23. Blair

I feel like every girl in the lobby is staring at me as I stand in Griffin's jersey and wait for him after the game. I'm probably just being paranoid, but as I scan the room, I'm starting to feel like it's not paranoia at all.

The door I've seen a few players come through swings open, and Griffin walks out, his face relaxed, but the second he sees me, his lips tip up into the biggest smile, and I can't help but mirror it. A small group of kids and girls dressed in the tightest outfits imaginable swarm him, but he only pays attention to the two kids at his feet, holding up Sharpies and asking him to sign their jerseys.

He says something to them, but I can't quite make it out. Whatever he says makes the kids smile so hard that I worry it might hurt their little faces. He signs both of their little Hawthorne jerseys, and when he's done, they spin around and take off for their parents, happy as ever.

Griffin's eyes lock on to mine as he dismisses the few girls ogling him like a piece of meat and walks through them, making a beeline straight to me.

"There's my girl," he calls out, still a few feet away from me, and I watch as each of the puck bunnies' faces twist with repulsion.

He drops his bag to the ground and spins his baseball cap around on his wet hair before grabbing my waist, lifting me high above his head, and sliding me down his body, pinning me against his chest.

"Griffin," I squeal as he lowers me just enough to claim my lips with his.

"Mmm," he groans as he releases my mouth and returns me onto my own two feet.

"Are you ready to go?" I ask him, sucking my bottom lip into my mouth, already missing the sensations of his kiss.

He snakes his arm down mine and intertwines our fingers, nodding. "Yeah. Did Lumi already head out?"

I reply, "Yeah, he's going over to see Paul."

Griffin mockingly sticks his bottom lip out. "Oh no, you mean I have you all to myself tonight?"

I giggle as we walk outside, and the cool air feels so good. I know I was just inside a cold rink for hours, but the burning glares from the onlookers in the lobby had me sweating.

"Yeah, I bet you're really beat up about it," I tease him as he leads us to his truck, hand in hand.

The hair on my neck rises, and a cold shiver runs down my back. I feel so uneasy and caught off guard that I don't hear what Griffin says.

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask him to repeat himself .

He pinches his brows. "I just said that I am definitely not upset about it, but forget that. What's wrong?"

Shaking my head, I try to force the concern away. "Nothing. I just … I don't know. I felt like we were being watched. But it was probably just one of the girls back there who were looking at me like they wanted to kill me."

"They could try. But they'd have to go through me first, and that could prove impossible when it comes to protecting you," he says, soothing all of my anxiety away and making me swoon.

Rolling my eyes, I smile. "So smooth."

He shrugs and opens my door for me, further proving my point.

Once I'm safely inside, he throws his bag in the back and gets into the driver's seat.

He starts the truck, and I reach for the volume immediately and turn it up, hearing one of my favorite songs blare through the speakers.

I start singing along to "The Love I Give" by RHODES. Griffin smiles as he pulls out of the parking lot and takes us home, watching me sing and dance to the music. I continue blessing him with a free concert the entire ride—it's not my fault that great songs keep playing—and he loves every second of it.

Griffin locks up behind us when we get inside, and I start heading upstairs to change.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asks, his voice deep and playful, stopping me dead in my tracks.

Spinning on my heel, I walk backward toward the stairs and answer him with sass dripping from every word, "Going to put pajamas on, duh . "

He kicks his shoes off and throws his bag to the floor, stalking toward me like a cat hunting its prey.

"Oh, really? How about we make a deal first?" he mumbles, taking another slow and steady step toward me.

Standing my ground, I can't help but bite on his bait. "And what, my warden, is your offer?"

He glides toward me effortlessly and catches my chin in his hand. "You run. I'll chase you."

"Hmm. And then what?" I ask. My breathing is shallow as heat floods my core.

"That depends." His fingers slip beneath my jersey and lightly grip my waist. "If you beat me to my bedroom, I'll let you change into those cute pajamas. Besides, I love those matching sets you wear."

"And if you win?" My voice is light and airy.

His fingers glide across my stomach before he dips them into my jeans. "If I catch you, then I'm going to strip your clothes from you."

"And then?" I push him, forcing him to say my desires out loud.

He bends down and kisses me gently, tenderly, in the most seductive way. "Then, I will kiss my way up and down every inch of your perfect body."

Well, if that's the case, this race will be over rather quickly. But I think I'll have some fun with it first.

Sticking my hand out between us, I agree to his terms. "Deal."

He smirks at my outstretched hand and removes his fingers from my pants before shaking mine. "All right, my little prisoner. You get a five-second head start. Ready, set, g?—"

I tear my hand from his grasp and take off up the stairs.

"Ahh!" I squeal as I grab the railing and race as fast as I possibly can.

Obviously, I would rather him catch me than for me to win, but I still want to beat him to the top of the stairs at least. I'm too competitive to lose by a landslide.

"I guess you get six seconds, you cheater. You'd better run fast!" he calls after me before counting down. "Five. Four. Three …"

I tune him out and fly up the second set of stairs after the landing, bursting through the east wing entrance.

I hear his feet hit the stairs right as I come to a stop in front of his door and turn around, waiting for him.

Moments later, he reaches the double doors, slightly out of breath, with a look of desperation in his eyes that sends tingles from my head to my toes.

"What are you doing?" he questions me as he takes the last few steps my way.

Grabbing the front of my jeans, I undo the button and zipper before pushing them down my legs and pulling them off completely. Without a word, I throw them at my bedroom door before looking back at Griffin.

His eyes eagerly travel up me, from my feet to my eyes, and I can practically feel his gaze caressing every inch of me.

Shrugging, I murmur, "Who said I didn't want you to catch me?"

" Fuck ," he growls before grabbing my face and slamming his lips into mine.

He pushes the door open behind me and leads us inside without ever pulling away. With one arm, he secures it around my lower back and lifts me up. Without thought, I wrap my legs around his waist and part his lips with my tongue.

His warm kiss travels to my neck, and he nips at my skin before lapping away the sting.

"Ahh," I whimper as he runs his tongue from the base of my neck to my jaw.

"I need you, Blair, forever." His words are pure ecstasy as he lowers me onto the bed.

Vulnerability is a word I thought I always understood rather well, but until this moment, writhing beneath Griffin's intense gaze, I realize how wrong I was. Nothing comes close to the nakedness I feel right now, and I'm not talking about the amount of clothes I have on. I am talking about how he holds my heart and soul in the palm of his hand, capable of crushing me to smithereens at any moment, if he so desires.

How terrifying of a thought it is to know that someone has so much power in their hands to break you completely. But as scary as it is, I wouldn't want it any other way. I would hand myself over to him time and time again.

He grabs the back of his shirt and tugs it over his head, and I thoroughly enjoy it, not hiding any of my appreciation for his hardworking body.

"I never knew someone could look so good in a Legends jersey," he mutters while grabbing on to my ankles and pulling me until my ass is on the edge of the bed. "I think you might have to keep that on a little longer. "

I'll leave it on for eternity if it means he won't ever stop touching me. "I think that can be arranged."

"So formal," he teases. He grabs a pillow from the bed and drops it onto the floor before me.

"We did make a deal after all. I am just accepting your amendment," I say, wanting to punch myself in the face for continuing the formality.

"You're cute when you get all flustered."

He drops onto both knees, and I prop myself onto my elbows to watch him. He slides his hands between my thighs, gently pushing them apart. Biting down onto my thumb, I study his slightest movements.

He presses his lips against the inside of my thigh, right above my knee, and that sensation alone has my core pulsing.

"I hope you aren't in a rush tonight." He trails another kiss upward, lapping my sensitive skin with his tongue before pressing his lips against the same spot. "Because I plan on savoring every second I can."

My panties soak with my arousal. I've never wanted someone as badly as I want him. Want isn't even a strong enough word. I need him more than I need air to fucking breathe.

His teeth and tongue continue to nip and lick up my thigh until I'm a panting mess, my hips bucking desperately to feel his tongue against my core.

But he feels like tormenting me first. He hooks his fingers in my panties, and I stretch my legs up as he slides them off.

"I wish you could see how pretty your pussy is. I might have to fuck you in front of a mirror so you can watch how perfectly we fit together."

My back arches at his words, and I'm so close to snapping and skipping the foreplay. I want him inside of me so pathetically much.

If it wasn't for the fact that I haven't had sex in months, I would rush this and slide onto him without letting him warm me up. But he's girthy as fuck, and his cock is big enough to rearrange my organs. I know that for once in my life, I should slow down and smell the roses—or in this case, let Griffin get my body ready to take him.

He peppers kisses down my other thigh, and I whimper in protest of his slowness, but fuck is it working exactly how he wants. My thighs are dripping with my desperation. Rolling my head back onto the bed, I gasp as he finally gives in and plunges his tongue into my wet desire.

His fingers circle me, and I'm biting my lip so hard that I think I might break skin. I need more. I need to feel more . It's like lightning is rippling through my body, bouncing from cell to cell and growing more powerful with every second, desperately looking for the quickest release to explode.

He senses my absolute hunger and appeases me, sliding two fingers into me, and I gasp from the fullness. He hooks them into me and pumps them, slow and steady, in and out. He moves in a fluid and torturous rhythm as his tongue latches on to my clit, and stars decorate the backs of my eyelids. I liquefy under his control. He picks up his pace, and I feel like I might be levitating off of the bed .

"Ahh …" I moan deliriously.

I stiffen up as my core starts clenching around his hand. My gasps and cries fill the room as he works me faster and sucks harder, sending me spiraling into oblivion.

"Grifffffin." His name is a helpless whimper on my lips as I come undone.

He pulls his fingers from me, and I hear him suck them clean. But I can't manage to open my eyelids as my orgasm finishes rocking through me.

Forcing my head up, I open my eyes and gulp at the view before me. Griffin's hand is wrapped around his massive erection, and he strokes himself from base to tip. His engorged cock grazes my inner thigh, and his eyes flutter from the contact. I'll never get over how badly I affect him—that I hold the capability of bringing him to his knees.

Sitting up, I brush my finger across the tip of his cock, swiping through the bead of liquid desire from him before bringing it to my lips and sucking it into my mouth.

"Fuck," he groans, and I push his hand away, replacing it with mine, stroking him slowly.

Adjusting myself, I get on my knees with one hand on the bed in front of him and wiggle my ass in the air as I lean forward and lick his tip before sucking it into my mouth, continuing to circle my tongue.

He threads his hand in my hair as I take him deeper and down my throat. His cock twitches, and my eyes water as he starts fucking my mouth, letting out delirious groans and grunts, giving me all the praise I need.

"Oh my God. You're doing so fucking good, baby," he whines, and my pussy pulses.

He pulls himself from my mouth, and I cough and gasp for air as I blink away my tears and look up into his eyes.

The Fallen Petal taught me how to project sexiness, and I lean into those skills, swaying my hips from side to side.

Opening my mouth again, I stick my tongue out and wait for him to slide his dick back in, but he shakes his head.

"That mouth of yours is going to make me come before we even really begin, and I'm not ready for this to end."

My cheeks burn because I know I was close to making him come just from my mouth alone.

Arching my back, I murmur, "Griffin, I want all of you. Please ."

He huffs and wets his lips. He grabs my waist and pulls me up onto my knees, and I let him guide me wherever the hell he wants.

He grabs the hem of my jersey and lifts it over my head before tossing it onto the floor, quickly followed by my lacy bra.

He kneels on the bed and orders me, "Lie on your back."

Wetting my lips, I lean back on the bed, and he positions himself between my legs and hovers over me, his hair falling and framing his face like a work of art that I could get lost in.

His arm muscles bulge as he leans down and kisses my neck, trailing his mouth across my collarbone and back up before stalling over my lips for just a moment. His eyes flick up to mine, and as he stretches forward, closing the distance between us, my eyes flutter shut, the anticipation killing me. Trailing his tongue along the seam of my mouth, he kisses me tenderly and slowly.

He tastes me relentlessly, dipping his tongue into my mouth, dancing with mine. Squeezing my thighs against his legs, I grind my hips, desperate to find any friction. He sucks my bottom lip in between his teeth and tugs gently, sending bolts of pleasure through me.

Sitting up, he reaches over to his nightstand, but I stop him before he gets to it.

"I'm on birth control."

He smirks and brushes the hair out of my face before claiming my lips again. "Thank God. I never want to feel anything between us, just you and me."

Tilting my head up, I plunge my tongue into his mouth, taking control. I could never leave this spot. I could happily stay here forever.

He moans, and the vibrations that tingle my lips only egg me on, releasing feral feelings that I didn't know even existed.

"Please," I beg him between kisses and slide a hand between us, grabbing on to his cock. "I need you so badly. Please, Griffin."

He takes his dick into his hand and glides his tip through my soaked pussy. Back and forth, back and forth, he swipes the tip through my center. He pulls back enough to meet my eyes, looking deeply into each one carefully, his gaze twinkling and darkened with lust-blown pupils.

His words are a breathy declaration of his desire. "You're mine, Blair, all mine. "

His tip pushes inside of me, and I gasp at the pressure. Griffin stalls, waiting for my signal to move.

"Deep breath, baby," he whispers to me as I wrap my arms around his neck and feel his chest graze my taut nipples. "Yeah, just like that," he encourages me as I start stretching around him, my body molding perfectly to his.

I nod, silently begging for more, and he gives it to me, inch by inch, stretching me more than I ever knew I could.

"Holy fuck, Griffin."

Gently, he pulls out before thrusting forward, slow and steady and intoxicatingly delicious.

His eyes are hooded, and his lips part as he sinks further into me. "You are so fucking tight. You have no idea how good you feel. I want to stay buried inside of you forever."

I am a mess of pants and moans as he continues to praise me, bringing my pleasure to a whole new level.

"You're doing so good, baby. We're almost there," he whispers, and I can't believe he's not bottomed out in me yet.

He lowers his hips, and I moan his name as his balls brush against my ass. " Griffin ."

Our breathing fills the room, a symphony of pleasure as he starts moving, thrusting his hips torturously slowly. As I begin relaxing around him and the pleasure outweighs the pressure, I meet his movements, lifting my hips as he plunges deep inside me.

"Oh fuck," he grounds out through his teeth and loses all control.

He sits up and grabs my hips, pulling me flush against him, drawing back until only his tip remains before slamming back inside of me.

"Griffin!" I shout out, stars forming in my eyes as he fills me to the brim.

He chuckles, deep and sexy, as he fucks me with abandon, each thrust rocking my body higher on the bed.

My mind becomes cloudy, and I am only able to think about one thing and one thing only—him.

We become one fluid movement, and I cry out as his fingers drift over my clit and bring me over the edge.

I scream his name over and over as he continues pounding into me, not letting up as my orgasm tears through me. I'm a puddle of pleasure in his hands, and I don't know where he ends and I begin.

His pace picks up, and I know he's close. His breathing quickens even more, and his thrusts become long and fast.

With a sound like a grunt and a breathless whimper falling past his lips, he buries himself into me to the hilt and comes hard, mumbling my name between moans.

We lie together, our bodies intertwined. After a moment, our breathing evens out, and we come back down to earth. He leans down and kisses my cheek, then the other, before tenderly kissing my lips.

"I lo—" I cut myself off as my heart jumps into my throat, eyes widening at what I almost said, and try to cover up my slip of the tongue. "I loved that so much."

He kisses me again. "You have no idea. You've ruined me, Blair. I'm yours for good, and you're stuck with me."

He pulls out of my center, and I wince, knowing I'm going to be sore for a day or two after this .

"I wouldn't mind being your prisoner forever." I giggle and bite down on my lip.

"Good." His smile lights every inch of his face up with a glow I've never seen before. "I'll be right back," he says before backing off of the bed and walking into the bathroom, returning a moment later with a towel in hand.

He crawls back on the bed and cleans me up, and I can't help but swoon at the gesture. No one has ever tended to me after sex. This is new and nice, and I could get used to it.

He helps me to my feet, and I balance on my wobbly knees before dismissing myself to my room to change. "I'm going to go put those PJs on now."

He smiles. "I'll be waiting."

My mind is a scattered mess as I enter my room and slip on panties and pajamas before walking back across the hall to Griffin.

I cannot believe I almost told him that I loved him. What in the actual hell is happening?

I've never once told a guy I loved him, and I sure as hell never almost dropped it after sex. But I don't even want to start processing that can of worms right now.

Griffin's room is empty when I walk inside, and I decide to get comfy in bed while I wait for him to come back from whatever he's doing.

I hear him humming in the hallway, getting louder by the second, and I can't help but smile at the pep in his step when he turns into the room.

My jaw unhinges when I see a tray in his hands.

"I grabbed a few things. "

"I see that," I murmur, sliding over in bed to make room for him.

On the wooden tray are Mrs. Potts's delicious chocolate chip cookies, a sandwich cut in half, a bowl of chips, and two glasses of water.

He sets it down in his lap as he slides next to me. "I'm hungry, and I figured you might be too after that workout, so I got us some snacks."

He hands me a glass of water, and I try to say thank you , but no sound comes out. Once again, this man has left me speechless.

"Do you want to watch a movie?" he asks me, grabbing the remote off of the nightstand.

He presses a button, and the seventy-inch TV rises up from the floor. I wonder if I'll ever get used to stuff like that.

Nodding, I take a sip of my water and try to wrap my mind around everything, but I fail miserably.

"What are you in the mood for?" he asks me, scrolling through the channels.

I lean over and set my glass of water on the nightstand on my side, finding words to answer him. "Something funny or rom-commie is always my go-to."

"You got it. What about this?" he asks and clicks on the movie Crazy Rich Asians , one of my all-time favorites.

"Perfect," I answer him, although I will have to try not to quote the entire film out loud, as I've seen it probably a hundred times.

He moves the tray between us and hands me half of the ham sandwich. "Are you excited to go visit your dad?"

Nodding, I take a bite of the sandwich and swallow before responding, my eyes burning at the thought. "Yeah, I can't wait. I've been dying to see him."

He looks at me with disbelief. "Why didn't you say anything? I would have flown you out earlier."

Shying away from his gaze, I shrug. "Because I hate the idea of taking money from you."

He sets his sandwich down and grabs my hand, bringing it to his lips and pressing a kiss against each knuckle. "Blair, I want you to have it. I want you to have anything you desire. I'll buy you a private jet so you can see him anytime you wish. It's just money, and nothing compares to watching you light up." He kisses my hand. "I never want you to have to worry again. You were wound up so tightly when we met, and I know you had to stay like that to fight to get where you are, but you can relax now; I've got you."

He reaches out and wipes my cheek. It dawns on me that the burning sensation in my eyes gave way to a downpour of tears. I've never thought about it like that, but he's right. I was so focused on school and work that I never relaxed or took a deep, calming breath. I was so terrified about losing the school of my dreams that I couldn't allow myself any more pain, so I shut out most of the world around me.

I run my hand along his jaw and kiss him, unable to find the strength to say anything. He makes me feel weak in the best of ways. He has become the one place I can be raw and fragile because I know he's right there to support me.

I put my half-eaten sandwich on the tray, and he moves it, setting it on the nightstand before opening his arm for me to snuggle into his side. Leaning into him, I cradle my head in that perfect crook of his neck and breathe him in, resting my hand on his chest.

His fingers dance across mine as we watch the movie in silence. Minutes pass, and neither of us speaks.

"I want to tell you about them. I do." He hesitates, and it takes me a second to realize he's talking about his family. "I just … I'm not ready yet."

Looking up at him, I rest my hand against his cheek, making him look down at me. "That's okay. I'll be here when you are."

His eyes soften at my words, and I realize that I am a goner. I am head over heels in love with The Beast.

Grabbing my phone, I see a few notifications and check my texts. I have one from my dad.

Dad: I can't wait to see you, sweetie. I am counting down the days.

I leave in a few days, and it's nearly all I think about. I haven't seen him in what feels like forever. Of course, we've FaceTimed and talked, but it's not the same as getting the biggest hug ever.

I check my other texts, and my stomach drops when I see one from Grant with a few photos attached.

Grant: You cheating whore. You have no shame.

I click on the images and find two pictures of Griffin kissing me in the arena after the game, and my body chills.

I didn't even see him there. Did he take these himself?

The thought of him being ten feet away from me without my even realizing it has my skin crawling.

Scrolling above the images, I find two more texts.

Grant: End it. You're mine.

Rage fills me to the core, and I quickly type out a response.

I'm over your shit, Grant. I'm done with you! You and I will never ever be together. Leave me alone, or I'm going to call the police. This is your only warning.

The second I hit Send, I open his contact and block him as an eerie chill settles deep in my bones.