Chapter 6 : Built Up Tension

*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 this with me, but I tried to act as cool as possible as if that didn't hit close to the heart. I hoped she didn't notice how much I was staring at him.

"He is," I confessed, clearing my throat. I guessed it wouldn't hurt agreeing with that. It was innocent enough and, honestly, no one was blind. David was a piece of art. There was no way a person in their clear mind would deny that. "So, what are they talking about?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Apparently, there's been some issue with security for the wedding," Emma chimed in, her brows furrowing. I frowned too, turning my attention to her.

"Issue with security?" I asked. "Why would there be a problem with security here?"

Emma shrugged. "No idea. But he's making sure everything's sorted out. You know how protective he is."

"Right," I said, nodding slowly. Protective, driven, and undeniably alluring.

"Anyway," Lisa continued, "we have a lot to finalize before tonight."

"Of course," I mused, sipping from my cup of coffee.

"So," she carried on, her voice filled with thrill. "Emma and I had some ideas for the party."

I forced a smile, hoping that their enthusiasm would be enough to distract me.

"Alright, let's hear your ideas." I tried to sound excited as I turned my attention to them.

"We were thinking of turning one of the ballrooms into a nightclub just for the night," Emma shared, her eyes lighting up with elation. "We'll have a DJ, an open bar, and some fun games."

"Sounds amazing," I agreed, genuinely liking the idea. It would be a fantastic way for all of us to let our hair down and celebrate Sarah's last days as a single woman.

"Wait, there's more," Lisa added, grinning mischievously. "We're also thinking about hiring male dancers."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by their bold suggestion. "Male dancers, huh? You think Sarah would be up for that?"

"Definitely." Lisa nodded, giggling. "She deserves a wild night after all the stress of planning this wedding."

"True," I conceded, although I couldn't help but wonder how David would react if he found out about it. Would he be amused? Annoyed? Or maybe even a bit jealous?

"Great, so it's settled then," Lisa declared, clapping her hands together. "We'll take care of booking the entertainment. All you need to do is make sure Sarah has the time of her life."

"Deal," I replied, smiling despite the lingering thoughts of David. For now, I had a bachelorette party to plan and a best friend to support. My attraction to David could wait – or so I hoped.

As the day went on, I threw myself into helping Emma and Lisa with the preparations, doing my best to keep my mind occupied. At some time during the afternoon, Sarah finally joined us. She looked a bit on edge and tense, and I worried she would be in a bad mood for the party later.

"Ugh, the family drama..." Sarah sighed as she flopped down next to me, looking exasperated. "I swear, if it weren't for this wedding, my family and Daniel's would never willingly share the same room."

"What's all the drama about?" I asked, interested. I had never heard that her family didn't get along with her fiancé's.

"It’s a long story, one I'm not really eager to dive into right now." Sarah closed her eyes, clearly exhausted. I felt like pushing her to tell me more, but I guessed we'd have time to talk about it at some other time. "Dad took care of everything for me, so hopefully, there will be no problems during the ceremony and the party."

I couldn't help but feel curious though. If there was a family drama that could potentially ruin her big day, I felt like I should know. I probably wouldn't be able to prevent it from happening, but still, I didn't like staying out of things like this. Was there some hidden danger lurking in the shadows that I was unaware of?

The thought of David being the kind of man that had control over everything and handled all the issues when needed kind of did it for me as I headed toward my room to get ready for the party.

Once safely behind closed doors, I let out a shaky breath and struggled to regain control of my racing mind. The air in the room suddenly felt hot and tight. The shower seemed like the perfect refuge.

I stripped down and stepped into the shower, and as the hot water cascaded down my body, I couldn't take it anymore. The longing and tension I felt for David were becoming unbearable, consuming my every thought.

I needed to blow off some steam before I went crazy. I closed my eyes and spread my legs slightly, allowing myself to imagine David's strong hands roaming over my curves. My fingers found their way between my legs and rubbed against my slick folds.

I pinched my nipples with my other hand and leaned my head back against the cold wall as I imagined that it was David's mouth sucking on them. My legs tightened and I moaned at the intensity of it all.

I applied some pressure on my already swollen clit, and felt myself on the brink of the orgasm that had been building steadily over the past few days. I slipped my finger inside myself and began to stroke it back and forth, imagining I was fucking David.

I had to bite my lips to prevent my moans from escaping. I didn't want anyone wondering what I was doing even though I was certain the walls here were thick enough to allow my voice to pass through them.

A few minutes later, I climaxed and collapsed against the shower wall, gasping for breath.

I shook my head to clear it of my daydreams and finished washing my hair. As I stepped out of the shower, wrapping myself in a fluffy towel, I took a moment to look at my reflection in the mirror and marveled at how relieved I was suddenly feeling.

But I knew that wouldn't last long. I was certain that as soon as my eyes fell on David again, all the lust and desire I was feeling for him would return like a crashing wave.

"Grace! Are you in there?" Emma's voice rang through the bedroom door, snapping me back to reality.

"Uh, yeah! Just give me a minute." My cheeks flushed scarlet, both from the steam in the bathroom and embarrassment at almost being caught lost in my fantasies.

I walked toward the door and opened it to find Emma on the other side, half of her make up already done.

"Sorry, I just wanted to see if you brought any red lipstick," she asked. "For some reason, I can't find mine and Lisa didn't bring one."

"Of course." I nodded, heading for my makeup bag while trying to push the steamy scene I created with David from my mind.

I grabbed my lipstick, handed it to Emma and watched her leave. I took a deep breath and closed the door. As I slipped into my dress and applied makeup, I couldn't help but wonder if I would see David again that night. The thought simultaneously thrilled and terrified me, leaving me uncertain whether to embrace or flee from our undeniable connection.

"Grace, are you ready?" Sarah's voice echoed through my room as I stood in front of the floor-length mirror a few minutes later, draped in a sultry red dress that clung to my curves like it was tailor-made for me. The fabric shimmered under the soft lighting, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence as I examined my reflection.

"Almost," I called back, applying a final touch of lipstick before making my way to the door. Emma and Lisa were already there too with their infectious energy, and I found myself smiling despite the turmoil within me.

"Wow, Grace, you look stunning!" Emma gushed, her eyes widening in admiration.

"Thank you," I said, flashing her a smile. "You look absolutely gorgeous too. All of you!"

"Alright, ladies, let's get this party started!" Lisa exclaimed.

We made our way through the hallways, towards the ballroom. Emma and Lisa were chatting excitedly about the male dancers, and Sarah glanced at me from the corner of her eyes, chuckling.

I covered my mouth with my hand, pretending I wasn't finding their animation humorous.

"Can you believe it's finally the day of Sarah’s bachelorette party?" Lisa murmured contemplative. "It felt like it was only yesterday that she got engaged."

"Right?" I agreed, feeling a surge of happiness for my best friend as we approached the room where the party was to be held.

"Don't even tell me about it. I can't thank you girls enough for making this night so special," Sarah mused with teary eyes. "I'm so happy to have you all here with me."

"Anything for you, Sarah," I replied, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Now let's celebrate!"

We all grabbed some cocktails that were already being served and gathered for a toast.

"Here's to a night we'll never forget," Sarah added, raising her glass.

"Or one we might not remember." Emma laughed, winking at us.

As the evening unfolded, the lines between reality and fantasy started to blur. We indulged in gourmet food and fine champagne, dancing and laughing as if we didn't have a care in the world.

The male dancers weren't as bad as I had imagined it would be. Sarah looked so excited, laughing and dancing with them on the top of a table. Lisa was already chatting with one, brushing her hand across his ripped chest and whispering something in his ear.

Seeing those bare naked guys didn't do much to help me keep my desire for David hidden. It felt like I had an itch that didn't seem to want to go away, no matter what I did. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the sight of those male dancers, but something inside me was urging me to do something.

I was suddenly feeling bold enough to make a move on David. But thankfully–or maybe not–he wasn't around.

That was probably for the best. Alcohol never helped anyone make good decisions.

I excused myself to go to the bathroom. Wandering around the hallways a bit lost, I bumped into the one person I was dying to see tonight.

"David," I greeted him, a bit more cheerful than I intended. He narrowed his eyes at me, his gaze scanning me up and down. I saw the way his Adam's apple bobbed in his throat as he took me in. "Trying to sneak in on us? This is a bachelorette party. Men are not allowed." I grinned, the boldness I was feeling returning full force.

David was looking incredible. He wore a button up shirt and slacks, the fabric clung to his body, showing off the outstanding muscles he’d no doubt worked hard to obtain. He smelled of soap and a hint of cologne–a scent that made me feel fluttery and hot.

"I was just passing," he answered, his voice deep and smooth with a hint of something I couldn't interpret. "You seem to be having fun though. You look a bit…flushed."

"I am. Having fun, I mean," I said, confident about the way he was still studying my body. That dress was doing wonders for me tonight. And the slight dizziness from the champagne took away the little inhibition that would normally be present in a moment like this. "If you excuse me, I just need to go to the restroom really quickly." I strode past him, walking towards the bathroom.

The way his eyes followed and devoured me was something different.

I couldn't help but feel a tingle of excitement in the pit of my stomach as I closed the door behind me. I leaned against the cool sink and took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heartbeat when I heard the bathroom door open again.