gestured him inside. “Come on in. Elodie’s out, probably for the night. I was just going to make some instant mac and cheese or something, so thank you for saving me from that.” Once she’d locked up behind him, Dahlia led the way to the kitchen so he could set everything down.
Grady followed Dahlia to the kitchen, noting the painting supplies. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything," he said, though he imagined the painting decision had come after he had to cancel their date. Grady set the food down on the table, watching her. She had a way of making every movement look incredibly graceful. His lips twitched as he began to open the bags to pull the food out. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't had much to eat at all that day beyond coffee and a stale muffin. "I've heard the creative types can get pretty cranky when they're interrupted."
While Grady unloaded the food containers, Dahlia moved to get a couple of plates down for them to eat off of like civilized people. She glanced over her shoulder with a soft laugh. “You’ve heard correct,” she said, amused. Dahlia brought the plates over and bumped her hip into Grady, shooting him a smirky sort of glance. “But you were my original plan for the evening, so you get a pass this time.” She was really fairly easygoing about that kind of thing, unless someone kept interrupting her when she’d told them to fuck off, but that was so rare. Once her hands were free, Dahlia put them on Grady’s shoulders to gently turn him toward her, then rose up on her toes to kiss him softly. “I’m glad you came,” she murmured.
Grady smiled against her lips, grateful for the kiss and the reception. She still tasted as good as he remembered and Grady had to fight against kissing her again. He didn't want Dahlia to think he had only come over to make out with her, although maybe that had been a part of it. "I'm glad I did too. And I'm sorry I had to cancel. Things had been so quiet lately that I should have figured something would've come up on a day I actually had plans that weren't work-related." Grady brushed a curl back behind her ear. "How've things been here, with Elodie?" He and Dahlia had communicated back and forth over text but she hadn't complained or anything about the living situation, so maybe things were progressing smoothly for the two of them.
Dahlia’s daydreams about their evening had definitely included making out, so she wouldn’t have minded more kissing, but it was good to talk, too. Grady had obviously just had a long and hard day, so she wasn’t going to push anything. She tugged a little bit on his shirt collar as she settled on her feet again, then turned to start opening containers so they could dish out portions for themselves. “They’ve been okay, no big blowouts or anything,” she answered with a soft laugh. “We’ve had a couple of movie nights, I think she doesn’t hate me. Which I count as progress. But it’s like adopting a stray cat, you know? She comes and goes as she pleases. Sometimes I get a text from Charlie Harris that she’s over there again, sometimes not. I promised Elodie I wasn’t here to babysit her though, so I’m just ... taking it in stride. As long as I see or hear from her once a day I don’t worry too much.” Once she had food on her plate, she headed back to the fridge. “You look like you could use a beer, yeah?”
Grady couldn't help but chuckle when Dahlia described Elodie as a stray cat. "I could definitely use a beer," he said with a grateful smile. "Thanks. I'm glad to hear things are going well enough. Raising kids is hard. Raising teenagers... well, that's a whole new level of difficulty. I'm glad she's not giving you a lot of trouble." He was still trying to find out what happened to her mother and Grady knew that eventually he would have to talk to Elodie. The sooner the better. But right now he was off the clock and wanting to spend some time with beautiful company. As they got their plates ready, Grady glanced at her again. "So I hope this isn't too much, but to make up for having to cancel dinner tonight... uh, you know, date dinner... there's a fundraiser for the department Friday night at the country club. Does that sound like something you might enjoy?"
Dahlia wasn’t sure how much ‘raising’ she would end up doing with Elodie, but for now she was glad that the girl knew she had a safe, clean place to stay when she needed it. Maybe someone trusted and older to talk to, if they got to that point. She got them each a beer from the fridge and opened them before stepping up beside Grady again. She raised her brows at him and smiled at the invitation, amused at the thought of herself in a country club. “Is it like, a fancy-shmancy sort of event?” she asked, intrigued. She’d never been to a police fundraiser before. Dahlia gave a little gasp and looked at Grady with some exaggerated excitement. “Do I get to see you in a suit? Or like, do you have some sort of dress uniform?”
Grady laughed. "It's my uniform. Dress uniform. It's a cocktail party? So I guess... not too formal? But not informal. Does that make any sense?" He grinned and took a drink of his beer. "Basically it's just an excuse for people to get dressed up and drink, but they give the department money while doing so. So I'm not going to complain about it." The police department had always been on a tight budget and short staffed. In a town like Point Pleasant, it was pretty rough and part of the reason why Grady hadn't had a social life in so long. He cocked a brow and looked down at her. "Do I get to see you in a dress?"
“Makes perfect sense, cocktail attire is totally a thing,” Dahlia told him with a little grin. As soon as Grady said ‘cocktail party,’ Dahlia understood what the dress code would be, and it was kind of exciting. She’d been pretty sure there wouldn’t be much to dress up for in this town. But strolling into a fundraiser at a country club on the arm of the sheriff ... she was going to need to look good. “Mmmmaybe I can dig something nice out of my closet,” she teased, flashing him a flirty little smile. Carrying her plate and beer, Dahlia turned to sashay out of the kitchen and into the living room. They could at least be comfortable on the couch while they ate. She cleared away some of her painting stuff to make room. “Is it going to cause a scandal, you showing up with a date?” she asked Grady once he’d joined her. “I haven’t gotten to throw a drink in some jealous woman’s face in a long time.”
He had to admit he was more intrigued by what Dahlia would end up wearing than the actual fundraiser. He had already been to plenty of them over the years but it had always been work to him. Maybe bringing an actual date would add some level of fun to it. Grady followed her to the couch and laughed even as he set his plate and beer down on the coffee table. "No, no scandal. But I think it'll cause a shockwave through the community for them to see me with a woman. If there are any jealous ladies out there, I don't know who they are. Honestly, I think it stuns most people when they see me out in public in civilian clothes rather than my uniform. I imagine everyone thinks I live at the station." He sipped his beer and looked at Dahlia. "You're new to town though, so their focus will be more on you than me. People will want to know who you are."
Dahlia liked the word ‘shockwave,’ and she made an intrigued little sound, grinning through the rest of it. “From what you tell me, you almost do live at the station,” she said with a laugh. She wasn’t honestly dying for some dramatic scene out of Real Housewives, but she did kind of hope to get some looks while they were there, at least. “I’ll have to look interesting then,” Dahlia went on. “Maybe a big hat and sunglasses, all ... mystery woman hovering around the edges of a funeral.” She looked dreamy for a beat, and then laughed. “Really though, is it that small of a town? Strangers cause a stir? I’m afraid they’ll be disappointed, there’s not much to know.” Settling in, she picked up her plate and fork and started to eat.
"I don't think you'll have any trouble doing that," Grady said, setting his beer down to take a bite of his food. "Though can I recommend ditching the hat and sunglasses? It would be a damn shame to hide all of that beauty." He grinned before chuckling. "Shit, that was probably a really lame line, wasn't it? I can do better, I swear." It was true though. Dahlia could probably show up in a potato sack and still outshine the other women. Maybe he had blinders on, but Dahlia was probably the most attractive woman he'd met in a long time. "It's definitely that much of a small town. Everyone knows everyone else in some capacity, so yeah, when we get new residents, everyone tends to wonder who they are. It's not always scandalous whispers, mind you, but people can get nosy around here." Grady cocked a brow as he forked up some food. "You could definitely have some fun with it, though. Some people will believe just about anything."
Lame and cheesy or not, Dahlia could feel that it was a genuine compliment and that made her smile brightly. She knew that most men found her attractive -- the non-racist ones, anyway -- but it was always nice to hear it on a more personal level from a man who wasn’t gross about it. Grady had been the polar opposite of gross the entire time she’d known him, and she found those small bubbles of awkwardness from him to be completely endearing. Trying to stop beaming at him, she put some food in her mouth to chew, huffing an amused sound at the last part. “Now I’m tempted to tell everyone I’m some widow with a huge fortune, or a disowned heiress or something,” she said once she’d swallowed. “But I’ll have plenty of fun just being your date and looking good.” Dahlia gave him a wink, dimpling again. “And if you want to skip out early or something, I’m good at faking fainting spells.”
Grady tried to stifle his laughter as he chewed, not wanting to choke. But he managed to swallow without much incident, quickly picking up his beer to wash it down. "Maybe avoid the fortune story, otherwise I'll have a lot of competition from the lonely men in town. Honestly, it probably won't be that much fun, but I'll try to make it as entertaining as I can for you. If anything, you could probably network and get to know some people. It'll help if you ever decide you want to sell your paintings in town. Unfortunately I don't know if I'll be able to leave early, considering my position, but maybe I can talk Bailey into representing the station if we want to duck out." He really did hope she had some fun, but he knew how these fundraisers could be and Grady found himself having to chat amiably with wealthier residents he generally disliked. At least having Dahlia there would make things a hell of a lot more interesting.
“That’s why you need a fainting damsel in distress as an excuse, duh,” Dahlia told him, grinning all over again. It was delightful to make him laugh, he seemed like a man who didn’t get to do it enough, and Grady was just radiating good feelings at the moment. It was a little intoxicating to know she was the cause of them all. She reached over to gently drag her nails through his beard on one side, still smiling at him. “I seriously doubt you have any true competition in this town,” she murmured affectionately. “As far as I’m concerned, anyway.” Dahlia couldn’t imagine clicking this well with many other men in this weird podunk little place. Even if she did, she was enjoying this thing with Grady too much to just let it go. She leaned over to kiss his cheek, then sat back again to fork up another bite of food. “I’m sure we’ll have a good time, even if we make our own fun,” she went on, her tone light. “And I’ll behave, I promise. I know you’re trying to raise money. I’m claiming at least one dance now though, if the music is decent. Fair warning.”
Grady's cheek tingled when she kissed it, and he knew that was probably pretty juvenile to think, but it was the truth. Her fingers also felt really good when they touched him and Grady was glad he had decided to come by, rather than just go home to sleep. Dahlia seemed low key and he appreciated that about her. He knew for a fact that he couldn't handle a woman who needed his attention twenty four seven at this point in his life. "Can I claim more than one dance?" He cocked a brow curiously. "Even if the music sucks, which it probably will. My friend Nick will be there, I think. You met him at the bar. So if I'm pulled away, you'll know him at least. I really don't want you to be uncomfortable or anything."
Dahlia was too old and had been single too often to need a man every second of the day. Maybe she’d gone through a phase like that as a teenager, clinging to her first loves through those insecure years, but she’d grown out of it pretty quickly. There were aspects of her gift that had made her more confident -- it was difficult to be insecure when she could feel how people felt about her all the time -- and she’d always had a streak of independence. She wanted an adult relationship, where they were there to enhance one another’s lives, not be one another’s lives. Grady’s words made her laugh softly. “You’re sweet,” she told him. “But I’m comfortable almost anywhere, so don’t worry about me. If you get pulled away I’ll be friends with half the party by the time you come back. But yes, definitely, as many dances as you want.” She sipped her beer, her eyes still smiling at him.
"That's encouraging," he told her with a smile, because it was. It had been so long since he had dated someone properly and he had grown used to Alison always hating being left alone during work functions and parties. It became easier just to attend them alone. Maybe it would feel strange to have a woman on his arm after so long, but he was definitely looking forward to it. Grady took another sip of beer and looked over at her painting supplies. "Is it okay if I ask what you're working on?" He still sort of felt bad that he had interrupted her but it certainly didn't seem like Dahlia minded.
Her preference for the evening had been to spend it with Grady, so Dahlia wasn’t put out at all. She hadn’t been working on anything emotionally deep and serious, like she sometimes did, so he hadn’t disrupted a good flow. “Just a couple of commissions,” Dahlia said, pleased that he’d asked about her work. She set her plate down and stood up, taking a swig from her beer before she stepped over to where her easel was facing away from them. Dahlia turned it so Grady could see the portrait of a handsome German shepherd in a huge Shakespearian ruffled collar that she was currently working on. She grinned a bit. “Not my first choice of costume, but hey, I paint what they ask for. It’s going to ship out to New Mexico when I’m done. I’ve got a cat in a pirate getup on deck next, but I’ve just sketched that so far.”
Grady's brows rose at the dog painting before he grinned. "Wow. Now I kind of want to get a dog just so you'll do a painting like this for me. People really love these novelty things for their pets, don't they." He hoped she made good money from these. Grady had already seen some of her work so he already knew she was talented. "Do you ever find commissions to be tedious or boring?" Maybe someday he could get Dahlia to paint something for Jen. She didn't have a dog, or cat, but... bugs. A lot of bugs. He was trying to imagine one of them in a Shakespearan costume like this and Grady had a feeling Jen would probably love it.
Dahlia laughed a bit as she came back to the couch and sat again. She leaned into Grady’s personal space this time, feeling done with food and more interested in beer and her company. He was warm and felt nicely solid against her arm. “I can usually manage to make them entertaining for myself,” she said, still smiling. “But I’ve had a few that I just couldn’t wait to be done with. I would do one for you, no dog required. Just tell me your favorite breed and I can do the rest. Or just any animal in general. I did an elephant dressed up like Napolean for someone once, she said it was an inside joke for her sister.” Dahlia chuckled a bit and sipped from her bottle.
Grady’s own focus had drifted away from the late dinner and more to Dahlia’s presence. He was acutely aware of how close she was to him now and he definitely liked it. “An elephant, huh?” He grinned and took another pull from the beer bottle before placing it on the table. “Remember how I told you my daughter is into insects? Do you think that would be too weird?” He had a feeling Jen would be thoroughly amused by it. But she might also love it and Grady felt like it was well past time he got her something fun for putting up with his job.
“Nothing’s too weird!” Dahlia declared, looking delighted. “I’ve only done a couple of insects ever, man I have fun with those compound eyes. What kind does she have, do you know? And any thoughts on the costume? Does she have a favorite time in history or anything?” She was already full of ideas -- a beetle in ancient Egyptian garb, or a lovely moth looking wise in a toga. Dahlia usually had too many commissions to want to paint animals constantly, but maybe doing an independent insect series would be kind of fun.
Grady made a face and then laughed. "I... couldn't tell you what kinds of bugs she has. Honestly, I steer clear of her room and everything that's living in there right now. Doesn't make me sound all that masculine, but I'm not a fan. Let me see if I can coax some information out of her and then I'll let you know." He almost suggested having Dahlia over for dinner so she could talk to Jen about it herself but Grady thought maybe that was pushing things a little too quickly. He wanted to make sure this thing they had going would last a while before bringing her around Jen. He made a noise with the beer bottle at his lips. "Beetles! She definitely has beetles. I remember her talking about them a while back. But everything else, I have no idea. There are times I go to bed really wishing she would have been content with a cat."
Dahlia laughed lightly. She wasn’t going to judge his masculinity, she didn’t really know anyone who would like living with bugs as pets, male or female. It was cool that Grady’s daughter had her own interests and even cooler that he allowed her to indulge them even if they made him uncomfortable. “Beetles!” she echoed, amused. “Okay that’s a start. I think there’s like ... thousands of types of beetles though, so if you can narrow it down at all, I can make it more personal for her.” Smirking, Dahlia took a sip of beer and pulled her legs up to cross them comfortably in front of her, one thigh resting against Grady’s. “Did you have pets growing up? Not beetles, obviously, but ... any dogs, cats, gerbils? Pets with fur?”
To Grady, beetles were beetles. He didn't know the first thing about their different types. "That's something I'll have to ask her about," he said. "I can just imagine the look on her face when I bring it up though. She's going to be immediately suspicious. But I'll find out what I can." He noted the way her leg rested against his and it was a nice pressure, considering how long he had gone without physical touch from a woman before Dahlia. "We had a dog," he told her, smiling a bit as he relaxed back against the sofa. "Golden retriever named Noodles. Don't ask me why, my mom named him. Sometimes I think about getting another but with my job, I'd feel neglectful and I don't want to do that. I'm allergic to cats, so that's not really an option. What about you?" he asked. "Any pets growing up?"
Dahlia giggled at the first part, picturing a nondescript teen girl squinting at Grady with suspicion as he tried to ask casual questions about her bugs. She had no idea how Jen would react, but it was cute in her head. If Grady couldn’t get any intel, Dahlia could just find some pretty exotic beetles to work from. “Aw, Noodles the goldie, that sounds pretty perfect actually,” she said with a bright grin. “We had a lot, really. I tried to adopt every stray cat I saw. My dad finally put his foot down on indoor pets, so I used to just feed all the neighborhood strays outside. Then when one of them had kittens I would take them around in my bike basket to give them away to other kids.” She laughed a bit and shook her head. “I’m sure all the parents hated me. That was in one place we lived, anyway. Me and my mom had a few dogs over the years too, and I had a pit mix named Soldier for quite a few years when I lived alone in Philly ... but he passed and I haven’t had a dog since.”
Grady was imagining Dahlia as a kid, covered in kittens. It was a nice mental picture and Grady thought it said a lot about who she was. Empathetic and caring. "My mom used to do that," he said with a laugh. "Since I was allergic to cats so we could never have one, at least not while I lived at home. But my mom felt bad for all of the strays in the neighborhood and would feed them. One afternoon a friend of mine came by to pick me up and as we were leaving the driveway we just saw this line of four or five cats wandering across the yard to the back... they knew where their meals came from. Jen's never asked for any kind of pet beyond the bugs she keeps in her room. Do you ever think about getting another dog?"
“Mm, sometimes,” Dahlia said, tilting her head back and forth. “I just like really big dogs the most, and I’ve been living with roommate after roommate, some of which have been kind of dog-phobic, so I keep putting it off.” She shrugged, then gave Grady a flirty little smirk. “Maybe if I stick around here long enough, it’ll be time to get another one.” So far, she felt like there were several reasons to stay in Point Pleasant for a while. In spite of the warnings people had given her, she could sense the potential here. If nothing else, it seemed like an interesting place to live.
Grady nodded, though he was well aware of how often people came here and then wanted to leave. Sometimes they did... sometimes it felt like they couldn't. But Dahlia was new to Point Pleasant and she hadn't been living there long enough to really experience what staying here meant. It worried him on some level that she would find out sooner than later, but hopefully he could be there to help her. "That sounds like a plan. I hope you stick around, for what it's worth." Then his lips twitched into a teasing smile. "That way you get a big dog and I can just live vicariously through you."
Dahlia chuckled lightly. “Dating me for my possible future dog ... eh, I’ve heard worse reasons,” she mused, her eyes crinkling at him. She knew very well that Grady’s interest in her was about much more than that, and she hoped he knew by now that she was just as interested. Elodie wasn’t the only reason she wanted to stick around for a while. Dahlia finished off her beer and moved to stand up, giving a little stretch and a groan. “Another round?” she asked, quirking a brow as she glanced at Grady’s beer. “How long can you hang out?”
His smile widened before he glanced at his beer and considered her offer. "Yeah, maybe one more round. I can stay a while longer." Jen was fairly self-sufficient, even if he did worry about her being alone in the evenings. "Are you expecting Elodie home anytime soon?" Grady didn't want it to sound forward, or that he was expecting anything to happen between them tonight, but he definitely didn't want to make things awkward for Dahlia if her niece did come home later and Grady was still there.
Pleased he wanted to linger a bit, Dahlia turned to head toward the kitchen. “No, she told me she’s out for the night,” she said lightly. Dahlia was grateful that the girl had been agreeable to checking in once a day, at least. Sometimes she told Dahlia her plans, sometimes she didn’t, but it was good to have the proof of life. Dahlia was hoping Elodie would gradually warm up to staying with her and come around more often, she just had to stay patient and keep the door open. She grabbed two more bottles of beer and opened them before returning to join Grady on the couch again. She settled in close to him, pulling her knees up and resting both legs against his thigh this time. “I’m really glad you came by,” she murmured. “I was looking forward to seeing you.”
There was some relief that Elodie was going to be out for the night. In a sense he felt a bit guilty about that because she was still a teenager and Grady knew he would never be comfortable with Jen being gone unless she was staying at Ophelia's or something. But he knew Dahlia and Elodie's situation was different and right now, with Dahlia sitting so close to him, it was difficult to really concentrate on anything but how her legs felt against his thigh and how nice she smelled. "I was looking forward to it too," Grady said, his gaze roaming over her face. "And I'm sorry I had to cancel dinner. That's just... I know my job's unpredictability isn't for everyone. And I can't promise this will be the only time it happens. But I'll try really hard to make sure that it is."
Maybe if she knew more about what actually lurked in the dark in Point Pleasant, Dahlia would have been more concerned. But Elodie had been surviving on her own so far, and Dahlia was doing her best to earn the girl’s trust. Laying down strict rules wasn’t the way to do it. Besides, it allowed her to have a bit of a life of her own. Dahlia gazed back at Grady, a little smile stuck on her lips. “I appreciate that you’re sorry,” she said after a moment. “But you don’t have to be. I get how important you are to the force. I can only imagine how frustrating and tiring it must be for you too. I’m not going to be one of those women who has to constantly come first, I like to have my own space too.” Dahlia enjoyed romantic attention like pretty much every other human, but she knew the rest of life had to happen too, and Grady’s was already a busy life.
She seemed to be genuine so Grady felt himself relax a bit. He hadn't dated since his divorce but he knew how Alison had become towards the end of their marriage, when Grady's responsibilities, and his drinking, had started to come first. Grady wasn't thinking marriage right now but he certainly didn't want to push Dahlia away the way he had his ex-wife. "And I appreciate that you like your space," Grady told her, his lips twitching. "And that you're understanding about what I do." Hopefully that wouldn't change in the future. He was still aware that despite his attraction to Dahlia, he still didn't know much about her. But he wasn't really thinking about that right now. All he was thinking about was how beautiful her lips were and that if he wanted to kiss her, he doubted she would protest. So that's what he did, leaning over to brush his mouth against hers. He had been wanting to do it all night and now with food out of the way, it felt like the right time.
Dahlia could feel that he was worried about scaring her off, but she hoped that would ease up with time. She didn’t know that this chemistry between them would blossom into something special, but Dahlia had a good feeling about it. A good feeling about him, and her intuition had rarely steered her wrong. She felt Grady’s desire a second before he moved, and it made her stomach flutter with delight. Dahlia leaned in slightly to meet his mouth, more than happy to accept the kiss. She kept it soft at first, wanting to savor those tingles that rushed through her. Dahlia’s hand moved to rest lightly against Grady’s chest as her lips moved against his. There was always something so delightful about the beginning of relationships, when sex wasn’t a given yet. It was like a thrumming anticipation in her lower belly that she just loved.
Grady had a good feeling about this too. It had to mean something if this was the first woman he had been fully attracted to since his divorce. He wasn't sure yet what it was, or what it could be, but he definitely wanted to find out. Right now he was enjoying the feel and taste of Dahlia's lips, and the gentle pressure of her hand on his chest. While his body was getting warmer, Grady kept up the slow pace, merely wanting to savor how good it made him feel. It had been so long since he was able to get lost in the first stages of a relationship. Getting to know someone new in every sense, emotionally and physically. He was experiencing the same tingles in his body, making him feel like a teenager again, making out with his girlfriend. Bringing his own hand up, he slid it through her hair, over her ear, parting his lips to taste her with his tongue.
She had already established that Grady was a good kisser, that the first ones they’d shared at the bar weren’t a fluke, but damn if she didn’t enjoy being reminded. Dahlia let herself sink into it, her body leaning against Grady’s a bit more as she opened her mouth further. He tasted like warmth and beer and a masculine sort of quality she couldn’t quite place. It was good though, and it made that light flutter in her belly feel deeper and stronger. Dahlia slipped her hand up to the side of Grady’s neck, the tips of her fingers lightly toying with his ear while they kissed. She could feel his arousal growing right along with hers, and it gave her a warm throb. She wasn’t going to push him, but god, sometimes it was hard to resist the power of that emotional feedback loop. Dahlia was going to enjoy it as much as possible before it got too strong. She made a soft sound against his mouth, pushing into the kiss a bit more.
This was definitely a nice way to erase the details of his day. More than nice, actually. Dealing with frantic family members and a crime scene, not to mention the way the body of Ms. Ward had been found. It had made sense for him to come here tonight instead of driving home to drink and worry. Dahlia was soft against him and some part of Grady just wanted to tuck his head against her chest and cling there for a while. But his lips were too focused now, his body burning a little too hot. The sound she made sent heat directly into his groin. Grady's hand tangled in her hair and for once, he let himself ride the sensations instead of pulling back. It had been so long since he indulged in something like this and it felt like the right time to not overthink it.
Dahlia was good at not overthinking things -- to a fault sometimes. She was such a creature of emotion, she didn’t always have the best planning-ahead skills. Already she wanted to escort Grady into her bedroom, slowly peel his clothes off, and make him forget he ever had a bad day. Maybe that was too fast, maybe not, but it was how she honestly felt. As their mouths and tongues danced together, Dahlia tried to get in touch with how he honestly felt. She never wanted to be pushy, so she tried to suss out whether a nudge in that direction would make Grady happy or not. In the meantime, Dahlia shifted her position, not breaking the kiss as she slipped her leg over Grady’s and slid over into his lap, straddling his hips. It was easier on their necks, and she wanted to feel more of him against her. “Is this okay?” she whispered.
The groan slipped past his lips before he could stop it because the pressure of her body on his lap was excruciating in the best way possible. He couldn't exactly hide how good she was making him feel but his eyes cracked open a bit at her question. With his hands resting on her hips, Grady couldn't help but grin a little. "Does it feel okay to you?" There might have been a bit of innuendo there, but he certainly didn't want her thinking he was a blushing virgin or anything just because it had been a while since he'd been with a woman. Grady wasn't sure where this would lead, if anywhere, but he was certainly enjoying the time he had with Dahlia tonight. Making out didn't necessarily mean sex and he was sure they both knew that. Grady didn't want her to feel pressured anymore than he was sure she felt the same way with him.
Pressure was definitely a mood-killer from any direction, so Dahlia was just going with the flow tonight. They hadn’t had an official date, but eating takeout together and talking had been lovely, and she was feeling warmly attracted to him. Obviously. It was more than a little arousing to feel the bulge of his erection under her, and Dahlia couldn’t help but rock against it just a bit. It gave her a delicious tingle and Dahlia hummed softly through her smile. “Feels wonderful to me,” she murmured before she kissed him again. She was definitely going to try not to rush Grady into anything, but she did hope he’d be game for a little more exploration than they’d had so far. Dahlia cupped the side of his neck with one hand before slipping it back to curl in the short hair at the back of his head while she tasted him deeply again.
He hummed a response into her mouth before losing himself in the taste of her again. It was so easy to lose himself in her again and forget about his day. Dahlia had been bold enough to climb onto his lap so he felt comfortable enough slipping his hands beneath her shirt, just to graze his fingers along her bare skin, around to her lower back. It felt soft and perfect under his touch and Grady had known that it would be. After another moment of kissing, Grady pulled his mouth from hers to trail his lips over her jaw and down to her throat, wanting to taste more of her.
Grady’s touch was light enough against her bare back to give her goosebumps. Dahlia tilted her head back to give him room, enjoying the contrast of soft lips and the light scrape of beard against her skin. She hadn’t been celibate as long as Grady had, but it had been a while since she’d been with anyone, and Dahlia’s body definitely felt awake and ready now. She was a sucker for neck kisses, and she was dimly glad that she’d worn a low v-neck t-shirt tonight. It was all sweetly reminiscent of being a teenager, making out and exploring and pushing boundaries, lingering in each step while that tension grew and grew. Dahlia kept one hand at the back of Grady’s head while the other tugged the hem of his shirt up enough to allow her to touch skin in return.
Grady had always loved touching soft women. Touching, kissing. Licking. He had gone without for so long that he felt like he was finally crawling out of the desert and Dahlia was a long, cool drink of water. Such a stupid analogy in his head, but it was so close to accurately describing what was going on inside of him now. He kissed and nipped her neck softly, his hands sliding higher up her back. His muscles quivered at the feel of her fingers on his skin and Grady groaned against her skin, his hips shifting instinctively up against her crotch. "God, you feel good," Grady murmured before peppering kisses back up to her jaw, back to her ear.
God, he was sending waves of sensitive tingles all through her body, Dahlia was losing herself in it too. It didn’t hurt that she could feel just how turned on Grady was, how hungry he was for this, all of it feeding into her own arousal. And when he pushed up against her like that, it was hard to remember why they weren’t naked in bed already. The words gave her a throb between her legs and she rocked her hips over him again, turning her head to catch his lips with hers once more. “You do too,” she whispered a moment later, a brief smile crossing her face. “And it’s just the start.” Dahlia dragged her fingers over Grady’s side and stomach until they found the fly of his jeans. She didn’t start to undo it right away, just gave the material a little tug.
Her voice was silky in his ear, just as soft and tantalizing as her skin. His reaction to her tugging at the button of his jeans was a bit delayed, though Grady couldn't deny that little motion felt just as good as everything else they had been doing. "You don't have to," Grady murmured, though he wasn't entirely sure what he was saying with the arousal clouding his brain. He had no idea what she was doing, or intended to do and he didn't want to assume anything. He also didn't want to stop her... but he didn't want her to feel like she had to do more than this too. His thoughts were becoming a bit jumbled and Grady's hands slid to her waist to grip her there.
“Oh I know,” Dahlia assured him softly. She nuzzled her nose against his a bit. “I want to. I’ve been daydreaming about touching you. Can I?” As she spoke, she started to unbutton his jeans, her fingers lingering over the top of the zipper. Just like Grady was being careful, so was she. She wanted him comfortable and consenting with enthusiasm and not feeling rushed. So many people assumed that all men were ready to fuck anyone 24/7, but Dahlia knew that was so wrong. It had been a long time since Grady had done this with anyone, and he deserved patience and someone to treat him with care. There was room for both caring and passion in the same moment. Dahlia was definitely feeling the passionate side, a steady throb humming between her legs, but it would only be satisfying if Grady was on the same page.
Grady was on the same page. Grady was definitely on the same page. His heart was pounding and his fingers had pressed more firmly into Dahlia's skin. No one had touched him but himself since Alison and Grady could only send a quick prayer up to whichever higher being was listening that he wouldn't embarrass himself. It was like he was an inexperienced teenager all over again and while he didn't exactly like that feeling, he definitely liked what Dahlia was doing. Since her face was still so close to his, Grady kissed her again before realizing he hadn't exactly answered her question. Smiling against her lips, Grady slid his hands further up her back until his fingertips brushed against her bra. "Yeah, of course you can."
The kiss was almost permission, but she was glad he followed up with words. Dahlia felt sure they would get to a place where those questions weren’t necessary, she would know how to read him much better, but for now it was best not to assume. She returned the smile as she pulled Grady’s zipper down and delved her hand into the front of his jeans. First Dahlia just touched him through his boxers, fingers running over the thick heat of his erection while she kissed him again. She couldn’t hold off on something more intimate for long though, and Dahlia got him free of his clothes without too much struggle, so she could really feel him. His cock was hot and velvety in her hand, and she gave an appreciative hum as she wrapped him in a loose grip to lightly stroke.
She was so good at what she was doing that there were no awkward tugs or fumbling with his clothes. Before Grady knew it, she was touching him and all remaining rational thought dissipated from his brain. Groaning, Grady tried to hold still but he instinctively arched up into her hand while his hands slid around to cup her breasts, his thumbs stroking her nipples through the material of her bra. They were in close proximity, in a position where there wasn't a lot of room for movement, but Grady kissed her again, his tongue stroking into her mouth to taste her deeper. There was really something to be said for making out instead of rushing to tear each other's clothes off. Though that certainly sounded appealing too.
Dahlia’s bra was thin and comfy, and she could feel the warmth of Grady’s thumbs through the cotton, her nipples getting harder under the touch. It seemed only fair that he get to touch bare skin, since she was, so Dahlia switched hands for a moment to reach behind her and slip her own hand up her shirt to undo the clasp of her bra. It wouldn’t come all the way off without more squirming than she wanted to do at the moment, but Grady could get under it easier if he wanted to. His hands already felt delicious on her skin, she wanted to feel them in more places. Dahlia went back to caressing Grady’s cock with her right hand, her thumb sliding over the head when she felt a drop of precum there, her teeth closing on his bottom lip in a soft bite. She tightened her grip slightly, wanting to draw another one of those groans out of him. He had a sexy voice already, and hearing it deeper and raspy with pleasure made her greedy for more.
As soon as he could, Grady slipped his hands beneath her loosened bra. Her nipples were hard beneath his fingers and he rubbed and pinched them gently, too caught up in the heat of the moment to really stop and think about what she might like or not like. Her hand gripping his cock prompted a shuddering breath to escape his lips and he wasn't sure he was physically capable of getting any harder than he already was. "Goddamn," he said hoarsely, opening his eyes to look at her. Feeling a bit more greedy himself, he reached for the hem of her shirt to pull it up, hoping she would be willing to get rid of it. Grady hadn't intended to come over tonight and do this, but it was impossible to deny that he wanted it and given that he always prided himself on being pretty perceptive, he had a feeling Dahlia wanted it too.
She liked everything he was doing, and it was pretty obvious in the way she breathed and arched into his touch. Her nipples had always been fairly sensitive, and Grady was sending hot sparks of arousal straight to her clit. Dahlia’s intention had been just to give him some pleasure to make up for his hard day, but the longer this went on, the more selfish she felt. She was wishing already that she could make her pants disappear so she could just slide him inside of her. With a brief smile, Dahlia let him go and lifted her arms so Grady could peel her t-shirt off. She slid her bra straps down her arms to get rid of that too, immediately feeling sexy with her breasts fully exposed to Grady for the first time. She didn’t know yet how far they would go tonight, but even if it wasn’t much more than this, Dahlia was definitely enjoying herself. She pulled one of Grady’s hands back to her breast as she leaned back in to kiss him again.
There really was something incredibly erotic about having Dahlia half-naked on top of him while he still fully dressed. Sure, his jeans were open but she still had more exposed skin than he did. His hand groped her breast as his lips parted for hers again. Grady certainly didn't mind Dahlia getting as much out of this as she could. Pleasure had always been a mutual thing for Grady, except maybe for once or twice as a teenage boy when he hadn't yet understood it didn't come as easy for girls as it did for him. Pulling his mouth from hers, Grady trailed kisses down her throat again before his arm slid around her waist and he pulled her closer to him. His lips closed around one nipple, his teeth tugging at it gently before he groaned again.
God, it felt so good to be wanted like this. Neither of them were in a rush or only pushing for one thing -- Dahlia could feel just how much Grady liked her in all this, and she hoped he felt the same from her. The fact that he was hot as hell and making her entire body tingle was just one very nice aspect of a lovely whole. Dahlia made some soft sounds of pleasure herself, the fingers of her free hand slipping into his hair as his mouth found her nipple. She squeezed his cock tighter, though the angle had gotten more difficult for stroking. Dahlia was dying to see and feel more of him too, and suddenly her couch felt way too small and cramped. “Do you want to come to bed with me?” she asked breathlessly, her fingers tightening briefly in his hair. “It’s more comfortable ...”
It was an incredibly alluring, and slightly terrifying, suggestion but Grady knew he would have been an idiot if he said no. It wasn't like his brain was working all that much right now anyway, not with Dahlia's bare skin beneath his hands and her hand wrapped around his cock. "Yeah," he breathed, once he released her nipple, though he swiped at it again with his tongue before lifting his face to catch her mouth in another kiss. They were in a comfortable enough position that Grady found it easy to slip his hands around the curves of her ass and push himself up from the couch, keeping her body pressed to his. It was maybe a little awkward with his jeans open but her bedroom wasn't terribly far so Grady carried her there, stealing kisses from her lips here and there until they were safely in her room.
Dahlia would have understood if Grady wanted to wait and turned her down. Her body might have been disappointed, but she could deal with that. His answer didn’t really surprise her though. She smiled faintly as she kissed him back. What did surprise her was being picked up, and Dahlia let out a tiny squeak that turned into a giggle, clinging to Grady with her arms and thighs while he carried her. It was hot that not only could he pick her up, he could lug her around without struggling. Not that Dahlia was a terribly big woman or anything, but still, it gave her fresh flutters in her stomach. She gave a little squirm to get down once they were in her bedroom, and as soon as her feet were on the carpet, Dahlia started pulling Grady’s shirt up to peel it off of him. He’d gotten plenty of her skin, it was her turn to kiss and explore.
In all honesty, Grady hadn't expected to be back in Dahlia's bedroom so soon. It certainly wasn't something he planned for tonight and there was a part of his psyche that was terrified he would embarrass himself before the night was through. But it was too difficult to pull back now and he didn't want to. When was the last time Grady had felt this kind of attraction towards a woman? Maybe for once he could be selfish and take what he wanted. What he had been denying himself for years. After helping Dahlia get his shirt off, Grady worked on pushing his pants and boxer briefs the rest of the way down his hips and legs to the floor. He didn't mind just yet that she still had her own jeans on. He would take care of those soon enough. Grady cupped her face and kissed her hard, his tongue flicking against her lower lip before delving into her mouth.
His emotions were running strong at the moment, and it was so easy for Dahlia to get caught up in them too. There was some trepidation there, she could sense it in the middle of all of the lust and excitement and want, but Grady didn’t seem to be giving into it, so she wasn’t bothered. With a soft sound in her throat, she tilted her face up to accept the kiss, her hands sliding down Grady’s sides to his bare hips, then around to his back. It was hard to get a good look at him while they were making out, but all the hard muscle under smooth skin beneath her hands felt delicious. Dahlia met his tongue with equal passion, stroking it with her own before nipping at it lightly with her teeth. She hadn’t planned for them to have full-on sex tonight either, but she was more than happy to go with the flow. The way Grady’s cock pressed up against the skin of her belly over the waistband of her jeans was certainly enticing.
Grady wanted to take his time. He wanted to get Dahlia naked and kiss her entire body, use his tongue to make her squirm and scream. But god, his body wasn't cooperating. His cock was already dripping and Grady was starting to feel desperate to have her. His hands fell to the button of her jeans and Grady started working them off of her even as he used his own body to push her towards her bed. God willing, this wouldn't be the first and only time they did this but Grady felt like he was already becoming something akin to being addicted to her body and the way she tasted. Nudging her back onto the bed, Grady took a breath, slipping his fingertips into the waistband of her jeans to pull them down.
He seemed to have decided what he wanted and was going directly for it, and Dahlia had to admit it was a turn on. Not that she wasn’t turned on already, but damn, an assertive man was sexy. When she’d fantasized about this moment, she hadn’t been sure what to expect -- would he be really shy about it? Would she have to guide him through everything? Reassure him as they went? The way it was going down was a pleasant surprise, and the ache between her legs was getting to be just as demanding. Dahlia shuffled to the bed with Grady, sat, and leaned back on her elbows when he reached for her jeans. She lifted her hips to help get them off, taking the time to let her eyes roam over Grady’s body. The room was dim, but she definitely liked what she saw. Grady was no lazy donut-snarfing cop with a paunch, that much was obvious. Once she was fully free of her clothes, she reached for his arm to pull him close again, wanting to feel the weight of him on top of her.
While Grady might have been a little apprehensive about this, he wasn't necessarily shy. He'd had sex before, plenty of times. But he'd never gone this long without and he was more worried about disappointing her than anything else. With her body bare for him now, Grady let his gaze slide over her, a small hum of appreciation in his throat. Christ, she was gorgeous. Since she reached for him, Grady went willingly, covering her body with his and kissing her again, his skin tingling at the feel of her beneath him. Everything about her was so soft and smooth and his cock twitched between them, eager to find her wet heat. A thought occurred to him then and Grady lifted his head breathlessly, propping himself up on either side of her. "Shit," he murmured. "I don't have a condom." He never carried them around anymore, for obvious reasons and he certainly hadn't thought to bring one tonight.
Dahlia didn’t hesitate to wrap her legs around Grady’s waist as he settled over her, hands roaming over the muscle in his arms and shoulders. She could feel the heat from his erection against her skin and was so tempted to just shift her hips in the right direction to slip him inside of her. It felt so natural and right that she wasn’t thinking about protection either. She’d had a fairly active sex life for years and wasn’t ashamed about it, and she regularly got tested. That along with her IUD made her feel like all her bases were covered. Her eyes popped open as Grady pulled away, still hazy but a little surprised. “Oh, um ... I do, if you want one,” she murmured, giving him a little smile. “I got tested like ... two months ago?” Dahlia squinted one eye in thought, still stroking the skin on his back. “And nothing since then. And birth control’s not a problem.” This was usually a conversation she liked to have before clothes were off and she was aching to be filled, but this had all kind of been unplanned. “But, top drawer,” she added, nodding toward one of the nightstands. She kept them in case of one night stands with people she didn’t trust to be honest yet, but she believed he was coming off of a very long dry spell. But if Grady wanted to wrap it up, Dahlia certainly wasn’t going to coerce him not to. She just wanted him in any way she could have him.
There was an immense relief when Dahlia said that she had a condom. Hearing that she was on birth control certainly helped ease his mind too but every instinct inside of him pushed him to grab the condom. It wasn't that he didn't believe or trust her, but Grady couldn't help but think of his kids and how safe he'd want them to be if they were having sex. And his relationship with Dahlia was still so new. On the other hand, his body wanted to just plunge in bare and throw all caution to the wind. Grady also worried he would offend her if he did opt for the condom. Christ, why was this one minor thing so complicated. He was stalling, but as soon as he thought that maybe the condom would help him last a bit longer than he feared he would otherwise, Grady shifted carefully to reach over and tug open the drawer of the nightstand. He worked on getting it open and slid on as quickly as he could before settling between her legs again, his hands brushing against her face before he kissed her. Her body was so hot and wet for him that Grady shifted his hips on pure instinct to line himself up and slip his cock into her. The tight sensations surrounding him prompted Grady to groan and rest his forehead against hers, but he didn't breathe again until he was pushed deeply inside of her.
Dahlia was far from offended, more amused by the brief emotional turmoil before Grady made his decision. She didn’t prefer condoms -- who did, honestly? -- but they were useful, and being responsible was a good thing in the end. She enjoyed the show while Grady got the package open and rolled it on, taking the time to look at his body while she slowly rubbed her thigh against his skin. She slipped her arms around him as soon as he came close again, a thrill running through her as his body pressed into hers once more. He was so warm and solid, Dahlia wanted to touch every inch of him. Her hands roamed over his back while they kissed, and then all coherent thought flew right out of her head as Grady’s cock slid into her. She gasped and let out a soft whine, her eyes squeezed shut. It was a sharp pleasure, a delicious stab through her lower belly, and she hitched her legs up a little higher around him. Dahlia couldn’t keep completely still, slowly rocking her hips under his. She didn’t expect this to be a long one, but damn did it already feel incredibly good.
The condom did help a little because he was positive he would have exploded as soon as Dahlia began to rock her hips. That was a humiliation he wasn't sure he would have been able to come back from. Now he focused on Dahlia, rather than his own body's desire to just start pounding into her for his own pleasure. Burying his face against her neck, Grady kissed her skin, finally feeling as though he could move without embarrassing himself. His thrusts were slow but deep, and he groaned at the tiny shivers of heat and ecstasy that ran down his spine. She felt incredible. She smelled incredible. Grady nipped gently at her throat, already losing any capability of coherent thought. He might not be able to keep up the lazy pace for very long, but he wanted to draw more of those delicious noises from her.
She was sure that the pacing was for Grady’s benefit more than hers, but it felt absolutely perfect for their first time together. Every stroke of his cock pushed against that most sensitive spot deep inside of her, and Dahlia didn’t hold back on letting him know. Her breathing was already heavy, and as the pleasure built she let out the sighs and moans as they came. Her empathy was also wide open to him, allowing her to feel just how good it felt to Grady too, creating a loop of pleasure in her that she just wanted to drown in. Her fingers dug into the muscle in Grady’s back now and then as he hit that good depth, and Dahlia kept moving with him, pressing her clit up against his pubic bone with every stroke. One hand came up to lightly scratch her nails through his short hair, his mouth at her neck sending extra little shivers through her body. “God, Grady,” she breathed near his ear. “You feel so good.”
Her breath against his ear felt as heavenly as her words did and he groaned, curling his hand into her hair. The instinct to move harder was impossible to deny and Grady began to thrust with purpose, kissing her where he could when he wasn't desperate to breathe. More than anything he wanted this to last until morning and Grady could only hope she was willing to make it a late night because he knew he was going to want her again and again. Brushing his nose to hers, Grady thrust deep and held still for a moment to take the sharper edges off before starting up again. His body was tingling with pleasure but god, he just wanted to push pause on the sensations to get her there first. "You're so beautiful," he panted, starting to pound into her now, unable to hold back how desperately his body wanted to take over and take her.
Those harder thrusts sharpened and amplified her pleasure, and Dahlia moaned and panted along with him. Fuck, it felt amazing, and as Grady’s pleasure and need ramped up, so did hers. She wasn’t positive that she would make it to the finish line before him, but she could feel how much he wanted her to, and that helped spur her on. Some guys truly didn’t give a shit if they were giving as much as they were taking, but her instincts had been right about Grady. His words gave her a rush of heat and she hooked her calves around the backs of his thighs, arching up under him with every hard thrust, clinging to him as that clenching feeling in her core got stronger and stronger. The faster pace sped up the process, and after a moment Dahlia felt herself start to peak. She let out a few high-pitched whines of “yes!” before everything in her tightened up and she cried out, her body bucking under his as ecstasy flooded through her.
His body was a furnace, burning out of control. Grady let it, finally releasing all uncertainties and hangups that had been clouding him for the past six years. All he could feel was pleasure now, soaring through his body to every fingertip and toe. When he felt Dahlia begin to pulse rhythmically around his cock, he groaned in appreciation, doing his best to ride her through her orgasm. Grady tried to hold on a little longer but he was helpless to do anything but grunt through a few more shaky thrusts before he thrust deep and spilled into the condom. As cheesy as it was, it felt like coming home. When he began to come down from the high, Grady gently lowered himself onto her body, careful to keep most of his weight on his elbows. He found her mouth and kissed her deep, a satisfied moan low in his throat.
Dahlia wasn’t going to let him stay too far away from her, wrapping her legs fully around his waist and her arms around his neck. She kissed him back with pleasure, a deep warm feeling spreading throughout her entire body. Goddess, she loved to make her partners come, enjoying their orgasms just as much as her own, and her pussy was still twitching with sweet aftershocks. She hoped he wanted to stay for a while and maybe have a second round ... or third and fourth ... After lazily working her mouth against Grady’s for a moment, Dahlia had to smile. “Better than you remembered?” she murmured teasingly. Maybe that was egotistical, but whatever, she felt entitled. It made her feel a little special that he’d been celibate all this time, but had chosen to break it with her in particular, when she knew there had to be other women in this town who would be thrilled to fall into bed with the handsome sheriff.
Still feeling breathless, Grady smiled against her mouth. "That's an understatement," he said, kissing her again, slow and deep. He was sure there had been women in town who might have said yes had he asked them out for dinner. But honestly, Grady hadn't been intrigued by any of them. And being the Sheriff of a town like Point Pleasant was not only a full time job, but it could be exhausting. Relationships were always low priority for him. Not to mention it took some time for Grady to fully get over Alison after the divorce. But this felt right to him. Maybe it helped that Dahlia was new to town and hadn't been completely sucked into Point Pleasant's crazy yet. He hoped he could keep her from that fate. Brushing his thumb along her jaw, Grady knew he would have to eventually move but he was enjoying the warmth of her body for another moment or two. "You feel okay?"
She wanted to stay close as long as was comfortable, still enjoying his weight on her and the warm full feeling of his cock inside of her. His erection was relaxing, but it was still nice and intimate. The orgasms were awesome, of course, but it was this part that she really craved -- the closeness with another person, feeling like they were both open and sharing themselves. She could always make herself come, but she couldn’t recreate this alone. Dahlia threaded her fingers through his hair and gave him a soft smile. “I feel amazing,” she told him. She gazed into Grady’s eyes for a beat, then brushed her nose against his. “Do you?” Part of her wanted to reassure him that she hadn’t planned to seduce him when he came over, but she wasn’t sure he would’ve minded if she had.