XVII. GRACE—CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

          "Good morning."

          Grace smiled, turning the heat on the stove off as she heard Sebastian shuffle tiredly to the coffee maker behind her. "Good morning. Breakfast?"

          "Mm," he mumbled. "What are you making?"

          "It's a surprise," she finally said, and she could hear him release a long sigh behind her before the sound of a stool scraping across the floor echoed around the room. She was going to take that as a yes to the breakfast.

          There was a comfortable silence that fell between them as she grabbed a washcloth and wiped the counters down from the mess she had made beforehand. She then sighed, tossing the now-dirty washcloth into the sink before pursing her lips and drumming her fingers to the beat of a song on the counter top.

And then she felt warm hands land on her hips, and a gentle kiss was placed on her bare shoulder. Her breath hitched as he slowly turned her around, her body involuntarily leaning against the counter behind her as he shuffled closer.

He didn't try to make a move on her. No, his eyes were simply switching back and forth between her own. She watched as the corners of his blue eyes crinkled as a small smile graced his face. She could feel her hands begin to shake because of the close proximity of the two, but she ignored it as her eyes shifted to his lips, which were now parted slightly.

"Be my girlfriend."

And just like that, Grace's eyes widened considerably as she looked up to meet his gaze. "What?"

His arms reached for the counter top on either side of her body, keeping her from walking away. She had a habit of doing that — avoiding anything that had to do with her feelings. So, he thought this was the best way to handle the situation.

He chuckled, his eyes crinkling once again. "I know you heard me, Gracie."

"And what if I didn't?" she questioned him, inhaling a sharp breath as her gaze flickered to his lips once again. She wanted to kiss him — so, so badly — but God, did that mean she would just be handing herself over to him completely?

And then his eyes shifted to her lips, and he was slowly leaning in. Her hand quickly landed on his chest, and she was holding him from moving any closer. He didn't seem fazed by her actions; in fact, he seemed almost like he expected it to happen. So why did he try it?

Her mind began reeling with the possibilities of what could happen if she went for this. On one hand she could be happy — happy with the man she was beginning to fall head over heels for — but on the other hand, she could get hurt, and she didn't want to get hurt.

But damn it, did she like him more than she could even voice. Whenever he was around her, it was like she grew stupid, like her entire brain just shut off and all she could think about was him and only him. And she didn't like that he had that effect on her, but wow, did it make her feel unbelievably amazing inside. He made her feel unbelievably amazing inside.

          He made her happy.

Before she could even begin to overthink the situation, she uttered a word that sounded a lot like 'fuck' before she rested her hands on each side of his jaw and brought his lips to hers. She felt his hands return to their position on her hips, and with one small motion, her body was pressed further into the counter and his body was against hers.

But, he pulled apart before it could go any further, resting his forehead against hers. "So that's a yes? You'll be my girlfriend?"

She chuckled beneath her breath. "Yes."

And then he smiled, bringing her lips to his once again.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: STACIE IS OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL LETS ALL CRY TOGETHER SHALL WE?