*Grace*The moment I stepped out of the car, I couldn't help but be in awe of the magnificent Biltmore Estate before me. The sun was setting behind the majestic main house, casting a warm glow over the gardens and fountains. It felt like something out of a fairytale. A perfect place for a wedding. My heart raced with anticipation and a touch of nervousness as I took in the grandeur of my surroundings."Grace! You made it!" Sarah's excited voice pulled me from my reverie. I turned to see my best friend and bride-to-be practically bounding down the steps towards me, her chestnut hair flowing behind her like a waterfall. She smiled radiantly, her hazel eyes sparkling with excitement and joy."Of course I did! I wouldn't miss your big day for the world," I replied, embracing her in a tight hug. We held each other briefly, sharing a moment of happiness and relief that the wedding preparations were finally coming together."Come on, let me show you around," Sarah said, grabbing m
*Grace*We were all gathered around the dining table that night, laughing and sharing memories of our past since most of us had studied together in high school. Sarah's other bridesmaids – Emma and Lisa – had arrived earlier today as well so we could all help with the last preparations for the ceremony and the party, and be here for her before the big day.As we all updated each other on what we were up to these days, I couldn't help but wonder about why David wasn’t present for dinner. Despite the laughter surrounding me, his absence weighed heavily on my mind. As much as I wanted to ask Sarah about him, I couldn't risk exposing my interest in her father.Putting that aside though, I had a lot of fun catching up with people I hadn't seen in years. It felt good to know how their lives turned out to be and see that we still got along well after so long.As soon as dinner came to an end, I retreated to my room, desperate to escape the turmoil of emotions brewing within me. My
*David*The sweaty silk sheets tangled around my body were enough proof I had tossed and turned the entire night, trying to relax and find a moment of peace at least while I was sleeping, but failing miserably.I stirred from sleep, the hazy cloud of confusion and desire still hanging over me like an unwelcome guest. Images of Grace, her flushed cheeks and her emerald-green eyes filled with lust as she stared at me, replayed in my mind over and over during the night, a constant reminder of our late-night encounter in the kitchen.She had been a pleasant surprise when I arrived at the Estate yesterday. I vaguely remembered her from Sarah's childhood and teenage years, but the woman I saw yesterday was a completely different person. She had become a beautiful, intriguing and sexy woman. Her long auburn hair, her green eyes and that tiny little body of hers… My eyes couldn't help but wander down her curves when she showed up wearing nothing more than just that short nightgown that le
*Grace*The warm morning sun kissed my skin as I stretched out on a plush sun lounger by the pool. Sarah, Emma, Lisa, and I were enjoying some downtime, sipping on fruity cocktails, and basking in the luxurious atmosphere of the Biltmore Estate. Laughter filled the air as we shared stories and reminisced about our college days.Suddenly, the topic I was dreading arrived earlier than I expected."Alright, girls…" Sarah giggled. "It's time for some juicy details. I wanna know about your romantic escapades. I'll become a married woman soon, so I need to be entertained by you all from now on." We all laughed, but I was embracing myself for the moment the question would fall on my lap."Honestly, I've been single for so long that I don't even think I know how to have sex anymore," Emma complained, making Lisa almost choke on her drink.I couldn't help but relate to Emma's predicament, although I tried to hide the smile tugging at the corners of my lips. It was a shared se
*David*My heart pounded in my chest as I paced back and forth in my room. The image of Grace smiling and blushing at Alex earlier was burned into my mind, fueling a jealousy that consumed me entirely. It gnawed at me relentlessly, making it impossible for me to focus on anything else.As tempting as it had been to storm over, land a punch on the guy's face, and whisk her away from there, I managed to rein in my impulses.The image of another man eliciting that radiant smile from her hit me harder than I anticipated. It was a strange sensation to feel this possessiveness over a woman. I'd never been the kind of guy to get territorial over someone, so I found myself grappling with the puzzle of what it was about Grace that triggered this unexpected side of me.It was downright unnerving, to say the least.I stopped pacing and walked over to the window, gazing out at the moonlit estate. The stunning view outside did little to calm my nerves though. I couldn't shake the feeling that
*Grace*The early morning scene at the Biltmore Estate was truly breathtaking. I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty surrounding me, knowing that I would long for this view once I returned home. The first rays of the sun had just begun to paint the sky with hues of orange and pink when I caught sight of David on the terrace, deep in conversation with Sarah and a small group of others.I watched their exchange while pouring myself a cup of coffee. He gestured with authority, capturing everyone's attention, and for the first time I saw David acting like the businessman he was–his demeanor exuding confidence and control as he debated with the event organizers.It was fucking hot.As much as I wanted to know what they were discussing, I kept my curiosity at bay. Their expressions were serious and focused, suggesting something of importance was being hashed out."Mr. Anderson is really something, isn't he?" Lisa mused from my side, following my gaze. It surprised me that she'd share
*Grace*As I attempted to compose myself, I looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes glistening with tipsy excitement. The champagne had left my senses heightened and my cheeks flushed, but the way David's piercing blue eyes watched me before I entered the bathroom had made me weak on the knees.As I stood there, the door behind me creaked open. My heart skipped a beat as I saw David's reflection in the mirror, his eyes darkened not only by the dim light in the bathroom, but also with unmistakable lust as he stared at me."David?" I questioned, turning around to look at him, my voice barely above a whisper even though I was trying really hard not to show how much he was affecting me. "What are you doing here?"He didn't answer, but his intense gaze never left mine, as if he were undressing me with his eyes alone. I felt a shiver run down my spine and my mouth instantly goin dry as I watched him lock the door behind him and slowly walk towards me, his footsteps echoing on the marbl
*Grace*The bachelorette party seemed to stretch on forever, and I couldn't bring myself to enjoy it anymore. Not after the way David had touched me in the bathroom, leaving me breathless and wanting more.I knew it was wrong. I should not be doing that or wanting more, but I did. It was all I could think about. The memory of his fingers inside me, so close to pushing me over the edge, lingered vividly in my mind."Sarah, I think I'm going to head to bed," I told her through the music blasting on the speakers. "I've got a bit of a headache."I felt guilty for lying to her. But it was the only way I could think of to get out of there without making her mad at me for leaving her party early."Of course, Grace. Get some rest." She patted my shoulder absentmindedly. She was already drunk, so I guessed that counted in my favor. She probably wouldn't even notice I was gone.As I wandered down the hallway towards my room, I stopped in my tracks, glancing at David's bedroom door at the e
*Grace*-Nine months later- David, Daniel, and I gathered in Sarah's hospital room to celebrate the joyous arrival of the precious little life into the family. Balloons adorned the room, their colors dancing in harmony with the soft lullaby playing in the background through Sarah's speaker. The room buzzed with anticipation as we all anxiously waited for the baby to be brought back to the bedroom."Why is it taking so long for them to bring her?" David asked impatiently, pacing back and forth in the room.Daniel chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. "She will be here soon. They just had to take her to run some routine exams.”David groaned in response, and Sarah and I suppressed a laugh to avoid annoying him further.David and I came running as soon as Daniel called to let us know Sarah was about to give birth. David left everything at his company and drove as fast as I was certain was legally allowed to pick me up at the museum and bring us here.It took a while for the h
*Grace*Moving in with David proved to be even better than I had dreamed of. As he promised me, he hired someone to take everything from my apartment and bring it back to his penthouse, but that wasn't really necessary. At the end of the day, I only kept my clothes and some small objects I had emotional attachment to. The furniture and everything else inside the apartment wasn't mine anyway, so I didn't have much to carry on with me.David had insisted that we went shopping so I could give the apartment a bit of my own touch, but truth be told, I already loved everything about it and didn't feel like changing anything, risking ruining its professional and chic decor. The only thing I did buy was a huge Christmas tree I had always wanted to have, and a collection of antique maps that I stumbled upon in a quaint little shop a while ago, but had no room to put them in my old apartment.Of course, David insisted that we grab a whole box of tree decoration ornaments so we could ass
*Grace*The faint hum of the gallery's air conditioning was a soothing background noise as I studied the latest collection of paintings that had been brought in for display. The vibrant colors and intricate brushstrokes captivated me, reminding me of why I chose this career in the first place. It had been a few weeks since David and I had returned from Switzerland, and I had to confess that this one trip made me go back to work with a different enthusiasm. It was like taking that time to ourselves after everything that happened was all I needed to feel a renewed will to live my life to the fullest.I was so engrossed in my work that when my phone rang, I nearly jumped out of my skin."Grace Harrison speaking," I answered without looking at the ID Caller."So formal, huh?" David greeted, his velvety voice on the other end making my heart race instantly. "I came to pick you up. I'm outside the museum right now. I've got a surprise planned for this evening.""Really?" I replied,
*Grace*After a thrilling second day on the Swiss Alps, where David and I had spent hours skiing down the powdery slopes, and visiting a thermal spa afterwards, we finally returned to our cabin. The sky was a dark, velvety canvas punctuated by shimmering stars as we entered our cozy home for the night. My body hummed with exhaustion, but my heart overflowed with happiness.The embers in the fireplace cast an intimate glow over the room, their warmth inviting us to relax. David and I chatted casually about our adventures on the slopes, the adrenaline still coursing through our veins, as we prepared to go to bed.We had showered at the spa, so I was glad I didn't have to get into the shower now."Your skiing skills have certainly improved since yesterday," David teased me, his features sparkling with mischief. I couldn't help but laugh at the memory of my countless falls on the previous day. Today had been a bit better, but not enough so I could consider his words as the truth.
*Grace*When David surprised me by saying he wanted to take me on another trip, I immediately accepted, although he didn't want to tell me where we were going.What I would never have dreamed of was that it would be the majestic Swiss Alps.As David and I arrived, we were greeted by the breathtaking sight of snow-covered peaks–a heart-skipping, jaw-dropping kind of scenery. My excitement was through the roof as I took in the grandeur of our surroundings through the window of our rented car, and I couldn't help but get all giddy with anticipation and pure joy.This trip turned out to be a surprise-packed adventure, and I was already loving every second of it."David, it's absolutely stunning here," I breathed out as we reached the resort we'd be staying at, my voice filled with awe."Isn't it? I knew you would love it," he replied, his sharp blue eyes reflecting the mesmerizing landscape. I couldn't help but feel grateful for this unexpected escape from reality, a chance to expl
*Grace*David’s tongue danced with mine, making me moan against his mouth as he pinned me to the wall of my living room. "I missed you so much," I repeated against his mouth, my fingers instinctively threading through his hair."Me too. I couldn't sleep without you all these days," he replied hungrily, his arms pulling me closer, his gaze so intense that made my knees weak. His mouth found the curve of my neck and he began to place soft kisses against my skin, making me unconsciously tilt my head, granting him better access.David slid his hands up the sides of my body, softly grazing over my curves as his lips continued their path down my neck. When his fingers slipped under my shirt, finding me completely comfortable and loose without a bra, I flinched under his touch, preparing myself for his next move. He groaned against my skin, his tongue continuing to caress my neck as he took each breast in his hands, kneading them gently and brushing his thumbs across their sensitive
*Grace*I stood by the window of my living room, staring out into the darkened streets below as I grappled with my emotions. My heart swelled with hope and happiness after Sarah's unexpected acceptance of my relationship with David, yet Margaret's chilling threats overshadowed my newfound joy. A knot tightened in my stomach, churning with doubt and fear. Could I ignore her warnings and choose to stay by David's side? Was he strong enough to protect us from his own mother's venomous wrath?As if summoned by my thoughts, my phone vibrated with an incoming call. The screen displayed David's name, my heart skipping a beat at the sight. He'd been silent for days, handling what I now knew were business issues. I felt anxious to answer his call, not knowing how to address him yet, but I was dying to hear his voice for so long, I couldn't simply not answer him now."Hello?" I answered hesitantly."Grace," his voice was a mix of urgency and anxiety, "can you let me in? I'm downstairs.
*Grace*Needless to say that the following days after Margaret came to my building to threaten me were awful. Especially after I read David's answer to my text message. I didn't reply to him, of course–too scared to do anything and have Margaret on my doorstep again quicker than a thunder.For the thousandth time that week, I found myself rambling through my mind, trying to decide what to do. I spent the next few days as if my relationship with David was over. Because that's what it was, right? There was no way I could continue fighting for this love when everyone around us seemed to want to break us apart.I was being weak, I knew that. I could almost hear David's voice telling me to be brave, that our love was worth fighting for… My mother's words replayed in my mind over and over as I tried to convince myself that I should just ignore Margaret and live my life as I pleased.What would happen if I did that though? I would be lying if I said I didn't consider the implications be
*David*As soon as I finished planning my upcoming weekend with Grace–assuming she'd be free and willing to go along with my plans–I decided to head home. After the confrontation with Victoria, I started feeling emotionally drained and my head was pounding like hell, so I felt like I should just go home for the rest of the day.I got home before sunset and headed to the gym to work out. Maybe exhausting my muscles and body would make me sleep a bit better tonight. I hadn't been sleeping well lately, and I was eager to have a tranquil night of sleep for a change.The sudden sound of the doorbell ringing made me almost jump out of my skin. I got out of the treadmill, grabbing a towel to wipe my sweat as I headed to the living room. I wondered who knew I was home already. I hadn't contacted Grace yet, so there was no way it could be her. Right?My heart pounded in my chest as I reached for the doorknob, deep down expecting she had come to surprise me and I would be able to see her