RIVAL: An Enemies to Lovers Why Choose Country Romance

Chapter 52

Three and a half weeks is all it took to get out from under my father’s house. Today is the day I sign the papers for the closing. I feel as if a load is off my shoulders, which has moved directly to my protruding stomach.

Griffin insisted on being the one to accompany me today. I had to put my foot down when the other two asked as well, but I woke not feeling physically great. Out of all of them, Griffin seems to be the one who doesn’t hover as much when I can’t hide the faces I make.

It’s been tough since the dinner with Jaxon and his parents. I love what they’re doing together, but his second truth in the truck on the drive to his place wrecked me to my core.

You’re worthy and DESERVING of love and you don’t have to earn it.

That’s been the hardest lesson to believe. I’ve sought it out for as long as I can remember, but I’ve never been told someone loved me before. Never once. Jaxon was the first, and it came on the tail end of words of hate. Those are two very powerful emotions. My head is telling me he wouldn’t be doing all this work if he didn’t feel something. I just can’t help but worry it’s stemming from guilt.

And God, my heart… My heart still hurts.

Groaning, I shift to the side and a zap of nerve pain travels like a whip through my hip before shooting down my leg. Thankfully, no one is around to hear the whimper I let escape, breathing through the pain until it dissipates.

Why is this so hard?

“I think they’re headed here now,” Griffin says, slipping into the conference room with a paper cup of water in his hand. “The lady at the front desk says these things don’t normally go longer than about forty-five minutes. You have the keys to the house, right?”

Closing my eyes, I nod quickly. I don’t think I can say anything as this nerve pain rockets through me once again. It’s happening more often now, and I can’t seem to do anything to ease it.

The chair slides next to me as he settles in close, his warm palm going straight to the spot on my lower back where the source of everything evil in this world is centered. His warmth seeps through my shirt as he rubs at it gently. “You gonna make it, darlin’? I’m not sure this is the sort of thing you can reschedule.”

Gritting my teeth, I do my best to smile. “I’ll be fine. I just want this over with. Then I can go back to the house and get a heating pad or something.”

He studies me with worry for a moment, then lowers his voice. “Will you let me help you?” Holding up his hands and wiggling his fingers, he curls his lips up in a sympathetic smile. “I’ve got good hands that could at least try to ease some of the aches.”

I can’t help smiling at how earnest he seems. Things have been so awkward ever since I came back, but it seems to be only on my end. Griffin has been here every step of the way and hasn’t pushed me to talk about things. He knows I’m just trying to make it through my pregnancy, but I owe him a conversation. I owe it to all of them. Not just because I’d love some closure for my own peace of mind, but one of them is going to be a father.

Another pain shoots through my leg and it’s strong enough that I find myself gasping out, “Yes.”

There’s no sign of pleasure from my agreement because he’s watching me carefully, concerned every time I wince. It’s sweet, but I’ve been dealing with it for the past few weeks.

The couple purchasing my house is led into the conference room, along with their realtor and another employee of the title company we hired to oversee the closing.

I force myself to plaster on a pleasant smile and we work our way through the paperwork fairly easily. It’s not long before I’m happily handing over the keys to the property and watching as they leave the room, excited and whispering over their plans for their new home.

A small bit of longing hits me hard, wishing that place would have been a home to me, but it never was. I’ve always viewed it as my father’s house, which I was allowed to reside in, and had the job to keep it in running order. I never felt a sense of pride or ownership.

It’s the same with Jaxon’s home I’ve been staying in. I’m so thankful he’s given me the space to use, but I’m anxious to leave, even if it’s incredibly wonderful there.

The pillows smell like him…

“Let’s get you home.” I wince when Griffin holds out a hand and I stand with his help. I’m sure he saw it, but I hope he thinks it was because of pain and not because he called Jaxon’s place home.

It’s not a home if you haven’t been invited to make it your own.

On the drive back, Griffin and I don’t talk much because I’m shifting around in my seat in an attempt to get comfortable. I’m absolutely miserable and I think I should talk to my doctor about the pain. This can’t be normal. She mentioned I could use some over-the-counter pain relievers, and I read Tylenol was okay to take.

Griffin takes the keys from my hand and unlocks the door. As soon as I’m inside, I make a beeline for the bathroom where I know Jaxon has a medicine cabinet. I pick through the bottles until I find what I’m looking for.

As soon as I have them poured out in my hand, Griffin pushes a small glass of water toward me. After swallowing them down, I set the glass on the sink and dig my fingers into my lower back.

“Put your hands on the sink.”

My eyes fly to the mirror, and I see Griffin standing right behind me, watching intensely. He nods ever so slightly, so I shakily place my palms on either side of the sink, never taking my eyes off him.

Settling the tips of his fingers on my lower back, he digs his fingers into the muscles just above the curve on my butt. My eyes close as a gasp, turning fast into a groan, escapes my lips.

One of his hands glides up my spine to the back of my neck and I let my head fall, my hair hiding his reflection in the mirror. He grips it gently, guiding me to bend over a bit more. I follow, adjusting my position so my forearms are now supporting my weight and he brings that hand back to my lower back, now working his fingers carefully along the top part of my hips.

He digs into my sides, and I want to cry it feels so good. Instantaneously, the ever-present shocks of nerve pain dissipate and I’m left with only a dull ache as he works my body under his fingers.

“Is this helping?” he murmurs. All I’m capable of is a nod, which I do with as much exuberance as I can muster, and I blush when he chuckles.

He continues working on my back and I’m honestly afraid my knees are going to give out underneath me. Pressing my palms against the cool marble of Jaxon’s counter, I spread my fingers and shift my feet a tad wider so I don’t collapse.

Griffin rolls his fingers over my hips again, stretching them far enough that it feels as if he’s holding them the same way Mason did when he slammed into me in a similar position.

It takes great effort not to push my body back into his. This is only a massage. Not once has he pushed for more, so my hormones can just get in the backseat and allow Griffin to drive.

He interrupts the silence, leaning over my prone position to ask, “Would it be easier if you laid down?”

“No. This is… this is perfect. Just like this. Please don’t stop.”

I swear I hear a rumble escape from him, but when I lift my head to glance at him in the mirror, he seems to have himself controlled. But those eyes are focused hard, and I can’t drag mine away.

Running a firmer hand up my spine again, he squeezes the back of my neck harder this time, then shifts closer. “Darlin’, I want to make you feel better,” he rumbles out, and I realize he’s more affected by this than I thought. He’s also letting me make the call.

My legs are trembling as I part them wider, removing even more pressure from my hips, and I feel my wetness pooling within my folds. The books say when you’re pregnant, your libido might increase, which apparently, mine has. But what they don’t say is how quickly desire will slam into you and make your brain absolute mush.

His lids are heavy, mouth parting slightly as he moves even closer, and I feel the warmth of his body heating me.

Those hands of his slide back down, then circle my hips once more, only this time he doesn’t stop until one grazes over my throbbing sex. He presses hard against my pussy, grinding his palm just above my clit and I whimper, shifting forward to press harder against him.

Lowering his head until he’s resting his lips against my shoulder, he whispers, “Let me touch you, darlin’.”

“Oh God, I n-need you to,” I gasp on a sob, grinding myself on his hand again and I want to sing when I feel his fingers dance against my opening, the barrier of my pants the only thing keeping his hand from where I want it.

Supporting his weight over me, he slips his hand up to push the waistband of my leggings out of his way. He drives his fingers against my clit, the moisture giving his fingers purchase to draw circles against me.

My forehead thunks heavily on the counter as he plays with my clit, pleasure racing through my body. Wrapping his other arm around me, he palms my stomach and lifts it slightly, supporting the weight and the relief is intense. He strokes his hand over the swell of the baby as he continues to work between my legs, driving me toward an orgasm.

I shift my body forward to let the tips of my hardened nipples drag across the cool marble top, easing the throb. Slipping my hand against them, I dig my fingers into the swollen flesh and shudder when another wave of ecstasy takes hold.

“Fuck yes, baby. You just need to come, don’t you?” Griffin mumbles, nipping at my back and shoving two fingers deep inside of me, almost filling me how I want.

It’s not enough.

I rock back, feeling his hard cock pulsing against my ass as he works his fingers in and out of me, only pausing for a moment to pull them free to stroke over my clit a few times.

Moaning louder, I throw my head back and twist my hips against his cock and buried fingers buried. I’m almost where I need to be. He tightens his hold and starts to move them more forcefully until I’m exploding all over his hand, screaming into the tiny space as my body shudders and constricts beneath his hold.

His fingers roll over my clit as I convulse, coming down from the relief he’s given me until he catches me as my legs give out.

Supporting me with one hand gently holding my stomach and the other drenched and still buried inside of me, he grinds his hardness against me once more, then shudders as he leans over my back.

I can feel him pulsing with every groan he bellows, pouring his cum into his jeans as his body relieves itself.

He plants tired kisses across my back, then up to my neck and ear, which incite more shivers as I try to catch my breath.

Finally, he lays his cheek against my temple and breathes out, “That might have been the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Christ, darlin’, you’re gorgeous when you come.”

I huff out an embarrassed laugh and he frees his hand, drawing his fingers slowly from my body until he can hug me close.

Hesitating, I admit, “That was everything I didn’t know I needed.”

“It was what you needed from me, and I want to be here to always give you everythin’ you want. Edith,” he says, his voice pained as he says my name. “I want to be here for you all the fuckin’ time. Christ, I didn’t know what was goin’ on that day and was tryin’ to make things easier on you. I need you. I fuckin’ ache every damn day I’m not around you.”

Standing up straight, I turn my body around to face him. The despair in his voice is heartbreaking, and I hate it. I hate it more than anything.

Without thinking, I cup his cheek and meet his begging eyes.

“Please, darlin’. Please don’t tell me I can’t be here with you. I want to give you all I’ve got and the thought of not havin’ you is eatin’ me alive. I fuckin’ fell in love with you and I can’t make that go away.”

Pushing myself to my toes, I press my lips to his and taste the way he sucks in a breath, then revel in the feel of his arms holding me against him. Griffin kisses me more deeply, then pulls back and lays his forehead against mine.

“I love you as my life, for you are the best.”

Oh God, he quoted our book.

My eyes water and I blink up at him. “Did you read ahead?”

Chuckling, his voice thick with emotion, he rocks his head back and forth across mine. “No, darlin’ Edith. But I wanted to. I looked up quotes and that one hit me so fuckin’ hard that I knew it’s how I had to tell you.”

Kissing his chin softly, I lean back and give him a tentative smile.

“I maybe think I might love you back. You were my first, Griffin. That means something to me.”

Smirking, he tips his head to the side, studying me. “Only maybe? Because I’d love to know for sure so I can rub it in their faces.”

“Don’t do that,” I scold. “We need to work things out and, Griffin, just because—”

Putting a finger on my lips, then replacing it with his mouth, he drags his lips over mine until I’m silenced. Then he says, “I won’t. I know you’ve got shit to work out there and I swear I won’t stand in the way. Just…” He trails off and lets his hand roam over my little girl. “Just don’t push me out, even if she’s not mine. I still want to have everything with you. With both of you.”

Swallowing hard, I nod once.

Maybe he’s resigned to my indecision, but he doesn’t press me further to talk more about it. Instead, he grabs my hand and pulls me from the bathroom and into the bedroom I’ve taken over.

“Let’s lay down. I’d love if you read more to me and if you stay on your side, I’ll keep working on your back until you fall asleep.”

I eye him when he peers over his shoulder, his wink telling me he knows exactly what I’m thinking.

“And I promise to keep my hands out of your pants this time, darlin’. Even if your pussy felt amazing squeezed tight around my fingers.”