Chapter 40
Savannah
I should feel safe. Secure. But every time the bakery door jingles, I’m on eggshells.
Waiting. Knowing my family is going to come back. Maybe with more reinforcements. They could be outside watching, waiting. But I have a feeling that the security Griffin hired would spot them. Which makes me think they’re planning something big.
That thought leaves me unsettled. As much as I try to put it out of my mind, it’s nearly impossible.
But now with the bakery closed for the day, and me baking into the late afternoon, I’ve tried to continue. The new ring on my finger is so large I can’t really cook with it, yet I don't want to take it off. A new balancing act that I’m trying to get used to.
Tommy looks at me from his bassinet in the corner as I slide another tray of croissants into the oven.
“There. I’ll set the timer for twenty minutes,” I tell my son and get absolutely no reaction. I grin, loving having him here to talk with. Obviously not for conversation, but for company.
He yawns and rubs his eyes, and I jump into action, not wanting him to get overtired or overstimulated. I whisk him upstairs, the security man sitting at my small table.
“I’m going to put him down for his nap.”
“I’ll go across to the diner. The others are outside.
Let me know when to come back.” He nods as he stands, gathering his laptop and phone and walking down the stairs.
A man of few words, he’s sat upstairs here for most of the week.
Quiet, looking at his laptop. Assessing different situations and talking to his team.
But every time I need to put Tommy down for a nap, he leaves.
Ensuring that the others are out front, the bakery protected, yet giving Tommy and me our space.
I’m not sure where Griffin found these men, but they’re all so professional.
They look like they need to be finding fugitives, not babysitting a bakery.
I kiss my son on the forehead, snuggle him in tight, and put the baby camera on, knowing that I can watch him sleep from the small monitor downstairs in my kitchen.
As I walk back down, I run through my mental calculations; the croissants have twenty minutes, and Tommy should be down for at least two hours. I can get some dough ready for bread and maybe do some additional rolls for tomorrow.
“Hey, sweetness,” Griffin croons, and I look up as I hit the final step and grin. He’s holding a large bouquet of flowers, bright blooms that instantly bring more life to the bakery.
“Hey. What are you doing here? What are these?” I walk toward him, the stupid grin on my face one that I can’t remove. He’s usually here to pick us up in another few hours, so I’m surprised he’s early.
“Just had to zip into town. Wanted to pop in and see you both. Bring you flowers to make you smile.” I step into his arms as they wrap around my waist, and he pulls me to him tight. It’s easy with him.
“I just put Tommy down,” I tell him as he leans forward, nudging my nose with his.
“You did?” He doesn’t let me answer before his lips touch mine.
Soft, slow, sultry, our lips move against each other like we’re cherishing every moment.
I melt in his hold. This perfect man, strong, protective, ensuring that my every need is met.
It feels so good to lean on someone. Rely on them and know they’ll always have my back.
“Mmmm, he’ll be asleep for at least a little while…
” I murmur against his lips as his hand splays across my lower back before he glides it up, past my shoulder blades and cups the back of my head.
He deepens the kiss, his fingers tangling in my hair, clearly aware no one else is here.
The bakery is shut, and the front doors locked.
“How long do I have?” His kisses leave my mouth, and he peppers them down my jaw, pulling a moan from my chest.
“Tommy will be down for a while, but the croissants have about ten minutes…” I tease.
I hate burning my pastries, but for Griffin, I’d burn them all.
His lips hit the sensitive part of my neck, and my nipples pebble instantly.
I release a little sigh as my head falls back into his grip. He has my body molten with his touch.
“Challenge accepted.” His hands smooth down my body quickly, and he grips my waist, hoisting me on top of the cupboard at the back of the bakery in one fast movement.
“Whoa!” I almost squeal in surprise as my butt hits the ledge, and I hold on to it, scared I might fall as he opens his belt, the clink heard throughout the space. His jeans are open and boxers pushed down in the next few seconds, his cock hard and ready for me.
“I need you,” he pleads, and butterflies start to swirl below, overtaking my core.
“You’ve got me,” I whisper, following his lead, pulling up my long dress, my bare legs dangling off the edge as he steps in between them.
“What about the security guys?” My voice is breathy. I want this. I want him. But knowing there are guys walking around right outside…
“Let them hear exactly what we’re up to. Let them know what I do to you, sweetness,” he grits out, grabbing the back of my knees and pulling me closer to the edge as I lean back on my hands, hoping I don’t fall.
“Come here… wife,” he growls as his hands move around my waist, one hand gripping on to my ass as the other one slides my underwear to the side. My breath hitches. While technically not married, we will be. Sooner rather than later, I think. I love the sound of that.
But I can’t reply, because he slides into me so quickly it steals my breath.
“Yessss,” he groans, and my head falls back at being filled by him. I try to breathe, getting used to his size.
“Fuck, I’ve missed your pussy…” he says into my ear as both of his hands grab on to my ass, lifting me a little, my legs curving around his waist, and he starts to move. “Your pretty pussy is fucking beautiful taking me in.”
His words have me moaning as I quickly adjust my dress, loosening the straps from my shoulders, letting my breasts bounce free. His eyes flare as his head leans down to kiss them.
“You saw her this morning…” I pant out, my hands wrapping around his neck, grabbing on for dear life as he lifts me from the cabinet and takes my entire body weight onto his.
“Too damn long.” He’s frantic, and my body heats as his thrusts become quicker. My body bounces against his, my clit rubbing his pelvis with every movement. Meeting him with every push, I feel the sensations that only Griffin elicits from me. He’s made me entirely comfortable in my skin.
The way his hands always roam. The way he looks at me like I’m his every wish.
The way he traces all my curves, kisses my entire body, looks after my every need.
I grew up being told I needed to hide. I had to cover up, I had to remain quiet, I had to do as I was told.
But Griffin lets me do life how I want to do it.
Who knew men like him existed? I just had to come to Whispers to find him.
“That’s it, sweetness… Fuck… Bounce on me, baby. I can feel you fluttering, and you’re so damn wet for me.” I love how Griffin gets during sex. His dirty talk, the way he sounds so needy. Like he isn’t chasing a high, but in a deep state of need for me.
“Griffin…” I warn, my body getting hot all over, panting, sweating, my cheeks no doubt red.
“I fucking love your breasts…” He groans, lowering his head again and burying himself between them, licking and sucking all over. My skin prickles, my orgasm closing in on me, his thrusts, his hands, his mouth, all doing me in.
“Yes, Griffin!” If the oven timers go off, if someone bangs on the door, none of it would stop us. Here in the bakery, the place where we first met. My dress bunched at my waist, Griffin's jeans around his ankles. Him holding me so tight as his every movement shows me exactly what I mean to him.
“Ohhh, sweetness… you’re my fucking undoing… Come for me. Slide that pretty pussy over and over on my cock and let me fuck you a million times in our lifetime.”
I start to shake, the thought of forever pushing me over the edge.
“Over and over… again and again. That’s it… feel me, feel every inch wanting you…”
“Yessss, Griffin, please. Oh my g— YES!” I scream as I come, gripping on to him tight, my hands pulling at his hair as he looks at me, our lips smashing into each other as I shake and bounce like my life depends on it.
The old me would feel shame. The old me would feel even a little bit dirty.
But none of this is dirty. This is love. Hard, fast, deep-burning love.
“Yes, sweetness… Fuck, you’re so perfect. You’re everything…” Griffin grabs my ass tight and thrusts into me with one more powerful thrust before he lets go.
“Savannah!” He yells my name, his teeth grinding through his climax, his jaw tight before he starts to relax. Slowly putting me back on the cupboard, his hands run up and down my back as he kisses me softly.
“Well, that’s a new way to get me through the afternoon slump…” I tell him with a laugh, and he grins.
“I’m at your service. I like seeing you like this during the day.” He kisses me again. Taking his time. Like he isn’t finished with me. He never is. The oven bell chimes, reminding me of my croissants and the work I need to be doing.
“Hmmm, my time’s up, isn’t it?” It’s him biting his lip this time, and I smack him playfully on the chest.
“For now…” I tease as we sort ourselves out, and I race to pull the tray out of the oven.
“Ouch!” I burn myself in the rush, and in an instant, Griffin is at my back, moving my body to the sink, running the cold water, trapping me between his body and the bench.
“Déjà vu.” I giggle through the pain as he kisses my neck from behind. It feels like so long ago since we were here at this moment when we first met. But it’s been months now, our situation, our relationship all morphing into something so serious and sacred I’ve never felt so right in every step.
“I don’t like you burning yourself, baby.” He’s cute when he’s not so grumpy.
“Part of the job.”
“Do you have a few spare minutes later? We need to pop over to Sawyer's office.”
“Sure, what for?” I turn in his embrace as he turns off the tap.
“Sign the papers.”
“Papers?” I ask, head tilting.
“Get married. Legally start our family.”
A slow smile takes over my face. “Seriously?”
I never thought I’d have a big white wedding.
Getting up in front of a lot of people and saying vows didn’t really appeal to me.
It was something that Eden did when she got married.
I saw the stress of it all, I saw the requirements that my parents had and Pastor Greg.
It wasn’t something that I was overly keen to do.
“Well, I got you a bouquet. All our friends are going to meet us at the office this afternoon to witness… and I also got you this.”
He hands me a small box, and I frown, confused, before I open it and gasp.
“Take a look at the inside,” he prompts me, and I pull out the wedding band of solid diamonds and look on the inside.
I wait for the light to catch it, and then my breath hitches as I read the engraving: “My Home.”
“So what do you say? Ready to make us official?” he asks, and I look at him with tears in my eyes.
“Really?” I’m in slight disbelief.
“Sure, nothing about us has ever been standard, and that’s exactly why it works. We just consummated the marriage before we’re actually married, right here in your bakery, so might as well have the marriage in a legal office.”
He’s right. But I see his eyebrows pinching.
“Unless you want a big wedding? Flowers, the dress, the whole thing? I can arrange that too. I can get designers out to fit you a dress, I can fly in any flowers you choose.” My grin widens at how considerate he’s being, that he would do all that for me, but I shake my head.
“No. Paperwork in Sawyer's office is fine with me. Normal couples might do things by the book, but we’ve been writing our own script since the day we met. I love our life and don’t want anything to change.”
Nodding, he sighs and presses a kiss to my lips.
“I also made a new batch of cupcakes. Maybe I can ice them in white. We can take them home as our wedding cake and cut them and feed each other later?” I suggest, loving all these quirky ideas that make us, us.
“I love you,” he says firmly, and I swallow as more emotion surfaces.
“And I love you.”
But things are never that easy. Not for me.