Cupcake (6 page)

Cold chills rolling through my body stir me awake. I wrap myself tighter in the blankets, trying to get warm, even though my body is covered in a sheen of sweat. My eyes crack open, the blinding morning sun forcing them to shut again. There’s a harsh pounding in my head and my throat feels like I’ve swallowed hot lava.

Fuck me, I’m sick!

A nasty cold has been ravaging the crew on my show for the past couple weeks, and it looks like it’s finally caught up to me. Of course, after not seeing Grayson for four days and with hot dirty sex on the horizon, this virus chooses now to fuck me over. Maybe if I down a bottle of DayQuil and sit in a hot bath all day, I can rally enough to get laid tonight.

I really need it after last night’s FaceTime fun. I was only joking when I told Lexi I’d do that with her brother just so I could get a rise out of her. But I actually did it. It was so damn hot, I’ve never cum that hard without Grayson inside of me before, but having him watch me while I masturbated turned me on even more, and made it even more exciting. I loved having him watch me and tell me how good I was. If I weren't so sick right now, my panties would be getting soaked just thinking about it.

I hear my phone chime from the nightstand. Leaning over I grab my phone and look at the screen and it’s a picture message from Grayson. I open the message, and it’s a picture of him lying in bed. His dark brown hair is spiked up to one side, those big chocolate eyes are sparkling with happiness. His soft sweet smile is putting a smile on my face. He’s so damn cute. I miss seeing this face, although I’ve never stayed long enough in the morning to wake up to this face.

I think it’s time I put my big girl’s panties on and tell Grayson how I’m really feeling. That I want more. That I want to wake up in his arms every morning and fall asleep with him every night. I want to tell him how much I love him. It’s crazy, but I love him, I have since the moment our lips met that night in Lexi’s kitchen. I know it’s a risk, but I have to take the chance if it means spending the rest of my life with Grayson. He makes me happier than I’ve ever been, and I don’t want that to end.

But first, I need to kick this virus’s ass. I pull back the covers and rest my feet on the floor, feeling a little light headed as I stand up. This is going to be a long hard fight.

The plane landed two and a half hours late. Seemed like the world was doing everything in its power to keep me from seeing my Cupcake. First fog delayed our flight, then a broken landing gear on the team plane kept us grounded until the airline could get us a new plane. After all of that, I’m finally back in Boston and racing through the streets to get home to Pippa. That extra time gave me the opportunity to set the wheels in motion for the surprise I have for her.

My car comes to a screeching halt in front of Pippa’s building. I climb out and race to the door and through the lobby to the elevators. I impatiently wait for the elevator car. I’m dying to see to her, hold her, and be buried inside her. I’ve been fucking hard all day thinking about the show she put on for me last night. It was so damn hot and I can’t wait to fuck all her holes, but mostly I just want to see her.

The elevator doors open on her floor and I walk fast, practically running down the hallway to her door. I ring the bell and wait. As soon as the door opens and Pippa comes into view, I cross the threshold and pull her into my arms.

“God, I’ve missed you.” Holding her, I can feel she’s burning hot so I release her from my arms and take a step back. Her blonde hair is gathered up on the top of her head in a messy bun. She’s dressed in gray cut off sweat shorts and a pink T-shirt. Her hazel eyes are puffy and her little nose is red.

My poor Cupcake is sick.
This explains why she wasn’t responding to any of my texts.

“Cupcake, are you sick?”

“Yes, I’m sorry. I thought if I took enough cold medicine I’d feel better, but it didn’t work. I still feel horrible. I’m sorry, baby.” Her raspy voice sounds adorable.

“You don’t have to be sorry, Cupcake. I know this isn’t what we had planned, but it’s okay.” I close the door behind me then slide my arm around her waist. “So instead of crazy hot sex, I’m going to help you get back into bed, then go pick you up some of Lexi’s magic chicken noodle soup and some of those tissues with the lotion.” I guide her back to her bedroom and help her back into bed.

“You don’t have to take care of me. I’ll just call you when I’m feeling better,” she rasps.

“I’ve spent enough time away from you. Besides, I want to take care of you.” I cover her back up with the blankets then give her a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Now you be a good little patient and stay in bed. I’ll be back in a half an hour, then we can spend the rest of the night in bed watching movies. How does that sound?”

“That sounds perfect.” She rests back on her pillow and closes her eyes. “My keys are hanging on the hook by the door, so you can let yourself back in,” she says with a yawn.

“Get some sleep, Cupcake.” I brush a few loose strands away from her face, then kiss her warm cheek.

Stopping at the front door to grab the keys from the hook, my hand pausing when my eye catches something gold hanging from the key ring. I push the keys aside and see that it’s a number twelve keychain. She actually bought my number. She wants me around in any form she can get, and seeing this puts my mind at ease. Maybe her getting sick is a blessing. Without the distraction of sex, I can tell her how I’m really feeling about her and about us.

The heat from the kitchen hits me like a brick wall the moment I step through the back door. Stepping further inside, I find Lexi directing her line cooks on the night’s menus. The way she talks and directs her team, she almost sounds like my coach. Since we were kids, Lexi has always liked things done her way, and if you tried to do otherwise, she’d kick your ass. I feel for her line cooks, having been in their shoes for most of my life.

I wait until she’s finished then walk over to her workstation. I texted her on my way here to ask if she could make up a quick batch of her chicken noodle soup for Pippa. I lucked out that it was on her menu for the night, and that she had a huge vat ready to go.

“Hey sis, you got that soup ready?”

“I just need to put some in a couple to-go containers.” She grabs a couple plastic soup containers from underneath the counter and starts to ladle it into the bowls. “Can I ask you something?”

I don’t even need to hear her question to know it’s about Pippa and me. “Like me saying no is going to stop you, so ask away.”

“What’s going on with you and Pippa?” She turns around, setting the soup down on the counter and leans up against her workstation, crossing her arms in front of her. “First, you’re getting her off in this very kitchen, then you’re actually seeing her a second time, and now you are bringing her chicken noodle soup because she’s sick. This is so unlike you, Gray.”

“Tell me about it. When I saw her that night, something started to change in me. I thought I could just have one night with her, but I can’t get her out of my head.”

“Gray, are you falling for Pippa?” I can see a glimmer of hope flash in her eyes. Lexi has been dreaming of the day I’d finally settle down. But if all goes well with Pippa, her dream might come true.

“I’m fucking crazy about her. After being away from her the past few days, it made me realize how much I can’t stand being apart from her, and how much I need her. I’m in love with her, Lex.”

“It’s about damn time!” she screams excitedly. The excitement doesn’t last long. Her eyes narrow at me, her dark glare sending a cold chill running down my spine “You better take care of her, or I will cut your nuts off with a serrated kitchen knife.” She points a warning finger at me.

“I like my balls too much to risk it. Don’t worry, Lex. I love Pippa, and I won’t do anything to hurt her. In fact, I’m going to ask her to marry me,” I reassure her. I’m going to make Pippa more than just my girlfriend, I’m going to make her my wife.

“Are you fucking with me right now?” Her mouth is gaping wide open in shock at my statement. “You barely know each other?”

“It doesn’t matter how long we’ve been together. I love her, and I want her to be mine forever. I know this is hard for you to imagine, considering you never do anything on the spur of the moment, but this feels right Lexi.” I hold my breath for the backlash. Instead, I’m met with a warm smile and hug. I don’t know what’s gotten into my sister, but I like it.

“I’m glad for the both of you. It’s good to see you so happy again.” She pulls away then turns to snap the lid on the soup containers and places them inside a bag. “Here’s the soup, and I added in some of Pippa’s favorite bread for her to dip. Now go take care of your soon to be wife.” She smiles, handing me the bag.

“Thanks, Lex. I’ll see you on Sunday for dinner, that’s when I’m going to pop the question.”

“I get to be there when it happens?” Her face beaming with joy.

“Of course, I want you there. You’re the whole reason Pippa and I met.”

“I’m honored. I’ll see you on Sunday, and I’ll keep my mouth shut until then.”

I give her a quick hug then head back out to my car. On my way back to the car my phone rings, it’s Jax my contractor. While I was stuck in Denver, I called to Jax to have him start work on expanding the closets and the bathroom in the master bedroom of my house, to prepare for Pippa to move in after I propose.

Jax did most of the work on my house after I bought it. The master suite is the last area in the house that needed updating, and I’m hopeful he can get it done before Pippa moves in.

“Hey Jax, so what’s the verdict?”

“Me and the team can have it finished in three weeks. No problem.”

“That’s music to my ears. Thanks, Jax, I owe you big time.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’m going to take enough of your money for the rush job on this project.” He laughs.

“You have no problems with bleeding me dry,” I say shaking my head.

“You better win some more games then.”

“All right asshole, I’ll be staying at my girlfriend’s house for the next few days, so feel free to start as early as you need. Thanks again for putting a rush on this.”

“It’s no problem. I’ll keep you updated on our progress. Since you’re in town this week you should come down to the club on Saturday, I’ll be playing with my band.”

When I first moved to Boston three years ago, I met Jax at the Blue Whiskey Club. At the time, he was playing regularly with his band Waking the Fallen. After his brother had died, he left the band and took over his father’s construction company. Now he fills in whenever their new lead singer is in rehab.

“If Pippa is feeling better, we’ll definitely come. Talk you later man.”