Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
He abandons the dishwasher, stepping around it. He cups my face, his fingertips still wet from the dishes. “I know you’re scared, but you’re not alone anymore. I’ve got your back.”
I blink against the unexpected moisture in my eyes. “It’s not that easy.”
His thumb strokes my cheek, his touch light and reverent. “I’m not asking for easy. Give me your burdens. Put all the heaviness on my shoulders. Let me carry it.”
I reach for the front of his flannel shirt, pulling him close. I raise up on my tiptoes and seal our lips together in a gentle kiss. He cups the back of my head, threading his fingers through my messy ponytail.
He lets me explore his mouth, learning his taste and his shape. At least, until I moan against him. The vibration traveling from my body to his turns my gentle cowboy into a rumbling beast. His hands go to my hips, digging hard into my soft flesh. He lifts me onto the counter, and I instantly part my knees for him. My hands go to his shoulders, pulling him as close as possible.
“You taste like my future,” he breathes against my lips. His words melt me, and I press my chest against his, my breasts feeling unexpectedly heavy.
His tongue sweeps into my mouth, stroking mine as his hands continue to knead the flesh of my hips. “My beautiful girl. Your body was made for mine.”
I call his name and stroke his beard. I love how big and bushy it is. I love how it tickles my face when he’s kissing me. I’d love to feel it tickling my chest and my tummy and my thighs. Before I can get carried away and suggest something like moving this conversation back to my place, Daisy lets out a wail on the baby monitor.
He stops kissing me, pressing his forehead to mine while we both try to suck in oxygen. My vision is mainly black spots, but I have zero regrets. All he had to do was kiss me, and my panties are drenched.
“We’ll finish this later,” he promises in a deep, gritty tone as he steps away from me.
I feel cold without his body next to mine, but that’s not the reason I shiver. It’s the sensual promise in his voice that has me clenching my empty core.
In the office, I give Daisy her bottle. She’s going through a growth spurt lately so she’s eating more than usual. When I’m done, I burp her and give her a soft smile. She’s the best thing in my world. Even when nothing else makes sense or when I’m in knots over kissing Griffin, she still makes everything better.
I wrap the mommy sling around my chest and settle her inside of it. This thing kills my back and shoulders, but I love having her nearby. Especially when I have lots of chores to do. “Let’s go help Griff.”
But when I leave the office, everything is already done. The dishwasher has been loaded. The counters have been cleaned and wiped. The floor has been carefully swept and mopped. Even the cooking utensils are hung up on the hooks the way they should be.
Griffin looks up from filling up the sugar canisters. “We’re all good here. The only thing left to do is turn out the lights.”
“I didn’t expect you to—”
“I wanted to,” he answers easily. “I’d rather do the chores, so you can get home and get a good night’s sleep.”
I thank him before I lock up the restaurant, pausing to put the day’s earnings in the office safe. Ernie will take it to the bank tomorrow.
When I’m done, Griffin follows me to the parking lot. I settle Daisy in the car then turn to him. He’s standing so close that I take half a step backward. I open my mouth to tell him something. I’m not sure what to say about our impromptu makeout session.
He cups my face again like he did earlier and says softly, “I’m here. I’m in this for the long haul. Push me away as many times as you need to until you feel safe. Test me again and again. I’ll always fight for you. I’ll fight for us.”
I nod without making promises. If I open my mouth, I’ll confess that he’s wearing me down. He’s making me long for a future together, and that might be the most dangerous thing about this man.
Griffin
I wait until Missy disappears into her rental home before I start the video feed on my phone. It’s the one that shows me the inside of her apartment.
I shouldn’t be doing this, but I have rules so it’s not weird. The first rule is that I don’t touch myself while watching the feed. Sure, that one isn’t easy. Watching the delicate sway of her hips as she wanders through the apartment in her little T-shirts and tiny panties is rough.