1. Griffin
GRIFFIN
“Give it back!”
Cocking my head in a look of confused innocence, I step inches beyond Ember’s reach as she stretches across the counter of the reception desk. “Give what back? This is mine.”
Her pretty blue eyes widen in exasperation at our little game of keep away. “That’s your lip gloss? Really?”
“Yeah.” Squinting at the tiny writing on the bottom of the tube, I read the name. “Coquettish. It’s my favorite shade.”
Her gaze goes to my mouth, where I bite my bottom lip and waggle my eyebrows at her.
“Griffin, I don’t have time for this right now.”
Teasing Ember is one of my favorite things to do, because she’s adorable when she gets annoyed with me.
She’s adorable, period.
You might think I’m basing this description on her height, and you’d be partially right—I have an extra foot and a handful of inches over the petite blonde. Despite her small size, Ember does an impressive job of standing up to pushy clients and miscreants like me with equal aplomb.
Her eyes narrow at me. “Can I have my lip gloss back? Please?”
Deciding I’ve pushed her limits enough for the moment, I sketch a bow and hand the tube back. “As you wish.”
“Thank you.” She goes over to a handy mirror, giving me the opportunity to watch her slick gloss onto her luscious lips, which needed no embellishment. When she’s done, she steps back and checks her clothing, which today is a dark pair of pants and a slim-fitting dress shirt, buttoned up far too high. When she returns to her desk, she slides her arms into a tan blazer, pulling her sleek ponytail out from under the collar as she adjusts it.
We hardly look like coworkers, with me in torn and faded jeans and a Nirvana t-shirt that’s seen not just better days, but better decades.
I lift my chin, acknowledging her blazer. “Where you headed?” Apparently, it’s lunchtime already. I was inking a detailed Medusa head on a guy’s forearm all morning, and time flew by.
“Lunch somewhere. I’m not sure. My date’s picking me up any minute.” Her focus shifts past me toward the door. “Oh, here he is now.”
Curiosity has me twisting my neck and then my entire body so I can get a good look at the guy. Ember’s taste in men is predictable, and today’s dude fits the mold and then some.
His navy blue pants have sharp creases ironed into them, and little tassels are flapping on his shiny brown loafers with each step. “You gotta be kidding me.”
“What was that?” Ember’s brows lift as she retrieves her purse from the desk drawer.
I tip my head toward the approaching dweeb. “Fellow business student?”
She nods distractedly as she exits windows on her laptop, logs out, and folds it closed. “Be nice, Griffin.” Her tone sends a warning that makes me smirk.
Nice? I’m always nice.
The pungent scent of the guy’s cologne reaches us a few seconds before he does. His fingers fiddle with the ends of his sleeves on opposite arms. He’s wearing actual fucking cufflinks. Shiny gold ones.
This guy can’t possibly be giving Ember orgasms. I’ll bet he couldn’t find a G-spot if he was shown an hour-long PowerPoint presentation on the topic.
There’s a rumble deep in my throat at the thought of Ember sleeping with this numbnuts. I hope to hell she’s not. Even though he looks like all the others, I’ve never seen this particular guy before. From what I can tell, she doesn’t seem to go out with the same guy more than once or twice.
Zeb, another artist and one of my housemates, strides past, a sneer on his face as he sizes up Ember’s date. Zeb’s never said anything, but I’d bet my next paycheck he has a thing for Ember. Who wouldn’t?
She’s silky sweet confidence, with plenty of curves on her small frame, and I’ve thought about asking her out myself, just to find out if she has a wild side, but our bosses wouldn’t be happy about that. They had a messy situation when they first started Beasts Ink with a couple of artists who got involved, and then had a hugely dramatic breakup, so they discourage employees dating.
I’m not usually one to follow rules, but I have a lot of respect for Kai and Gage. And for Ember, too. Besides, I’d only end up hurting her if we went out. But I’d sure as fuck give her as many orgasms as she could handle.
“Can I help you?” I step in front of Mr. Shiny Shoes before he reaches Ember, and his eyes widen as he comes face-to-face with my chest.
Backing up a few inches and attempting to look around me, his voice comes out in a squeak. “I’m—” He clears his throat and restarts with a deeper tone. “I’m here to see Ember.”
“Ember. Is that right? And what are your intentions toward our sweet Ember?” Behind me, the woman in question is trying to nudge me out of her way, but I ignore the jab.
“Um …I’d like to take her to lunch.”
“Oh, really? And where will you be taking her? It better be somewhere worthy of her time.”
“Griffin, move!” She gives my back a push, which has no effect at all except to make me realize I’ve inadvertently trapped her behind the desk, a stack of supply boxes blocking the other way out.
“Now, wait a minute, Ember.” I step aside, but keep her date pinned in my sights. “Don’t go hurrying off until I’ve gotten to know—what’s your name, son?”
“Just ignore him.” Ember takes the guy’s arm and turns him toward the door. “Let’s go, Perry.”
“Perry?” I can’t contain my snort, not that I try. “Perry, make sure you buy our girl a steak,” I call after them. “I’d better not hear that you went to a sandwich shop. And don’t bring her back a minute after midnight, or you won’t be allowed to take her out again!”
Ember turns and gives me a pointed glare, which only makes me want to taunt them more. She’s extra cute when she’s angry.
Zeb scowls as he passes by again. “Clean up your station, Griffin.”
My station is fine, and ready for my next appointment, who appears to be running late. Once Ember and Pipsqueak Perry are out of sight, I settle down in the reception area to wait. When the woman finally arrives, I wave away her apologies and jump right in on the design I discussed with her last week, a small rose on the back of her shoulder.
She slips out of the right sleeve of her loose top and drops her bra strap to clear the area, and while I don’t get turned on watching her do this, because I’m a fucking professional , her actions do make me think about Ember again, and wonder for the millionth time whether or not her skin bears any ink.
I don’t think it does, because she doesn’t seem like the type, but I’ve asked her, and was told to mind my own business, which makes me suspect the answer is yes. My top picks for where on Ember’s body I might find a tattoo are the swell of her left breast and the back of her right hip, curving onto her ass cheek. Unfortunately, the clothing she wears to work keeps these spots fully concealed, but that hasn’t stopped my imagination from fueling more than a few DIY hand jobs.