by Jill Downey
“Hey at least I’m not asking you to parachute or ride in a glider plane.”
“Do you do that?”
“Guilty. Didn’t I mention that I’m an adrenaline junkie?”
“I may have missed that memo.”
“I’ll take good care of you.”
“I trust you…I may be crazy, but I do,” she said, and he smiled so warmly at her that her heart was no longer melting in her chest, but was now lodged firmly in her throat. A wave of longing surged through her. Was she falling for this guy?
“Quit looking at me like that or I won’t be responsible for what happens next,” he murmured.
His eyes scorched her right before his open mouth came down on hers. As his tongue plunged inside her, she felt a dampness between her thighs. She moaned against his lips.
“I want to kiss your entire body…” he said.
She rode a wave of desire, forgetting time and place until he lifted his head and, grasping her chin, said, “To be continued.”
Her breathing fluttered fast and shallow as his thumb traced her bottom lip. “Vous êtes si belle,” he said softly. “I’m falling down the rabbit hole.”
“Griffin, I…”
“Can I get either of you anything else?” Natalie asked.
“Pen?” Griffin asked her.
“No thank you.”
“Me either. Thanks Natalie.”
“Just buzz me if you need anything, but we’re only about twenty minutes from landing.”
“That went quick,” Penelope said.
“Yes, thank God! I could only hide my hard-on under the laptop for so long.”
“You’re so bad.”
“And you’re so impossibly good.”
31
Penelope screamed at the top of her lungs as the roller coaster dipped straight down and Griffin couldn’t breathe, he was laughing so hard. “Are you going to make it?” he yelled, his face alight with amusement.
Her eyes bright with excitement, she said, “Bring it on!”
“That’s my girl,” he said, then grabbed her hand and held on tight as they went into a sharp curve.
As the coaster climbed at an impossibly steep angle, he grinned in amusement seeing her tightly closed eyes. “This can only mean one thing,” she said, shuddering.
“Hang on babe, it’s about to get real.”
As they plummeted, she squealed, all the while wearing a huge grin plastered across her face. Something inside of him stirred at seeing her so carefree and in that instant, he realized that he was consumed by Penelope. He wanted to share everything with her. He wanted to be the one to light up her world, to make her smile, to please her, to bring her body to ecstasy again and again.
As they exited the ride, Griffin wondered if he’d ever be able to use his fingers again, she had squeezed his hand so tight.
“Oh my God that was intense!” she said, laughing.
He raised the back of her hand to his lips and said, “You’re so much fun to be with.”
Still breathless from the rush, she dazzled him with her smile. “What’s next?”
Griffin pulled her against him and leaned down to bring his mouth down on hers. “This,” he said, and kissed her hard, like he’d never get enough. He felt her body melt into his. Gruffly, he said, “Pen, all the times I’ve been here…and on that ride, with you, it came alive in a whole different way. It’s like everything is new…and brighter…I don’t know.” He felt a little embarrassed, not sure how to express what he was feeling.
“I feel it too,” she confessed.
His arms tightened around her, pulling her even closer to him. “I’ve got to admit, this is all new to me.”
She ran her fingers through his hair and pulled his head down toward her lips. “Kiss me again.”
His lips lightly touched hers and lingered before he reluctantly pulled away. “Let’s head over to the Safari ride, we need a little calm after the storm.”
He checked out the map, pointing to where they currently were and where they were heading. Interlacing his fingers with hers, they went to find their next adventure together.
As they exited the restaurant after their romantic dinner, the skies opened, and a torrential rain came down. Penelope grabbed the hand Griffin held out, and they ran laughing and breathless through the downpour. They were drenched to the bone by the time they reached the car.
It was a short drive back to the hotel and they were still dripping wet when they reached the lobby. The water trickled down her face and hair and between her breasts. Griffin looked soggy but delicious, and that made her smile. She wanted to lick the droplets from his neck.
The minute the elevator doors closed they were in each other’s arms sharing a wet steamy kiss. Her tongue entangled with his as he grasped her hips, pulling her hard against his erection. Her knees buckled as she got lost in a swirl of passion. The elevator dinged, signaling they’d arrived, and the doors quietly swished open right into their penthouse suite.
His eyes smoldered as they probed hers. He removed her soaked wig and tossed it aside, then slowly undressed her, never taking his gaze from her body. Unclasping her bra, he slid the dainty straps down her slim arms, his fingers brushing against her sensitive skin, sending shivers throughout her body. His lips found the sensitive spot at the curve of her neck. He licked and nibbled as she threw her head back and grasped his shoulders for support. He pulled her panties down and she stepped out of them.
Without a word he picked her up and carried her to the bed. He held her arms above her head while he nuzzled the vee between her breasts, his weight pinning her down. The feel of his hard muscles against her skin made her insane with desire. The friction from the light covering of hair on his chest, brushing against her nipples caused her core to throb. He drew her rosy pink nipple into his mouth and sucked hard…pulling and tugging as she arched beneath him. Her fingers tangled in his hair.
She was already wet and juicy as he slipped a long finger into her tight entry. Plunging his finger, he inserted another inside of her, stretching, teasing her into a frenzy. “Griff,” she moaned, “Let me pleasure you.”
She wiggled out from beneath him and shifted her body so that she was now on top, tempting him with her full breasts, mere inches from his mouth. Rubbing against him, she loved the way his body felt against her skin…rough, soft, hard, warm. His hardness pressing against her clit as she pleasured herself by rubbing against his cock. Her tongue darted out and flicked his nipple, and his body bucked in response. Raining kisses across his chest she nibbled and licked her way down to his throbbing manhood.
She took him inside her mouth and teased him mercilessly, drawing him in and out, licking the tip of his shaft before enveloping him again.
“Penelope, sit on my cock, now!”
After slipping on a condom, she positioned herself over him and mounted, straddling him she slowly sank down. He filled her completely, his warmth stretching her, as she took him in all the way and felt him press against her womb.
His muscles were hard and taut under her fingers as she braced them against his chest. She rode him slowly at first then as her own desire increased, she rocked faster and faster. Every time she lifted and sank down, she circled her hips, rubbing, stimulating herself against him, again and again. She gasped with pleasure when he pinched her nipples and cupped both her breasts in his hands.
He bucked underneath her as he began to come. Near to climaxing herself, his mating groans were her undoing and she erupted in an orgasm that swept her away.
“Damn, Penelope, you feel so good,” he said hoarsely, as his body shuddered against hers.
Burying her face in his neck, she felt his breath against her skin. His scent…a heady mix of musk…and sex. She lay there taking in all of the sensations, her breasts pressed against his chest, the warmth of him lying under her, the rise and fall of his breath stirring her hair. A wave of emotion hit her, and she waited for it to pass.
“No,” she whisp
ered, as he rolled onto his side, taking her with him. “I wasn’t ready for you to leave me.”
Griffin propped up on one elbow to study her. He brushed her hair away from her face then traced her lips with his finger.
“I didn’t want to leave. I could stay inside you forever. Feel your warmth hugging me. Penelope, you feel so good. I don’t know what’s happening here, but I’ve never experienced anything even close to this before.”
“Griffin, let’s not talk about it, let’s just enjoy each other.”
“That’s supposed to be my line,” he said.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Funny. You’re used to being in total control of your emotions, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” She squirmed under his light touch as he caressed her belly. “I never knew it could be like this.”
She touched his face, her fingers searching as if reading braille, tracing across his eyebrows and lids, his nose, his lips, his jaw. She dipped her finger into his mouth, and he sucked on it. His eyes blazed with heat, penetrating deep into her psyche. Could he be any more beautiful?
He shifted onto his back and hugged Penelope tightly to his side. She flung her arm across his chest, her nose nuzzled against his neck. With her thigh flung over his legs, she felt a primal response to the feel of their bodies intertwined, his hard muscles making her insides coil.
“This might be the best day of my life, thank you,” she whispered against his chest.
He kissed the top of her head, smiling into her hair, “I’ll never forget your blood curdling screams for as long as I live.”
She nipped him.
“Ouch!”
“Sorry.”
“Sure you are,” he said, his voice sounding sleepy.
“Goodnight, Griffin.” She wasn’t even sure that he heard her softly spoken, “Sweet dreams.”
32
When they were at cruising altitude Penelope fished her phone out of her bag. She had forgotten to turn it on until now and saw that she had six missed calls. She frowned as she read a text message from Stew. “Griffin look at this,” she said, passing him her phone.
“Shit.”
Stew: Why aren’t you answering my calls? Heads up, here’s a snapshot from TMZ. Some upstanding citizen must have submitted it. WTF? What is going on with you two? There are at least a half dozen reporters camped out at the Butler. Call me!
“I probably should have given him some warning that we were involved,” Penelope said, pressing a hand to her forehead. “I feel bad.”
“I was on the same page as you were. I felt like it was better to keep our personal lives to ourselves for as long as possible,” Griffin said, resting his warm palm on her thigh.
She pinched the screen to enlarge the photograph of them embracing on the safari bus. Then another of them kissing. On the close up zoom of her face, the wig and sunglasses hadn’t been enough of a disguise. Her breath caught seeing how happy she looked.
Griffin chuckled over the headline, Has Benters replaced Winoah? “They’re creative I’ll give them that.”
“It is going to be a shit show from here on out. I’m not kidding.”
“But the Carolinas are off the beaten path.”
“It won’t matter now that there’s something juicy worth stalking over. The tabloids have been pushing the Noah and Penelope reunited narrative, but this will be even more salacious. All of us on the same film. A triad. Perfect storm.”
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
“It’s not your fault. It comes with the territory. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. It’s about to get messy. You may as well have a taste of it sooner rather than later. Kiss your privacy goodbye.”
“What can we do?”
“Nothing but lay low and make no public comments.”
“Do you think Stew is pissed?” he asked.
“His nose is probably bent out of shape because we left him out, but this can only help the film. It’s free publicity. He’ll be happy about that.”
Penelope dreaded the fallout from this. Griffin had no idea what he was now caught up in. With everything she knew about him, he was going to hate this loss of freedom. His life had just been split open like a pair of tight pants. After all this time, it was a part of her life, but she’d never gotten used to it. In fact, she hated it. How could she expect him to stick by her or this budding relationship with all the baggage attached?
“Griff, I’m the one that’s sorry. I won’t blame you if you decide that it’s all too much.”
Griffin reached for her hand and brought it to his lips, “Let’s take it as it comes. I’m not worried.”
Her lips twisted, “You’re too innocent to be worried.” She had no doubt that he thought he understood what was about to happen, but she knew differently.
“Don’t let this ruin your mood. I’m going to focus on the positive.”
She sat there for a moment before responding. “Griffin, no matter what happens, I want you to know that I had the best time I’ve ever had in my life with you.”
His voice was husky as he responded, “There is so much more I want to share with you. Don’t give up on us so easily Pen.”
She stretched up and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. “I’ll work on that.”
“I’ll text Stewart and have him send a car to the airport for us. I’ll call ahead now and get clearance. They can drive right up to our plane after we land,” Griffin said.
“Perfect,” she said.
They’d been successful in avoiding detection at the airport and their driver had dropped each of them off at their own homes. Griffin was now sprawled out on his couch watching a PGA tour on TV, his concentration continuously disrupted by remembering how good it had felt to be with Penelope.
He understood why she was worried about the unwanted attention and what it would do to them. It was unsettling. He felt protective of her and of his growing feelings for her. But this fell under the I have absolutely no control category, and he knew he had to shut down his worry. They’d figure it out…or not. Only time would tell.
Maybe it was time he admitted to himself that it was much more than a wild sexual attraction…or that he was more awake than he’d ever been in his entire life…it was also like feeling he’d been out in stormy seas and had finally found safe harbor. Did she feel it too?
“You’re just going to have to tighten up security and assume someone is always watching. I’m afraid we’ve all gotten used to a certain level of freedom here. That’s probably all about to change,” Dolly said.
“I know. Lots of films have been shot around here and they’ve managed to keep it under the radar for the most part. I’m hopeful this will blow over after a few weeks,” Penelope said. “Especially if they don’t get any new material! If those photos from my past are made public…” she shuddered.
“Don’t even go there. Nothing back from Graham I take it?” Dolly asked.
“No. I didn’t expect to so soon. Maybe I’ll hear from him tomorrow. How can I be sure he’ll even get the message?”
“I’d keep leaving messages until you hear back,” Dolly suggested.
“I suppose you’re right.”
“What did Stewart say when you talked to him about the media?”
“He was upset that I hadn’t warned him about Griffin and me. I told him we hadn’t said anything because it wasn’t serious.”
“Most everyone on set had an idea. They’re not blind or stupid. He had to have had an inkling.”
She softly kicked Dolly who was laying at the other end of the couch, “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
She grinned, “Of course. Fuck ’em. It’s nobody’s business.”
“Speaking of…how’d it go with Ben?”
Dolly blushed, “Good. I like him. It seems mutual.”
“It’s about time.”
“Yeah, I’m not getting any younger.”
Penelope snorted, “You’re only twenty-six, but it’s been two year
s since you’ve been serious about a guy. I just want to see you happy. But my advice, don’t marry anyone before you’re thirty. How old is Ben anyway?”
“He’s twenty-five.”
“He seems older.”
“I know.” Her eyes were unfocused and dreamy.
“I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. I’m happy for Benters,” she said, giggling as Penelope playfully glared at her.
“On that note, I’m heading for bed,” Penelope said. “Night.”
33
Penelope hung up the phone, relieved that Stewart was over his snit. He was sending a car to pick her up in an hour. Her phone immediately rang again, and thinking it was Stew, she picked up.
“Hey Stew, what’d you forget?”
“Penelope.”
A male voice on the other end, warm, seductive and even after thirteen years of absence, very familiar. She froze, her throat constricted.
“Pen, are you still there? It’s Graham.”
Finding her voice, she said quietly, “I know, thanks for calling back.”
“It’s so good to hear your voice. It’s been so long. Why did you phone me?”
There was a long pause while she tried to regain her equilibrium, surprised by her visceral reaction. It was like she was right back there, thirteen years ago.
“I’m sorry to bother you but have something I thought you should know about.”
He sighed heavily into the phone, “I’d like to think this was a friendly call, maybe to congratulate me, but I’m sure it’s more ominous than that. You mentioned in your call something about photographs?”
“Yes, from our past.”
His breath hissed, “Penelope, did you have something to do with them?”
“What are you talking about? Do with what? I am the one who received photographs last week, a couple of them featuring us. Why would I send myself photos?” she snapped.