8. GRIFFIN
Griffin
L una St. Claire.
I haven’t heard that name spoken aloud in years.
“Both of you went hella silent. I told her she has the day to get settled in and to meet with you tomorrow. Hello? Look, I promise she’s not like the others. Griffin, she went to the same school as you and I thought maybe y'all could reconnect. If it doesn’t work, we’ll figure something out but Yana will have my ass if we have to delay this book. Just meet her and then have Rome call me if things go south but I have a good feeling about her.”
Maximillian doesn’t let me get a word in before he hangs up, leaving me standing in the living room completely lost. Nova walked in a few moments ago but didn’t pay me any attention until Luna’s name came up. I can’t move, resigned to this spot as my thoughts go in a hundred different directions.
She’s alive.
Of course, she is. Why wouldn’t she be?
She’s safe.
She’s here.
Here.
“Babe, snap out of it.” Two firm hands yank me forward, fingers wrapped around my throat to drag me out of my head. “Fin, breathe. Now, tell me what Maximillian said.”
“You were right here.”
“And I want you to tell me what he said.” His thumbs move upwards, rubbing the front of my neck to calm me down. His blue eyes pierce mine, waiting for me to respond and when I don’t say anything, his fingers tighten.
“Fuck, Nova. He said Luna’s going to be my editor. Luna. She’s here, back in Spring Haven. With me. No, not with me. For me?” I try to pull away from him to deal with my thoughts but Nova doesn’t let me go. He can see me panicking and I love the fact that he’s not going to let me break down and deal with this alone. He remains silent and unmoving, the force of his aura drawing me closer to him rather than away. “She’s here, Nova.”
This time when I meet his gaze, there are tears in my eyes. He leans down and kisses me, soft and slow before pulling away. “She is. What do you want to do? She’s here as your editor, in an official capacity, and I need you to be prepared that the reunion you’re envisioning may not happen.”
“I-” I pause and frown. Now that she’s here, I have no idea what I want. Her rounded cheeks and gorgeous personality flit through my mind. I want to kiss her. Touch her. Hold her in my arms even if it’s one last time before she tells me that we can’t. I never got to say goodbye to her even if I want this to be another beginning. “I want everything, Nova.”
“And you deserve nothing less,” he purrs as he releases me fully. “Now, you write and I’ll finish dinner.”
My gaze narrows at him as he heads for the kitchen. I tilt my head to the side as I stare at his ass and the way his suit pants hug every curve and every muscle. When he reaches to roll up his sleeves, I playfully press a hand to my heart, swooning over my beautiful, selfless lawyer. I’d have fallen apart years ago without him and knowing that he’ll still be at my side tomorrow when everything most definitely goes south is a testament to how much he loves me.
Still, I can’t help how out of control I now feel. What do I say to her? Hello? Where have you been? Do I let her talk first?
My brows crease as I tap my bottom lip, wading through a series of questions, each one sounding worse than the last. I’m going to start spiraling in a minute and then I won’t be able to write for the rest of the night.
“Bring your computer over here, Fin.”
My head jolts up and I stare at Nova who has his arms banded across his chest, his gaze once again piercing through me. “What, why? I can work on the couch.” As much as I hate this 1960s piece of shit, it’s become something of a comfort to curl up in the corner pillows and write my day away. Or the night away in this case.
“So, I can make sure you’re actually working and so you can continue staring at my ass while I cook. Baked or sauteed, Fin?”
I blink a few times, registering all of his words. He always does this, saying things like that and then confusing me by immediately moving onto another topic. My body didn’t miss it though, my cock twitching in my pants at Nova’s offer. “Huh?” I push out before I comprehend the last part of his question.
Nova smirks, knowing exactly what he’s doing. “We’re having chicken for dinner. I’m asking if you want it baked or sauteed.”
“Sauteed.” I gather my computer and my notes and head for the barstools perched around the island.
“You just want to watch me work,” he chuckles. “You write a chapter and maybe I’ll let you help.”
A smile takes over my face at his promise. Despite the persona that my PR manager built for me, I love nothing more than spending time with Nova. Even the little things. Laundry, cooking, fuck—even cleaning up the office. He’s been my stronghold in ways I never knew I needed, my backbone, my safe place. Every time I broke down, he’s been right there to pick me back up.
Am I a little obsessed?
Maybe.
But who wouldn’t be with a man who selflessly gives me everything to ensure my happiness?
“Let me help with dinner and then I’ll write a chapter,” I offer, hoping and praying Nova will let me. Writer’s block is a bitch and staring at a blinking cursor on a white page will only serve to further frustrate me. Besides, I need something to distract me from tomorrow. Nova just shakes his head and waves me over, pointing to the onions that need to be chopped.
“Careful with the knife. I’m not explaining to your manager why you have to wear a bandaid to the press conference.”
I laugh. “She’ll probably take it off and add some wild ass story to the persona she’s created.”
“You’re not wrong.” Nova pulls out the chicken from the fridge and rummages through the cabinet for a myriad of spices. “Where’s Rome? Is he eating with us?”
“He didn’t answer his phone and I know graduation is a few days away so he’s probably busy stocking up the display case.” Although Rome has rarely misses a call or at least returns it when he has the chance. It’s been a few hours since I last heard from him and he was only supposed to be dropping off baked goods to Ms. Elrod.
“He’s fine. Focus on the onions—shit, Fin.” Nova grabs my hand as the knife clatters to the cutting board and frantically inspects my fingers. I reach up and run my free hand through his hair as his entire body sags with relief. He might be my protector but he always seems to hurt when I do.
“I’m okay. I’ll focus. I promise.”
Nova lets out a deep sigh as he stuffs his head in the crook of my neck. It seems that he’s just as anxious about tomorrow as I am but for different reasons. I can’t imagine what turmoil he’s going through and I hate myself for putting him through this. I decide that tomorrow I’ll say goodbye to her, to patch up what we once had, and then turn my entire attention to the beautiful man in front of me.
When he pulls away, his eyes are clear and that warm smile is back on his face. “Whatever happens tomorrow, Fin, I hope you don’t leave me behind.” The rest of the dinner prep continues in silence and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say. “I meant what I said last night. That whatever you choose, I’ll be right here. But I need you to choose, Fin. Now that you have the chance? Choose .”
“What are you saying?” I hiss. I walk back up to him and turn him from the stove, wanting an explicit answer and not just pretty words.
“I’m saying that one or both—you have to choose.”
I frown. “I want you .”
“Do you?” Nova growls out as a hand wraps around the front of my throat. He thrusts me back against the island, his heavy breaths fanning my lips. “Because I know how much you love that woman. I can see it in everything you do. Hell, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with that woman just by proxy. However, I don’t want to be left behind because you can’t make up your mind about what you want.”
He’s scared. My eyes flit across his face, drinking in his expression. I place my hands on his chest and lean up to press a kiss to his lips, moving as much as I can with his hand on my throat. “I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted you, Nova.”
Nova doesn’t seem sure but he attacks my lips anyway, greedily, undoing the ties on my pants. I’m half hard by the time he shoves my pants and boxers down my legs, his hips pressed against mine, showing me just how much he wants me. “I need you,” he growls again, before twisting me around so that my ass is now facing him. I let out a low groan as I hear a drawer open.
“Right here? What happened to dinner and writing?” I ask playfully.
“ After .” His voice is dripping with need as the familiar sound of lube squirts on the seam of my ass. I jerk forward, not ready for the cold sensation as Nova roughly begins working me open. It’s not pretty and definitely going to sting a little but I’m ready for him. Nova undoes his zipper and pulls out his cock, the fabric of his pants rubbing against my asscheeks. Not soon enough he switches his fingers for his cock, both of his hands now propped up on the kitchen island on top of mine.
I lean my head back against his shoulder, eager for his lips. A breathy moan tears from my throat as his lips drop my neck, sucking on the sensitive skin. Nova pushes forward, inch by inch sinking into my ass. His fingers spread through mine, curling until we’re gripping the counter together. When he’s flush with my ass, we let out twin sighs of relief as if this position is everything we need in the world.
“You will always be mine, Griffin Solace,” he purrs against my neck. To anyone else, the show of possessiveness might have turned them off. To me? I like knowing that someone wants me so much that they claim me. One of his hands returns to my neck, squeezing around the front as he slides out of my ass and thrusts back in. My greedy hole flutters around his cock, threatening to suck him in further as if that’s even possible. He fucks me like a man trying to reclaim what’s his, pounding into me as if he has something to prove.
I give in completely, there for his pleasure even as my cock grows harder, steadily leaking as my orgasm races toward me.
“Are you going to come for me, Fin?” His fingers dig into my neck and I gasp at the loss of air as he slides all the way out and then pounds into me. Stars dot the edge of my vision as pleasure and pain shoot through my veins.
“Yessss,” I drawl as my hips stutter and my body slacks against his, ropes of cum splaying across the island cabinets. Nova isn't done with me yet as he licks up the side of my neck and kisses my ear, thrusting into my ass a few more times before he fills me with his cum, rope after rope of his release spilling into me. He fucks me through it, both of us groaning at the squelch until it’s dripping down the back of my thighs. “Nova, fuck, too much.”
“Mmhmm,” he mumbles into my ear, holding me as my body comes down from the high. I’m hot and sweaty now but I feel claimed and my head is clearer than it has been in days. “ Now , you can go shower and then write,” He says. I’m about to grumble when he gives me a pointed look. “As much as I’d love to fuck you unconscious, you have deadlines and I need to feed you.”