Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
“I thought you didn’t know this song,” she whispers.
“I didn’t, but since you mentioned it, I asked my men. I’ve listened to it every chance I got since,” I explain, taking her in my arms.
She’s stiff at first, but I just hold her close, keeping my hands on her lower back. She has hers around my neck and her head on my shoulder. Nothing has ever felt this good. I make a small circular motion with my hand on her lower back and eventually, I can feel her muscles relax.
“I’m not good at dancing.”
I hold her close, swaying gently. “Nothing has ever felt as good as you do in my arms right now, Georgie,” I whisper in her ear. I let my lips graze the side of her neck, kissing the area where her pulse is running away with her. I could stay here all night and die a happy man. This woman is everything.
“The song is ending,” she murmurs.
“Shh,” I whisper back. “It will play over. I have it set to do that. I want to keep you in my arms … for a little longer.” I know I just lied to her. I wanted to tell her that I planned on keeping her in my arms forever. Considering the mess that I’ve made tonight, I didn’t say that. I don’t want to give her more reasons to run away.
“Why couldn’t you be this man in the restaurant?” she asks quietly.
I pull back just enough to stare down at her. “I was, it’s just the asshole side of me came out first.”
“I don’t like him at all.” Georgia stares up at me, her beautiful, heavy-lidded, blue eyes and her full lips—shiny from whatever gloss she has on them—beckon me.
“I like everything about you, Georgia Cutter.”
“Griff …”
I can’t be sure, but I think that’s the first time she’s shortened my name like that. I like when she calls me Griffin, but something about right now—in this moment—her looking at me like she is, her gorgeous body in my arms, and the whisper of my name across her lips and I realize that regardless of the amount of time I’ve known her, I’m more than half in love with the woman. When I see her lips part and hear a shaky breath move through her, I don’t resist. I lean down until my lips touch hers, leaving it light so that she can pull away if that’s what she wants. When she leans deeper into me and her hold on my neck tightens, I take that as a sign and it’s the only one I need. I kiss her softly at first, letting her get used to the feel of my lips on hers, my tongue pressing out, seeking entrance. When she grants it, I pull her to me tighter, as I deepen the kiss. She melts into my arms, as every inch of tension leaves her body.
I memorize everything about this moment, the taste of her, the feel of her body against mine, the way she touches me, the sweet scent of cherries I get when she’s this close … everything.
When I finally pull away, she’s trembling against me. Something about that and the trust I see in her eyes makes my fucking heart squeeze in my chest. “Spend the night with me, Georgie,” I plead, not wanting to let her go. I feel her stiffen, but I push ahead anyway. “We don’t have to have sex. That will totally be up to you. I don’t care if we talk or watch fucking television. I just want you to come home with me. I want to hold you through the night and wake up with you still in my arms. I just … I’m not ready to say goodbye to you yet.”
Even through the bad parking lot lighting, I can see the blush on her cheeks, as well as the way her lips press together when she’s looking at me. “I really shouldn’t,” she puffs, the words so quiet that they seem to dance across my skin.
All I can think is that she didn’t say no. It’s an opening that I’m not about to let pass me by. I move us so that we’re standing by my bike. I get on and look up at her. “Climb on.”
“Griff…”
“You’re safe with me. Nothing will happen you don’t want, sweetheart. I swear that to you right now. The night is in your control.” She swallows nervously but nods her head tentatively to tell me yes. I feel like I’ve won a fucking war. Once she’s settled behind me, I put my hand over the two of hers which are wrapped around my stomach. “Hold on tight, baby. We’ll be there soon.”
The engine roars to life and I pull out on the road with only one thought. I need to get her home, in my bed, more than I needed my next breath. As we barrel down the road, the night air whipping against my body, I rev the engine and increase my speed. I don’t go as fast as I want, because there is precious cargo behind me. The single most precious thing in my world.