Chapter 4 : A Man to Fulfill Me

*Grace*

The warm morning sun kissed my skin as I stretched out on a plush sun lounger by the pool. Sarah, Emma, Lisa, and I were enjoying some downtime, sipping on fruity cocktails, and basking in the luxurious atmosphere of the Biltmore Estate. Laughter filled the air as we shared stories and reminisced about our college days.

Suddenly, the topic I was dreading arrived earlier than I expected.

"Alright, girls…" Sarah giggled. "It's time for some juicy details. I wanna know about your romantic escapades. I'll become a married woman soon, so I need to be entertained by you all from now on."

We all laughed, but I was embracing myself for the moment the question would fall on my lap.

"Honestly, I've been single for so long that I don't even think I know how to have sex anymore," Emma complained, making Lisa almost choke on her drink.

I couldn't help but relate to Emma's predicament, although I tried to hide the smile tugging at the corners of my lips. It was a shared sentiment among us—the feeling of being out of practice, the uncertainty that came with being on our own for an extended period.

"Maybe you should come to New York and spend some days with me," Lisa offered. "We can have that problem sorted out sooner than you think."

Sarah chuckled, turning to look at me. "What about you, Grace?"

My cheeks burned as they leaned in closer, eager to hear my tales of love and lust. Which were nonexistent at the present moment.

"Same as Emma, I guess." I shrugged. I was a bit annoyed with that topic, although it had never bothered me before. To be fair though, they had no way to know I didn’t want to talk about that because it reminded me of Sarah's father.

"Come on, Grace," Lisa chimed in, her dark eyes twinkling with mischief. "We know you've got some steamy stories hidden away."

I took a sip of my cocktail, stalling for a moment before responding. "Well, I don't want to disappoint you ladies, but there really isn't much to tell. No man has ever truly satisfied me. That’s why I remain single." The words hung in the air, hinting at my desire for something more profound than what my previous relationships had offered.

I hadn't had that many relationships though. Maybe two or three boyfriends, tops. If you count that awkward back-and-forth fling in college that lasted about four months, where the guy couldn't quite cut the umbilical cord with his mama.

But one thing was true–none of them had satisfied me completely. I never felt worshiped or pleasured the way most women talked about how the best sex of their lives felt like.

"Really?" Sarah raised an eyebrow, obviously not buying it. "So, when was the last time you had sex with someone?"

"Ugh, do I really have to answer that?" I groaned playfully, rolling my eyes at her question. They didn't seem that interested when Emma was telling her story. "Honestly, though, I can't even remember. It's been quite a while since I found someone who could keep up…well, you know."

"Uhhh, you like it rough, don't you?" Lisa teased, winging her brows at me. "Can't blame you. I also like when they tell me to behave." She mimicked being choked and Emma almost fell off her chair.

"Lisa!" Sarah exclaimed, taking another sip of her cocktail. "Wait, what was the craziest thing a man has ever asked you to do?" she asked curiously.

I was glad my love life didn't seem that entertaining to them anymore, and I almost let out a sigh of relief when they turned their attention to Lisa.

As the conversation continued, I wondered if David was that type of man–dominant, who bossed a woman around in bed, telling her what to do. I had a feeling he was. I found myself wishing I'd be able to experience that with him eventually.

"Speaking of old flames…" Sarah suddenly turned her attention back to me, a mischievous glint in her hazel eyes. "Did I tell you all that Alex is coming to the wedding?"

"Alex?" I echoed, frowning.

"Yep! Alex Turner, from high school. Remember how he was head over heels for you back then?" She laughed, looking around at the other bridesmaids who eagerly joined in on the conversation.

"Ah, yes, our good old high school days." I playfully rolled my eyes, though the memories brought a faint smile to my lips. I remembered Alex. He was always a nice guy. "But we were just kids, and honestly, Alex wasn't really my type."

"Come on, Grace," Emma interjected with a teasing grin. "You have to admit he was pretty cute. And he’s successful now too. He's quite the entrepreneur these days."

"Sure, he was cute. But I've always been drawn to more mature men," I admitted, sipping my cocktail as the sun warmed my skin. "Someone who shares my aspirations and passions, like art, for instance."

"Art, huh? So, you're looking for a man who appreciates the finer things in life?" Sarah asked.

If she only knew the type of man I was looking for…

"Exactly." I nodded, feeling a sense of longing stir within me. David's appreciation for art was one of the many reasons I found him so captivating. The brief conversation we shared about art, the way his eyes sparkled when he spoke about his favorite artist – it was something I craved in a partner.

"Wow, your standards are high, Grace," Lisa teased, but there was genuine admiration in her voice. "But hey, if anyone deserves a sophisticated and cultured man, it's you."

"Thank you, Lisa." I smiled, touched by her support. "I just need someone who understands me on a deeper level, someone who won't be intimidated by my ambitions or hold me back."

When Sarah told us she'd have to leave us for the afternoon to have her last dress fitting, I decided to retreat to my room to take a shower. As the cold water cascaded over my body, I found myself lost in thought, which seemed to be happening a lot since yesterday.

I wrapped a plush towel around my body and walked back into my room, feeling somewhat rejuvenated and ready for whatever the rest of the day had in store. I considered taking a nap during the afternoon since Sarah would be busy, but I didn’t want to waste my day either.

But I also didn't want to risk finding David again while being by myself, so I just stayed inside my room reading a book until I knew Sarah was free.

"Grace! You remember Alex, right?" Sarah called out as soon as I headed downstairs a few hours later. I fought the urge to frown at her. We were just talking about him this morning. Why would she ask me that? Then, I saw a tall, charismatic man by her side and I understood where she was going with this.

"Alex? Oh, my God!" I exclaimed, taken aback by his appearance. He had grown into a strikingly handsome man with tousled chestnut hair and magnetic brown eyes. Nothing like the guy I remembered from high school. He was still cute, but it was hard and unfair to compare him with David.

"Hey, Grace." He grinned, extending his hand toward me.

"Long time no see," I replied with a smile, shaking his hand warmly. "You've certainly changed since high school."

"Changed for the better, I hope." He winked playfully. I couldn't help but blush at his flirtatious demeanor. He had learned some new skills, apparently. And if I wasn't so infatuated by David, I'd probably fall for his charms.

"Definitely," I admitted.

"So, Alex… The girls and I were remembering about how you had a crush on Grace in high school," Sarah chimed in, and I shot her a deadly look, which she obviously ignored. "Remember that?" She chuckled, nudging Alex's on the ribs.

"Guilty as charged," he confessed, chuckling too. "But who could blame me? She was the most beautiful girl in school."

I laughed, not sure what else to do. What I wanted was to kick Sarah's ass, but I'd give her a break since this was her wedding and she was clearly trying to find something to distract herself with.

"Well, I might've had a little crush on you too, once upon a time." It wasn't really the truth, but I felt bad for rejecting him or saying something that might hurt him. It was harmful though. We were both mature adults now, I was sure he could handle a bashful lie.

"Is that so?" Alex raised an eyebrow, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, it's nice to know we're finally on the same page."

As we caught up on our recent lives, I found myself enjoying Alex’s company more than I'd expected. But my thoughts inevitably wandered back to David every once in a while. I hadn't seen him after our encounter in the kitchen last night and I wondered what he was doing with his day.

I couldn't help comparing him with Alex as well. While Alex was undeniably charming, I couldn't shake the feeling that my heart–and body–belonged to someone else. Someone older, wiser, and more experienced.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky and we all dispersed to do whatever, I found myself wandering through the lush gardens, my thoughts preoccupied with the events of the day. While my encounter with Alex had been unexpectedly delightful, it was clear that my feelings for David remained as strong as ever.

I wondered if I'd be able to keep my resolution to stay away from him until the wedding was over and we were all back to our lives, or if I'd end up doing something that would jeopardize my friendship with Sarah for good.

I rounded a corner and nearly collided with the very man I was trying to avoid, but also eager to find. He was dressed casually yet oozed an effortless sophistication--a well-fitted button-down shirt that emphasized his muscular physique and dark jeans that seemed tailored to his every contour.

My heart skipped a beat as I looked up into those piercing blue eyes.

"Grace," he said, his voice tinged with annoyance.

I frowned, unsure why he was addressing me in such an unusual tone.

"Hi, David. I didn't know you were around here. We seem to be bumping into each other a lot lately," I chuckled, trying to ease the mood that suddenly turned heavy and uncertain.

"Yeah, well, I just came for a walk. Did you have a nice day?" he asked, hinting at something I couldn't put my finger on.

"I did. It was really fun, catching up with the girls and seeing some old familiar faces."

He hummed, his eyes focused on me. "I saw that. You seemed pretty entertained by that guy who arrived this afternoon. Who is he?"

"Alex?" I asked, surprised by his interest. "We were just catching up, reminiscing about high school days. He studied with me and Sarah."

"Is he an ex-boyfriend or something?" he asked, trying to sound casual, but the edge in his tone betrayed him.

David's expression remained skeptical, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect that he might be jealous.

"Does that bother you?" I teased, a playful smile tugging at the corners of my lips. I had no idea where my confidence was coming from, but everything in David's body was betraying him right now.

"Of course not, Grace," David scoffed, though the way his jaw clenched told me otherwise. "I just think you deserve someone who truly understands you. Someone who can fulfill your desires. That young guy is clearly not capable of such a thing."

The seductive undertone of his words sent shivers down my spine, and I studied him carefully, searching for any hint as to what he meant. He appeared so composed, a master of hiding his emotions behind a mask of indifference, but I sensed that there was more to it than he let on.

"Are you implying that you could be that person?" I challenged, feeling bold under the weight of his gaze.

"I've already told you," he murmured, his eyes never leaving mine, "you probably wouldn't handle what I’m capable of."

The sexual tension between us now was palpable, the air thick with unspoken desires.

"And I've already told you that you don't know me…" I trailed off. "Thank you for your concern though. I really appreciate you looking out for me…and my desires," I added with a sarcastic grin.

A small, enigmatic smile played on his lips as he nodded and left, leaving me standing among the fragrant flowers with questions swirling in my head.