Chapter 30

My heart gallops so fast,I’m sure Griff can hear it. We quietly open the back door and tiptoe into the kitchen. At least, I sneak in like a bandit. Griff doesn’t seem concerned that my brother might overhear us.

He opens the basement door for me and I stop, lean up, and kiss his cheek.

“What’s that for?” he whispers.

“I love you.”

He stares down at me with love-drunk eyes. “I love you too.”

Heart racing, I grip the handrail and carefully step down the smooth, wooden steps. The air’s warmer than I expected. This part of the house has been my brother’s domain since I moved in with him. I haven’t ventured into the basement since I was little. All the dark, dusty corners full of spiders deterred my curiosity. I usually picture it as a dark, dank expanse. But as I reach the last step, more of a homey man-cave expands before me. A dark overstuffed couch and large flat screen television are straight ahead. To my left there’s one door and to the right two more doors.

“Where?” I ask Griff.

“You haven’t been down here?”

“Not in a long time.” I glance up at the white drop ceiling that must conceal all the pipes and beams of the house that I remember. “It was more open and spidery back then.”

“No spiders,” he promises. He touches the door on the left. “That goes to the rest of the basement—furnace, water heater, all that fun stuff.”

He taps the first door on the right. “Bathroom.”

“So it’s basically an apartment without a kitchen?” I say, following him to the next door.

“Exactly.” He pushes the door open and holds out his arm, inviting me inside. “Bedroom.”

“Right to the point, huh?” I tease.

He flicks on a light switch. “I don’t think you understand what you unleashed up there in that rocking chair, Muffin.”

That had been fun. Teasing him. Feeling his hard body against mine. Letting his warmth seep into my skin. Possibly getting caught by one of our nosy neighbors.

I glance up and find a more thoughtful, almost hesitant expression on his face. “We can slow things down.” He takes a step back and gestures toward the couch. “We can watch a movie or something.”

That would be pointless. I’m so wound up, and want him so much, I’d probably climb in his lap before the movie starts.

“I’m just happy you’re here with me.” Longing and appreciation echo through his words.

“Me too.” I step into the bedroom and hold out my hand to him. “Touch me.”

“You don’t have to ask twice.” He rests his palms on either side of my face and tips my head back. I stare at him, trying to memorize every line and angle of his face. The fear that he’ll leave again continues to hover at the back of my mind.

Not now.

He leans down and brushes his lips against mine. All the bitterness and hurt I’ve held onto the last few months seems to evaporate.

I sigh and lean into the kiss. I’ve never wanted anything more than his mouth on mine.

Griff’s quick fingers untie the straps of my tank top and the loose, flowy material pools around my waist. Staring him in the eyes, I gather the material and lift it over my head, dropping it on the floor.

Hunger beats a steady pulse at his throat. His chest rises and falls faster while he stares at me like I’m the only drop of water in an ocean of sand.

“I’ve missed you so bad,” he rasps. “Thought about you every day. Feels like a thousand years since I’ve touched you.”

Every word brings on a wave of desire. Then guilt snakes around my heart. If only I’d trusted him. “We could’ve been here sooner if?—”

“No.” He presses a finger to my lips.

“Remy said I broke your heart.” A soft tremor vibrates through my whisper, so ashamed that I hurt someone I love so much.

“Muffin, you can break my heart,” he leans in and kisses my forehead, my cheeks, the tip of my nose, and finally my lips, “over and over again as long as we’re together in the end.”

“I never want to hurt you.”

“I can take it.” He cups my breasts. Each brush of his thumbs against my nipples is a jolt to my entire body. He slides his hands over my ribcage and down to my waist like he’s trying to map and memorize every inch of my body.

His gaze drops lower and one corner of his mouth tilts. “Are those little cherries on your pants?”

I pinch the loose material away from my legs. “Yes.”

“They’re really fuckin’ cute on you.” His fingers play with the waistband. With one swift tug, he pulls the drawstring loose and pushes the pants down my legs. “But I need them off.”

“Done.” I work my feet loose and kick them aside.

The numbness I’ve felt ever since Griff left me finally burns away, leaving me wound tight and dying to release the unbearable tension at my core.

His gaze drifts to the little red triangle of material between my thighs. He squeezes my hip, then slides his hand between my legs. I shift my feet apart, giving him room.

He groans a short, appreciative sound and strokes one thick finger over the damp fabric barely concealing me. My breath stutters. How does such a simple touch—over my panties—feel so good?

“You’re so hot and wet,” he whispers, his palm pressing and covering me.

“For you.”

That seems to unlock his slow exploration. He slides one finger up to tease and rub over my most sensitive spot. I gasp and squeeze my eyes shut. My hand shoots out, bracing myself against his shoulder.

“That’s it. Hold onto me.”

I slide my hand lower and curl my fingers around his bicep.

“Open your legs a little more for me,” he demands.

I can’t comply fast enough.

“That’s it.”

“Griff?”

“Shhh. Give me this.” His touch turns harder, more focused. He presses a second finger over my clit, slowly increasing the pressure of the circles he keeps swirling. Time spins and stretches. My need grows.

Ripples of pleasure pulse through my body. Building and building. “Griff,” I gasp, not sure I can stand on my own two feet much longer.

A rush of liquid heat gathers at my core.

His gaze stays transfixed to where he’s touching me. The direction of his strokes changes, sharpening the pleasure. He presses harder, moving faster. I whimper and grind myself against his hand.

“Yes,” he encourages.

Pressure continues to build. So intense, I can’t breathe. I want him to rip my panties off so I can feel his skin on mine, but I’ll die if he stops—even for a few precious seconds.

“Please…don’t…stop,” I beg.

“I won’t.” Need that matches my own roughens his voice.

My thoughts swirl into the tornado of desire spiraling inside me. I dig my fingers into his arm, holding on for dear life.

“Griff…I…”

“Yes. Be my good girl and come on my fingers.”

Heat explodes over my skin. Oh my God. If he called me that under any other circumstance, I’d be furious. Instead my body trembles from his husky whisper urging me to be his good girl. My body bows forward, shaking violently, and I grasp his other arm.

Intense pleasure curls my toes. My legs wobble. I open my mouth, but only garbled sounds scrape against my throat.

“That’s it,” Griff praises.

I’m coming…and coming. Then suddenly, it’s too much.

“Ack!” I jerk my body away from his hand and dance on my tiptoes. “That was intense.”

“Come here.” He wraps his hand in my ponytail and tugs me closer. “Kiss me.”

I drop my gaze to his cock straining against his flannel pants. “I don’t think I can get close enough.”

One corner of his mouth tilts. His erection digs into my hip as I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss along his jaw. I stop to whisper in his ear, “Thank you for the orgasm. My legs are still trembling.”

He unleashes a wild grin and slides his hands under my butt, lifting me to kissing level. “I love that I can make you come even with clothes in my way,” he says against my lips.

I wrap my legs around him and shamelessly rub myself against his hardness. “Is that weird?”

“It’s fucking incredible.” He squeezes his eyes shut. “Careful there.”

“What?” I ask innocently. I rock my hips against him and a tingling sensation spreads down to my toes. “This?”

“Yes,” he groans, carrying me to the bed.

He drops me in the center and falls over my body, kissing and sucking at my neck. One of his hands cups my breast and he bends down to tease his tongue over the tip.

“Ah!” My hips shoot up, colliding with his body. “Griff, please.”

“What?” He gathers my wrists in one hand and pins them over my head.

My body twists on the comforter, desperate for more. “I’m feeling very empty.”

“We’ve got all night.” He sucks my other nipple into his mouth and lashes his tongue against it. “I want to take my time saying hello to every part of you.”

“Okay.” I stop moving and stare at him. “Can you take off your pants, first?”

He sits back on his heels. A crooked smile spreads over his lips. “Why? Are you trying to get your way, thinking I won’t be able to resist sinking inside your hot pussy if we’re skin on skin?”

Fire races over my skin. I want that right now. Oh no. Skin on skin. How could I forget? “Uh, I’m not on the pill anymore.”

Well, that wipes the smile off his face.

“I, uh, didn’t…” need the reminder of him every day. And since I didn’t plan to sleep with anyone else in the immediate future, didn’t see the point. Heat sears my cheeks. I’m naked and writhing on the bed, aching for him but I’m embarrassed to explain? “It’s fine. I’m close to getting my?—”

“Hang on.” He leaps off the bed, silently landing on the floor and hurries out of the bedroom.

I sit up and squint into the dark hallway. “Griff?”

There’s a shuffle and bang, then five seconds later, he returns to the side of the bed. I kneel on the mattress and curl my fingers into the waistband of his pants.

“These need to go.” I tug on the drawstring, but he has it knotted tight. I glance up into his amused face. “A little help here?”

He holds out a handful of condoms, then leans to the side, dumping them on the nightstand.

I side-eye the pile. “I’m not even going to ask.”

“It’s probably better if you don’t.” He frowns. “Wait, they’re not mine.”

That only leaves one other person they could belong to and the thought of it is too horrifying to contemplate. I stop fussing with his pants and clap my hands over my ears. “No, nope, no way.”

His chest jumps with laughter. Shaking his head, he unties the drawstring and stares at me with raised eyebrows, encouraging me to make the next move.

“Yes, yes, yes.” Eagerly, I grab the waistband and slide the pants down over his hips, releasing him. A flutter of excitement swirls with a bit of fear. “Wow, you’re bigger than I…just…wow.” I curl my hand around his thick, steely length.

“That’s something I’ll never get tired of hearing.” He hisses in a sharp breath as I lean forward and swirl my tongue around the tip.

“Fuuuck,” he groans and shoves his pants off the rest of the way, kicking them aside.

“I want you in my mouth.” I stare up at him and part my lips.

“Take me,” he rasps.

I open wide and circle my tongue around the head again, stopping to lick where he seems the most sensitive. A slight tremor runs through his body, so I tease my tongue there again.

His breathing turns ragged. He gathers my ponytail and a few bits of hair that escaped and wraps it all around his fist. Feeling brave, I open wider and suck him all the way, as far as I can go.

His hips jerk and he lets out a wild noise between a growl and a groan. “Ah, fuck. That’s so good.”

Still on my knees on the bed, I rest one hand on the mattress and curl my other one around the base of him. I experiment, taking as much of him as I can without choking, then slide my hand along the same path, using my saliva to make it easier.

He leans forward, tugging my sheer panties between my cheeks and lightly smacking each one. My body jumps and I suck him harder.

“I don’t want to come in your mouth, Muffin.” He backs away and I release him.

I sit back on my heels, rest my hands against my thighs and pout. “I wasn’t done.”

“No, but I almost was.” His hot gaze slides over my exposed skin. “I really love those see-through red panties on you but take them off. Now.”

I scoot backward and recline against the pillows, pressing my knees together. “Come and get them.”

He stares at me with wide, surprised, lust-filled eyes for a few seconds, then climbs onto the bed and rests one hand by my hip. I stretch my legs out but keep them tight together. He hovers over me for a second, then dips down and kisses my stomach.

“Need to taste you,” he murmurs.

“Mmm.”

He drags his tongue against my skin, right above the elastic of my panties. Tugs at the thin strap over my hip with his teeth.

I can’t tease him any longer. I dig my heels into the mattress and lift my hips.

“That’s my girl.” He grabs the thin band and peels the damp material from my skin.

Fire crackles over my skin as he drags my panties down my legs. He drops them on the floor and hooks one arm under my knee, opening me wide.

“Yeah,” he whispers with appreciation, his breath caressing my exposed skin. “You’re even prettier than I remembered.” He slides two fingers through my slit. “Fuck, you’re so wet.”

“I want you inside me really bad.” I drop my hand to his shoulder.

He kisses along my inner thigh. “Let me taste you first. I’ve been dreaming about making you come with my tongue for months.”

“Really?”

His eyes close for a second. “God, yes.”

I shift closer and run my fingers through his hair. “I like your hair longer like this.”

He rubs his cheek against my leg, his light beard stubble scratching lightly. “You’ll need something to hold onto while I’m eating your pretty pussy.”

I flush from cheeks to chest.

He brings his mouth closer, his breath hot on my sensitive skin.

“Tell me you love me.” He lifts his chin and meets my eyes. His gaze penetrates down to my soul. Almost like a challenge. Except, I sense he really needs to hear it.

“I love you,” I whisper, running my fingers through his hair.

He lowers his head between my legs and swipes his tongue over my clit. My hips jerk and he clamps his arm over my hips, pinning me down. Somehow that excites me even more. I squirm and wriggle, testing his strength. His mouth is hot and insistent, his tongue pulsing against my clit, giving me exactly what I need before I even know I need it.

My body quivers under his touch. He shifts and hooks an arm under each of my legs, dragging me closer. He uses his fingers to gently spread me open and swirls his tongue around my clit over and over. Every few passes he stops to suck and kiss. With every touch, my orgasm builds. Pleasure ripples over my chest and up my legs. Restless with need, I cup my breasts and tug at my nipples.

Griff lets out a groan that vibrates against my core. I flick my eyes to his and find him watching me intently.

“You like this?” I tease my fingers over my nipples.

He flattens his tongue against me and groans with approval. As if he can’t take his mouth off me for even a second.

I arch my hips, pressing myself against his face. He nods and makes more encouraging noises, each one vibrating against me, pushing me closer.

He switches to flicking the tip of his tongue against that same, sensitive spot. I moan and try to spread my legs wider, arch my hips higher.

“I’m…oh…” I squeeze my eyes shut, concentrating on the sensations.

Griff slides two fingers inside me, curling and stroking in time with his tongue. It’s the last push I need to go over the edge. I let out a wild scream and keep chanting nonsense sounds over and over. He keeps working his mouth against me, drawing out the throbbing pleasure for an eternity.

When I can finally breathe again, I lower my hips to the mattress. “Oh my God,” I whisper, covering my face with my hands. “That was so…oh my God.”

He grins, pleased with himself, and keeps his palm between my legs, gently petting, like he’s keeping me warmed up and ready.

“Griff, I still need you inside me.” My want for him is staggering.

“Give me one of the condoms.” He jerks his chin toward the nightstand and wraps his free hand around his long, thick cock, and strokes.

I twist and reach, finally capturing one of the gold foil squares between two fingers. I hold it out to him and he reluctantly takes his hand off me to grab the condom.

He carefully tears it open and I watch, fascinated as he rolls it down his length. “Surprised it fits,” I whisper.

He ducks his head and laughs.

“I’m serious.”

“I know you are.” He stretches his big body over mine, resting his arm next to my head, bracing himself to keep most of his weight off of me.

Suddenly, I’m struck with the need to make a confession. “Griff, I need you to know something,” I say in a rush. “I didn’t?—”

“Don’t.” He closes his eyes briefly. “Say his name.”

“But I want you to know, I didn’t?—”

“I know.” His low, insistent tone resonates with certainty.

“What?” Why does he sound so confident when he hasn’t heard what I’m trying to say? “Griff, please. I need to tell you this.”

“Molly, you don’t have to tell me anything.”

“Yes, I do.” I take a breath. “I didn’t sleep with Torch…or anyone else.”

He dips lower, brushing his lips against my ear. “I know you didn’t.”

Why does he sound so sure? “How?”

He kisses the tip of my nose. “I know you.” His lips curve into a wicked smirk. “And you should know me a whole lot better by now.”

“Oh, no,” I groan, fearing what’s coming.

“That’s right, Muffin. If I thought he’d touched anything more than your hand, I would’ve beaten him into a pile of mush.”

My nose wrinkles. “That’s not very nice.”

“Never said I was a nice person.”

I press my palm to his cheek. “You’re nice to me.”

“Because I love you.” His lips quirk. “Trust me, I’m an unapologetic jackass to everyone else.”

“That’s not true.” I quirk an eyebrow. “You put up with an awful lot from my brother.”

He lets out a short rumble of laughter then shakes his head. “Please don’t bring him up now.”

“Sorry.” I wrap my hand around the back of his neck and pull him closer. “I need you so bad.”

He presses his forehead to mine and stares in my eyes. I lift my legs, wrapping them around his hips.

“That’s my girl,” he praises. “Open for me.”

Slowly, he presses inside. Inch by pleasurable inch. He watches my face the whole time, backing off with each flinch or frown that crosses my face, giving me all the time I need to adjust and accept all of him.

“I missed you inside me,” I whisper, clenching around him.

He groans and pulls back slightly. “I missed being inside you.”

I tighten my legs around his waist and roll my hips, meeting him each time he thrusts.

“That’s it,” he encourages. “You feel so fucking good, baby.”

“It’s still okay,” I lower my gaze to where we’re connected, “with the…you know?”

He thrusts harder. “Better than okay. I think, without it, I would’ve blown before you had a chance to come all over my dick for me.”

I shake with laughter and he groans, resting more of his weight on me. Something about the pressure or angle lights a new fuse. “That’s good,” I whisper urgently. “Don’t stop.”

“Already?” He lifts an eyebrow.

“I don’t know, but it feels good.”

He thrusts harder, hitting me just right. How does he seem to know exactly what my body likes? “Oh God.”

My limbs tremble as sweet release spirals through me.

“Yes,” he groans. “I feel you. Come for me.”

He slows his frantic thrusting as the pleasure ebbs. His lips trail over my throat, keeping the fire inside me at a slow simmer.

He gently kisses his way to my chest and slides out of me.

Still a bit dazed I blink at the loss of him.

“Up.” He grabs my hip and turns me to my stomach, then pulls me to my knees. “Nice.” He flattens his hand between my shoulder blades, pushing my chest to the mattress, arranging me the way he wants. “Very nice,” he groans and pushes inside me again.

“Oh,” I squeak. “This angle’s different.”

He slows his movements. “Too much?”

“No.” I wiggle my hips and move myself back and forth, testing out the slightly different sensation.

“Fuck, yeah.” He rests his hand at the small of my back, gently guiding my movements. “That’s good. You’re so fucking beautiful.”

I concentrate on rocking back and forth. It feels good but isn’t setting off any fireworks for me, yet.

“Come here.” He bands his arm around my middle and, keeping us connected, shifts and turns our bodies.

Behind me, he kneels and urges me, “Up. Up.”

Keeping my hips angled so he doesn’t slip out, I brace one hand against the mattress. He slides his forearm between my breasts and loosely wraps his hand around my throat, bringing me almost flush with his chest. I rest my hands on his thighs and rock myself up and down.

“Oh. Wow. I like this.” I slide my hand over his arm. He feels so solid. “That’s good.”

He kisses my shoulder and neck. “This way I can touch you all over.” He demonstrates by sliding one hand between my legs and gently rubbing my clit. His other hand stays at my throat.

“Open your eyes, Muffin,” he whispers against my ear.

I blink, unsure of what he wants me to see.

“Look.” He grips my chin, guiding my head straight.

We’re facing a mirror over an old dresser. It’s only enough to see from my chest up but our flushed, sweaty skin, and the visual of Griff’s bigger body looming behind me while his arms completely cage me against him, brings on a new rush of excitement.

“I love you,” I whisper.

He kisses my cheek. In the mirror I watch him close his eyes and breathe me in. His lips travel to my neck and he stops to suck my sensitive skin.

I hook my arm behind me, grabbing the back of his head.

“That’s it.” He squeezes one of my breasts. “Look how pretty you are.” His fingers graze my cheek, then glide over my chest. “You’re blushing all over. I’m buying a full-length mirror, so we can do this again. You’re gonna watch me play with your clit while you work yourself up and down on my dick.”

The combination of his slow, cherishing touches and his dirty words quickens my pulse. I rock my hips a little faster. “Yes,” I moan.

“Would you like that?”

“Yes.” My hand flails from his shoulder to his head, grabbing his hair. He rubs harder between my legs.

“Can you come for me again?” he says in an almost teasing tone.

“I’m…yes.”

“Good.” He kisses my neck. “Molly?”

“Wh…what?” I’m so close, I can barely concentrate on anything except the energy gathering between my legs.

“Hurry for me. I want to come all over your back.”

Holy hell. The raw urgency in his voice undoes me. Nothing has ever sounded so hot. My orgasm descends over me like a summer thunderstorm. A powerful burst of pleasure. When the lightning bolts recede, I let out a soft cry and fall forward. He keeps his arm tightly around my middle, holding me in place. His other hand strokes and soothes between my legs, turning down the flame.

I stretch and crawl toward the foot of the bed and he groans as he slips free of my body. His hand clamps down on my hip. “Where are you going?”

I flip over, resting on my back and spreading my legs wide. “Come on my stomach. I want to watch.”

Surprise sparks in his eyes. “Fuck yes.” He grabs my ankles, drags me closer and thrusts inside hard and fast. A few seconds later, he pulls out and rips the condom off with a harsh snap. I watch, fascinated, as he grips his cock harder than I’d ever dare and works his hand over it.

“Don’t move,” he warns in a strangled voice. He hovers over me, pumping hard on his length over and over. His body convulses and shakes. He moans even louder and shouts my name. His eyes squeeze shut as his warm cum lands on my stomach and between my breasts.

When he’s finished, I smile up at him. “That’s…a lot.”

He slowly opens his eyes. The corner of his mouth tips up, then his gaze shifts to my face and a genuine smile curves his lips. “You okay?”

I arch my back, showing off for him. “I feel good.”

He pats my leg. “Stay right there. Let me get a towel.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

He carefully extracts himself from the bed, but winces as he stands. I frown but, messy as I am, feel helpless to do anything for him. “Are you okay?”

“My leg locked up from kneeling for so long,” he explains.

“Why didn’t you say something?” I hate that while I was taking pleasure from his body, he was in pain.

“It didn’t hurt until I tried to stand on it.” He leans over the bed and brushes his lips against mine. “Your pussy feels so good, someone could’ve sawed my leg off and I wouldn’t have noticed.”

My nose wrinkles. “Ew.”

He chuckles and backs away slowly. “Don’t move.”

“I’ll be here.” I close my eyes and concentrate on my racing heart slowing back to normal and the warm sticky pool cooling on my skin.

“Here we go.” Griff wipes a towel over my stomach and chest, cleaning most of the mess. “Let’s take a shower.” He holds out his hand and pulls me up and off the bed.

“My legs are wobbly.” I squeeze his hand and follow him to the bathroom.

I can’t stop yawning and rubbing my blurry eyes while I wait for the hot water to warm.

“You all right?” Griff asks, grazing his knuckles against my cheek.

“You wore me out.”

Our shower’s quick and to the point. Griff glides his soapy hands over every inch of my body, pulls the showerhead down and rinses me clean. The little stall doesn’t leave much room for anything else.

Outside the shower, Griff wraps me in a towel, then dries himself. He rests his hands on my shoulders and guides me back to the bedroom.

“Are you worried I’m going to leave or something?” I ask.

“No. I just like touching you.” He pulls the rumpled covers back.

I stare down at the towel knotted over my breasts. “What am I going to sleep in?”

He hooks his fingers in the towel and yanks it free. “Nothing.”

“What if my brother comes down here in the morning?” My gaze shifts to the open door.

He walks over and closes the door. “He hasn’t yet.”

I’m too tired to worry about it more than that. I climb into bed and Griff slides in behind me, pulling me into his arms. His warm, naked body curves around mine and I stroke my fingers over his arm.

Monday, I’ll be back on campus. I want to soak up as much time as I can with him.

“I love you, Molly,” he murmurs into my hair.

I reach down and touch his granite-hard thigh. “I love you too.”

“You my girl again?”

The weight of the question steals my breath for a second. “Yes.”

But for how long?

What happens when I go back to school? Is Griff even done with fighting? We haven’t talked about his plans. Will he leave to film another reality show? I still can’t picture him wanting to stay here.

I turn so I can see him and ask the question I shouldn’t. “But you’re famous now. You can have anyone.”

He frowns. His hand cups my cheek. “If I don’t have you, then I’ve got nothing.”

Sincerity resonates in his voice.

What if he’s offered professional fights? He’d have to travel a lot. Train somewhere with bigger and better facilities. Would he want me to come with him, or will I be stuck here, missing him again?

While I’m brimming with worries, Griff’s sleepy, sated eyes hold no fear. Just love as he traces his finger over my cheek. “I don’t want to sleep. I want to watch you,” he says.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Satisfied with my answer, his lips curve and eventually his eyes close.

All the warmth and happiness from getting back together outweigh my fears.

At least for now.