For the Love of Gracie by Amy K. Mcclung Page A

falling head over heels for, is sitting naked with only a towel keeping me from seeing every glorious bit of his body right now. 
    "I smell like fish, don't I?" Where that came from, I had no idea. 
    He pressed his nose to my shoulder and breathed in, "No, you smell like caramel and vanilla." 
    My body quivered as that familiar heat of desire ran over me. I stuttered, "That's, um, that's my vanilla bean spray." 
    "It smells amazing," he said as he lay back on the bed. The slit in the towel was open, showing me a perfect glimpse of his athletic thigh.  He stretched his arms back and groaned. "Swimming is exhausting. I feel like I really worked out." 
    My breathing increased as I watched his body stretching across my bed. I reached out, without thinking, and trailed my hands along his abdomen. 
    He sucked in a breath and sat up.  "What are you doing?" 
    I shook my head. "Sorry, you're in amazing shape. You must work out like an animal."  
    He shrugged. "I lift weights in the morning and I usually run at night, when I feel like it." He stood up. "I better go check on my clothes."
    I waited a few minutes before meeting him downstairs. He was fully dressed by the time I came down. 
    "All dry now," he said holding his arms out to display that he was, in fact, dry. 
    We walked out to his truck. I was about to kiss him goodbye when I heard a car pull up behind us. 
    Hudson stepped out and yelled, "Hey baby girl." 
    I turned to Ash, "Thanks again, for everything." 
    He nodded and drove away.  
    I wrapped my arms around Hudson's neck as he kissed me. "Did you have fun at your concert?" 
    His mouth moved to my neck. "Yep, but I missed you so much. Let's go back to my place." His hands roamed down my back and slipped inside my shirt.  He leaned against me. "I missed the smell of your skin, the taste of your lips, and the way you drive me so crazy."
    I giggled as he nipped at my skin. "What are we waiting for? Let's go to the house." 
    We groped each other on the drive to his house, anxious to get to a bed.  We barely made it in the door before our clothes were off.
     
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
     
     
     
    Most of the next few weeks were swamped with shopping and preparations for the holidays.   Christmas Eve was the night we always spent together as friends to exchange presents. Christmas Day, we went to our separate family dinners. Cameron and I always went together to both his family’s dinner and mine. There was never a thought in my mind to ask Hudson to go to either get-together. He brought it up and I decided the one with friends was the only one I was comfortable with.
     
    We gathered around the Christmas tree with our spiked eggnog and a huge pile of gifts. Cameron always liked to play Santa Claus and hand out the presents, because he always bought the most for everyone. He especially loved to spoil me.  By the time I finished opening his gifts, I practically had a new wardrobe and enough movies to watch for a year or two.
    “This one says to Hudson from Gracie.”   Cameron handed it to Hudson.  
    I was so excited to see his reaction.   He opened the small package and pulled out a CD of Five Finger Death punch that was autographed by the members of the band. Hudson’s face lit up, “Wow, this is awesome! Thanks, babe.”
    I smiled and he leaned over to kiss me.
    His face fell slightly. “I didn’t get you anything though. I didn’t know we were exchanging gifts.”
    I sat back. “It’s Christmas, Hudson. I’m your girlfriend; it’s traditionally something you do.”
    He shrugged. “Sorry, babe. What do you want me to do about it now?”
    I stood up annoyed, “Nothing, Hudson. Nothing at all.”
    I stormed outside to the deck, slamming the door behind me.   A few minutes later it opened up. I turned angrily and spat, “Leave me the hell alone!” 
    My eyes landed on Ashton , whose hands rose defensively. “I wanted to check on you. I’m sorry.”
    He turned to leave, but I