GRACE

Just like on several occasions, hearing Kyle's name triggered something in me, and in a jiffy, I retracted my hand from Mr. Powers' hold and sat up. I gathered the sheets to my naked body and glared at the man who had just taken me to new heights of pleasure.

"Grace..." he called and I held out a cautionary finger as I got out of his bed. "Don't..."

As soon as my feet hit the floor, a huge ball of not-so-necessary realisation hit me and I faced the man with a frown on my face.

"Wh...What am I even doing here? I..." I searched for my clothes frantically. "I shouldn't be here. We... We shouldn't be doing this."

"Grace..." He sat up, reached for a towel folded at the end of his bed, and wrapped it around his waist once he got to his feet. "Grace, please calm down."

"I can't calm down. You know I should not be here, I should not be doing this." My eyes widened with unusual fear as I ranted on while I struggled to keep the sheets around me intact. Seconds after I located my nightgown, I locked eyes with the man who was being patient with me. A deep furrow formed on my forehead and I asked, "Wait, how do you know about Kyle?"

"I had to find out who you went to visit that day. Not only were you very sad, but you also got too drunk that day, Grace," he responded with an unexpected affection lacing his voice.

"You had to freaking find out? Mr. Powers, if you didn't know, there is something called privacy. I get that there is undeniable attraction between us but you still need to respect the fact that there are certain things I would like to keep to myself."

I reached for my nightgown and put it on hurriedly.

"Grace, you clearly need to talk about him. So please, let's talk."

"No, no." I shook my head at him as disbelief filled my mind. I think I finally know why I wanted to feel like I was betraying someone after my first heated moment with Mr. Powers.

"I need to get out of here." I searched for my undergarments and when I found them, I sent him a sharp glare.

With the man's calmness, I suddenly realised that I was overreacting a little. But still, I needed to clear my head, so I left and rushed out until I was in my room.

Since I had no intention to think about Kyle Jennings who was once in my life, I tossed my bra and panties to a corner of my bed and jumped into the softness of my mattress to force myself to sleep.

*********

"Grace, are you fine?" Jeremy's very distant voice called me out of my deep thoughts.

I shook off the fog in my mind and faced him with a little smile.

"Yes. Yes. I am."

Jeremy and Ruby shared a look. "You have sighed three times in a row since you sat down. There is clearly something you are dealing with."

I leaned into the couch and dropped my phone which I earlier picked up to check the date.

"There is something I am dealing with," I confessed.

Since the day before, getting Kyle off my mind became a hard thing to do. I kept seeing his face no matter how hard I tried to erase him. And the look that kept popping up was the one that...

"Grace, you are doing it again." I raised a brow in question at Jeremy's concern. "You are thinking... Perhaps, over-thinking." He left Ruby's side and sat beside me. "If there is something I have learnt in life, it would be sharing my problems when they become too much of a burden to bear." Jeremy keenly studied my face which was tilted toward the floor

"I strongly recommend that you talk to someone about whatever it is that's bothering you. And..." He reached for my hand that kept tapping the hard leather of the couch and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I am here to lend an ear if you decide to."

"You are right, I should talk to someone." I bit into my lower lip and slowly nodded. "I should talk to someone." 'But not you. We are not close enough.' I said in my mind as I got up and made my way upstairs while ignoring the inquisitive look on Jeremy's face. "You guys will be fine, right? Do you need anything?"

"No," he shifted and got to his feet, "we don't. But I think I can access the kitchen if we need something."

Jeremy was confused, I could tell. But I was not willing to inform him about my next move. So, I threw him a grand smile and rushed my steps toward Mr. Powers' room.

Once my feet were solidly standing in front of his door, I replayed my reaction from last night. I acted a bit too rashly when Mr. Powers mentioned Kyle. And I now realise the things I said in anger sounded like a lie the moment I blurted them.

But, at that point, I was angry and sad, and... terrified?

After a deep breath was released, I dragged myself out of my thoughts and knocked on the door. "Mr. Powers? It is me, Grace." Another deep exhale and I waited.

Soon, his door was whipped open and my line of sight went to the tall man who held onto the handle of the door as he took a step forward.

He looked oddly different. It almost seemed like he added a feature or two to his whole being. Unable to decipher what it was and... entranced by him, I stood there staring at him until he called me out of it.

"Miss Sands?" He had an eyebrow cocked.

"Oh! I uh..." My shoulders sagged while I struggled to find a word to say. "I- I might have overreacted yesterday."

My hands clasped behind me and I awaited a response from the man who happened to be playing with his chin as he silently studied me from head to toe.

When the silence became unbearable, I said, "I should have approached the matter differently."

Mr. Powers parted his lips to let out a whiff of air.

Playing with my fingers to help ignore the feeling his little eye excursion was giving me, I continued, "Right now, I really need someone to talk to."

"I happen to be a great listener," he finally replied. And my soul finally felt relief. I looked up at him and noted that it was probably the way his extremely roughened hair formed bangs that made him look different.

I tried to hide my smile. "I guess I am in luck."

His door widened and he gestured for me to walk in. His bed was a little untidy and I noticed that he was yet to lay new sheets. But the more I stared at the bed, the thought that we shared something intense crept into my mind and my face flushed as I sat down.

When Mr. Powers found his seat right beside me, I faced him. As I gave him a shy smile which he returned with more eyebrow quirking, I started to reason out where to start the conversation from.

"You were severely drunk that day, Grace," Mr. Powers beat me to it. His long lashes blinked and his sight went to his feet. "I was concerned about you. I am concerned about you." My heart jumped. And when the blueness of his eyes met mine, I felt a flutter in my stomach.

Then, he continued, "I just wanted to know why you were sad."

For a man that had little emotion displayed on his face, his deep voice did not hesitate in giving hints of the emotions tucked within his soul, the very ones intended for me.

"Dominic..." The genuine touch in his words made me instantly feel guilty for telling him off yesterday. "I..." I closed my eyes briefly as I realised I was about to talk about the one topic I managed to avoid for two solid years.

During my struggle to let words out, I felt a large hand cup mine assuredly and I just had to smile to express the bliss within me.

"Kyle is..." My heart squeezed with pain that I pressed the mattress hard to make sure that I remained firm, "He was my fiancé. He died two years ago."

Tears began to well in my eyes and I knew that it would be hard for me from that moment on. But according to Jeremy, it was time I got my burdens off my chest.

"After two years of dating, Kyle proposed to me. And I still remember his proposal." I let out a light laugh. "It was sort of cliché, but I loved it anyway because I loved Kyle so much. He proposed just right beside the Empire State Building."

While biting a small portion of my upper lip, I faced Mr. Powers with a teary face and released a sad chuckle while my heart wrenched some more.

After I wiped off the waterworks which were bound to show up again, I looked down at the tiles, the tone of my voice heading to a more serious one.

"That day... I said yes. I still remember the ring. It was so freaking... beautiful." My shoulders carried the depression that befell me. "I was happy. Very happy. The happiest I had been in a while. But not for long."

My throat instantly felt heavy. My eyes welled more tears. And I slowly removed my hand from Mr. Powers' hold. Then I ran my fingers through my hair which I clutched at some point because the pain I was feeling was becoming too much. So much that I couldn't cry anymore.

After a deep sigh, I raised my head to the ceiling and continued, "A few minutes later, Kyle got a call. He had to cross to the other side to get something after his call ended. As he walked, my eyes followed him. So when he..." I licked my lower lip and bit into it after. "I shouldn't have looked. I shouldn't have... It happened so fucking fast." My hands flew into the air in great dejection. "Because the next thing I knew, Kyle was..." My hands shivered as I inhaled a sharp breath. "Kyle was..." I gulped hard. "Kyle was lying on the road. He was not moving. He was bleeding, I could not do anything. I could not-"

With bulged eyes and a feverish soul, I faced Dominic who made sure his full attention remained on me.

"He was crushed, Dominic." I grabbed Mr. Powers' arm. "In the worst way. I still remember his eyes... I remember how his eyes stared at me. That day was unbelievable. For a long time, to me, that day never happened. I told myself that Kyle had gone on a journey, I was so good at assuring myself that he would come back." I huffed at the first method I chose to deal with my heartache. "For a year, I went on with my normal day and kept telling myself; Kyle is coming back."

I tightened my grip on Dominic's left arm, my hand barely covering any area.

"He never came back. Almost another year went by, and he still never did. Then, I knew that he never will. I watched him die, so he never will." I removed my tightened grasp.

"Before I lost my job, just right after I realised he wasn't ever coming back, I cried myself out for two weeks. The crying I avoided for more than a year happened within two weeks. I cried and cried and it didn't seem like the tears would stop."

I shook my head pitifully. "I was a mess. And I further became a bigger mess when I took up the lifestyle of getting excessively drunk then having numerous nightstands. It took losing my job to realise how much that lifestyle was affecting me." I made a clicking sound with my mouth.

"But a few days ago when I visited Kyle's grave for the first time, I lost my will and fell back into my old lifestyle for a bit. I am sure I made a mess of myself."

My head tilted in Mr. Powers' direction and I gave him a messed up sheepish smile.

"You were cute." His voice came out hoarse and I could tell he did not intend that to happen because he cleared his throat right after.

Flattered and amused, I looked ahead.

"I love Kyle a lot. But then, I hate him too. I hate him because he is never going to come back. I hate him because even though I know he isn't going to come back, I cannot help but hesitate when it comes to moving on because I am afraid he would suddenly pop out of nowhere."

"That is a lot of hate for someone you love."

"I can't help it." Sighing, I faced him with parted lips and narrowed eyes while I tried to figure out my next words. "I think I know why I overreacted last night."

"Why?" He folded his arms.

"I have found a way to move on... with you, somehow. Hearing Kyle's name pop up yesterday after such... such a moment made me angry. It felt like he was hindering me from having something more."

I was speaking with a calmer, less pained mind. Besides, what good is it if I choose to dwell on the pain?

I will just end up depriving myself of something good.

"Is that it?" Mr. Powers inquired.

"No, it is actually me," I quickly confessed. "I was scared. I was scared when I heard his name all of a sudden. I felt..."

"Like he would suddenly pop out of nowhere?"

"Yes. I like what is... going on here. I can't believe I just said that, but I do." My voice turned into a whisper as though I was telling him a dark secret.

Mr. Powers narrowed his beautiful eyes. "Do you need me to kiss the fear out of you again?"

I laughed out loud, my eyes definitely beaming with delight as they settled on his amused ones.

"I have ignored the need to heal from my pain for too long. So, I think it is time I faced it. And I know just how..." Slowly I leaned in closer towards Dominic's lips but he soon stopped me with his finger.

"Grace, are you sure this is what you want? I can't promise anything, Grace."

As his eyes searched mine, I replied, "Yes, Dominic. I want this. You are my way to deal with this pain. I need to move on. And... I want..." A short smile played on my lips as I became more certain of what I was about to say. "I want you."

I know I wanted him to be the one always making the first move, but I just couldn't hold back.

"Don't tease me, Grace." His eyes flickered to my lips which had made it inches away from his. "Don't. Tease me. First..." He shifted a bit. "I don't think Kyle will hate you for moving on."

"He won't?"

"From everything I've heard, you two loved each other. I think loving someone means letting them go when it is necessary. Kyle would want you to let go of him and be happy. If I were him, that's what I would want."

"Really? Do you think so?" Something small within me wanted to call bullshit on his words, but my will to survive my pain prevailed.

Dominic nodded. "Second, I need to make sure you are fine. The story you just told me is a very sad one, so it is quite weird that the next thing you want to do is kiss me. If I am correct, most people cry after such things."

I smiled at his words.

"My days of mourning are over, Mr. Powers. I want to try harder and heal from the pains of the past. So, I am fine." I assured him.

My days of running away from a significant change in my life were over. And with a seemingly interesting thing already going on between my employer and me, I am sure that I am going to be more than okay.

Studying me with his narrowed eyes, he gave a curt nod and a smirk soon replaced his grim look. "Call me Dominic, Grace."

I leaned in a bit further. "Yes sir," I replied with a soft whisper.

"Fuck. Grace." Soon, his hand pulled at my hair gently and he attached his lips to mine. With a new sense of desire rushing all over me, I stood up slightly and positioned myself until I was straddling him.

With care, he cupped my face and wiped the tears I wished would dry faster. At the same time, his free hand found my buttocks and he squeezed one of my butt cheeks to my pleasure, I just had to moan into the kiss.

With a sensation triggered in my body, I begin to grind rhythmically against his manhood to start my trip to pleasure land.

I was starting to take control when he firmly held me by the waist and took charge. Soon, I was moving at his own pace which was a better pace because it made me unlatch my lips from his while I let out an unexpected gasp.

"Dominic!" I cried softly as he moved with me.

"I love it when you call my name." His lips reached for my right ear and he licked the lobe to my delight. "I want to hear you say it every day."

His words just kept making my heart jump out of its position.

He planted a kiss behind my ear and soon left a trail down my neck. Already ready and eager to feel him, I reached for his t-shirt and pulled it off him.

"Grace, I am on break," Ruby's tiny voice announced from the other side at the very moment I decided to unzip my gown.

"Oh shit." I jumped off him. As I hurriedly adjusted my gown, I informed Dominic, "It is time for her to take her medications."

My feet were about to rush to the door when he pulled me back and kissed me. When the kiss ended, he said, "We will continue our discussion some other time. Till then, don't cry in secret. If you'll be crying, do it in my arms."

Warmness continued to envelop me and I grinned at him while I walked out. And I felt sexy because I could feel his eyes watching me.

"Hey, Ruby," I greeted the little girl once I was outside. "I am sorry for taking so long, I was having a little chat with your Dad."

I reached for her hand and as we both walked towards her room, I couldn't wipe away the dreamy smile off my lips. I guess sharing my burden with the man I was extremely attracted to turned out to be a good idea.

Because for the first time in two years, I was feeling happier than ever, I felt free.