CHAPTER 25

The next day after training was done, I showered in a rush to get down to the daybed to read before dinner. I didn't care if I was late to eat, I was reading today. From the morning, I had decided I needed the downtime and an opportunity to open the books I had bought before they got dusty.

I was elated to find the daybed empty and shining with the golden hour light; the ultimate reading conditions. I soaked it all in as I pried open my book.

Suddenly a figure jumped over from behind me, landing in the space by my side. I flinched, dropping my book and losing my page. I had all of five minutes to myself before I was interrupted.

Griffin grinned at me before he lay back casually, throwing one arm behind his head and pulling out a book from seemingly nowhere with the other hand. He didn't say a word as he focused his attention on the bookmarked page.

I stared at him dumbfounded. "Umm, hello?" I greeted him questionably, unwillingly paying attention to the way the sun from the loft windows danced across the planes of his face and brought out a warm glow in his greyish brown eyes.

He turned on his side to face me with a magnificent smile. "Hi," he responded.

"What are you doing?"

He rolled back to his original position and continued his reading as he replied, "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm reading."

I stared at him.

"Someone stole my reading spot," he added.

I raised my brow. "You read?"

"Don't sound so shocked."

I never would have pegged him for a reader. He was full of surprises. "What do you read?" I pushed.

He shrugged. "I mostly like spy novels."

I couldn't help the snort that escaped me.

He scowled at me. "Don't judge. What do you read then, Superstar?"

"Umm … mostly paranormal or fantasy romances."

It was his turn to scoff and he did not miss taking up the opportunity to make fun of me. "You literally live in one." It was a statement, not a question.

"I know … but it never feels real to me. It always felt like I was just looking on. So the books stuck."

"Interesting." He contemplated me for a minute and then went back to reading. "Since you stole my spot, the least you could do is stop distracting me."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realise it had your name on it," I said sarcastically.

He looked me dead in the eye, as serious as ever, as he pulled up his pillow and lifted the side of the mattress. Sure enough, in a tiny, scratchy scrawl etched into the frame was "Griffin" followed by a little lightning bolt. I burst out into laughter, causing the few people around the loft to stare at me. Griff joined in on my chuckling.

"Alright then, Lightning. I cannot believe you actually put your name on the bed," I said once I composed myself.

"I did it when I was like fourteen. When you live here as long as I have, you find ways to entertain yourself. I was bored and had a pocketknife." His smile was so light and pure. It lasted a few moments before it faded and he resumed his normal ‘cool guy' expression.

"So you weren't joking? You do this often?" I questioned, still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a young Griffin coming and sitting here to read. What a sweetheart. He certainly was multifaceted. And still such a mystery. Why did this have to make him even more attractive to me?

"Yes," he stated. "Now that we have established that I do in fact own this spot and am allowing you to use it, please continue to read in silence." A small smirk graced his lips at his command. I matched it and then returned to my book.

About thirty seconds later I turned to him again.

"What?" He demanded, not even bothering to look up.

"Thank you for yesterday."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Mmm-hmm. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"Shhh, I'm reading."

I shook my head as I huffed a laugh, dropping my eyes back to my book. I dared a peak at him and saw his lips twitch upwards ever so slightly as he continued to read. I smiled to myself, picking my book up from where I left it. We sat there for a good thirty minutes, quietly immersed in our own worlds, together, on the daybed, and it was pretty damn perfect.

Until I ruined it. Again.

"Sooo … Sienna really hates me." I was hoping to gauge his reaction on the subject.

"Who cares what Sienna thinks." Again, a statement, not a question. "You did well. Held your ground."

I blushed at the compliment. It was as good as I'd get with him and I'd take it. I'd lap up every last drop.

"I don't like when people don't like me," I admitted.

"I can tell."

I put my book down and turned to face him. He continued reading. "She seems to think there's something going on between us," I fished.

"I wonder where she got that idea," he said flatly. He was tenacious when he wanted to be, holding his cards right to his chest.

"I wonder the same thing," I said pointedly before trailing off into my own thoughts. After a few quiet moments I continued, "It does seem like a very girlfriend-like move … being jealous and taking it out on unsuspecting innocents." When he didn't respond, I kept talking. "You've said that she was a past fling or whatever, but does she know that?"

He side-eyed me. "I think I've made it pretty clear. Everyone here knows I don't date. And she knew it would never be more with her. Plus, it ended a while ago."

"Interesting," I replied.

He turned to me now. "That's my word," he claimed as his eyes captured mine. He rested his book between us now. "Do you think it needs to be made more clear? To her?" He asked. Tingles ran through me as he traced circles down my arm. "Would that make you feel more comfortable, Cosmo? Make you let go a little?" I swallowed, ripping my gaze away from his and turning back so I was no longer facing him. I stared out the window instead, watching the clouds roll above the buildings outside.

"I think that would help me not have to watch my back all the time," I managed to respond. "And maybe not feel like I'm going to be ripped to pieces in training."

"Mmm, I guess I could arrange to have another chat with her. Personally, I don't think she deserves it. I've made it clear she was just a form of entertainment. But for you … anything." His tone mimicked a gentleman but his eyes twinkled silver with mischief.

"You're an ass. But thank you."

Amusement laced his smile. "Can I continue reading now?"

I laughed. "Sure thing, Lightning. I'm sure the mission can't be completed without its hero," I cooed.

He glared at me but snuggled in closer, making himself comfortable as he laid his head on my shoulder and sprawled his body across the rest of the daybed before he picked his book back up and continued from where he left off. I smiled down at my book as I inhaled the intoxicating smell of amber, cinnamon and pepper that encompassed me, the warmth of his body enveloping me.

We stayed like that until the sun went down and our stomachs rumbled.