by Storm, Sloan
"No, I can take it myself," I said, reaching for it.
Terrence insisted, but eventually I got my way, rolling my bag to the elevator and taking it to the penthouse. The rapid climb coincided with the sinking feeling in my stomach. Hell, a few days ago, I was ready to set fire to the whole thing, and now I was mere seconds from seeing him again.
My future husband.
The elevator doors swung open, and I hesitated, the tips of my fingers and toes turning to ice. For a split second, I considered pressing the button for the lobby and running as far as my legs could carry me.
"Sneaks! That you?"
Ugh. I knew I had to say something. Very few people had access to the penthouse. No one would get there by mistake.
Griff poked his head around the corner, smiling at me. "Come on, let's eat!"
I noticed a heavenly aroma, which sucked because I was starving. It also sucked because my mood was shit.
As much as I liked the chef, I had no interest in making small talk. What is wrong with me? I sort of felt like a bitch. I mean, is this how I was going to start acting when the staff was around?
Walking off the elevator, I thought about all of the gossip rag stories. You know the types where celebs get dumped on by their ex-staff for being 'rude'. It dawned on me that maybe they weren't so rude after all, just exhausted, like everyone else in the world.
Whatever.
I sucked in a deep breath and straightened my spine, readying myself to be as friendly as I could. Rounding the corner, I forced a smile to my lips only to see the chef wasn't there.
I let go of the bag handle, staring at Griff in disbelief. "What are you doing?"
With four gas burners going, Griff stole a look at me before returning his attention to the unfolding culinary chaos in front of him. Billowing steam and licks of flame riveted my attention while he moved from pot to pan, stirring and tasting.
You have to be kidding me… I'd been so stunned by what I saw, I hardly reacted when he turned the burners down, walked over, and planted a kiss on my lips.
"Hungry?" He didn't linger, quickly returning to the stove. "Grab a seat, should be ready soon."
I just stood there with a frown on my face. There's no way in hell he conjured this up on his own.
While I sat, I asked him what was on the menu. He rattled off a long list, all of which happened to be on the preference sheet I filled out.
"Uh huh," I muttered. "What time did the chef leave?"
Griff took another taste from a ladle before walking over. He clapped his hands together and rubbed them back and forth while the confession eked out.
"Okay so, in the spirit of total transparency in our relationship, I can't take credit for part of this meal."
"Which part?"
"Yeah. All of it." He nodded toward the kitchen. "Hey, reheating is still hard."
I looked up at him and shook my head. "Well, I'm still impressed."
He moved close, taking a knee in front of me. "Oh really? How much?" Griff put his hands on my thighs and started to pull them apart.
"Shouldn't you be keeping an eye on the food?" I resisted him, pointing toward the kitchen.
"Whatever. It's fine." He blew me off. "I'd rather keep my eyes on you… Mrs. Foster."
What does he think he's doing?
Yes, the dinner thing was charming, but we were a long, long way from what he had in mind. I licked my lips, getting ready to tell him to back off.
I wasn't on the menu.
"What do you want to drink?" Griff pulled away, arching an eyebrow. "Cab or Syrah?"
All the energy I gathered up inside dissipated. Even worse, I felt myself wanting to lean in his direction. Uh!
"What?" I asked, having forgotten the question.
"Wine. Which would you like?"
I didn't care. "Cab."
While he filled two glasses, I watched him with a frown on my face. "I've never seen you drink. Ever."
"Special occasion." Griff walked over, extending one of the glasses. "No more pretend. It's you and I, forever. For keeps."
For keeps…
Our glasses touched with a clink, and I hurried a sip down my throat. "Delicious."
Pass the bottle, please.
Griff set his glass on the table. "Be right back."
I watched him walk down the hallway, disappearing in the direction of his bedroom. Pinching the stem of the wine glass, I raised it to my lips and swallowed another mouthful. What's he up to?
I didn't have to wait long to find out. Griff reappeared, carrying a folder in his hand and walking up to me.
"What's that?"
"It's the end of a lie, Sneaks." He pulled out the agreement.
"What are you doing with it?"
"Destroying it. What else? I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it. Look, I can't convince you to trust me overnight. All I can do is start from where I am right now."
At least he didn't insult my intelligence. When he finished, Griff walked over and stood in front of the stove. With the agreement in hand, he turned up one of the burners.
"Griff, no!"
Too late. The pages lit up like a medieval torch, sending a trail of thick, dark smoke upward and then… pop! The heat from the flame triggered the fire alarm. Water rained down from the sprinklers overhead, drenching him.
"Oh shit!" Griff grabbed a hand towel to beat out the flames. I jumped up from my chair.
His sloppy attempt at reheating leftovers must have sent some grease to the floor. It was slicker than a road at the beginning of a storm, and I skidded, nearly colliding with him before I hit the ground with a thud.
"Sneaks!"
By then, he'd managed to squelch the flames but not before both of us, and his attempt at dinner, were soaked.
"You okay?" Griff knelt down, offering me his hand.
My butt ached, still throbbing from the spot where I'd smacked it on the floor. "Yeah. Good thing I wasn't hungry."
"Sorry about that." He reached for my face, collecting a handful of her wet hair in his palm before moving it away from my eyes.
A heavy, smoky mist hung in the kitchen like a foggy winter morning in Portland. It was probably the least romantic atmosphere imaginable. I didn't care. Watching this perfect man do something imperfectly and still have a smile on his face…
What can I say? It charmed me.
After all, I know it couldn't have been easy for him. This dinner was how he'd wanted to show me he was serious about changing, and well, it had pretty much been a disaster. Looking down, I caught glimpses of the charred remnants of the agreement. At least with that in place, the rules were spelled out, the boundaries clear.
But now? Uncertainty was the only sure thing.
"No more games." He let my hair fall from his grasp. "I'm never letting you go again."
Griff's lips moved toward me. Small droplets of water clung to the surface of them sending a chill through my body when they pressed into mine. His invading tongue did the opposite, melting me from the inside out.
I whimpered, surrendering to my hunger for him. Memories of the pain he'd caused, the betrayal. Yes. Of course they were still there.
But, I hadn't realized how much I'd missed his attention, his touch, his taste. The woman inside of me, the one who needed it all, scratched like a wildcat, desperate to get out and satisfy her urges.
Would it all work out? No, probably not. It still seemed like a fantasy.
Griff broke free of me. His eyes met mine with a statement. You can trust me.
Could I?
23
Never Hurt Again (Griff)
Everything about the way she kissed, tasted. Fuck. It was all I could do not to have my way with her right there on the kitchen floor. We were both soaked through, thanks to my piss poor attempt at a welcome home dinner. Hey, you can't hit home runs every time right?
I stood, offering Sneaks my hand. She took it, and with a flourish, I swept her into my arms like the first day I'd met he
r on the trail.
"You're freezing, babe. Let's get you out of these wet clothes."
Sneaks didn't bite, pressing a palm into my chest. "I can undress myself, thank you."
With that, I placed her on the countertop, spread her thighs, and stepped in between them.
"Where's the fun in that?"
She narrowed her eyes at me. "I'm not having sex with you."
Yet.
"Ever?" I whispered, leaning in and kissing her on the neck. "Or just because you're cold and grumpy?"
Sneaks nuzzled me with her cheek and damp hair. The good feelings didn't last long.
"I said no." She gave me a half-hearted shove, so I didn't bother pulling away. Instead, I lingered there, peppering her skin with gentle brushes of my lips. She leaned in harder, her resistance fading.
"Griff, I can't." Sneaks shook her head. A stray droplet of water dripped from her hair. "I'm not ready."
I kissed her. "What's wrong?"
"It's just too soon," she sighed. "It's not like I don't want to be with you. Do you think I would have come back just for the money?"
To be honest, I hadn't given it any thought. If she decided to come back, if, I knew things would work out.
"No, of course I don't. The money never crossed my mind."
Sneaks looked away from me. I reached for her small chin, cradling it in my hand, moving it a fraction until our eyes met again. How could I get past the hurt I saw in them? The answer wasn't going to be found with words.
For her to believe those from me again would take time.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm sure that's not how you were expecting the evening to go. What the meal and everything. It was very sweet of you."
I moved close, wrapping my hands around her hips.
"I meant what I said. No more pretend. In fact, I was going to save this as a surprise during dinner but now…"
For the first time in what seemed like forever, my angel's face brightened. A surprise?
"What do you mean?"
"Well, there's a lot to do. I mean, we've got a wedding coming up. What better place to start than shopping for a dress in the most exclusive boutique in town?"
She looked away from me, covering her mouth with her hand. It wasn't the reaction I expected.
"No good?"
Sneaks shook her head, dropping her hand away from her mouth. "I'm sorry, I know you were probably hoping I'd be able to just be able to come back like nothing's happened, but I just, I can't…"
I kissed her again, choking off her regret. In my heart, I knew how I felt about her. After fighting to get her back, I wasn't about to stand there while her doubts kept us apart.
Her body tensed while I continued my gentle, loving assault. Grasping her at the hips, I pulled Sneaks into my waist, hugging her shivering body close. Whatever resistance she had when she arrived softened. Our tongues twisted and prodded, each exploring the other's mouth with eagerness, hunger.
Sneaks arched her lower back, leaning into me, her iciness fading by the second. Gone was the distance she'd fought to put between us. She'd offered me an opening, and I wasn't about to let it slip through my fingers.
Speaking of my fingers, they made their way to the waist of her pants. Without hesitating, I hooked my fingers inside of them.
We separated. Sneaks' perfect lips parted. A final breath escaped while she stared into my eyes with a warning. Don't hurt me again.
Unblinking, I looked into hers with an answer. Never.
Her face fell toward mine and our mouths met again. The touch of her soft lips against mine sent a pulse through my body, gathering with white hot intensity between my legs. Not about to waste the opportunity she'd given me, I tightened my grip on the waistband and pulled, yanking her pants down to the middle of her thigh.
I pulled away. "No panties?"
Sneaks draped her arms across my shoulders with a lazy embrace. She shook her head and moved to my mouth again.
"No," she whispered, giving me a single kiss. "But now… I have a problem."
"Oh really?" I planted my hands on either side of her hips, leaning in toward her. "What's that?"
"The counter. It's chilly."
A smile came to the corner of my mouth. Say no more. Stepping back, I grabbed at her shoes and tugged them off of her feet. It wasn't long after that the rest of it followed. Soon, everything she had on from the waist down lay strewn across the kitchen countertop, floor, and anywhere else I'd thrown it.
I held my angel, lifting her off the counter and hugging her into me. Sneaks hooked her ankles around me at the waist and our mouths collided. My cock ached, making it almost impossible to move. Staggering across the kitchen, I felt myself slip and almost go down a time or two.
It didn't faze Sneaks one bit.
Her mouth moved to my neck where she sucked and kissed while her hand fell from my shoulder between my legs. She covered the bulge in my clothing with her palm, stroking it and nearly sending me to my knees.
Staggering across the room, I reached the floor to ceiling windows where I stopped. Sneaks glanced over her shoulder.
"Anywhere but here," she begged. "You know I'm afraid of heights."
While she clung to me in terror, I stepped out of my pants and yanked off my briefs, kicking them aside. Without a second thought, I grabbed at the base of my cock and pressed it into her folds.
"Griff." She shook her head. "Your condoms? Where are they?"
I smiled at her. "You're going to be my wife, Sneaks. Condoms are a thing of the past."
"No…We…"
I pushed into her, driving my cock into her sweet silk as deep as it would go. Her pussy gripped my dick like a vice. Sneaks moaned and collapsed her body against mine while I plunged her soaked depths.
Punch drunk with lust, she flung her arms around my neck and pressed her mouth against mine. A feral heat built, swirling and growing between us. Staggering forward and trying to find my footing, I stopped when her back pressed into the windows.
She broke free of me, a terrified yelp sputtering from her lips.
"Griff! No, I…"
I moved my hands fast, grabbing her ass cheeks and thrusting the deepest I had yet. Sneaks folded, leaning into my chest and forgetting about the phantom fifty story fall in her mind.
Pinning her against the glass, I settled in, and with each thrust of my shaft, I knew the time we'd spent apart would cost me. Whether I had five minutes or fifty, I'd finally get to show her my love the way nature intended. She'd take it all, everything I had and then some. She was mine, and I'd let her know it, leaving my mark deep inside.
The moon shined down from a rare cloudless sky, blanketing the city with a soft white halo.
By now, the threat of death floated away from Sneaks' mind like a balloon, drifting far away and out of sight. I held her tighter than ever, slamming into her and sending her back into the thick, triple paned glass.
Sneaks clenched her thighs, digging her heels into the meat of my ass. From the instant she walked off the elevator, every muscle, fiber, tendon, and bit of sinew I had flexed in anticipation of this moment. She'd never be free from my arms again, for any reason.
Tonight I'd make her mine, forever.
"Griff!" she pushed out a grunt. "Oh God. I…"
Hell yes. I lowered my head and tightened every muscle I had, slamming my pelvis into her. The sound of flesh cracking on flesh bounced off the walls while she held on, clutching my shirt and digging into me with her nails.
Her body began to twitch and shake, and a smile came to the corner of my mouth. I knew it was a matter of time now.
Spinning around, I switched positions with her. With my back against the window, Sneaks had a panoramic view of Portland. Her breath caught in her throat, and I slowed my hips, gliding them up and down with a subtle, slow movement.
"I've got you," I began, flexing my fingers around her hips. "It's a beautiful night, and you're perfectly safe."
For a second, I thought she
'd freak, but she didn't. Sneaks exhaled the breath she'd kept inside and started to grind her hips, sliding her pussy up and down my cock.
Fucking Christ.
The sight of my beautiful baby, letting go of her fear and giving herself to me. Man, I almost blew my load right then and there.
Sneaks snapped me out of my daydream in a hurry. Freeing her heels from behind me, she kicked them against the glass. There was a dull thumping noise from the impact while the bottoms of her feet squeaked against it.
Whatever inhibitions or fears she had about heights vanished, and over the next few minutes, I was the one holding on while she slammed her hips into me like a jackhammer. Sneaks stomped and kicked at the windows, daring me not to lose my grip on her. Her head fell back between her shoulders while the movement of her hips grew faster, stronger, harder.
"Yes, yes, yes!" she cried out, her body vibrating in my grasp. "Griff! Baby! Baby!"
I bit my lip, bottling up the fire in my balls until the last instant. Sneaks lurched up toward my torso with a scream and slammed her mouth into mine. Orgasm ripped through her body, her arms and legs trembled spasms.
That was all it took for me. Seeing her lose it sent me straight over the edge, chasing after her in bliss.
"Fuck!" I yelled, burying my head into her shoulder. "Fuck! Fuck!"
Pulsing inside of her, I laced Sneaks' pussy with heat. At last, I'd gotten what I wanted and didn't waste a single second. Sneaks belly pulsed against my abs, her rapid breath returning to normal.
She crashed her mouth into mine. The last throes of climax left me, my cock pulsed and jerked inside of her. Sneaks leaned away. The moonlight reflected in her emerald gems, giving the next words she spoke to me an unimaginable beauty.
"I love you."
I didn't hesitate. There was no need.
"I love you too, baby."
24
Mother & Daughter (Lily)
A couple of days later, I was in the dressing room at Portland's most exclusive bridal boutique, Lily's House of White.
Ironic. I know.