Chapter 13
Griffin
Beer and sweetness mingle on Cricket’s lips. The swipe of her tongue around mine is possessive, wrapped in assurance. Her hands slide over my shoulders, and her arms come around my neck to press her body against mine.
When the softest of moans lodges in her throat, she holds me tighter.
Sliding my hands over the curve of her waist and then lower under her ass, I lift her to bridge the height difference.
She wraps her legs around my waist and rubs the apex between them against me.
My thoughts spin from the past and present, and what this looks like come tomorrow.
I never fucking worry about the future since it tends to work in my favor, but this is Cricket and me, four years after Costa Rica.
This is being with someone in my hometown, which complicates not just when I leave, but when I come back to visit.
She’ll have expectations. What woman hasn’t after being together like this?
And it wouldn’t be unreasonable, which means this needs to stop.
I pull back, not because I want to, but if I don’t, this is going to get out of hand and fast like my spinning thoughts. “Damn,” I whisper, and then lick my lips.
Her eyes are lit with desire, and the push of her hips tells me all I need to know about where she wants this to go. But I peel her off the front of my body and set her on her feet again. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I brush some wild strands of hair stuck to her cheeks and tuck them behind her ears.
Seeing her now reminds me so much of how she looked back then.
She’s more woman than girl, a greater curve from her waist to her hips than I remember, and her tits are fuller, which she made the stars of that tight-fitting jersey.
I have a deep-seated craving that she wore it for me.
I noticed, alright. Somehow, she’s more stunning than ever if that’s even possible.
She was a fucking wet dream back then. Now she’s a goddess before me, so fucking beautiful it hurts.
“I was just thinking we might not want to take this much further.”
“Speak for yourself, Twenty-two.” Her hands slide down my chest and then grip onto the hem of my jersey. Not even trying to act shy, she smirks up at me. “I’m perfectly good with moving forward.”
Chuckling, I take hold of her hands before they go lower, where I actually want them. If she goes there, I’m done for. “I think I should take you home.”
“But—”
I touch her lips with my finger, which she promptly kisses, and then her grin returns, blooming even wider for me this time.
She’s a little vixen who knows how to get a reaction out of me.
This is probably a losing battle, and by losing, I win if we sleep together again.
And here I am, trying to be so good . . . “Not because I don’t want you.”
Glad I left my hat in the truck, I run my fingers through my hair without the hassle, and say, “I’ve thought about you more times than would be considered healthy over the years.
So when we do this again, it’s not going to be in a tin can of a boat, or against a tree.
” Glancing at the truck parked up the hill, I add, “Not even in a truck. It will be where I can appreciate every inch of you all night long without interruption.”
Her eyes search mine as she fists my shirt, but words seem to fail her.
Taking a deep breath, she looks down. When she slowly glides her gaze back up, she whispers, “Nights without interruption aren’t something I really have these days.
” She takes a quick breath and then opens her mouth as if she wants to say more, but then doesn’t.
She licks her lips instead and releases my jersey.
She takes a step back, but I catch her wrist and bring her back. “Hey, I just don’t want you waking up the next day regretting it.”
“Why would I regret it? We’ll use more protection this time.” Ummm, okay . . .
Not sure where that came from, I narrow my eyes, and ask, “What do you mean by more? I wore a condom last time.”
“Did you?” Her brows squeeze together as she stares up at me in question. She seems to have a point to make, but I’m lost on what that might be.
“Of course, I did. I always do.” Bringing her wrist to my mouth, I place a kiss and then another across the soft skin before slipping my hand around hers.
Her head tilts. “All three times?”
“Are we having two different conversations because I can’t make sense of it? What are you getting at?”
She releases a breath and my hand jointly, and then says, “I was on the pill, but that’s not one hundred percent.”
I take a step back, needing space to follow the bricks she’s laying. “Are you saying we didn’t use a condom?”
“One of the times. We ran out because we only had two.”
That’s not a detail I’ve held on to, much less recall at all. “It’s not something I do.”
“Well, you did. The one time,” she emphasizes. “We were drinking, and it was years ago, so I understand why it would slip your mind.”
“But you remember it like it was yesterday. Why is that? Why does it matter now? It’s ancient history.”
She moves out from under the overhang of the large Cypress trees lining the banks of the river. Looking up at the stars, she smiles and then returns her gaze to me. “I just want to make sure there are no accidents, if you know what I mean.”
I nod and move out to see a sky full of stars above us. Texas sure knows how to flaunt her beauty sometimes. “Sure. I know what you mean. That’s another reason not to continue tonight. I don’t have a condom tucked into this baseball uniform.” I crack a smile and give her a wink.
“I’m surprised knowing you.” She laughs. I’m thankful for the sound as it cuts through the silence of the night. There’s my fiery little chirp. I’m not sure she knows me as well as she thinks, but she’s definitely onto me and might have me figured out more than most.
I like the easiness we’ve fallen back into together and run my thumb over my bottom lip while studying her. “I have to admit this isn’t my kind of foreplay if this is the angle you’re going with to seduce me, Dover.”
Walking to me, she touches under my chin with her finger. “If I were seducing you, you’d know it.” She flicks her finger off my chin like a match against the striker. Turning on her heels, she leaves flames in her wake. So fucking sexy.
That tight jersey of hers made it hard to look away, but her backside is giving a damn good show of its own.
As if she knows she’s left like a dog with his tongue hanging out and tail wagging, she stops and looks back over her shoulder.
I’m given a glimpse of a playful smile toying with her lips.
“You going to hang around here all night, Greene, or are you going to drive me home?”
“I’m coming.” I catch up, taking her hand like it’s mine to hold. “But you’re making me think twice.”
She doesn’t pull her hand away. Her fingers wrap around mine as she walks next to me, our arms brushing against each other. “Too late. You had your chance. Now I’m ready to pull on some pajamas and call it a night. No offense.”
“None taken. I only have myself to blame.” I peer over at her to catch her nodding. Her eyes connect with mine just as we approach the truck. Instead of separating and returning to opposite sides of the truck, our arms stretch between us with our hands still clasped.
Standing there, neither of us in any hurry, she asks, “Would it be so wrong to make a night of it another time?”
“I like the way you think, Ms. Dover.”
“I’m matching your energy.”
“No doubt about that.” I’ve never met a woman like her.
It’s damn attractive. I pull her close, wrapping my arms around her once more, knowing it’s the last time I’ll get to do it tonight.
“Listen, I can respect that you have a comeback quip on the tip of your lips ready to fire at the first opportunity.” The way the moon shines in her eyes and her smile is carefree when I’m holding her like this, it tempts me to kiss her again.
I’ve been dying to, actually. I don’t because I’m not going to escalate things between us again when we just wound them down.
“But instead of teasing, I’d rather kiss and make up. ”
She bursts out laughing. Covering her mouth, she mutters, “Sorry. I’m not laughing at you.”
“Considering I’m not laughing, I’m figuring it’s not with me either.” She’s downright irresistible.
“No. No.” She pats my chest. “No, for real. You do make me laugh, but in a good way.” Reaching up, she runs the tip of my fingers over my bottom lip, then replaces them by lifting onto her toes and kissing me.
It’s gentle and probably placating a bit, but I’ll take anything she’s willing to give me.
This time when she pulls back, I say, “I’m really trying to be good here, but you make it really fucking hard.” I regret the reference as soon as I say it.
Her eyes go lower, and with a smug little grin on her mouth, she leaves me standing there, growing erection and all, and tugs the door open.
She takes a step up and then drapes her arm over the top of it.
“Disappointingly, you’re being a perfect gentleman, Griffin.
” Only a short distance separates us, but I can see the genuineness.
It’s also the first time I think she’s said my name.
I liked hearing it from her. “I’m the one stirring things up.
Since we’ve slept together before, it seemed like an easy habit to form. ”
“Hooking up every four years?” I ask, walking to the driver’s side. I duck inside just as she drops into the seat next to me.
“Giving myself permission every four years.” She reaches away to grab the seat belt, but I’m still stuck on what she just said.
Is she saying . . .? Surely not. Maybe? Oh shit .
. . Before I can say anything, she adds, “It’s definitely time for me to go home.
I don’t make the best decisions when I drink.
” She waves me off. “Just ignore me. I’m talking nonsense. ”
Cricket Dover is impossible to ignore. Not just because of her beauty, but I’m attracted to how clever she is. Quick-witted and snarky. A slightly dry sense of humor layered under a landing pun. I haven’t smiled this much in a long time.
She looks good in my truck. Her dark hair has been pulled over one shoulder, and she leans back, rolling her head to face me.
By that grin, I’m thinking she’s not too upset with me sitting next to her.
A lot has changed between us in the past few days.
It’s been nice to see her this way, relaxed with the stresses of the event behind her, but the silence brings her to say, “I’m sorry.
I’ve not acted myself. I’m sure you’re used to women wanting to maul you, but it’s not something I do.
” She laughs under her breath. “Costa Rica and tonight aside, of course.”
“You don’t need to apologize.” I start the truck and shift into Drive. With the distraction of being behind the wheel, I confess, “I find you quite beautiful, and have tried to manufacture excuses just so I could look at you a little longer instead of leaving.”
Holding her hands on her lap, she looks forward as I pull up to the main road from the property. “We’re even then.”
A lot of life has been lived since we were last together, but it’s like no time has passed between us. The chemistry is there, and the attraction stronger than ever. I may not have definitive plans in the future, but she’s making me want to hang around a bit longer. “Where to?”
“Dover Creek Winery.”