Chapter 16 #2
I shake my head and focus on tearing the cocktail napkin into bite-sized pieces. “It was mortifying to hear said aloud, but he wasn’t the first guy I couldn’t get there with.”
“Men like that should be banned from touching women. Hell, from breathing the same air as them.”
I sigh, running my hand through my hair. “That’s all well and good, but the fact is…” I press my lips together, then huff out a laugh. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my vibrator’s been the only way I’ve ever been able to come. So, it’s probably me. I’m defective or some such shit.”
His eyes flash, the storm from earlier returning for a second round.
But I’m not ready for him to speak.
In fact, I need this little chat to end. Now.
Way to take a hot moment with a local sex god and turn it into a therapy session. Griffin probably wishes he’d taken his client up on her offer now.
“Since I’ve completely ruined the moment, want to grab a cheeseburger? And maybe an entire bottle of whiskey I can down alone in the corner?”
“It’s not you,” he says, his voice low and certain. “When it’s done right, you’ll come so hard you won’t be able to think. All because of me and my tongue.”
A shiver shoots through me, invading every cell.
God help me, I’m more turned on by the sound of him promising it than I’ve ever been from a man actually touching me.
My pulse skitters, and before I realize it, my fingers have drifted to the base of my throat, sliding down over my collarbone toward the dip of my cleavage.
His eyes follow the movement, a slow slide that leaves me hyperaware of exactly where my hand rests. But he keeps going. “A real man wouldn’t just do it—he’d take pride in it.”
“Right.”
“I’m serious. What man wouldn’t want to blow his woman apart like that?”
“Most men. At least the ones I’ve known. Doesn’t matter, anyway. I’d never be able to relax enough, regardless. Maybe I don’t taste good or—God, I don’t know—maybe?—”
“They’re incompetent,” he cuts in. “There’s no way you taste like anything other than heaven.”
Is there anything more mortifying than admitting your sexual shortcomings to a man who’s considered a sexual legend?
Nope, I don’t think there is.
I take the last swallow from my glass and point toward the bar. “What do you want? My treat.”
“Really?” He crooks his finger at me. “Perfect. Come here.”
I gaze around the dimly lit bar, fully aware of how secluded we are in this back corner. “What?”
“I want to know how good you taste. I haven’t been to church in a while. Time I tasted an angel.”
My eyes widen. “You’re serious.”
He gestures to the bulge in his jeans. “Absolutely.”
“I told you. I pretty much avoid that task.”
“It’s not a task. It’s a pleasure. Incredible, holier-than-church pleasure. And you will enjoy it with me. I’ll make damn certain of it.”
“Griffin, you need to stop.”
Before I can slide away, his hand clamps my hip and he hauls me back against him, flush to his chest, whiskey glass forgotten in my grip. The move is firm, commanding, leaving no room for doubt.
“No, I need to keep going.” His mouth is at my ear now, rough and low, breath hot enough to make me shiver. “And you’re going to give me thirty seconds right now.”
Thirty seconds? My pulse spikes at the challenge. I should protest, should shove him back, but the way his voice rakes over me turns my bones to liquid.
His hand slides beneath my skirt, knuckles grazing my bare thigh before his fingers press higher, tracing over the thin strip of lace covering me.
“I’d get down on my knees for you every damn day, worship you until you’re shaking and begging me for mercy…
and then keep going until you forget your own name. ”
My breath hitches, the air thick between us. Heat licks up my spine as my body betrays me, rocking subtly toward the steady pressure of his touch.
He catches it instantly. “Yeah, you’d love it,” he murmurs, pushing the lace aside and running a slow, deliberate stroke over my slick skin. “Fuck, you’re already wet just from me talking about it.”
I gasp, my grip tightening around my empty glass, shocked by his forward ministrations. Even more shocked by how much I want it.
He slides a finger inside me, the movement unhurried and deliberate, like he’s already mapping every inch. “See? This is the reaction I want when we discuss it—you getting soaked and desperate just from the promise of my mouth on you. Every inch of you aching for me.”
Of course, he says it out loud. Griffin doesn’t let me dodge, doesn’t let me pretend. He pins me down with the truth, and my body betrays me by proving every damn word right.
“Fuck,” I whimper, biting the heel of my hand to keep from moaning loud enough for the entire bar to hear, trying to tamp down the emotions and the heat threatening to spill over.
His breath is hot at my ear, thick with intent.
“Now I’m going to pay our tab. Then I’m taking you to my truck, and you are going to sit on my face and ride this cowboy with everything you’ve got, because I don’t want to miss a single inch of you.
” His finger curls inside me, making my knees go weak.
“You’ll ride my face until I’m good and ready to let you go. I will take hours claiming you.”
But then he stills, leaving me pulsing and restless. A denial that nearly makes me whimper.
His mouth curves into a grin at my ear before he nips the back of my neck, making me jolt. “I want you loud. And the truth is, there’s probably some kind of law against what I’m doing in Jimmy’s bar. I don’t think he’d appreciate me breaking in his booths like this.”
Griffin stands up, adjusting himself with a grunt. “What you do to me, Reese.” Then, he offers his hand to me. “Ready?”
Honestly? I’m terrified, but my body is all systems go.
A thousand what-ifs circle my brain, but one thought overrides them all.
I set out to get laid, good and proper. Complete with orgasms that weren’t faked.
All things Griffin promises to deliver.
To me.
Tonight.
Just once, don’t overthink things, Reese. Just fucking once.
Heart, you’re not winning this battle. It’s my body’s turn for a little fun. We’ll handle the heartbreak tomorrow.
“Come on, beautiful, don’t keep me waiting.”
I reach out and grab his fingers, managing a small smile as he pulls me to my feet, his hand warm against my waist. “Okay. I can do this.”
Griffin frames my face, planting a loud kiss on my mouth. “Fuck, I can’t wait to blow apart your theories on sex.”
“I don’t have any theories.”
“You will, and a ton of stories, too.” He shifts his stance, a subtle roll of his hips like he’s trying to ease the pressure straining his jeans. “Let’s go.”
A crash sounds from the front of the bar, followed by a loud string of curses.
Shit. I know that voice.
Perfect timing, universe.
Ducking around Griffin, I race toward Piper, who sits on the floor, clutching her ankle, Colton by her side.
I kneel next to her and gently loosen her grip. “What happened?”
“You’re going to yell.”
You prevented me from getting an orgasm, so yes, probably.
“Don’t tell me you were dancing on the bar.”
She winces as I gingerly press around the area. “Fine, I won’t tell you.”
I lean back on my haunches and glare at my sister. “Piper.”
“I know. Colton told me not to do it.”
“Glad someone was using their brain.” I lock gazes with Colton, who is shaking his head, a look of exasperated concern on his face.
Come to think of it, that probably matches my expression.
“It was stupid. I’m stupid and— ouch .” A few tears roll down her cheeks as she holds her foot, rocking back and forth.
“I can take her to the emergency room and have them rule out a fracture,” Colton states. “But only if she promises to be more careful next time. Damn it, Piper, if I’d known you were going to do that, I could have caught you.”
“I wanted to be spontaneous,” she sniffles, her blue eyes glassy with pain and embarrassment.
Colton presses a soft kiss to her hair. “And I’d like you in one piece. Come on, let’s get you looked at, so I can grab a couple hours of sleep. I start a 48 in the morning.”
“I’ve got her, Colton,” I reply. “Go home and get some rest.”
That’s when Griffin finally moves. No hesitation, no debate—just a low grunt of effort as he bends, sliding his arms beneath Piper like it’s the most natural thing in the world. One second she’s on the floor, the next she’s gathered up against his chest, safe and steady.
“No way,” Piper argues. “I’ll be fine. I refuse to be a cockblock.”
“Too late,” Griffin says with a smirk. “Can you settle her bill, Reese? I’ll put our little mountain climber in the truck.”
I settle the tab and follow them out to the parking lot, watching as he eases Piper into the passenger seat of her truck. She’s fine—already cracking jokes through the pain—but the heat from earlier feels like it’s been doused with cold water.
Griffin straightens, shutting Piper’s door with a soft click. The dim light casts shadows over his face, but I see the way his jaw flexes before he speaks. “Maybe it’s better this way.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut. Exactly what I’d feared deep down—that he’d realize I’m nothing but another mess. Another complication he doesn’t need.
I force a thin smile. “Yeah. Obviously.”
Two strides and he’s in front of me, his hands firmly gripping my shoulders.
“Get out of your head right now. That is not how I meant it. But there’s something to be said for taking it slow.
Letting it build. Delaying the pleasure.
” His mouth curves into a wicked grin. “Because I know you’re going to give me a whole lot of it, belleza. ”
Damn, but that sounds so good, and my body is threatening to revolt from the sudden one-eighty in plans.
I fumble with my keys, eyes darting down. “Careful, cowboy, the last thing you need is another woman falling for you. You already have enough of that in your line of work.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, my stomach plummets.
Shit. Did I just admit I’m falling for him? Out loud?
His hand is gentle but insistent as he tips my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Didn’t you hear me earlier? I’m done with that part of my life.”
I blink at him, disbelieving. “I thought… I thought you just said that to get rid of her.”
“No.” His voice is steady, certain. “I left about a month ago.”
“But what about this weekend?”
Griffin tips his hat back on his head. “Lauren is a friend. She needed someone to keep the vultures at bay. Smile for the cameras, fetch her a drink, make sure she wasn’t cornered. That’s it. But I also gave her my business proposal, so hopefully, I have an investor soon.”
My keys bite into my palm as I stand frozen, unsure what to do with the rush of relief flooding me.
He wasn’t lying about the trip.
The world tilts as he leans closer, his voice a husky whisper. “So if you’re falling, Reese, fall. I’m right here.”
Before I can respond, he brushes his mouth over mine. “Tomorrow, I’m taking you out. We’re going to get to know each other—a whole lot better.”
I part my lips to speak, but he doesn’t let me, his tone dipping filthier. “And when I make this up to you, I’m going to take my time. Draw it out. Make you feel every second until you’re begging me to let you come, and maybe I won’t. Not until I’ve wrung every drop of pleasure out of you.”
My breath falters, heat coiling low again.
“I hope you want to fall with me, Reese,” he adds quietly, “because God knows I want that with you.”
If this is an act, it’s an Oscar-worthy performance, because everything about the man seems so damn real.
Through the glass, Piper waves at me, and the moment shatters.
Griffin glances her way and sighs. “As much as I hate leaving you like this, you’ve got to take care of your sister. Do you want me to come with you to the hospital?”
“No, go home and sleep. Sleep for the both of us. We’ll be fine.”
“Goodnight, beautiful.”
I watch him cross the lot to his truck, every step of him radiating heat I can still feel in my skin.
As we pull out, I glance out the window—just in time to see Griffin tip his chin at me, the ghost of a smile tugging at his mouth.
Maybe… maybe he does mean it.