Keeping You (Destined Love #3)

34. Grayson

CHAPTER 34

Grayson

I had to get out of the apartment this morning. I needed time to get my head on straight to be able to talk to Hannah about what we’re going to do now that the ninety days are up. I stay out until almost dinner time, trying to grapple with everything. I want her to have the freedom to do whatever she wants. I need whatever happens to be her choice.

Walking into the apartment, I drop my keys on the kitchen counter and see Hannah sitting at the dining table with three stacks of papers.

I smile and say, “Hey.”

She smiles back, but it’s weak. “We need to talk.”

My stomach drops. Those are not words anyone in a relationship wants to hear, and I know now that our ninety days are up, she’s likely going to ask for the divorce. I sigh and make my way towards her.

As I get closer to the table, I see that two of the stacks are the divorce papers I had drawn up so that when Hannah asked for them, we could make this as quick and easy as possible, and the employment contract from Thompson Memorial, because I know once those divorce papers are signed, I can’t stay here. I need to get as far away from Hannah as possible. I can’t be in the same province, let alone the same city as her, and not be able to call her my wife.

She notices my gaze caught on the papers and says, “I found these in your office today.”

I grip the back of my neck and take a seat beside her. “I had the divorce papers drawn up for when the ninety days were up.”

“And the employment contract?” she asks.

I meet her gaze, needing her to see the truth in my next words. “I can’t live in this city and not be able to call you my wife. I can’t stand the chance of seeing you at group events and not being able to hold your hand or walk up and kiss you just because I can. I can’t watch you date other people while I’m still in love with you. It would be like ripping my heart out of my chest and watching someone take a meat tenderizer to it.”

Her eyes remain on me, and I feel her willing more words out of me, and like everything else, her wish is my command.

“Spitfire, you’re everything to me. Losing you is not something I want, but I love you enough to prioritize your happiness over my own. I’d rather suffer every day for the rest of my life and know that you’re happy than force you into a situation I know you don’t want. You indulged me with this agreement. Being able to call you my wife has been the best thing in my life. Letting you go will be hard, but I’ll do anything for you.”

She wipes at the tears falling down her cheeks before she reaches to the third stack of documents that I have no idea what they are and hands me one.

Termination of Lease

2305-1564 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 9K7

She hands me another sheet. This one is yellow and flimsy. I see it’s a temporary driver’s licence, but I don’t get why she’s giving it to me. I raise an eyebrow.

“Read the name,” she says.

Last Name: Maxwell

First Name: Hannah Middle Name: Marie

My jaw drops. I don’t know how I’m supposed to process this information. I continue reading over the sheet trying to wrap my head around this.

Address: 3005 - 481 Smithe Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 4N8

I look back at Hannah as she wipes another tear away. She stands and pulls her shirt over her head, tossing it to the floor.

“Hannah,” I breathe out. “As much as I love seeing you naked for me, I think we should talk.”

She turns slightly and shows me a section of her skin now covered in plastic wrap over top of what appears to be a tattoo. She takes a step closer, and that’s when I notice it. She has our wedding date tattooed just below her left breast.

My eyes widen as I find hers, and she moves to straddle my lap. She runs her fingers through my hair before she grips my chin tightly, making sure my gaze doesn’t leave hers.

“I’m keeping you, Grayson Maxwell.” She sniffles. “I’m choosing you. Today, tomorrow, forever. I’m choosing you, Grayson. Those divorce papers will never see my signature. Unless you tell me that’s what you want, I will never sign them.”

I swallow harshly before I ask, “What about kids?”

She stares at me so intently that I feel it in every part of my soul. I know with all that I am what she’s going to say next will be the complete truth.

“All that matters is that I get you. If you never want biological kids, we can talk about adoption. If you never want kids at all, then we don’t need to have kids. I want you. I want to spend the rest of my life, until I’m grey and old, with you.”

I tip my head back and take deep breaths as tears gather behind my eyes. I’m not one to cry, but to hear Hannah choose me even if I choose to never have children is more than I could ask for.

I cup her face, running my thumbs over her cheeks. “Are you sure?” I whisper.

She nods. “I’ve never been more sure of any decision I’ve ever made. Grayson, you’re it for me. You own me, body, mind, and soul. Kids are not a need for me. If it’s something we both decide on down the line, then great, but right now, I’m content being the fun aunt and being your wife.”

I lean in and kiss my wife. I savour her taste as my tongue sweeps into her mouth. Her little moan feeds me, and the kiss becomes more needy. I can’t get enough of her. I pick her up and take her to our bedroom, dropping her on the bed. As I reach behind my head and pull off my shirt, she scrambles to take her clothes off as quickly as possible. It’s like a race to see who can get naked the fastest. I win.

I climb onto the bed beside her and lie on my back. “Ride me, Spitfire.”

She hurriedly moves to her knees and grabs a condom from the nightstand, rolling it down my cock. She straddles me, and I grip her hips as she positions me at her entrance and slowly sinks down. She stretches around me like she was made for me. My gorgeous Spitfire takes me so fucking well.

She tosses her head back as she works to take every inch I have to give her. I can’t have that, though; I need her to look at me. I reach up and grip her throat, pulling her head towards me. She follows without hesitation. I encourage her to fall forward, and she does. When her lips are close enough, I kiss her. I’ve spent the last three months not giving her that last piece of me, knowing if I did, it would destroy me when she left. Not anymore. I’m going to spend the rest of my life kissing her whenever I can.

She rides me like the needy girl she is, taking everything she needs from me. Her nails scrape across my chest, and I relish the feel of them, knowing in the morning I’m going to have physical proof of how needy she is.

I help her grind her clit against my pelvic bone, and when I feel her begin to tighten around me, I suck a nipple into my mouth, running my teeth over it in the way I know she likes. All the sensations together send her over the edge. I follow right behind her.

I’ll never get over hearing her call my name as she comes. It’s the best thing I’ve ever heard. Well, second best to what she whispers after she collapses on my chest.

“I love you, Grayson.”

I tuck her hair behind her ear and whisper back, “I love you more.”

She grins at me, and I know in this moment that we may not have started in the traditional way. Hell, she didn’t even want to stay in this marriage, but I know we’ll go the distance. We’ve seen everything the other has to offer. The good, the bad, the painful, and we’re deciding our love can withstand it all. I’ll grow old with Hannah Maxwell, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.