Chapter Thirteen #2
Toby didn’t want to hold his gaze. He didn’t want to stare at the hurt in Griffin’s eyes anymore. But he couldn’t look away. There was something in Griffin’s gaze that drew him in and wouldn’t allow him to let go.
He wasn’t sure why, but he took off his seatbelt, although he didn’t scoot closer. Not right away. Toby was unsure of his welcome.
It wasn’t until Griffin reached for Toby’s hand and whispered, “Spend the night with me? Please.”
Toby nodded before scooting closer. He undid Griffin’s seatbelt before straddling his lap.
Griffin’s arms came around him, pulling him closer.
Toby relaxed for the first time all day. He laid his head on Griffin’s shoulder and shut his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.” Resignation laced through Griffin’s two-word response.
Trust didn’t come easily. Toby had learned the hard way what could happen if people knew about his abilities. He couldn’t take a chance with Griffin. What if it turned out bad? “Will you give me time?”
Griffin rubbed Toby’s back. “Do I have a choice?”
Toby shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize again. Just promise you’ll give me a chance to earn your trust.”
“I will. But it’s not that easy. I do trust you.”
“Just not with your secrets. Right?”
Toby moved away just enough to meet Griffin’s gaze.
Griffin raised his eyebrows as if he were challenging Toby to take a chance and tell him anyway. As if it were that easy.
“Some secrets need to stay hidden.”
“Well, someone found out about yours. And they’re using it against you. Did I get it right?”
Toby bit his lip and nodded. He didn’t elaborate, and Griffin didn’t ask again. Griffin opened the door and let him out first. They went up to the house together.
Griffin unlocked the door to a pretty little yellow and white house with a nice front porch and manicured landscaping. Even in the dark, Toby could see how well-kept the lawn was. He could even make out pretty yellow flowers in the dark.
When Griffin had the door unlocked, he guided Toby inside, flicking on a light as they entered the house.
The door opened to a living room with a comfortable-looking sectional and a television. But Griffin didn’t stop there. Instead, he guided Toby into the kitchen and told him to sit. “Sandwich?”
Toby nodded. He normally wouldn’t eat this late at night, but he could tell Griffin needed to change the subject.
Griffin was about ready to fall over. Toby could see the fatigue etched on his face.
Toby walked around the kitchen counter. “How about you sit and I’ll make you something.”
“If I sit, I’ll fall asleep.” Griffin leaned against the counter next to him.
“Okay, well, just stand there and look pretty then.” Toby went to the refrigerator.
Griffin smiled. “I’ll do my best, but I probably just look like I’m recovering from the worst flu ever.”
Griffin had a few condiments, deli meat and cheese, and some whole wheat bread, and not much else in his fridge.
“You’re gorgeous. Now stop fishing for compliments.” Toby grabbed what he needed and took it over to the counter.
Griffin chuckled. “I wasn’t fishing, actually. I feel about a thousand years old. I haven’t stayed up so late in a long time. My mom says I keep old-man hours.”
Griffin grabbed a butter knife from a drawer and handed it to Toby. He watched Toby slather a slice of bread with mayo, grinning the entire time. “You think I’m gorgeous.”
Toby chuckled. “You know you are.”
And Griffin really was. With his curly dark hair and light-colored eyes, he was stunning.
But Griffin wasn’t just pretty on the outside.
He was even more beautiful on the inside.
He could have made a fuss about Toby’s secret keeping, but he’d let it go.
And while Toby knew the reprieve wasn’t a permanent one, he appreciated the way Griffin hadn’t kept on hounding him for information.
It wouldn’t do Toby any good to take Griffin’s easygoing nature for granted, though. Griffin was smart and more capable than Toby had realized at first. He also had a determination that went soul deep when he set his mind to something.
“I know no such thing. My mate hasn’t even kissed me yet today. Maybe he thinks I’m ugly.”
Toby chuckled and put down the knife before moving in front of Griffin. He ran his hand down the center of Griffin’s chest and then trailed his fingers back up again. “I want to do more than just kiss you. But you probably know that already.”
“Let’s start with a kiss first.” When Griffin pressed their lips together, he made demands right from the start.
He darted his tongue between Toby’s lips before kissing again.
Each sip melted Toby a little at a time.
His legs turned to jelly, and he gripped Griffin’s arms, relishing in the strength beneath his fingers.
Griffin wrapped an arm around his waist and lifted him off his feet. Toby’s butt hit the kitchen island.
Griffin fit between his legs as though he were made for that exact spot. Maybe he was.
Toby opened for him, letting Griffin give him the most sensual kiss Toby had ever had.
He forgot about everything but Griffin. The way his hands felt on Toby’s waist and the way he kept pulling Toby closer as if he wanted Toby to live inside him.
Or maybe it was the other way around. All Toby wanted was never to let go.
He always wanted to feel exactly the way he did at that moment.
Safe. Secure. Loved in a way he never had been before.
It was all so perfect. So difficult to trust, but Toby was too far into the passionate kiss to think too hard about it.
For once in his life, he wanted to just let go of his fear and let Griffin carry him away from all his worries.
So that was what he did.