9. Cora

Ishould really be at home right now, shaving my legs before sliding into a little black dress for my night out with my friend Theo and his band.

Instead, I'm staring at the mountain of case files on the desk in front of me, trying to figure out how to get out of working with Griffin.

I don't know why he wanted me to be the one to stay late with him.

A part of me thinks he wants to ruin my Friday night fun, but there is no way he could know about that.

It's frustrating how he effortlessly ruins everything.

I sigh and grab a file, kicking off my heels as the last lawyer leaves for the day and replacing them with the slippers I keep beneath my desk.

Griffin looks up from the files in front of him as I walk into his office and shut the door.

The janitors will be up to clean soon, and I don't want to be disturbed by the sound of the floor being polished.

I drop the case file onto Griffin's desk before dropping into the seat across from him. "So, have you filed an annulment yet?"

"What are you talking about?" He leans back in his leather chair and crosses his arms.

The top buttons of his black dress shirt are open, revealing smooth, sun-kissed skin. I glance at the way the shirt"s fabric tightens over his toned body, my tongue darting out to lick my bottom lip.

Oh god, not right now.

I force myself to ignore the intense desire that burns through my body every time I look at him. Griffin may be an attractive man, but he is infuriating at the best of times.

I can't fall for him like this—it's only physical, and I know better. Because the last time I let my guard down, I married my nemesis.

I've never met anybody who can get under my skin like he does.

"Griffin, you told me about the marriage certificate two weeks ago. That's plenty of time to get the annulment filed. Do I need to sign anything? I'll sign right now, and we can be done with this entire mess."

He shrugs and leans forward, putting away the file he was working on and dragging the other toward him. "Cora, filing for an annulment isn't as easy as it should be. The process can be complex and time-consuming, and it requires specific grounds to be met. Getting a divorce might be easier and quicker—although we obviously didn't get a prenup done, so technically, you could be entitled to half of my life."

"I don't want any of your life." I roll my eyes and look up at the ceiling, taking slow breaths so I don't lose my mind. "I just want to be done with this marriage. I don't see why you would want to be married to me any longer than we have to be."

The corner of his mouth twitches into the boyish smile that sends my heart racing. "Why do you hate the idea of being married to me, Cora?"

"Why do you want to be married to me?" I cross one leg over the other, my slipper bouncing as I shake my leg. "We can barely stand each other, Griffin. Being married is ridiculous. It was a mistake; we got married while we were too drunk to know what we were doing."

"And yet, we're married. And we work together even though we constantly banter. And probably a thousand things are going on in our lives right now."

"None of that explains why you want to stay married." I take my hair down from the clip it's in, shaking the tresses out in frustration.

The last thing I need is a clip that causes me a headache when I know Griffin is also working on creating one.

He gets up and heads to the other side of his office, stopping in front of the coffee machine in the corner. "It's going to be a long night. We should order dinner soon. Do you want a coffee now or later?"

"Damn it, Griff!" I stand up, my chair nearly tipping backward with the sudden movement. "We're not going to pretend that there isn't a huge elephant in the room."

His smile crinkles the corners of his eyes. "You haven't called me Griff in years. I didn't think I would miss hearing it."

I groan and link my hands together behind my head. "You've got to be kidding me. We are going around in circles, and you just keep dodging the question. You have all the top lawyers behind you to handle this. If filing for an annulment can't be done, let's file for a divorce."

The coffee machine whirs to life as Griffin leans against the counter and looks at me. "Cora, just calm down for a bit, will you?"

"That's absurd coming from the man who's so opposed to being kind to anyone but my brother. Have you thought my problem with being married stems from who I'm married to and not actually being married?"

Griffin shrugs one shoulder, glancing away from me. "I didn't think you disliked me as much as you apparently seem to."

"Are you kidding me? You're the one who's been a bully all along!" I get up and stalk over to him. I jab my finger into the center of his chest, my irritation growing when he smirks.

I'm playing right into what he wants, which is clear now.

However, this little game between us has been going on for too long. Everything has been weird since the kiss, and I just want my life to return to normal.

I hate coming to work and feeling like I have to walk on eggshells. The moment I let my guard down, the undeniable attraction surges to the front of my mind.

It takes a lot of mental energy to shove my feelings back into the little locked box where they belong.

Griffin takes my hand and uses it to pull me closer. "Am I kidding you about what, Cora?"

The way my name falls from his lips sounds like sin and seduction. The warmth in his gaze makes the room grow a thousand degrees warmer.

"Why would you think that I even like you? After all that happened when we were younger, did you really think I"d be begging to stay married? I know you don't like me much either." I'm trembling as I speak, unable to break his firm grip.

A dark cloud passes across his face as he drops my hand like he's been burned. "Well, until I can get the divorce sorted without you taking any of my assets… you're going to stay married to me."

I throw my hands up in the air and take a step back. "I have no interest in your money! If Jake hadn't insisted that I take this job instead of working two others, I wouldn't be here!"

Griffin pours himself a cup of coffee. "You were going to work two jobs?"

"I don't have much of a choice. And it's not that strange. Plenty of people work two or more jobs to make ends meet."

"You didn't have to take this job. I certainly didn't need to offer it." He opens the mini fridge and pulls out a container of cream. He splashes some into his coffee and takes a sip before looking at me. "You know where the door is if you want to leave. That would make this divorce less messy than it already is."

I rake a hand through my hair, spinning away from him and pacing across the room. "You hate me, yet you're the one making this more complicated. Just get your lawyers to write up the damn papers saying that I get nothing, and I will happily sign them."

There is a thud as Griffin puts the coffee mug down. His heavy footsteps come from behind me, and then he grabs my arm and spins me around to face him.

His eyebrows pull together. "Do you honestly think I hate you?"

"Why… would I think anything else?" I scowl at him, my heart pounding against my ribs. "I'd have to be an idiot to think you didn't hate me. You always have."

Griffin steps closer to me, forcing me back a step. "I don't hate you, Cora. I've never hated you."

"Could have fooled me." I take another step back, my ass hitting the edge of his desk.

He shakes his head and closes the distance between us, his body nearly pressed against mine. "I said I don't hate you. Did I like you when we were growing up? No. But I didn't hate you back then. I really don't hate you now. Fuck, Cora, do you know how hard it is to stay away from you after that kiss?"

"It was just a kiss." I sense a hint of nervousness in my voice, and I'm barely able to spit the words out.

He shakes his head, his gaze falling to my lips.

My heart pounds against my chest as desire pools in my core.

Griffin is too close, and the heat between us is too much. I want him, and there is no denying that.

Griffin dips his head, his lips grazing against my jawline. "You're wrong if you thought that was just a kiss, Cora."

I put my hands on his shoulders to steady myself as his teeth graze my pulse. "Griff, this is a horrible idea, and you know it."

"No. The horrible idea was you leaving me the morning after that kiss. And the way you've been trying hard to avoid me for the last two weeks."

"Because this is such a great idea," I whisper as I tilt my head back, feeling him trail lower down.

"Did you miss this, Cora?"

Griffin sucks on the sensitive skin, his hands gripping my hips. Sparks course through my body, making me feel like I've been lit on fire.

The outline of his hardened cock presses against me. Griffin pulls my blouse from the slacks it's tucked into. His hands slide beneath my skirt and skate across my skin.

I arch my back into his touch as he cups my breasts. His thumbs flicker over my nipples as his mouth finds mine.

Our tongues tangle as I skillfully undo more buttons on his shirt, revealing the firm, chiseled chest.

Every muscle is defined beneath the taut skin, flexing beneath my hands as I roam his body.

If I'm going to be stupid enough to make this mistake with Griffin once, I want to remember everything about this moment.

Griffin groans into the kiss as I nip at his bottom lip. He hikes the hem of my blouse up, breaking the kiss long enough to toss it over my head.

He pulls back, his gaze roaming my body. He rolls my nipples through the thin material of my bra, teasing them into stiff peaks.

My breathy moan and his heavy panting are the only sounds in the room as he stares at me.

"Cora… fuck, you're beautiful." His voice is husky and deep.

I press my thighs together as he trails his fingers lower, sliding down the zipper on the side of my skirt.

He gives it a slight tug over my hips, and my skirt puddles on the floor. Griffin gets to his knees in front of me, removing the rest of my clothing in a swift motion.

His hand trails up my leg before it hooks behind my knee. He brings my leg up over his shoulder, forcing me to lean back against the desk.

I prop myself on my forearms on the desk, watching him through hooded eyes. My breath hitches as his fingers brush along my pussy through the thin fabric of my thong.

"Griff…"

He glances up at me as he pushes my thong to the side. "You're already soaked for me. I think you were lying about barely liking me, Cora."

Griffin pushes two fingers into me, my pussy clenching around him.

I bite back a moan as his thumb circles my clit. "Maybe."

He smirks, his tongue flicking out against my clit. My hips buck forward, and he chuckles.

His mouth closes over my clit. His tongue traces teasing circles as he pulls his fingers out before inching them back into me.

My hips rock with his lazy thrusting, my fingers weaving through his hair. He circles my clit with his tongue.

"Mm, Griff, oh my god…"

Griffin works his fingers faster, pushing me closer to the edge. Tension builds in my core as my pussy pulsates around his fingers.

"Come for me, Cora."

He sucks on my clit hard, sending me over the edge. My leg shakes against his shoulder as my back arches.

His fingers twist against the spot that drives me wild, drawing my orgasm out.

When he stands, he takes off the rest of his clothing. His chiseled body is bare in front of me, sending waves of lust through my body.

I don't think I've ever wanted anybody else the way I want him.

I swallow hard as Griffin strokes his cock from base to tip, his thumb drifting over the head with each pass.

My gaze is fixed on his cock as he runs his other hand up my thigh.

"Tell me you want this, Cora."

"Griff… please…" My breath becomes deeper in anticipation of what's to come.

"Tell me you want my cock inside you." Griffin presses.

"Yes, I want you… I want you inside me now, Griff, please."

Satisfied, Griffin grabs my hips and lifts me onto the edge of the desk. I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him to me.

His soft moan as the head of his cock brushes against my pussy is all the encouragement I need.

I tighten my legs around him, feeling him push deeper into me.

Griffin dips his head to mine as he pulls out and thrusts back in. His pumps are slow and long, teasing me.

He buries himself to the hilt as he kisses me.

My nails dig into his back as I pull him closer. He groans, kissing his way down my neck. He nips and sucks along my collarbone as I roll my lips.

He rocks his hips faster, driving into me harder and deeper. My pussy clenches down around him as his cock throbs.

"I want you to come all over my cock." He grazes my earlobe with his teeth. "I want to feel your pussy milking me when I come."

My back arches as he drives harder into me. I moan, my fingers raking down his back.

Griffin rocks his hips faster, and I meet him with every thrust as pleasure crashes through me. My body tenses before the release, my orgasm rushing through me.

He buries himself to the hilt, his cock throbbing as he comes. Griffin's head drops to my shoulder, peppering small kisses as his chest heaves.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to catch my breath as he pulls out.

Griffin cups my face and dips his head to kiss me again. The kiss is slow and teasing, his tongue tangling with mine while his hands roam my body.

When he finally pulls away, I'm left in the shockwaves of what we've just done.

Griffin tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Let's clean up and work on the case," he says.

I'm numb as I nod and slide down from his desk, heading to the bathroom attached to his office.

I don't know what drove me mad just now to sleep with him, but I do know that there is no turning back time.

I had sex with my brother's best friend.

The man I've spent years loathing… now my husband.

With a sigh, I shut the door behind me, needing a moment to myself.

Even though I don't know what lapse in judgment brought me here, I can't trust myself not to make the same mistake again.

Griffin is a dangerous addiction I have to kick.