AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I haven’t had the … nicest things to say about you,” I admitted, almost sheepishly.
“I figured that much.”
The guilt made my stomach churn. “I didn’t mean—”
Griffin’s chuckle interrupted my train of thought. “It’s alright, I’m man enough to know I deserve it. I can’t blame you.”
While it was nice to hear him admit he hadn’t exactly been the best neighbor, I didn’t know what to say.
Instead, I took in how his dark hair seemed to have more volume than it normally did, and how his eyes reminded me of a storm. Despite our age gap, I never realized how young he looked. Even with his strong build and brooding demeanor, his features almost gave him a boyish charm. If I didn’t know any better, I would assume he was my age. However, the smooth depth in his voice proved he was anything but.
“I didn’t mean for us to get off on the wrong foot,” he began, swallowing thickly. I watched, entranced, by how his Adam’s apple bobbed. Something about it captured my interest. “You were only trying to be welcoming, and I didn’t appreciate that enough. I’m sorry.”
I was surprised to hear the regret in his voice, let alone the words that came from his mouth. I never thought I’d hear Griffin West admit he did anything wrong.
“And I’m sorry I wasn’t more appreciative of your help with Ryan the other night. He wouldn’t take no for an answer,” I found myself admitting, feeling the new pit in my stomach from just thinking about it.
“Which is why we’re going to get him off your back,” Griffin added, pulling his lips in a smug smile. “My parents too.”
The reminder of what we had agreed to at the Roadbar made my insides pool. Feeling like I had returned to earth a bit more, thanks to the water and coffee in my system, I played with the arrangement in my mind.
“How exactly are we going to do that?” I asked, watching his features closely.
Griffin snickered at my curiosity. “Well, my mom will probably want to meet you as soon as possible. I’m thinking a meal or something to parade you around, then she’ll hopefully realize she doesn’t need to keep scouring all of Rose Valley for someone to pair me with. Maybe an occasional check-in, but nothing more.”
Nothing more.
While the words made me feel strangely disappointed, the implication of him showing me off as his supposed girlfriend had my stomach fluttering with anticipation.
“And what about Ryan?” I asked, aware that he would need more convincing.
Something moved through his eyes then, and Griffin sighed. “I’m sure we could plan to be somewhere he frequents often and show him we mean it.”
I sucked in a discreet breath. “How might we … show it?”
Those steel eyes tracked across my face, making it harder for me to breathe. “I could think of a few ways.”
“Enlighten me,” I murmured, aware of how much faster my heart was beating.
Despite the effects of the booze leaving me, that uncanny bravery remained, and it excited me. If felt like a game, then. One where neither of us needed to suffer.
Griffin held my eye contact as I felt an invisible pull between us like we were suddenly magnetized. He looked so good, and I was savoring every second of it.
“That kiss was promising, but he still seemed doubtful,” he began, looking between my eyes and my lips. He seemed to drift closer as he continued. “But we’d need to do more than that. It could start with a small touch.”
As his words reached me, I shivered at the sensation of his knuckle beneath my chin. He tilted my face up to capture my full attention. My breath hitched.
“Something small but affectionate,” Griffin continued with a hint of a smile on his lips. “I’d make sure he could see it throughout the night as I touched you often. A hand cradling the small of your back, a graze of my palm against yours, or a light kiss.”
Anticipation had my mind running in circles as I wondered if he’d demonstrate his thoughts. While his eyes dropped to look at my mouth again, he chuckled instead. Still holding me there, he moved to the side until his lips were an inch away from my ear.
“If he ever started to doubt it again, I’d lean into your neck,” he murmured, voice lowering as he swept my hair to rest against my back. His lips approached my skin until his warm breath fanned the sensitive place there. “I’d whisper sweet nothings and prove to him you were there only for me. That you’re not thinking about anybody but me and what I’m prepared to do to you.”
Another shiver ran down my spine, and my throat was so dry I could barely swallow against it. There was no denying how hot I felt in that moment, and how my previous inhibitions were crumbling.
Feeling his proximity made me curious about what his touch would do to me. I wanted to feel more than his teasing.
As he pulled back enough to look me in the eyes, the teasing glimmer in his gaze was enough to render me useless. Speechless.
