If you're loved by someone, you're never rejected, decide what to be and GO BE IT
-The Avett brothers
Recommend Reading Introduction to Unproven
DEFINITELY READ Prologue
Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three
Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six
Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Twenty One
He shook his head sucking in a breath and letting it out slow. “I don’t know.” And he didn’t. He had thought it was because he could come inside her, and while that definitely factored, he was forced to admit it was more than that. Because even before he came it was intense, and not just a few moments before but the whole time he was inside her. It was one long orgasm that exploded into climax, and it wasn’t only physical, every particle of him vibrated with ecstasy, far from the hollow climax he generally felt.
He pulled out and dropped next to her folding his arms across his chest and staring at the ceiling, studying the intricate patterns in the wood as if he might find an answer in them. He could feel her eyes on him but he resisted the pull to look at her, was afraid of what she might see in his expression. He was entirely too exposed and she had already proved her ability to actually ‘see’ him. Just as the last time he’d been with her, he couldn’t escape the thought that he was in trouble here.
It’s lust, he told himself firmly, nothing more. He took one more deep breath as he centered himself and turned his head to look at her. Holy hell, talk about exposed. She was gazing at him as if he were the most beautiful thing she’d ever beheld. His lip curved slightly. Well as long as she felt like that he didn’t have to worry about losing the upper hand. In fact it made it possible to admit that he liked her, and not just because of the mind-blowing sex. She was cute and sweet, and despite her lack of virginity she maintained the innocence he’d found so appealing to begin with. She had a quality about her that made it seem impossible for her to be touched by the evils of the world.
**
Ary knew she was staring at him like a lovesick puppy but couldn’t help it, she was a lovesick puppy. She thought about how he’d carried her out of the party and taken care of her in her inebriated state, holding her hair while she’d evacuated the alcohol wreaking havoc in her stomach, and he was nothing short of incredible. Why did anyone think he was an asshole? Because of Carrie Kellerman? That girl had deserved every bit of his retaliation. Poor Carrie? Please, poor Grayson. Carrie had made a fool of him and no doubt hurt him in the process. Ary was hit by a rush of protective anger.
Grayson caught the change in expression and his brows drew together, “What is it?”
Ary frowned. “I was just thinking about your evil Ex, Carrie. She really has to be the stupidest girl on the planet.”
Grayson coughed out a laugh. “Pretty damn close.”
“Saying I would never ever do what she did doesn’t even come close to capturing the absolute absurdity of the idea.”
**
Grayson laughed again and this time the smile remained, playing at the corner of his lips. He felt a wave of affection and examined it. Perhaps it was only natural for him to feel that way about someone who adored him so completely. He remembered one of his father’s early lessons that centered on the idea that sometimes his advancement in the world would be attained by encouraging the illusion of love for himself in others and vice versa. As long as he didn’t get sucked into the illusion. Would a feeling of affection qualify as being sucked in? Nah, because it wasn’t so much affection for her as it was for what she felt toward him, purely selfish, therefore human nature.
His thoughts turned to the scene she’d made at Winters’. He needed to do damage control. She was basically sober now, so the best way to handle it would be to return to the scene of the crime so she could redeem herself. He saw her in his mind’s eye, whirling around with her arms out and her head flung back…Christ, she looked more like she’d dosed on LSD than had a few drinks. He’d never before seen anyone go from zero to obliterated that fast, it was Guinness worthy. It struck him that if she were anyone else he would’ve dropped her on the spot.
But she was not anyone else. She was cute and sweet and by far the best piece of ass he’d ever had. Dropping her wasn’t an option.
He stroked her cheek with the side of his thumb. “Do you think you could handle going back to Gary’s?”
She gave him a pained look before putting on a brave face and nodding. “No more alcohol though, not today anyway.”
“Yeah, that would probably be best,” he grinned. “Come on let’s get dressed…,” his voice trailed off as he remembered her bathing suit. “We’re gonna make a stop on our way, get you a new suit okay?”
She winced, “It’s that bad, huh?”
“No, no it’s just…you’re due for a new one, don’t you think?”
She nodded slowly. Did she have enough money on her for a new suit? Last she'd checked she had about twenty-six dollars in her purse which should be enough.
"What is it?" He asked.
"I was just wondering if I had enough money...”
He put his finger on her mouth, "Silly girl, it's on me."
“Oh no, that’s okay, I think I do…”
“Aryanne, did you happen to look around you?” He interrupted.
She peered up at him then obliged, scanning the enormous and expensively furnished room. If you combined just this room with his bathroom, it amounted to half the size of her entire house.
He took her by the elbow and brought her to a door that he pushed open to reveal a closet probably twice the size of her bedroom, then guided her to another door that opened into a home theater, complete with stadium seating. She barely had time to gawk before he was tugging her to yet another door that opened into a game room that held two competition style Billiards tables, two electronic dart machines, an air hockey table and a large mahogany table in the corner with high backed stools standing beside another table with a felt poker top. As if that wasn’t enough, there was a mahogany countertop that stretched across the back of the room with what appeared to be a fully stocked bar behind it.
He turned her to face him, “And these are just my rooms, one of four upstairs wings.”
Her jaw dropped in astonishment. “Your rooms?” She squeaked.
He gave her a slow ego laden smile. “So I’m pretty sure I can handle the cost of a bathing suit, huh?”
She stared at him and nodded slightly. Holy cow, she’d known he had money, but this was way beyond just having money. “What does your dad do?”
He chuckled, “He’s a businessman.”
“It must be some business.”
He laughed loudly, “Actually its many businesses all under the blanket of his corporation. But we also come from old money.”
She blinked, “Titanic.”
He laughed again, “Yeah, kind of like that. This house has been in our family for generations, built when my ancestors traveled here from England. We have other houses as well, one in Cape Cod, one in Aspen, one in the Hamptons and several more in Europe.”
She blinked a few more times trying to comprehend that kind of wealth. “You’re an only child,” she mused, “so this will all be yours someday.”
He inclined his head with a smirk.
“Wow. Just wow.”
He smiled, “Come on, let’s get outta here.”
Have you filled your witness votes?
Check out these passionate and competent souls: 
If you don't see their name, simply write it in the empty box at the bottom of the page.
To better understand what a witness does read