16. LUNA
Luna
S tomach full for the first time in a while, I’m curled back into the scratchy couch cushions, reading all about Noah and his swoon-worthy men. Griffin has the bones of a beautiful story and I understand why he wasn’t able to put his heart and soul into it like he has his other books. He’s tinkering with something in the kitchen—he promised he wasn’t cooking—so, I’m just fingering the manuscript pages.
I’ve been at this for what seems like hours, having already read through the manuscript once, and the fact that the light in this open floor plan has dimmed, I know that I’m right. Must be nearly dinner time already.
My vision blurs slightly and I sit up straight, looking around for my bag. It’s still where I left it and yet, I need it closer. Something feels… off.
“Hey, Luna, you ready to go home?”
I twist around to see Griffin inches from the couch, his hands perched on the back. His head is tilted to the side, watching for my reaction. I nearly forgot how well he knows me and that six years hasn’t changed much.
“What?” I finally push out when I find my voice.
“You’ve looked at your bag six times in the last fifteen minutes and you keep shifting. I know when you’re all peopled out, Luna.”
My nose scrunches up as I clutch his manuscript to my chest. I want to argue with him but that would mean spending however much longer in a space that doesn’t have four walls and a door with no one else in it. I hate that I feel this way, that even with the love of my life inches from me, I still need time alone. “Griffin-”
“Hey, no .” He reaches forward, sliding one hand to cup my cheek. “Luna, I’m not mad at you or disappointed. You’ve always needed your space. That hasn’t changed and for someone who’s been on their own for six years? I can’t imagine what dealing with everyone in Spring Haven all over again has done. Come on, let me get you to your room. I assume you’re staying at Ms. Elrod’s bed and breakfast, right?”
“Why are you so understanding?”
“Because I love you. I’m in love with you.” Griffin grins and then presses a light kiss to the tip of my nose. “If you keep stalling, you’ll have to deal with Nova and Rome and I assure you that this little… sharing arrangement will be a popular topic of conversation.” He knows how to get me off the couch because that’s not what I want to talk about right now, or ever really.
Nova and Rome’s ‘permission’ given earlier was strange but to have to sit down and talk about it while all three of them are looking at me? No thanks.
“We can go,” I say hurriedly, stuffing myself into my shoes after scrambling off the couch and throwing my bag across my back. I’m still in Griffin’s oversized clothing but I’ve never been one for appearances. His manuscript is shoved into my backpack a moment later as I all but race down the stairs and out the door, Griffin one step behind me.
“Luna,” he chuckles, “I didn’t mean to scare you but you know they’re going to talk about the dynamics at some point.”
“Sure, but I’ve known them for less than 24 hours so I’d rather give it a little more time. Besides, I’m here for a manuscript and I’ll lose my job if I just…” My brows crease and I slow to a standstill, trying to figure out my words. What am I doing? I went from being okay with a one-night-stand every now and then or a hard club fuck to enjoying the attentions of two men.
Or three—as Griffin keeps telling me.
For six years, I’ve been on alert, my head on a swivel. It only took a few hours for me to feel comfortable, safe —which makes them all dangerous. Griffin catches up and moves around me to stand in front of me. “Luna?” I can hear the next sentence without him even saying it—that everything will be alright. He wants to soothe my panic without lying to me. God, he’s so fucking precious.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” I’m not. I’m far from okay but I can’t let him see anything else. He’s already felt the scars. I don’t want him to see that I’m barely holding it together—although I’m sure he already knows. I slip my hand into his and throw him a small smile before continuing down the sidewalk with Griffin at my side. It feels like we’ve been transported back six years ago, the scent of fresh pastries from the bakery surrounding us as well as the chatter that comes with Spring Haven’s gossip.
The few hellos as we pass people I recognize but no longer remember.
“Griffin! Is that you Luna?” I tense and step just slightly behind Griffin, staring at one of my mother’s friends. Well, an ex-friend. When my mother chose alcohol over loyalty, this woman dropped her. “I knew you’d return! When’s the wedding?”
My grip on Griffin’s hand tightens as memories of our plans flit through my head. We mentioned marriage once or twice as na?ve 22-year-olds but with a town like Spring Haven, everyone started running the same story. Everyone just knew we were going to end up together with our own white picket fence and five children. It seems that six years apart didn’t dispel the rumors.
It takes me embarrassingly long to remember this woman’s name but Griffin saves me from saying anything. “We’re not getting married, Ellen. She’s here to help me with my book.”
Ellen throws her head back and laughs. “That’s quite the story. I’ll keep your secret.” She leans toward me, a deviant glint in her eyes. “Make sure he gets you a big rock. He can afford it.” Then she winks and continues on about her way. My shoulders sag as I tuck myself into Griffin’s side, ignoring both the marriage comment and the fact that Griffin can afford a really nice ring. Either his writing career has been really lucrative or something else has.
I don’t want to know.
At this point, I just want to curl up in my bed and pull the covers over my head to disappear from the world.
The rest of the walk happens in silence and it isn’t until Griffin deposits me right in front of the door to my room that he speaks again. “You going to be alright?”
“I think so,” I mumble and then tack on a smile. “Not going to kiss me?” I’m hiding my discomfort beneath a joke but Griffin doesn’t address it.
He steps closer, pressing me against the wall beside my door, not caring who else might pass us in the meantime. “Didn’t know if I could.” Griffin tucks a stray curl behind my ear, leaving his hand there, his thumb caressing my cheek. “You wanted slow, Luna. You told me that we couldn’t just jump back in. You have doubts and you think we’re on a clock.” I open my mouth but he just shakes his head as his other hand settles on my waist. “Not kissing you as I drop you off is slow. I have no restraint with you. But you asked for a kiss, so I’m giving it.”
Griffin isn’t wrong. We were always explosive together, touching in some way, by each other’s side as often as we could. The moments we spent apart were only because we had different class schedules or internships, really. The fact that he fucked me this morning just proves how little restraint we have with each other despite how many reservations I have.
“It’s just a kiss, Griffin,” I say, angling my chin up for better access.
He snorts, shaking his head. “Precious, I can’t stop thinking about the way your tight pussy squeezed my cock this morning. How fucking amazing it felt to sink inside of you and bury myself in the woman I’ve always been in love with. I know you think that starting up something might bring those men to my door but I don’t care. You’re here and I’m not letting you go like that again. No surprise goodbyes.”
His words are both a threat and a promise as his lips descend on mine, demanding my submission. I melt against his chest, my hands sliding up to grip his shoulders. Griffin takes it as a challenge as he sifts one of his legs between mine, thrusting his thigh upwards to meet the apex of my jeans. I gasp and he swallows the sound, slowly dragging his thigh back and forth.
“Grif-” His name is cut off as my head tilts back, his pace quickening. My fingers dig into his shoulders as my pussy clamps around nothing. I grind down on his leg, needing release, Griffin dipping his lips to my neck as his hand moves to flatten against the wall. “Griffin—we can’t—ungh.”
Griffin knows full well that half of my pleasure is drawn from possibly getting caught. When his teeth sink into the curve of my neck, I clamp my mouth shut, a whine fighting its way through. Pleasure shoots through me as I come, holding onto Griffin as my entire body shakes with the force of my orgasm. I’m still riding his leg as I flop against him, Griffin chuckling. He runs a hand through my unruly curls before pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“You’re so fucking beautiful when you come. See? No restraint with you. However, precious, I have no qualms about pushing you inside and finishing what we started this morning.”
My eyes widen and I place a peck on his lips before scrambling into my room and shutting the door. I want Griffin something fierce but I’m not ready to jump back in. Yet. He and Rome have made me come more in a day than I have in three months. The sudden silence is more peaceful than I want it to be, the drab, bland colors giving me a moment to breathe.
Three men? Really Luna? Fuck.
I try not to think about the implications of something like that in Spring Haven or in life, really. Dropping my bag by the edge of the bed with the glow-in-the-dark charm facing me, I spread myself on the mattress and pull out Griffin’s manuscript again. I’m eager to delve into these characters’ lives and find their reason for existing so I can truly edit this to be a masterpiece or at least a facsimile of one.
The hurt and betrayal that they go through astonishes me but the love they have for Noah mirrors the starting of a relationship I’m trying to ignore. The way they defend and protect Noah. The way they strive to make him comfortable despite his shortcomings.
Rome did that last night. He made me comfortable, picked up on my discomfort, and adjusted. Nova did that—changing out of a suit and promising to find and destroy the men after me. Sure, he didn’t put it like that but the expression plastered on his face told me everything. And Griffin, my heart and soul, telling me that we have more than two weeks, silently promising me forever.
I don’t trust my heart though. It’s the one reason I nearly stayed in Spring Haven and brought my troubles to my hometown and to Griffin’s front door.
A squeak just outside my window pulls me out of my predicament—one I shouldn’t even be having. You’ve known them for less than a day, Luna. Get over it. The squeak comes again and I climb off the bed before heading to the window. Dragging the shade up a little, I catch a figure standing a few feet off, his head angled up and facing my window. I’m not sure he can see anything with the setting sun but the eeriness of his presence terrifies me.
The fact that he’s standing behind Ms. Elrod’s place makes it worse.
No need to worry. He’s just a weirdo. He’s not even in a suit.
The man looks like he could use a shower or two. Spring Haven always has a few weirdos so I pull down the shade and return to the bed. This time, however, I’m on high alert. There will be no sleeping tonight. I’ll distract myself with Griffin’s manuscript and that piss water downstairs.
An idea of walking over to Rome’s café flits through my mind but I shake my head. I don’t want to worry them. I’m just a little strung out. That’s all this is.
When my phone rings, I jump off the bed, my fists at the ready, my heart in my throat. The scare undoes the pleasure and relaxation Griffin just gave me. “Fucking hell!” I cry, searching through my backpack for the culprit. “What?”
“Luna baby, you good?”
“Yeah, I guess.” I place a hand over my heart, trying to slow my breathing. One of these days I’m going to give myself a heart attack. Another creak by the window draws me back over but the man is gone. Well, that’s not fucking creepy.
“How’s Spring Haven?”
I can sense Max is searching for clues but he won’t be prying them for me. Yana has a knack for listening in and somehow twisting them into whatever PR nightmare she can. “Fine, lots of nostalgia. I met Griffin and his manuscript… needs work.”
Max bursts out laughing. “You’ve gotten further in one day than most of the editors I’ve sent out there in a week.”
A sigh tumbles from my lips as I wander downstairs, thankful that Ms. Elrod isn’t manning the door. It seems everyone has retired for dinner while I force-feed myself coffee from hell. It isn’t that bad and it’s better than some things I’ve drank but nowhere near Rome’s. “You paid me to do a job, Max. I don’t know why you’re surprised.”
“And we both know that I sent you down there for more than that. You were looking a little rough around the edges and I thought some nostalgia would help. You could have said no.”
I know I could have but there was no reason to. I came for closure and found way more than I bargained for. I’m still not giving Max all that information. He doesn’t need to know I’ve somehow caught three men’s attention. “His story is really good. We’ll have it fixed up in no time.”
“Uh-huh, you keep deflecting.”
“Because I don’t want to talk about it. Max, I’ve settled in. I’ve eaten and now it’s time for dinner and more reading. Anything else?”
“Nope.”
I narrow my gaze as I pour myself a cup of coffee and then think better of it. Ms. Elrod won’t miss the pot. I already checked and only one or two other people are staying here. I grab the entire pot and march back up the stairs. “Max, you wouldn’t call if there was nothing to tell me. You don’t normally just check up on me. So…”
“Yana is on her way.”
“What the fuck for?”
“Why else? To create some PR nightmare. Just… make sure Griffin is on his best behavior. She always seems to catch him at the wrong moment and then spin the shit out of it. Sells books but fuck, that has to take a toll on a guy.”
I snort. “And you let it happen.”
“Griffin hasn’t once truly complained.”
That doesn’t surprise me. Griffin is really agreeable so long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. However, Yana showing up in Spring Haven sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. “When is she coming?”
“Next week.”
“Thanks for the heads up.” I hang up and chug the cup I brought with me before stepping back into my room. Tonight will be a long one. Between the underlying panic and Yana’s upcoming visit, there will be no sleep. Not that I usually sleep.
Moving a few of the pillows into the corner on the other side of the bed from the window, I stuff myself in the corner so that I have a perfect view point of the room. My backpack is at my feet, the coffee pot on one side and my cup on the other, the manuscript in my lap.
Perfect.
Chapter Fifteen.
I woke up with Declan’s cock pressed against the seam of my ass and a faceful of Logan who pressed a kiss to the bridge of my nose.
“Well,” I murmured to myself. “That’s one hell of a way to start a chapter.”