3 months later
Eli and Grace's last day in New York
Grace heard the door open and close; and Eli's footsteps as he entered their apartment.
"Grace?" He called out from the hallway.
She rolled off the bed, crumpling the pieces of paper that were sprawled out around her in the process- she walked into the hallway, to greet him.
Without saying a word he outstretched his arms, and she walked comfortably into them, they wrapped perfectly around her curvy body.
"So how'd it go?" she asked, pulling away to meet his face.
Eli's calm expression instantly dropped; and he brushed past her, peeling off his jacket and chucking it on the couch as he walked through the living room; and collapsed onto a chair.
Grace followed him; the too-large, grey tracksuit pants, which were his, dragging along the ground making a whooshing sound; she started biting her bottom lip, sure that he had bad news.
She stood in the doorway of the lounge room for a moment, examining his tense features; he turned his head and stared at her with his piercing eyes.
She made a small sigh and walked towards him, lowering her body onto his lap, he wrapped his arms around her again, cradling her.
"That bad, huh?" she asked softly.
He didn't say anything for a long while, only rubbed his hands softly over her back.
"Eli?" she whispered after a while.
"Oh I wouldn't say that the 'top ten' was bad……….." he said calmly.
GRACE Wo……..back up here!
Grace lifted her head away from his chest, to look into his eyes; searching for truth.
He stared right back at her, without blinking, and slowly but surely; a smirk crept over his lips.
Grace's eyes widened and her lips curved into a beaming smile "the top ten?" she repeated.
Eli nodded slowly; and Grace wrapped her arms around his neck, lowering her lips onto his for the perfectly passionate kiss.
Once they pulled away she whispered, "I am so proud of you", and his smile grew even wider.
ELI when you find someone who believes in you……….that's rare!
"Yep, I went and saw Geoff for a goodbye luncheon, and he told me!" Eli explained.
Grace lifted herself off his lap, standing before him; she ran a hand through her hair, a smile still plastered on her face.
"I cant-" she muttered, trying to find the words, "-'heart' got into the top ten………" she repeated, not trusting herself to believe her words.
Eli nodded slowly "and 'let that be enough' will be released in a fortnight" he explained; watching with pleasure as Grace's face glowed lighter with delight.
She looked at him for a moment, as they exchanged smiles, "it's a shame we have to leave tomorrow" she sighed, though her smile was still firmly fixed on her lips.
Eli nodded slowly "yeah, but Geoff says he'll keep me posted" he explained, rising from his chair.
He turned to walk into the kitchen, Grace following close behind as he continued to talk to her; "Geoff also said he's having a little get together at his house tonight………and of course, we are invited" Eli began, as they entered the spacious kitchen, he walked over to the fridge, rummaging around for orange juice.
"Tonight?" Grace repeated, "who's going to be there?" she asked.
"Well, the band, producers………a reporter to interview the band, I think………and Geoff insisted that the love of my life who inspired me to write the song, attend" he smiled, taking a sip from the carton.
"Those were his exact words?" Grace asked, walking towards Eli slowly, her face pursed into a seductive smile.
Eli put the carton back into the fridge, and when he turned around again, Grace stood before him, their bodies close to touching.
He needed to take a short breath to steady his words, "Yeah, pretty exact. And plus, he said that you charmed the pants off his clients at the last get together-" Eli added.
Grace leaned forward, her hands slowly creeping up his chest, their faces so close they could feel one another's sweet breathes………."I love you Eli Sammler" she whispered, and then their lips collided.
He happily placed his hands into the curve of her back as their kiss deepened.
ELI see this is what I love about living with Grace……….these 'moments' that come out of nowhere………..
GRACE I've learnt a lot about Eli over these 3 months………..like, he loves it when I act all seductive and sexy for no apparent reason………and when I kiss him out of nowhere………!
Grace pulled away; the feel of his bristly goatee, which he'd grown over the 3 months, still lingering, slightly uncomfortably, on her lips; "I love you" she whispered huskily.
Eli pulled his hands down her back, getting a firmer grip on her lower half, so he could lift her up; as he did so, Grace let out a little squeal.
She wrapped her legs around his middle, and adjusted her arms to rest comfortably around his neck; and he planted a hard, quick kiss on her lips.
"That's a good thing-," he said in between planting more hard kisses on her soft lips.
"Oh yeah?" she managed to say in between the kisses.
"Yeah-" pause for another kiss "-cause I am totally in love with you" he said, now having to pant for breath; he started to walk forward, heading towards their bedroom.
"So it's a mutual feeling then" Grace said sucking in quick breaths.
Eli let out a laugh as he lowered her onto the bed; crumpling more papers, she let out a little sigh of pain, and he retorted while she pulled a book out from behind her.
"Looking up on the Renaissance" she explained, chucking the book she was studying for history to the floor; and clawed at his shirt, pulling him onto her again to plant more kisses on her yearning lips.
Just then- the phone's menacing ring could be heard, and they both groaned in annoyance.
"It'll either be you're mother or mine" he said, as he ran down the hallway quickly, having to keep a grip on the rim of his pants which were undone.
Grace could hear as he picked up the phone;
"Hey Lily-"
Grace groaned and allowed her head to fall back onto the bed.
"Yeah- no I just got in-"
His voice became louder and clearer as he made his way back down to the bedroom.
"Oh really? Well tell Zoe congrats for me" he said, and handed Grace the phone, but before she took it he whispered quietly "Zoe got voted house captain in school", and Grace nodded knowingly.
She took it tentatively "Hey mum" she said, trying to sound upbeat, and trying to hide her panting.
GRACE mum still thinks I'm a virgin………after spending 3 months in New York with ELI………she still thinks I'm a virgin!
ELI and that's the way we like it!
"Is Zoe there? –Ok, put her on" there was a pause as Grace listened to Zoe's excited squeals.
"Hey Brat!"
A not-so clever and witty retort.
"Listen, I hear you got voted house captain?" while Grace talked Eli lay down next to her, and started playing with some strands of her hair.
"Yeah well you deserve it, you little geek!" Eli let out a little laugh as he listened to Grace talk.
"Put mum back on the phone for a sec" Grace glanced down at Eli, examining the creases on his forehead as he fixedly played with her hair; concentrating hard on the strands.
"Mum-" Grace said, turning away from Eli- Lily's voice could be heard chatting away, and Eli let out a brief laugh;
ELI this is what every phone call has been like for 3 months………
Grace nodded as her mother spat out orders and babbled on and on about this and that; eventually, after the fiftieth nod, Grace glanced down at Eli and distorted her face as though she'd just sucked on a lemon.
Eli laughed, a little too loudly- and Lily could be heard on the other end "what was that- Grace? Are you still there…….."
She took a few quick breaths "Yes mum- I'm here" she replied, covering Eli's face with a gentle hand.
"Yes mum- really- - - you don't say? - - - Yes Miss Jensen faxed me the history homework………I WAS doing it before you rang……….." Grace said drearily, and then, just as she thought her head was going to drop off- she heard Rick's faint voice in the background as he just got in from work.
"Oh mum, put Rick on the phone Eli has some news for him!" Grace said excitedly.
Eli sat up abruptly; and started shaking his head vigorously, and mouthing the words 'no' while shaking his hands.
Grace nodded "thanks mum, love you………yes………no I know………..love you……….of course…………..love…………..ok………..bye mum!"
Grace thrust the phone at Eli "Yes- now" she whispered sternly; and Eli had to give in as he heard his father's small voice come through the phone "Hi dad" he exclaimed, putting the phone to his ear.
Grace sat patiently, listening to the every day talk exchanged between Eli and Rick………and then, finally, after pinching Eli lightly on the arm- he stopped beating round the bush.
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously- "actually dad, I have some kinda good news-" he began, and Grace gave him a fed-up look "'kinda' good?" She repeated in a whisper, "it's fantastic!" she added- and Eli only shrugged.
ELI see……….
"Well 'heart' made it into the top ten" he breathed, and Grace heard as Rick let out bellowing congratulations.
He tried to suppress it, but the smile on Eli's face couldn't be hidden- he'd made his father proud yet again……….
ELI I was sure that after the 'airport' fiasco he'd never forgive me………for being irresponsible, not thinking with my head……….and to be honest, we exchanged some rough words during the first few weeks. Especially after Lily told him that Grace and I had been seeing each other……….but I suppose he's ok now.
"Yeah we will definitely celebrate when we get home" Eli beamed; an Grace leant forward and planted a kiss on his cheek.
He returned the smile and rubbed a hand against her shoulder; staring dreamily into her eyes.
They talked for a moment longer, Eli asking if Jessie was home and Rick explaining that she was out with Katie………and then Lily's voice could be heard struggling for the phone.
"You want to talk to Grace again?" Eli asked, creasing his brow as he asked Grace with his eyes if she wanted to talk again.
Grace shook her head- "No, sorry- you just missed her………she went out for a jog" Eli explained.
"No, it's a safe neighbourhood………..yes I'll make sure she gets her homework done………..I'll tell her you said that………….Bye Lily!" Eli said, finally, and hung up- flinging the cordless phone onto the bed.
"Now……….where were we………..?" He asked, leaning forward and planting butterfly kisses on Grace's neck again………
Grace gave in to temptation for a moment……….but then pulled away "getting ready for Geoff's get together" she replied, smiling slyly as she moved to get off the bed.
"Oh no you don't" Eli said, wrapping an arm gently around her waist and pulling her back down.
Grace let out a childish 'yelp' as Eli suspended himself on top of her, kissing her neck feverishly.
"I think we were about here," he said, in between kisses.
Grace let out a little moan……"I suppose this is our last night in this apartment………" she said, succumbing to his delightful lips.
"Good point" he murmured, as he slipped his top off.
Grace giggled with delight as he traced his hands all over her body……….this was bliss………….and it would soon all have to end…………..
AUTHORS NOTE:
Yes…….I could have dragged this on, and written about their 3 months in New York with great detail……..but I have just started school again, and writing this chapter was hard enough (so don't expect to have frequent updates now!)
So I'm skipping the 3 months………maybe one day I'll write a 'cling on' chapter about the 3 months, cause obviously, judging by the way they now interact with one another……..their relationship definitely grew (especially in the bedroom………..)
Sorry, I know some of you hinted to me that you would like me to write about their time in New York………..but I have no ideas or patience.
And sad as it is for me to say this, there will only be a few more chapters until the finale……….ahhhhhhhh, but that day isn't today……..so enjoy it while it's still running………and check back, much, much later for the next chapter!
