He desperately wants to kiss this woman.
Not only because of how she mesmerizes him, but more sobecause of the fact that she’s let him in, behind her walls, and who she is behind them eclipses even her brightest concert act. Being next to her might be the best Griffin has felt in years.
She is absolute magic.
Aria looks up at him, and she floats closer. “You are easy to trust, Griff.”
In her blue eyes is an intensity Griffin hasn’t seen before, a vibrance that comes from within.
“The things about me—growing up and the unknowns of the future—aren’t things I talk to people about either. My friends are my teammates, and we talk workouts, nutrition, and sometimes grab the occasional game of laser tag.”
Aria’s mouth lifts into a smile at the corners.
“I guess that’s my way of saying I trust you too.”
Their faces are held mere inches away from one another, and Griffin’s heart is pounding so hard he can hear the blood rushing through him.
He lowers his face, and as Aria’s lips part, he reaches a hand up, places a single finger under her chin, and brings her face to his.
The rest of the world falls away, and Griffin’s every fiber is focused on Aria’s warm mouth wrapped in his.
He can’t be sure, but this just might be what falling for someone feels like in real time.
Chapter 28
Aria
When Griffin props his finger under her chin, Aria melts. Griffin sits closer to Aria’s heart than anyone has in a long time. Never once when the arrangement kicked off did she think that she and Griffin would talk about meaningful things; never once did she think she’d discover he was so remarkable. Most of the athletes she’s come in contact with haven’t been the deepest of beings.
Everything about Griffin so far has been one happy surprise.
His face lowers before hers, and her eyes are trained on his. Aria can tell by the way he looks at her, the desire flickering, that he wants the same as she does. She trusts him.
So she closes her eyes and lets herself fall.
Aria weaves her arms around his neck and lets his hulking figure hold the weight of her. It feels like being caught midair when their lips meet, her breath knocked from her at the verymoment she’s held by someone big and strong and bound to keep her safe.
Aria stays in the kiss for as long as she can before breaking it for a hungry breath.
As she pulls back, her eyes popping open, she meets his gaze. Something like surprise passes between the two. As if both of them—despite the force driving them together—realize that this kiss is way off script. That despite their talks, never have they broached this.
Aria’s hand goes to her mouth and tentatively touches her delicate lips. Her breath is still light and quick, and beneath her, her legs are wobbly.
Aria steps back, and reflexively, Griffin pushes his hands into his pockets, hanging his head ever so slightly.
Aria mentally fumbles around for the next thing to do. This kiss itself was electric—as evidenced by the full-body shiver still running through her. Despite this fact, plus the fact that Griffin might be the highest-quality guy she’s ever come to know, letting things between them slip into romance is a big step. A scary one.
“Well, that was unexpected.” Griffin looks up from under his brow sheepishly.
Aria realizes the silence has sat between them a beat too long, and this is surely Griffin’s attempt to smooth things over.
“Yes! Sorry. Gosh.ShouldI say sorry? I don’t even know.”
Griffin reaches up and massages the back of his neck like he, too, is stumped by the situation they’ve found themselves in.
He looks adorable when he does so, and part of Aria wishestheir whole PR commitment had never existed. That they were just two regular people free to kiss as much as they wanted without anyone trying to take their picture, free of the harsh spotlights of fame, free of the public’s demands.
“You don’t have to say anything, Aria.” Griffin’s words are comforting and heartbreaking at once.
