Grace (The ‘Hello’ series)

23. Chapter 23

twenty-three

I t feels weird not having to go to the office. But maybe it’s not a weird feeling. Maybe I’m just missing Daniel. I’m so used to seeing him almost every day now, having his attention and touch, that I miss it now as he gave me two days off since he’s out of town.

Yesterday, I did absolutely nothing. Ashley was out the entire day, and I cleaned a bit around the apartment. Got some groceries, but nothing special.

Today, I can spend the afternoon with Ashley since I know she doesn’t have any appointments.

I haven’t told her yet what happened, but it seems I have to as she almost drops on the couch with just shorts on while I couldn’t get the sex stain out. I really should have flipped the pillow yesterday.

“Don’t!” I yell as she drops.

And as she looks up, her eyes widen before she jumps up. “Holy shit!”

“Ash,” I warn.

“You had sex on this couch, didn’t you, you wild minx!” She squeals, then hugs me tightly. She puts a blanket down as if that will protect her and makes me sit next to her. “Okay, you have to spill. Keeping secrets isn’t an option now. I want to know everything .”

I laugh and poke her. “What about you and Marko?”

She blushes. “Oh, no, we’re talking about you.”

“You share or I won’t,” I say, crossing my arms as my face heats.

She groans. “It’s complicated.” She waves her hand in the air with a sigh.

I cock my head to the side and wait for her to continue.

“It’s not like it’s against the rules at work or anything,” she starts and rests back. “But it makes it really awkward when guys flirt with me while I’m tattooing them and Marko gets more and more pissed off.”

“You guys fight?”

“No!” she exclaims. “He loves it. He loves seeing them flirt with me, knowing that I’m not going to do anything. It makes him feral. He’s fucked me in the back of the shop twice this week!”

A laugh breaks free, and I quickly cover my mouth when she shoots me a glare. “It’s supposed to be a sterile environment because of everything we do, but then he just starts pawing at me, asking if I’m turned on from all the shitty flirting or if I want a man who can follow through, and ugh… he knows just how to get me going.” She rolls her eyes. “Okay, now you!”

With no words leaving me, she narrows her eyes. “I told you plenty. Let’s go. What happened with boss-slash-ex’s father? Spill!”

I shift a little. “Well, I invited him over for dinner because he was leaving the country, and I didn’t expect more since he’s always just pleased me and never asked for anything.”

She blinks. “Hold up! He wasn’t demanding blow jobs or equivalent exchange or anything ?”

I shake my head, and she puts a hand to her chest. “Do you know how rare that is?”

“Well, it was getting in my head. I thought maybe Bash said I wasn’t good at things so he didn’t want to try, but um… I brought it up, and it started with a blow job and ended with really intense sex.”

“Important question—was it good? Did you come? Did you enjoy it at least? Was he good to you? Did he—”

“Slow down!” I squeal.

“Oh, did you yell that or say, ‘harder, Daddy! Faster!’” She teases while pouncing on me and making her voice all high-pitched.

“No, God, no, I don’t call him ‘Daddy’!”

“I would,” she says with a nod.

“Ash!” I shove her slightly.

Ashley and I keep teasing each other and playing around until we decide to watch a movie, and she asks again if I want a tattoo now that I’m coming into my own. But I don’t know, I don’t think it would fit me. Even now with my more daring side taking over, I still don’t think I would like to get something tattooed.

As the sun has set, I realize how much more fun I have with Ashley than I did with Bash. Being with Ashley makes me feel confident and warm. I never had a friendship like I have with her.

And since I screwed up the lasagna for Daniel, I want to try again, make a redemption lasagna and text Daniel a picture. Ashley lies on the couch with her phone, probably texting Marko as I slice and dice my way through the vegetables and make the sauce.

It goes a lot quicker now that Daniel isn’t distracting me with his touches. But still, the thought makes my stomach flutter.

With the oven open, I quickly take a picture and send it to Daniel.

My phone almost immediately rings, and I close the oven, setting the timer so I’m sure I don’t burn it this time.

Are you doing okay? You’re not sore after our fun, are you?

No, I’m okay. How’s work?

My meetings are more fun when you’re beside me. They’re entirely boring now.

I shake my head as I clean the kitchen, keeping myself busy until the timer runs out.

And just as I’m about to open the oven to make the plates, a knock rings on the door joined with a ping from my phone.

My forehead creases as I pick up my phone first, reading Daniel’s message.

Go get the package I sent to you, darling. You deserve it.

I stare at it, unaware Ashley got the door until she tosses the box on the bar top.

“It’s for you,” she says and walks around the counter to open the oven. “Damn, Grace. This smells amazing.”

I only hum and grab the box. I open it eagerly, wondering what Daniel got me. But once I open it, my face goes red. There’s a little box inside the bigger one with a… toy. As I look at it, I notice the image of a phone on the box with a name of an app. Oh, God, it’s something that can be controlled from a phone. Then I notice the letter with it.

We don’t have to stop having fun just because there’s an ocean between us.

“Holy cow,” I breathe, then shake my head. “He wasn’t kidding about being addicted.”

“What?” Ashley asks as she takes a chunk of the lasagna and puts it on her plate.

Words won’t leave me as I stare dumbfounded at the toy.

She follows my gaze, leans up to check the inside of the carboard box, and squeals, ripping the packaged toy from my hands.

“Oh, my… Grace!” She tears open the box and plugs it into the power socket before I can even take my next breath.

“Ooh, lover boy isn’t cheaping out, is he?” Ashley teases.

I blush and look at her. “It’s just—”

“I know what that is, and you should try it out. Think about it. You’ll either learn you like it, or you don’t. You’ll have an answer either way, and knowing he wants to please you… that’s a really good sign.”

“You think so?” I ask as I look over the instruction manual. Noticing all the speeds, the fact that all I have to do is send him a code, and he’ll be able to set it up.

“I know so. Just take it to your room this time,” she teases.

I laugh. “I… I don’t know.”

“You’re allowed to have fun, Grace. And using toys is like a rite of passage. If you want to try it, your boss seems like the right person to try it with, and based on that blush, you want to do it as much as he does,” Ashley teases.

I nibble my bottom lip, then throw caution to the wind. It’s not like we haven’t already done everything . This is just another way for us to enjoy each other.

With a sharp breath, I type the code into my text chain with Daniel and send it.

That’s my good girl. I can’t wait to make you come again.

Shaking my head, I continue to stare at the purple toy, not really sure if this is something I want to do. I’m just getting used to enjoying sexual things, and now Daniel is…

“Just wait until I finish eating and I’ll leave,” Ashley says and she takes a bite of her lasagna and murmurs, “hot, hot.”

“You don’t have to leave,” I say.

“Sweetie, I already sat on your sex couch, and now with that toy… I think I’ll go see Marko.” She winks and walks back to the couch as my heart races against my ribs.

I put my phone down and grab my plate as I know I need to gather some courage to actually go through with this. But I already know I will, because this tension rises inside me, the good kind.

I’m lost in my own thoughts until Ashley takes my empty plate and heads to the kitchen.

“Maybe I’ll stay the night, what do you think?”

I blink as she stares at me, and she giggles. “You weren’t paying much attention, I see.”

“Sorry,” I say.

She shrugs. “That’s okay, I’d be a little shocked too if Marko gave me something like this.”

“You would?” I ask.

“Yes, of course, but I would also love it.” She grins as she gabs her leather jacket and walks over.

“Have fun.” She winks and turns on her heels, leaving me alone in our apartment as that purple monster waits for me.

Wringing my hands together, I walk over to the counter, grab the toy from its charger, and take a steady breath.

This should be good, right? Maybe it will even be great.

I expect there to be more fear, or dread. But it doesn’t come as the excitement lingers and I know when Daniel is involved, I’m sure I’ll like it.

Once I’m on my bed with the door locked, I slip free from my clothes and lie on the bed with the toy in hand.

“Here we go,” I mumble and turn it on. A single green light stares back at me, and I slowly part my legs, letting the tip of the toy trail over my belly, over the spots that carried his cum two nights ago.

A soft smile forms as I feel the slick. I run the toy through it and carefully press it against my entrance. It isn’t as big as Daniel’s cock, but I’m still a bit sore.

Gently, it slides inside, the curved tip almost reaches my sweet spot, and I press on one of the buttons I feel under my fingers. Two sharp buzzes come from the toy.

I gasp and put my hand over my pussy as my phone goes off. One message becomes another, then a third, then a fourth.

You’re such a good girl for me. I’m going to make it worth it.

Is it in place? Did you feel that?

This is just the start, Darling.

Even though I’m sure he means the fun we can have with the toy, it feels like a whole lot more.