Chapter 5
CROSS
Isa’s soft breathing filled the room, as she finally settled after the long, chaotic day.
The crib was simple, but it fit a little girl’s nursery.
White wood with carved spindles tucked neatly into the corner of the room.
A plush, lavender-colored bunny sat next to Isa, its stitched eyes peaceful and serene.
The house had gone quiet around us, the earlier urgency replaced by a tense, expectant silence that crackled between Hannah and me and was impossible to ignore.
My gaze lingered on her as she stood near the crib, her attention entirely on Isa, as though the baby’s steady breathing was the only thing tethering her to the moment. Hannah’s body was rigid with residual stress, her delicate frame vibrating subtly from the strain of the day.
But even under that tension, there was something so fucking natural and effortless about the way she cared for Isa.
She’d stepped into that role like it had been waiting for her, as though she’d always belonged there.
No hesitation or second-guessing. Just quiet competence and a tenderness that tugged at something inside my chest.
The dim glow of the lamp cast soft shadows across her golden-blond hair, now pulled back into a loose ponytail, exposing the graceful line of her neck.
My eyes traced that slender curve, lingering on the sensitive spot where her pulse beat steadily beneath the warm skin.
My cock stirred, heat pooling low in my gut as my eyes roamed over her curves.
Even with the exhaustion of the day settling in, the need that burned for her hadn’t faded. It was only intensified now without the distractions.
Slowly, she looked up from Isa, her dark brown eyes lifting to meet mine, wide and unguarded for a fleeting second.
I felt the same pull from earlier—stronger this time, unhindered by external chaos.
The air seemed electric, my body tightening with desire at the way she held my stare, a question and a challenge mingling there in equal measure.
Her lips parted slightly, and I watched her take a shaky breath. Her chest rose and fell softly beneath the thin fabric of her pale-yellow sundress. Every line of her body and subtle reaction had me burning to close the distance and see just how soft she’d feel beneath my hands.
Without breaking eye contact, I picked up the baby monitor and flicked it on, the low, static hum filling the quiet as Isa continued to sleep peacefully.
Moving toward Hannah, I took her delicate hand firmly in mine, feeling the slight tremble in her fingertips as her eyes widened in surprise.
Her skin was warm and soft, sending sparks of heat racing up my arm.
“Come on.” My voice was rougher than intended as I led her toward the bedroom door.
She didn’t resist, her gaze still locked on me, a mix of apprehension and anticipation shining from her eyes. I carefully shut the door, the silence amplifying the charged atmosphere between us.
I released Hannah’s hand but didn’t let her slip away from me.
Instead, I took a deliberate step forward, forcing her gently backward until her spine met the cool wall.
My palm settled at her waist, my thumb tracing slow circles over the soft, delicate curve of her hip through the thin fabric of her dress, while my other hand rested firmly on the wall beside her head.
Her eyes widened, and a startled gasp slipped past those lush lips I’d been fantasizing about for hours, but she didn’t move away. Which was good because I wasn’t letting her run now.
Her body went still beneath my touch, her chest rising and falling a little faster, the quickening rhythm of her breath betraying her despite her attempts at composure. My gaze dropped lower, lingering deliberately on the way the rapid thrum of her pulse beat at the graceful curve of her throat.
She licked her bottom lip nervously, and I bit back a groan as my attention tracked that small, innocent movement. It took everything in me not to claim her mouth right then.
My gaze dipped further, noting how her nipples had tightened into hard little points beneath her dress, revealing exactly how much I was affecting her.
Her breath hitched softly, a barely audible sound, and I looked even lower, catching the subtle shift of her hips and the way her thighs pressed slightly tighter together—proof that she was every bit as affected by this tension as I was.
That reaction went straight to my cock, and my grip on her hip tightened instinctively. And possessively.
Satisfaction surged through me when she made no attempt to break away, the defiance she’d shown earlier replaced by a vivid awareness of me.
Deliberately, I leaned closer, my gaze locked onto hers, watching every flicker of emotion and arousal that passed through those expressive eyes. The air between us grew even more charged, crackling with an undeniable pull that neither of us could fight.
Hannah's lips parted softly, a small, needy sound escaping her throat, breaking the tense silence. That tiny sound shattered what little control I had left. I closed the remaining distance, my mouth claiming hers without hesitation.
Her lips were warm and soft, tasting faintly of strawberries.
Innocent and irresistible. For a moment, Hannah went completely still beneath me, surprise holding her rigid, but then she melted against me.
Her arms came up to clutch desperately at my shoulders rather than pushing me away.
Her fingers tightened in my shirt, pulling me closer, urging me onward, and any thoughts of holding back vanished entirely.
My kiss deepened, my tongue sliding past her parted lips to explore every sweet inch of her mouth.
She moaned softly, a helpless little sound that sent a bolt of lust straight to my already swollen and stiff cock.
My heart pounded harder, the rhythmic rush of blood roaring in my ears as her body molded perfectly against mine.
Her responses weren’t hesitant—they were instinctive, passionate, and utterly fucking perfect. I felt the change in her breathing to rapid and uneven, along with the urgent rise and fall of her tits as they pressed firmly against me. Her curves fit perfectly into my frame.
Heat surged between us, igniting something fiercely possessive deep within me.
My hands slid firmly down to her hips, gripping hard and pulling her lower body flush against mine.
She gasped when she felt the thick, rigid length of my cock pressing insistently into her belly, pulsing with unmistakable need.
I swallowed the soft sound with another deep kiss, letting her feel exactly what she did to me.
“Griffin.”
Her moan was so low I almost didn’t hear it, but the sound of my name from her lips sent a bolt of lust straight to my dick. It never occurred to me to have her call me Cross, but now that I’d heard my real name in the throes of passion…I was gonna make sure she screamed it every chance I got.
My fingers moved hungrily, sliding upward to caress the soft weight of her tits, cupping them through her dress.
She whimpered into my mouth, arching instinctively toward my touch.
Unable to resist, I traced a fingertip along the low neckline of her dress, slipping it beneath the fabric to graze it over the stiff peak of her nipple.
Hannah moaned louder, her hips involuntarily shifting against me in a way that nearly broke my tenuous control. But reason battled fiercely with raw desire.
It was late, and the last thing I wanted was to scare her or push her too fast, no matter how badly I craved sinking deep inside her and claiming her completely. I needed to be sure she’d stay before I took everything she had to offer.
Reluctantly, I forced myself to ease back, breaking the kiss even though every nerve in my body protested the separation. Hannah’s eyes were wide and dazed, her lips parted softly as she tried to catch her breath, and her body trembled slightly beneath my hands.
Taking advantage of her stunned silence, I gently guided her away from the wall, steering her down the hall toward my room, where I’d already dropped her bag earlier. She followed without argument, still caught up in the sensual haze of the kiss.
“Get ready for bed.” My voice was rough with lingering arousal. “Got some work to finish up.”
She blinked up at me, clarity slowly returning, and shook her head. “I’m not taking your bed, Cross. You’ve done enough. Just point me to a guest room.”
I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms over my chest, and raised an eyebrow. “No other beds, sweetheart.”
Hannah narrowed her eyes, suspicion creeping into her gaze. “This house has five bedrooms. How could there possibly be no other beds?”
I shrugged casually, fighting the smirk that tugged at the corner of my mouth. “Haven’t needed any until now.”
Before she could argue, I turned and walked down the hall. Every step away from her was a battle. My cock throbbed with unspent need, urging me to turn around and take what was mine. I forced myself to keep moving, gritting my teeth against the savage instinct demanding I claim her fully. Now.
Tonight wasn’t the right time. But fuck, walking away from her was one of the hardest things I’d ever done.
I stepped out onto the back deck, shutting the door softly behind me, and pulled out my phone. The crisp, cool evening air brushed gently over my heated skin, helping clear my head a bit. I needed the calm after being so close to Hannah. My self-control was dangerously close to snapping.
With a sharp exhale, I dialed Wizard, the club’s tech genius, and leaned against the deck railing as I waited for him to pick up. It only rang once before his dry, irritated voice greeted me.
“This better be fucking urgent, Cross. I just got Skye down, and she’s finally starting to sleep through the damn night.”
I chuckled softly, hearing the edge of exhaustion in Wizard’s voice beneath his gruff attitude. “Not an emergency. Just checking in to see if you’ve made any headway on my brother.”
Wizard let out a quiet sigh, clearly relaxing once he realized nothing was on fire.
“Yeah. I have programs combing through every damn inch of the internet looking for anything tied to Gavin—footage, receipts, bank activity, anything that’ll build us a solid timeline.
That bastard so much as bought a fucking soda in the past few months, we’ll know. ”
“Good. Let me know the second you’ve got something solid.” I scrubbed a hand down my face. “Need to get ahead of this shit before it blows back on us.”
“You’ll be my first call, man,” Wizard assured me gruffly. “Now, I’m putting out the do not fucking disturb sign. Anyone else interrupts my night with my wife when our kid is finally giving us some alone time…they better be fucking dying.”
I smiled faintly, hearing the underlying affection in his tone even through the blunt delivery. “Got it, brother. Enjoy your night.”
After hanging up, I shoved the phone back into my pocket and turned my gaze to the darkness stretching out over the quiet backyard. The night was silent, but my mind was anything but still.
I rubbed my hands roughly over my face, the reality of the day finally hitting me hard. Fuck. How the hell had so much changed in less than twenty-four hours?
I’d gone from a man who barely had a life beyond the club to being a father responsible for a tiny, helpless human. And fighting a relentless urge to claim Hannah in every possible way. It was enough to knock any man off his axis.
The image of Hannah flashed through my mind, her eyes wide and dark with longing, her lips parted in breathless anticipation. I groaned softly, my cock twitching at the memory. Sleeping in the same damn bed without touching her tonight would be fucking torture.
Eventually, I pushed away from the railing and made my way back inside, my steps quiet as I moved down the hallway.
When I entered the dimly lit bedroom, my breath caught sharply.
Hannah was sprawled in the center of the king-sized bed, one arm thrown across the pillow, the other resting softly against her stomach.
The gentle rise and fall of her chest was hypnotic, the soft glow from the bedside lamp illuminating the beautiful lines of her face and the tempting curves of her body.
A faint smile lifted the corners of my lips despite myself.
Damn, she wasn’t just sexy as hell—she was fucking adorable.
I stripped down to boxers and slid into bed, careful not to disturb her. Then I settled onto my back and stared up at the shadowed ceiling as my muscles started to relax, exhaustion finally creeping in.
Not even five minutes later, Hannah let out a soft sigh and rolled toward me.
Her lush body pressed flush against mine, her leg draping across my thigh, and her head resting lightly on my chest. Her warmth immediately seeped through my skin, shooting sparks of awareness straight through my veins and setting me right back on edge.
I swallowed hard, my cock swelling almost painfully. Closing my eyes, I drew a slow, calming breath, even as every nerve in my body screamed for me to roll her beneath me and fuck her until she couldn’t even whisper my name.
Yeah, it was going to be one long-ass night.