Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
GRIFFIN
“Easy, Princess.”
Violet’s knee knocked against mine for the third time in ten minutes. She jerked away each time like I’d electrocuted her, which was doing absolutely nothing to help my focus. We’d been airborne for two hours and she’d yet to relax.
“Sorry,” she muttered, shifting further into her seat.
I glanced up from my tablet where I’d been reviewing telemetry data from Singapore. She sat rigidly upright, fingers twisting her rings, gaze fixed on the window like the clouds held answers to whatever was making her so bloody twitchy.
“You’re wound tight enough to snap.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve apologized for bumping into me seven times.”
She shot me a look. “I was trying to give you space to work.”
“I don’t need space from you.”
Her cheeks flushed pink. Two weeks into this secret relationship and she still couldn’t handle direct statements about us. As if admitting we actually wanted to be near each other would somehow make it more real or increase the risk of being found out.
“The data’s that interesting?” she asked, nodding toward my tablet.
“Riveting. Al’s convinced we can find another three-tenths in sector two if I brake later into turn eleven.”
“Will you?”
I grinned. “Course I will. Question is whether the car can handle it.”
“And if it can’t?”
“Then I’ll figure it out on the track.”
“That’s not funny.”
“Wasn’t joking.”
She paled. I set the tablet aside, studying her face. She’d gone from nervous energy to genuine distress in seconds.
“Vi. Look at me.”
Her eyes met mine, wide and worried.
“I’m not going to crash.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“No,” I said slowly. “But I can promise I’m good enough not to.”
She swallowed hard. “Your mother probably thought the same thing when she watched you race as a child.”
Bloody hell. Direct hit.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
Because I was eight years old and showing off. Because I didn’t know better.
But looking at her face, the genuine terror lurking behind her careful composure, I couldn’t say any of that. No excuse would change the fundamental truth that every time I got in a car, there was risk.
“Because I need to come home to you.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them. Too honest. Too much. But they were true, and the way her breath caught told me she felt it.
“Griffin—”
I leaned closer, voice dropping. “Do you know what I think about when I’m going wheel-to-wheel with Callaghan for the lead?”
She shook her head.
“You. In my kitchen, making terrible coffee and complaining about my training schedule. Hazel giggling when you sing those ridiculous nursery rhymes. The way you scrunch your nose when you’re concentrating.”
Her lips parted.
“I think about coming home to that. To you. So no, I can’t promise I won’t crash. But I can promise I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I don’t.”
She stared at me for a long moment, then reached over and took my hand. Her fingers were warm, steady.
“Good enough.”
I brought her hand to my lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. “Besides, can’t join the mile high club if I’m dead.”
She choked on a laugh. “You’re terrible.”
“Speaking of which...” I waggled my eyebrows. “Ever joined?”
“What?”
“The mile high club. Have you?”
Her face turned scarlet. “Griffin!”
“That’s a no, then.”
“We are not discussing this.”
“Why not? It’s a perfectly reasonable question between two consenting adults currently thirty-five thousand feet above the ground.”
She glanced around the cabin like someone might overhear us. “Because it’s inappropriate.”
“Princess, I’ve had my mouth on every inch of your body. I think we’re past inappropriate.”
The flush spread down her neck, disappearing beneath her jumper. Christ, I wanted to follow that blush with my tongue.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because that was...” She gestured vaguely. “Private.”
“This is private. I hired the jet.”
“There’s a flight attendant.”
I glanced toward the galley where the attendant was quietly preparing lunch service. “She signed enough NDAs to choke a horse.”
“You can’t be serious.”
I was dead serious. Had been thinking about it since we’d boarded, actually.
“Course I’m serious. When’s the next time we’ll have this much privacy?”
She opened her mouth to argue, then closed it.
“The bedroom has proper soundproofing,” I said helpfully.
“Impossible man.”
“You’re blushing.”
“I’m mortified.”
“You’re turned on.”
Her mouth fell open. “I am not—”
I slid my hand up her thigh, thumb tracing the seam of her leggings. Her breath hitched.
“Liar.”
“Griffin,” she whispered, but she didn’t push my hand away.
Hazel chose that moment to stir in her bassinet, making soft baby noises. Christ, she was going to grow up to be the champion cockblocker in her friend group. Kid had timing that would make a Swiss watchmaker weep with envy.
Violet immediately moved to check on her, but I caught her wrist.
“She’s fine. Just settling.”
“But what if—”
“What if you let someone else worry about her for five minutes?”
Violet’s fingers tightened around the armrest, her gaze flicking between Hazel and me, then away, jaw working like she was chewing through arguments I couldn’t hear.
“Holly,” I called softly.
The flight attendant appeared instantly, professional smile in place. “Yes, Mr Michaels?”
“Would you mind keeping an eye on Hazel for a bit? We’ll just be in the back.”
“Of course, sir.”
Violet’s eyes widened. “Griffin, we can’t just—”
“We can.” I stood, offering her my hand. “Holly’s got three younger sisters and a childcare certificate. Hazel will be perfectly safe.”
“But what will she think?” I hissed, keeping my voice low.
“That we’re adults in a relationship who want some privacy.”
“She’ll know what we’re doing.”
“So?”
Violet stared at my outstretched hand like it was a live grenade.
“Live a little, gorgeous.”
That did it. Her chin lifted, that stubborn spark flaring in her eyes. She took my hand.
“Five minutes.”
“We’ll see.”
I led her toward the bedroom at the rear of the jet, my pulse already quickening. The space was compact but luxurious with a king-sized bed, soft lighting and, most importantly, complete privacy.
“This is mad,” she whispered.
“Best kind of mad.”
I backed her against the door, hands bracing on either side of her head. She looked up at me, lips parted, breathing shallow.
“Second thoughts?”
She answered by pulling my mouth down to hers.
The kiss was desperate, weeks of having her in my bed doing nothing to dull the edge of my need for her.
Her hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me closer as I pressed her against the door.
The taste of her, tea, and something uniquely Violet, made my head spin.
Every kiss felt like the first, raw, consuming, like I’d die if I stopped touching her.
“All I’ve been able to think about since the pilot sent the itinerary is helping you join the mile high club,” I muttered against her throat.
She laughed breathlessly. “Poor Griffin.”
My hands found the hem of her jumper, tugging it up and over her head. She wore a simple white bra underneath, nothing fancy this time, but the sight of her made my mouth go dry.
“Mine.” My hands covered her breasts, cupping them while my thumbs brushed her hardening nipples through the material.
“Griffin—”
I silenced her with another kiss, deeper this time, my hands mapping the warm silk of her skin. She arched into my touch, a soft moan escaping her lips.
“Too many clothes,” she gasped, tugging at my shirt.
I helped her strip it off, then lifted her, carrying her to the bed. She wrapped her legs around my waist, pressing against my erection. I groaned and she smirked against my lips.
“Eager?”
“Shut up.”
I laid her down gently, following her onto the mattress. The engines hummed beneath us, a steady vibration that seemed to pulse through the bed.
“This is insane,” she breathed as I traced kisses down her throat.
“Completely.”
“We’re thirty-five thousand feet up.”
“Thirty-seven thousand, actually.”
She laughed, the sound dissolving into a gasp as I found that sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder. “Show-off.”
“You love it.”
“I love—” She caught herself, swallowing hard.
My heart stopped. “What do you love?”
“Nothing. I didn’t say anything.”
But she had. Almost.
“Vi—”
She pulled my mouth back to hers, kissing me with desperate intensity. Like she could make me forget what she’d almost said. But I wouldn’t forget. Couldn’t.
Because I loved her too. I was completely, utterly, terrifyingly in love with this brilliant, stubborn woman who’d crashed into my life and turned everything upside down.
I’d tell her. Eventually. When she was ready to hear it. When she wouldn’t bolt.
For now, I’d show her instead.
I kissed my way down her body, taking my time, memorizing every gasp and shiver. When I reached the waistband of her jeans, I looked up at her.
“Alright?”
She nodded, lifting her hips to help me strip away the last barriers between us. Soon she was bare beneath me, skin flushed, eyes dark with want.
“Beautiful,” I murmured, hands skimming her sides. “Absolutely perfect.”
“Your turn.”
Her fingers found my belt, fumbling with the buckle.
I helped her, kicking away my jeans and boxers until there was nothing between us but heated air and anticipation.
Her hand wrapped around my cock, and I groaned, head falling back against the wall.
Her thumb swiped over the head, spreading the moisture beading there, and my hips jerked forward.
“Fuck, Violet.”
She smiled, that wicked little curve of her lips that always undid me.
Then she leaned forward and flicked her tongue against the slit.
The first hot slide of her mouth nearly finished me.
I tangled my fingers in her hair, holding her still as she took me deeper, her tongue working magic. My knees threatened to buckle.
“Look at you,” I forced out, voice rough. “Perfect fucking mouth.”
She hummed around me, the vibration shooting straight to my balls. My fingers tightened in her hair. Too much. Too good. I was already close, embarrassingly close, and we’d barely started.
“Stop.”
She pulled back, eyes wide and questioning, lips swollen and glistening. Beautiful, wrecked. Mine.
“Not like this.” I kissed her hard, tasting myself on her tongue. “My turn.”
I pushed her back until she rested on her forearms, staring up at me. I dropped to my knees, forcing her thighs to open wide for me. I spread her folds with my tongue and she gasped, fingers digging into the duvet.
“Griffin!”
I did it again, slower, savoring her taste, the way her body arched toward me. Then I pushed my tongue inside her, deep, fucking her with it while my thumb found her clit.
She cried out and I grinned against her.
“Shhh, Princess.” I nipped the inside of her thigh, making her jump. “Soundproofing’s good, but not that good. You want Holly knowing exactly what her boss is doing to you?”
She shook her head frantically, biting her lip.
“Then be quiet.” I slid two fingers into her, curling them, finding that spot that made her gasp. “Or I’ll have to make you.”
I set a relentless pace with my fingers, my mouth sucking her clit, driving her higher. Her thighs trembled against my shoulders. Her choked whimpers were the sweetest torture. I wanted her louder. Wanted her screaming my name. Wanted the whole fucking world to know she was mine.
But the fear that it could all fall apart tomorrow hung between us, sharp as broken glass. So I pushed her harder, faster, until her body locked, a silent scream tearing through her as she came against my mouth, pulsing around my fingers.
I kissed my way up her stomach as she shuddered through the aftershocks. “Good girl.”
She turned her head, eyes dazed. “Griffin...”
“Hands and knees.” I stood, my cock aching. “Now.”
She moved slowly, turning onto her knees and forcing herself up, ass in the air. Perfect. I ran my hand over her curves, then lined myself up. One hard thrust buried me inside her to the hilt.
She cried out, back arching.
“Quiet,” I said, voice strained as her heat clamped around me.
Fuck, would it ever get old?
I pulled out almost completely, then slammed back in. Her choked sob went straight to my cock. I set a brutal pace, fucking her deep, each thrust rocking her forward. The bed creaked beneath us, barely smothering her gasps and moans.
“Harder,” she gasped, pushing back against me.
I obliged, gripping her hips hard enough to bruise, driving into her with everything I had. Her inner muscles clenched around me, milking me, pulling me closer to the edge.
Too close. Not enough.
I needed to see her face.
Needed her to see me.
I pulled out. She whimpered at the loss. “Turn over.”
She collapsed onto her back, chest heaving, eyes dark with need. I crawled over her, settling between her thighs, groaning as I pushed back inside her. Her legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me deeper. I braced myself on my elbows, cradling her face.
“Look at me.”
Her eyes met mine, wide and vulnerable. Raw.
I started moving again, slower now, deeper, our gazes locked.
Every thrust felt like a confession. I love you.
I need you. Don’t leave me. Her fingers dug into my back, her breath coming in short gasps against my lips.
The connection was terrifying. Intimate. More than bodies joining. Souls bared.
“Griffin...” My name was a plea on her lips.
“Come for me, gorgeous.” I shifted angle, hitting that spot inside her that made her cry out. “Let go.”
Her climax ripped through her, silent this time, her body arching off the bed, mouth open in a soundless scream. The sight undid me. My own release crashed over me, wave after wave, spilling into her as I buried my face in her neck, muffling my groan against her skin.
We collapsed together, limbs tangled, hearts hammering against each other. I traced idle patterns on her sweat-slicked back, breathing in the scent of her, sex and vanilla and Violet.
Mine.
For now.
She tilted her head back to look at me. “What happens when we land?”
I traced the line of her jaw. “We walk into the paddock. I drive the fastest fucking laps of my life. And then...” I kissed her, slow and deep, pouring everything I couldn’t say into it. “Then I find you. And we do this again.”
She searched my eyes. “Just... be careful. Please.”
“Always am.” I grinned, rolling her onto her back, settling between her thighs again. Her eyes widened as she felt my cock, already hard again, pressing against her stomach. “Mostly.”