Page 209 of Deadfall

“You don’t have to label it,” Seven scoffed gently, and his smirk took on a wicked edge as he moved in closer again. “Maybe you’re just gay for me.”

I leaned my head back against the tree with a groan of frustration and shut my eyes.

“You’re not helping,” I growled.

“Fine, I’ll drop it…for now,” Seven leaned in as he went to walk past. His tone dropped, low and seductive. “But, I saw the way your eyes darkened, and the way you licked your lips when I kissed Emersyn’s cheek—” I couldn’t breathe. “—all while your cock was between her lips—” His voice was nothing more than a whisper. “—inches from my own.”

He pulled back, but it wasn’t enough to ease the suffocation that pressed on my chest.

“I’ll never forget that look, G,” he mused. “In fact, I’m addicted to it. And we all know how that usually ends.”

The shadows engulfed him as he left me standing against the tree, more turned on than I cared to admit, and wondering why, for the first time in my life, I was hesitating.

99

EMERSYN

Nine hours flew by. Between helping load the boat and going over last minute details, then sneaking in another quickie with the guys, there was plenty to do. No one seemed to sleep around here, but that didn’t surprise me. Everyone dozed or caught an hour here and there between tasks, so when oh-six hundred rolled around I was as awake as everyone else.

The boat rolled out on time, and disappeared into the fog that quickly obscured the coastline. Despite not being able to see much, being on the water was glorious. I stood out on the bow and watched the waves pass beneath us. I couldn’t bring myself to move as I breathed in breath after breath of cold sea air. I heard Griffin approach behind me, his footfalls loud on purpose so I wasn’t startled, when his arms wrapped around me. I was instantly engulfed in warmth and a light lingering scent of male cologne.

“You should come get warm,” Griffin said suggestively.

The low rumble of his words sent desire rippling under my skin. I leaned back into his chest. Again, I felt that seductive pull of what I could only describe as happiness. It was a foreign concept I still couldn’t quite allow myself to sink into fully, for fear of something taking it away.

“Just one more minute,” I murmured.

In answer, Griffin settled more firmly against my back, his arms banded strongly across my chest—an anchor. I listened to his heart beat steadily, in a cadence my own seemed to want to sync to. I wanted to live in this moment, revel in it, for as long as possible.

This was love. This was life. This was freedom. It was also safety, understanding and partnership. It was everything. And maybe that’s what it was all about anyway. Not holding on, but instead letting things flow and ebb and surge. Life wasn’t a stagnant thing, so I wouldn’t be either.

I slipped from his arms and entwined our fingers. “Okay, I’m ready now.”

He led me below deck to the room we were staying in. The door had barely clicked shut before he pressed me against the polished wood. His fingers pushed my wind blown hair off my cheek. I wrapped my arms around his waist.

“You seem like a man who usually takes what he wants,” I said.

He nudged my nose with his. “I am.”

“Why don’t you do that with me?”

I looked up through my lashes to see a thoughtfulness edged around a dark desire that always lingered under the surface of him. I’d seen the edges of it on the island—those moments he caught himself before it broke through. But now that I trusted him, I wanted to see more of it.

“Because people have done nothing but take from you,” he said. “I wanted you to know what it feels like to have a choice.”

“I didn’t ask you to do that. I’m not fragile.”

Griffin looked amused. “Is that what I said?”

“No, but I feel like it’s implied.”

He shook his head. “You’re not fragile, Emersyn.” His thumb caressed a spot below my ear that made my body want to sink against him. “But, I want to know you’re with me because you want to be, not because I’m forcing you.”

I scoffed. “Well, I would have killed you a long time ago if I didn’t want to be with you.”

A wicked grin curled his lips. “Oh yeah? You think you could kill me?”

I smirked and leaned closer until our breath mingled. “I know it.”