"You know, I think I could stay like this forever", Grayson said softly as we danced on the dance floor. An hour or so had passed since we had the birthday cake and the ball still seemed to be in full swing. I had accompanied Grayson as he talked to some of his investors, but when one of them had shown special interest in me and how it was a good PR stunt to date a woman of a minority race, especially one as surprising beautiful as me, Grayson invited me to dance with him instead of crushing the man's throat like I'm sure he was dying to do.
"Because of how romantic it is or because your hand is slowly inching towards my ass", I smirked as I glanced up at him. My heart stuttered for a moment as a swirl of adoration and humor danced in his eyes. A smirk graced his lips as he pulled me tighter to his body as we continued dancing.
"And here I was thinking I was being so discreet about it", he pouted jokingly before he winked and gave my ass one firm and quick squeeze.
"What am I to do with you, Grayson Hart", I giggled as I moved my hand from his shoulder to the nape of his neck and let my fingers leisurely play in the hair there. His hair was beginning to grow out and I had successfully convinced him to continue to grow it out, with promises to run my fingers through it more of course.
"Well I'm hoping you'll fall head over heels in love with me so that when I ask you to marry me you'll get all teary-eyed and say yes in between sniffles . After that we'll have a beautiful wedding and spend a year or two just being happily married before we start our family", he smiled. There was no doubt in his voice, his eyes were unwavering.
He wasn't saying these things like it was merely a hope or a dream. It was as if our future had already been told to him. It wasn't a spoiler to a book or movie, it was a tale of events written in our souls.
"You're always so sure about us, like you know we're meant to be. It's not that I'm unsure of our relationship, but maybe my trepidation of marriage stems from almost marrying the wrong person", I said thoughtfully.
"But if you got so close to marrying the wrong person, imagine how amazing and perfect it will feel when you do it with the right person, with your soulmate", Grayson smiled with a look of understanding. It felt like such a relief now that he knew everything, like another wall I had built around my heart had crumbled down.
"That soulmate being you of course", I smiled playfully.
"Why but of course", he said equally as playfully, but the sincerity was in his eyes. I kissed his lips tenderly as my heart swelled. The certainty he had in us would always give me butterflies.
Suddenly I felt my self being pulled back and looked back quickly to see Kyra and Violet on each side of me with wide smiles.
"You wouldn't mind if we stole your little goddess for awhile, would you? You've been hogging her all night", Violet smiled as Kyra pouted jokingly.
"I suppose it wouldn't matter, you've come to steal her and I know that's exactly what you two will do. You ladies be careful though, just because some of these men are dressed like gentlemen tonight doesn't mean they act like gentlemen", Grayson smiled. Kyra nodded vigorously as Violet gave a mock salute.
I leaned forward and gave Grayson one last kiss before I let go of his arms and let myself be pulled away. I laughed at their antics as we walked towards a group of our fellow Goddess Revolution workers, including Beck and Wesley.
"And here we were thinking he'd never let you leave his side", Zayda smiled while in the arms of her husband, Luke.
"I'm starting to question if the man can even breathe without you near. Kyra said he worships you like an actual goddess but I thought it was just some ongoing joke about the nickname. The media is gonna have a field day with this tomorrow", my coworker Ethan smirked.
"True, he's not called the bachelor prince of Los Angeles for nothing. Grayson isn't known for being love sick. I'm his best friend and I don't think I've ever seen him act this way", Wesley said.
"Woah, easy on that L-word there. No one said anything about-", I began with a nervous chuckle.
"Look at that man over there and tell me you aren't starting to fall in love with him", Violet interrupted while rolling her eyes.
'Don't bullshit me', was practically written on her face.
I did as she said though. I looked over at him as he was talking with Kaden and some other men. They were standing their laughing and having a good time with glasses of wine in their hands. My eyes followed every movement Gray made. He smiled and laughed at something Kaden said as Kaden patted him on his shoulder. He then replied back in their conversation with his signature confident smirk. He was taking a sip of his wine when his deep blue eyes met mine almost as if he could feel my stare. I bit my lip nervously but was unable to look away. His eyes darkened lustfully and his jaw clenched as his eyes slowly trailed down my body. Those two actions themselves had me thinking of all the things I'd do to that man in an empty room for 30 minutes.
My thighs were clenched together as his eyes moved up to meet mine again, my bottom lip gripped so tight between my teeth I was surprised I wasn't tasting my own blood. He smirked at me and winked causing me to inhale and exhale a shaky breath.
Suddenly someone in his group said something and he tuned back into their conversation like he had never left.
"You look like you guys just had the kinkiest mental sex known to man", Kyra smirked. I looked back at her with wide eyes and heated cheeks.
"Okay, so maybe I'm falling in love", I squeak out.
"But before I tell him I need to tie up loose ends. I'm going back home for thanksgiving", I confirmed.
"Really", Kyra asked.
"Jordan and Tara aren't together but they could still raise hell", Violet said worriedly.
"I've got my own hell to raise. I'm tired of running and hiding and I won't make Grayson run and hide with me. Jordan can try his scare tactics to get me back but they won't work, if he puts hands on me I'll have his family putting him on a T-shirt. Tara on the other hand, I've been dealing with this one sided, petty rivalry for too damn long. It's time I have a conversation with my cousin. A year ago I left as a cheated on, run away bride. Thanksgiving I'm going back as the fearless Phoenix", I explained.
"That's why you're the Fearless Phoenix writer, that shit just made me feel like I need to go to war", Violet smirked, a chaotic look in her eyes. I couldn't help but laugh at her. Violet was a bit smaller than me but I imagined she could still pack a punch with the right training.
"Easy there eye of the tiger, you don't have to fight anyone", Wesley smirked down at her before kissing her forehead.
A little while later I was leaving the bathroom solo, Violet and Kyra had offered to come with but I had assured them I knew how to defend myself.
I was making my way down the dark, low lit hallway back to the ballroom when a hand grabbed my wrist and I was pushed against the wall. I was met with Nathaniel Dawson's face way too close to mine.
"I'd make a joke about not being able to see you in this lighting, but I can and you still look sexy as hell. Too sexy to be on the arm of Grayson Hart for sure", he whispered close to my face.
His breath reeked of wine and smoke, making me fight a gag.
All I wanted to do was sink into the wall he held me against and further away from his grip on my wrist and waist.
"Thanks for that glorious back handed compliment and for giving me your opinion I never asked for, but I think it's time for me to return to the party. Grayson and my friends will notice I've been gone too long", I smirked as I pushed him away and backed myself off of the wall.
"How much does he pay you?Better yet, does he fork over extra when he gets to be in between those delicious chocolate legs of yours", Nathaniel asked with a crooked smirk as he walked around me slowly. Eyeing my form like a predator circling its prey. I kept my eyes on him and turned along with him, I didn't trust him not to try anything.
"Excuse the fuck out of me", I asked enraged by what he was insinuating, all while fighting a disgusted shiver at that chocolate legs comment.
I never thought being compared to food was a compliment, not even something as amazing as chocolate. I always thought it was cringe and a complete turn off.
That's the kind of shit that couldn't even get a rain cloud wet, it'd have Niagara Falls run dry.
"I believe you heard my son quite clearly, Leah was it? How much is Grayson Hart paying you to be his little play thing", came a new voice. From the shadows deeper in the hallway came an older looking man. His blonde hair was grey and thinning, and his grey eyes were cold and distant, save for the tiniest hint of humor in them. It wasn't hard to see the similarities between the two, he was most definitely Nathaniel's father.
"Oh this is hilarious, your daddy is your wingman?! Oh and by the way, tell your daughter that I hope she liked the view of me walking away with my boyfriend. I put an extra swing in my step so she could watch my ass as I walked away with who she thought was hers for the taking", I smirked at the older man. He made he way around me and now the two of them were blocking me from the ballroom.
"You haven't answered the question dear, how much", he asked, that hint of humor now gone after I made that comment about his precious Natalie.
"Nothing but his, affection, care, and that magic tongue of his", I winked. Don't ask me where this confidence came from, I wasn't quite sure either. All I knew is that it felt good.
Also, I was fucking hilarious.
"Then name your price. My son won't play with you for long, and maybe I'll put in double to get a taste of you too", the older man smirked.
"Never in either of your lives. I'm not being paid by Grayson, because I simply just love him. Love, you know that thing I'm sure neither of you know anything about? So I think I'll pass on watching you pop viagra and junior here berating me with more food compliments. Now if you'll excuse me-", I finished as I went to move around them.
But then the older man grabbed my wrist and pushed me further back into the hallway.
"Then I guess we'll just have to have some fun with you now", he said, shrugging as if raping someone was just a minor inconvenience.
"Then we'll see how much Grayson cares for you, after we've ruined you for him. Do you think you'll be able to stop your moans and screams when he finds you between the two of us", Nathaniel smirked with a crazed look in his bloodshot eyes before he made a move to grab for me.
Okay Leah, remember what dad taught you. Damage anything you can, make any noise you can, then get the hell out of dodge when you find the first opportunity to do so.
But suddenly Nathaniel's father was pulled away and punched right in his nose. He fell on the hard wood floor with a hard thud as he groaned in pain. Nathaniel backed away shocked as the person's face and frame became clear.
Xavier stood tall and proud with a fiery look in his green eyes as he looked at both men.
"Stay the hell away from my daughter-in-law, Doug", he growled out as he glared at both men. I took the opening and made my way to Xavier's side.
His fatherly aura and stern stance reminded me so much of my dad that it was almost unnerving as much as it was comforting.
"Are you okay Leah", he asked as he looked down at me, concern in his eyes as his eyebrows scrunched together, like he was waiting me to tell him they touched me just so he could beat them to a pulp.
"I'm okay", I said with a small smile that I hoped came across as comforting.
"You wouldn't believe it Xavier, she threw herself at us as we were leaving the bathroom! Who would've known Grayson's date was such a filthy slu-", Nathaniel began, faking frantic concern.
Slimy fucking rat.
"Don't you dare finish disrespecting her like that. Also how dumb do you think I am Nathaniel? I heard you and your father. I only jumped in because though I know Leah can handle herself, I also know she shouldn't have to. You have five minutes to grab your things and your dates, if security finds you after that; well having pictures of you being kicked out of here on the front page is quite embarrassing, don't you think", Xavier smirked. I couldn't help but smile when I noticed that he and Grayson smirk the exact same way.
"You fucking Harts, always getting the best of the best. It was horrible enough that your business was always on top and you had ended up marrying Veronica Vincent. But now you've got one son getting ready to take your place as CEO, one running a popular club in multiple states, and another in a band that will surely make it big. Now even your fucking prick of a son gets a woman like that", Doug growled out as he wiped the blood from his nose and pointed to me.
"Stop the whining and save it for the board meeting Monday morning, the one where we'll vote you out and I'll have you black listed from every well known company in L.A. You'll be lucky to buy stock in A Blockbuster or Toys-R-us when I'm done with you", Xavier smirked.
He then pulled me to his side protectively as Nathaniel helped his father as they both walked by us and back into the ballroom.
"Thank you so much Xavier. Grayson had warned me that the men here weren't the gentlemen the dressed as but I should've been more careful", I smiled politely.
But then I smirked as a thought crossed my mind. Xavier noticed and scrunched his eyebrows confused but intrigued.
"You called me your daughter-in-law; you got onto Veronica but you're just as bad as she is", I smirked with a giggle.
Xavier gave a playful smirk of his own.
"Says the woman who I heard just admit that she loves my son".
Oop, got me there.
"I won't tell if you won't tell", I squeaked out with a shrug.
"Deal", he smiled as we made our way out of the hallway. But before we could make it back to the ballroom Xavier stopped and turned to me. His eyes glanced over my face before he took a breath.
"Did you mean it, what you said about him back there? Do you love my son Leah", he asked honestly.
I didn't even have to think about it before I looked right into Xavier's eyes, "Yes, I do. It scares the hell out of me, but I love Grayson. You and Veronica have a raised an amazing man".
"Then maybe I'm saying this a bit too early but we'll just say that my wife has rubbed off on me. Welcome to the family", he smiled kindly.
"But we don't even know if Grayson feels the-", I began.
"I've seen the way my son looks at you Leah. He has never looked at anyone the way he looks at you, I can recognize the look anywhere though. It's the same way I look at Veronica. He is completely enamored with you. The affection he shows you, the passion in his eyes when he looks at you. I'm a husband and father, and a pretty damn good one if I do say so myself. I can tell when a child of mine is in love", he explained.
We smiled before we continued to walk, finally making it to the edge of the ballroom. We were even able to watch as the Dawsons sulked away to the exit. Natalie was glaring confused at the napkin that Doug Dawson held against his nose. I couldn't even try to fight the smirk on my lips.
"So can I start calling you dad now or do I have to wait till the wedding", I chuckled as I looked back up at Xavier.
"Go ahead Leah, I've already got five children, what's one more? I'm just bummed I didn't get to see your famous right hook in person", he smirked as placed his arm over my shoulder and hugged me to his side in a fatherly way as we continued to walk.
"One day dad, one day", I smiled back, to which we both laughed like we were old friends.