Damaged Memories

Part 11

It was the third Sunday in September and Grace was sitting in Patrick's spare room, gazing out to the view of the ocean seeking inspiration. The soothing classical music that was singing gently in the background usually encouraged her to write, but today she was stuck on one line of her manuscript, like she'd hit a brick wall and could go no further. She gently massaged her temples with the tips of her fingers and closed her eyes, urging her thoughts to procreate.

In recent weeks Grace had been spending the majority of her time at Patrick's mansion after he had declared that he loved having someone else in the house that used to feel so empty, and of course she enjoyed being there too. Before she'd met Patrick she'd been content spending time alone, but as the days had slipped by she'd realised that she looked forward to seeing him each day and wanted nothing more than to spend each waking moment with him. When they were apart she missed him dearly and when they laid eyes on one another after a day spent in separate spaces, there was no conceivable way to wipe the smile from her face.

As a result, over the weeks Patrick had introduced Grace to many of his friends and taken her to some of the finest restaurants in LA. They'd taken idyllic strolls along the beach at night when the paparazzi weren't in sight and she'd been teaching him how to cook. They had become inseparable in the weeks that had passed, slipping into a blissful relationship that was almost too good to be true.

"Hey, can I get you anything?" Patrick asked, his rugged voice startling her from a daydream as his fingers crept over her shoulders, massaging gently.

"Patrick! God, you scared me!"

"Sorry, that wasn't my intention," he said before he leaned down and kissed her gently on the neck.

She shivered and closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of his soft lips on her skin as goose bumps rippled over the surface of her body.

"Well? Can I get you anything?" he persisted.

"No, I'm fine. Thanks anyway."

"Oh come on, there must be something you want to eat, or drink? You've been working for hours and I'm bored."

"Don't you have anything better to be doing than waiting on me, like reciting your lines? You know you start filming in three days?"

"Yeah, I know, but that can wait," he said before he spun her around in the office chair and offered his hand. "And I'd much rather be doing something that requires you to be involved."

Grace laughed before she relented, putting her hand in his and standing up to join him. "Well, I guess I am in need of some inspiration..." she said, gazing into his enticing eyes as her heart sped up like a well-oiled engine. He grinned and reached up to hold her face, kissing her gently, a faint taste of apple on his lips, before Grace closed her eyes and kissed him back, impossible to refuse, like he was an addiction that she just couldn't shake. She could feel her heart hammering erratically in her chest and her body tingled as she lost herself once again, just as she did every time they were intimate.

But after a few minutes and before things got too heated Patrick suddenly pulled back the reins and leaned his forehead against hers, breathing deeply. "I should probably let you get back to it," he whispered as he clearly tried to compose himself, trying to be polite before things went too far, just as he'd been doing for weeks. He was well aware that she hadn't been between the sheets with anyone since Michael's death and he was obviously trying to respect that. But Grace was sick of waiting and the feelings she had for Patrick were too intense for her to deny him any longer.

She reached up and lifted his face towards hers before she planted a soft kiss on his lips, lingering for more than a moment, delicately. "You don't have to do that," she whispered back before she kissed him once more, with passion this time, giving him the cue to proceed as she started to inch up his t-shirt, revealing the smooth, god-like chest that had been plaguing her mind for weeks. Not needing to be told twice, he took the lead then, yanking his t-shirt over his head and throwing it to the ground before he stared into Grace's eyes with an intense look that screamed utter desire. The ability for her to resist him was no longer possible as he stepped forward and kissed her, placing his hands on her hips and gently manoeuvring her backwards towards the bed. When she lay down on the pillow and saw him kneeling above her she felt an emotion that she never thought she would feel again – love, before he tore open her sheer blouse and they were consumed by passion, a lone silver button flying through the air like a shooting star.