O, Fortuna

Chapter 26

There was a mess, mostly of Liam's making but Grace removed her now-ruined dress to clean it up. He did, however, offer assistance and Grace was certain it was because he wanted to inspect the damage he had inflicted, a theory proven by the horrified look he gave her a few moments later, after realising he had also dug his fingers so hard into her thigh and shoulder, it would likely be bruised.

"Why did you let me do that to you?" he asked, his hands barely touching her, all semblance of his good humour and satisfaction erased by the anxiety now creasing his forehead. He attempted to step back, appalled by his actions but Grace caught his hands in her own, pulling him back toward her, then clamped her hands on his shoulders.

"Because you couldn't hold back anymore and I wanted you just as badly." Liam was poised to protest but Grace quickly added "And you promised to spend all night making it up to me." 

"Don't let me do that to you again" he insisted self-consciously "I know I said I wouldn't have minded hurting you a bit but that was just..." his eyes narrowed and he shook his head, apparently annoyed with them both for what had transpired but Grace held his head fast to stare into his eyes.

"Let's get one thing straight, here and now. It isn't always going to be like that. You're not always going to be about ready to launch into orbit and I'm not always going to leave you unmarked if do decide you are going to be a little rough which" she tugged at the collar of his t-shirt to make her point "I should point out, I really don't mind you being."

Exasperated, Liam threw his head back and groaned.

"You're bleeding..because of me and you look like I've tried to throw you around the house." Grace sighed, dragging her hands through his hair, down his whiskered cheeks to his chin, her gaze not leaving his, touching her lips tenderly to his before meeting his forehead with her own.

"It will heal. All of it" she murmured, cradling his jaw in her hands "And next time, it'll be better. You'll see." He did not look at all convinced, even as he brushed his hands and fingertips against the taut peaks of the tips of Grace's breasts.

"How can you be sure of that?" Liam's present actions were waylaid her need to vindicate what he had done before, so Grace flattened her hands against his to bring them to a pause.

"Because next time, you will have spent a considerable time ensuring my readiness and I am the one who is going to..how did you put it? Drive you into the mattress." Liam's eyebrows shot upward in surprise.

"You're going to hold me to my promise tonight, aren't you?" Grace nodded, kissed him before declaring

"But I might let you have a shower and a bit of snooze before then." 

Liam snorted.

"Very gracious of you." Smirking, Grace kissed him again and moved to slide herself off the bench but once again, Liam intervened, lifting her up and throwing her over his shoulder. Backside in the air, head and arms dangling down Liam's back as he moved out of the kitchen into the hallway, Grace sniggered.

"I really do think I would have been capable of walking, honestly, the damage isn't that bad."

"You said you liked things a little rough" Liam countered "I assumed you'd be up for some Neanderthal role-play." Tutting was strangely awkward whilst hanging upside down so Grace slapped Liam's bare arse. He yelped in protest.

He took her immediately to the ensuite of her bedroom for the promised shower and only when convinced he could no longer smell olive oil anywhere on either of them did Liam turn off the water. As they towelled themselves dry, moving through to the better-lit bedroom, Grace noticed irregular shaped pale white scars on the right side of Liam's chest and ribs. She had come to pause and but not realised she was staring when Liam noted her observation and stopped drying himself.