Elevator Pitch (Hapless In Love #1)

22. Opening Statement

22

opening statement

Selah

Manhattan, NY | January 2, 2024

Kissing Greyson rivals all others. Weeks have passed without his taste, and I am in need. He commands my mouth, gently coaxing the seam of my lips with soft licks. I welcome him, returning each swipe and twist. The bitter coffee and sugar dance across our tongues as the kiss deepens.

I stand on the tips of my toes as I grip the back of his neck, inching him closer to me. Desperate for more, my grip on his nape tightens, half-moons pressing his skin. He growls in response, greedily taking my offering. My senses heighten and my core drips in anticipation.

He tapers off for a breath, peppering kisses around my mouth. His lips trail my neck, hovering over my ear. Goosebumps dance in unison throughout my body.

He whispers, “I’m going to tease you before I give you what you want. I’ll need to hear you beg for it. Do you understand?”

I nod.

“I need to hear you say it, Selah. ”

“Yes.”

“Good girl.”

He licks my neck, relishing the taste of my skin. A desperate whimper escapes me. I’ve never been this turned on in my life.

I want him.

I hastily curl my fingers beneath the hem of my top. He stops me, placing his hand over mine.

“I didn’t say you could take off your clothes. Did I?”

I sigh. “No.”

With a raised brow and an incredulous look, it’s clear he’d like to be the one to strip me. He seeks approval in my gaze, and I assure him.

Yes. Yes. Touch me.

He delicately lifts my shirt and bra with a toss over his shoulder, staring admiringly at my full breasts and soft stomach. It hits me that this is the first time I have been naked in front of a man since my ex, and I stiffen. Insecurities creep in, causing me to hug my waist, covering myself.

Greyson examines me, pulling my arms apart.

“You are perfect, Selah.” He says in between gentle kisses on my chest and shoulders. Stepping back to take me in, he says, “Fuuuccck. Just look at you. Incredible.”

There’s adoration in his eyes, but he could just be saying that.

I’m not used to men complimenting my body. This is different.

Instead of embracing his attention, I want to assure him he doesn’t have to say all this.

“I’m not per—” I’m silenced with a kiss, tender and demanding before pulling away.

“I’m going to strip you bare and grant your body the attention it deserves. I’m going to worship you, because it’s what you deserve, Princess.”

When I part my lips to protest, he acknowledges his hard length straining in his pants and my breath hitches.

“Before you argue, this is what you do to me. I’m starving for you, Selah.”

Stoked flames erupt in his irises. My eyes widen, insecure thoughts dissipate, and I am enraptured in him .

He leans in closely, lips hovering over my ear. “Let me feast.”

I shudder at his words.

I grip his neck and slant my mouth over his, tasting him once again. He grips my hips, guiding me backward. My back meets the island, and we break the kiss. Chests rising and falling, lips red and swollen. The heat of his gaze is searing. Tugging at my sweatpants, he guides me out of the fabric as I steady myself on the counter. He kicks them aside, directing his attention to me. His gaze is drunk with desire when he picks me up effortlessly and sets me on the island.

Shit .

Add that to my list of firsts as well.

Once I am seated, he kneels before me, and a devious grin spreads across his face.

I am internally screaming.

I fear that Greyson may have ruined me for other men and he hasn’t even touched me yet.

He sinks to his knees and peers up at me. He wraps his hand around my ankle, pressing a kiss to the top of my foot. He continues to mark me, trailing soft kisses toward my center. Massaging my calves and thighs in between, I whimper at his concentration on appeasing me, but I’m growing impatient.

I spread my legs and reach down to rub my clit. I’m so sensitive that I quiver at the contact. He stares in awe before he rises and stops me.

“I didn’t say you could touch yourself. Did I?”

I roll my eyes in frustration.

“No, but–”

“Taste yourself,” he interjects.

When I obey, his eyes darken. I relax my jaw and suck my fingers clean, moaning around them.

“It’s a shame you haven’t behaved enough to taste me. Now if you don’t mind, I haven’t finished adoring you.”

I feign surprise. “Be my guest. ”

“I am your guest. Be a good host . I know you have a tendency to be rude, but now is not the time.”

My jaw drops, before I can respond he says, “I’m starting to believe interrupting me is a kink of yours.”

“Are you kidding me?”

I cover my mouth as I giggle.

“Quiet, baby. I’ll tell you when you can be loud.”

He leans down, tongue grazing my nipple before he gently sucks while pinching the other. He hums around my breast and my eyes roll back. It sends a bolt straight to my core. I could come from this alone.

That’ll shut me up for now.

He adores my other breast, smiling around my aching peak, biting down. “Fuck! Greyson, please,” I whine.

He stops abruptly.

“Please what, baby? Tell me what you want.”

The word baby on his lips sounds illegal. I hope to hear it again.

“Fuck me. Please?” I sob.

“Who do you want to fuck you?” he asks, pressing his hand against my wetness.

“You,” I sob.

He curls a finger in the waistband of my panties and I’m on fire.

“What’s my name?” He stares expectantly.

“Greyson.”

He looks amused. “Is that your final answer?”

“Yes.”

He frowns. “Wrong answer, baby. I’ll give you another round to make things right. For now, I need to see how soaked you are for me.” He reaches inside my panties, finding my clit. He presses his thumb against it, and I weep at his touch. “You’re so wet and needy.” He bites his lip. “Promise you’ll behave?”

“Yes. Fuck,” I beg.

“Then you’ll be rewarded.”

He unravels the waistband on my panties, crouching down, and time slows as the lace descends. He slips the fabric into his pocket and glances up at me with an audacious grin.

I am screaming internally.

Greyson draws careful circles around my clit, gazing at me with a raging inferno. Taking mental notes of how I react to his skill. He swipes through my wetness, slipping a finger inside of me as his mouth lingers over mine.

“Finally,” I exhale, he chuckles against my lips.

I lean forward to meet him in a passionate kiss. Our tongues in step, following his lead, our neighborly dance. He pulls back for air and maintains his rhythm while silently affirming me.

I’m convinced he’s specially trained in torture.

It’s too much and not enough at the same time.

I’m questioning if he could hear my thoughts when he says, “I think you can take another finger.”

He adds another and I adjust to the fullness as he envelopes me, wrapping his free arm around my waist to steady me. Cradling his face in my neck as he generously pumps his fingers into me. I arch into his touch, yearning for more, tossing my head back in pleasure.

“Right there. Please—Oh God,” I manage through mumbles and shaky breaths.

I feel the pressure growing, using him and the countertop for leverage.

“You feel so fucking good on my fingers. Do you need to come?”

I nod vigorously, avoiding eye contact when he takes his free hand under my jaw, forcing me to return his gaze.

“Ask me if you can come, Selah.”

Boy bye.

He must be joking.

I roll my eyes, bucking against him as I chase my pleasure, and he stills his hand.

I was so fucking close.

I huff, narrowing my eyes at him while his eyes carry a mild flame.

He asks, “are you angry with me?”

Like he isn’t a fucking menace.

He is infuriating and so fucking sexy right now, I could kiss him.

“I thought you were a good girl, but you’re acting like a brat. Are you a brat?”

“Maybe I am.”

“Yes or no, love?”

“Yes.” I hiss.

He leans forward and nips at my lip, pulling away and holding eye contact. His fingers move inside me, just enough to make me whine.

“Ask me.”

“Make me come,” I say through gritted teeth.

He raises an eyebrow and freezes his hand again.

“Where are your manners?”

I take a deep breath, asking in a softer tone, “can I please come?”

Greyson seems pleased with my cooperation and resumes swirling my sensitive nub while I grind on his fingers. He grins at the sight, leaning in closely to adorn my neck with kisses. He pumps harder, enjoying the show as I wriggle beneath his gaze. My pleasure builds again as he drives me up the peak, and he urges me with praises.

“Let go.”

As I near the edge, an impending fall that I’m certain he’ll guide me through, I take the plunge and melt around his fingers. My release drips down his hand and he smiles. If I crumble beneath his touch, I can’t imagine what a mess I’ll be when he’s inside me.

He continues thrusting, prolonging the ecstasy as I ease down from my climax. He retrieves his fingers slowly, licking my arousal off his glistening hand. The sight ignites me, and I grab him in a demanding kiss, eager to taste myself. He grips the nape of my neck, pulling me in closer and we’re lost in each other once again. We break away and I need to taste him so badly, I shift off the counter and he grabs me, picks me up and sets me on the floor. I start to kneel, and he stops me.

“You’ve been a good girl, but you didn’t earn it.”

I frown. “But I begged like you asked me to.”

“You still refuse to call me Grey and until you admit that you’re a dirty fucking girl. My dirty fucking girl, you won’t.”

I try to ignore how good “my dirty fucking girl” sounds on his lips.

As I return to my height he says, “You think that sample of you would fulfill a man like me ? I need more. Bend over that counter for me, baby.”

Oh my God.

I bend over the island; I arch my back giving him a better view .

“Look at you.”

He rubs my cheek before I feel a hard smack to my ass, I drip in response.

“That’s a good girl.”

He repeats on the other cheek before leaving a soft kiss to soothe the sting. Lowering himself behind me, he inches closer to my core and blows on my pussy. With one long swipe between my folds, he uses his tongue to part my lips and twirl around the sensitive bud. I cry out instantly.

He grips my thighs, holding me in place as he devours me. He laps at my core, moaning in pleasure while he uses me to appease his appetite.

“You’re so fucking good at that,” I sob.

He accepts my praise, flicking his tongue in various motions, seeking a rhythm to make me scream. Pressure builds within me and my legs tremble. He’s attentive enough to know my body needs release and I hate it. I’m convinced he can read my mind once he removes his mouth, placing soft pecks on the back of my thighs. He slips his thumb between my folds, gathering wetness, while the other hand gently rubs my ass cheeks. He spreads them apart and begins circling my other hole. I shudder in response as the unfamiliar feeling overwhelms me.

“How does this feel?”

“Good,” I manage through sharp breaths.

“You know, if you want to come, all you need to do is ask.” He flattens his tongue and resumes eating me from behind, his thumb still teasing my ass. The intensity builds and I find myself clawing my countertop.

“I-I need to come. Please?” I fight to get the words out.

He sucks even harder on my clit, and I wail. He appreciates and toys with my body. His moans of gratitude are music to my ears. My orgasm rushes through and sets my body on fire, he holds my sensitive nub tightly between his lips, prolonging my pleasure with gentle sucks. I’m exhausted and get the feeling that he isn’t quite finished with me yet. He stops then moments later, his warm tongue glides up and down my inner thighs, collecting arousal as it runs down my legs.

He rises to his full height, pressing his firm erection into me as I remain bent over the counter.

“You look so fucking good when you’re at my mercy,” he growls.

He helps me sit up and when we lock eyes, his gaze is full of desire. I grip his shirt, bringing him to eye level as our lips meet in a needy kiss. Nothing exists beyond it. We pull apart and I kneel before him with hopeful eyes, eager to please him. Instead, he helps me to my feet, and I grumble.

“Bring me your toy.”

“My toy?”

“Oh, I forgot. You named it toothbrush.”

He does air quotes around the word toothbrush, and I stifle a laugh.

“I know what I heard through the doorbell, and I want you to bring it to me.”

Shit.