GRIFFIN

by Paula Cox

  “Everything okay?” she asked over dessert—a delicious ice cream sundae.

  A strange, almost nervous frown etched onto his gorgeous bronzed face. Nervous—not exactly a word you’d use to describe Dax Easterling. Something was troubling him, something he didn’t want to tell her.

  “Is it about us?” As soon as she’d asked the question, Tiana wished she hadn’t. Why? Because he nodded like a little boy who was about to admit to doing something very wrong. He chewed his lip, took a big swig of wine, and then sucked in a deep breath. All very odd and puzzling behavior for him. What was with him tonight?

  “There’s something I need to say.” He suddenly got up, stepped toward her. “I’ve been waiting for the right time to say this.” He dipped into his pocket. Tiana thought he was retrieving his wallet to pay for the meal, so he could say his piece and make a quick getaway. So it couldn’t be good. He hesitated, closed his eyes, nodded to himself.

  “What is it?” she asked again.

  He pulled a small purple box out of his pocket, then got down on one knee.

  “Oh my God!” Tiana put a hand to her chest and gaped down at him. This was not only unexpected, it was surreal—in the most amazing way imaginable.

  Is it really happening?

  “I’ve never asked for anything in my life,” he said, “and that’s because I’ve never wanted anything this much. I can’t promise you a quiet life, but I can promise it will always be up to us how we live it. I’ll never ask you to be someone you’re not, the same way I’ll never be anything other than the guy you fell in love with. I promise to always protect you for the rest of my life. I want to spend that life with you, and I want us to have a family of our own.” He opened the box, revealing a blue diamond ring that caught the candlelight and seemed from another world, a magic world, one she’d only imagined until now. “I love you, Tiana Crowe. Will you marry me?”

  Tearing up, she glimpsed the candle flame flickering in the corner of her eye. A warm, steady breeze blew across the beach; everything in the cabana seemed to react just a fraction, for a split-second. Then all was still again. And the sound of the waves was the sound of a dream fulfilled.

  She said yes.

  He scooped her up and carried her away her across the sand, far away where there were no lights and no memory. Only each other to look forward to. They made love on the beach, and it was unforgettable.

  THE END

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  I break everyone who challenges me. This girl will be no different.

  Whether on the battlefield or in the cage, it makes no difference:

  I always come out on top.

  Tiana thinks she will be the one to strip away my defenses.

  But the only one stripping is her.

  I’ve got a body count that’s hundreds deep.

  It’s what soldiers do:

  We take down what’s in front of us.

  I simply refuse to lose.

  But Tiana is different than anyone I’ve ever faced.

  She’s tough, but fragile.

  Smart, but scared.

  She’s seen hell, too.

  A different kind of hell than the bloodbaths I’m used to.

  I want to fight for her.

  To protect her from the bastards in her past…

  And the devils in her head.

  For that to happen, she has to let me in.

  She wants to refuse, to keep me at arms’ length.

  But one way or another, I’m going to break her down.

  I won’t rest until I make her mine.

  ***

  I’ll make her give in to my darkest cravings.

  She wanted an adventure.

  I needed someone to control.

  She was so innocent.

  So pure that it’d almost be a shame to ruin her.

  Almost.

  She should have stayed away.

  She should have kept her distance.

  But now she’s mine to do with as I please.

  I destroy beautiful things, and she’s going to be my masterpiece.

  Every touch.

  Every breath.

  Every moan.

  Until she can’t remember her own name.

  Because she’ll be too busy screaming mine.

  ***

  I won’t be denied, no matter how loud she screams.

  She says she’s not scared, but she should be.

  Because I’ll show her just how far I can go.

  How deep she can fall.

  How loud she can scream.

  I left her behind when I joined the Marines.

  When I came back, I built a fortune off my blood, sweat, and tears.

  I didn’t think I’d get a second chance with her.

  Until she crashed back into my world.

  The only problem is, she’s more off-limits than ever.

  But I won’t be denied.

  She tells me she’s not scared—not scared of me, not scared of the consequences.

  She should be, if she knows what’s good for her.

  Because I’ll show her just how far I can go.

  How hard she can fall.

  How loud she can scream.

  ***

  SHE DID THE UNTHINKABLE, AND NOW I’LL DESTROY HER.

  I came to take her brother’s life.

  She offered herself in her brother’s place instead.

  Now there’s no turning back.

  Because once I have her, I’m going to destroy her.

  I'm a gun-for-hire. No questions, no hesitation.

  I came to take a life—her brother’s life.

  But then she did the unthinkable.

  She offered herself to a monster like me.

  Said she’d do whatever I want.

  However I want. Whenever I want.

  As long as I let her brother live.

  She should have known better than to trust me.

  She should have known better than to let me close.

  Because I’ll destroy her.

  Her full curves. Her innocent eyes. Her quivering lips…

  I’ll make her scream.

  I’ll make her beg.

  I’ll make her mine.

  And I’ll kill anyone who thinks they can stop me.

  ***

  I WAS SUPPOSED TO SAVE HER. INSTEAD, I TOOK HER AND BROKE HER.

  I was a hitman who wanted to leave that life behind.

  She was a good girl who just wanted to get by.

  I saved her, but once I got a good look at her, I couldn’t hold back.

  So I took her and broke her—night after night, until she’s mine.

  She didn’t think she needed someone like me by her side.

  I didn’t think I’d have to kill again.

  I wanted a family—a wife and child.

  I wanted to leave the hitman life behind.

  She brought that world back in the worst possible way.

  I saved her that night, but she made it impossible for me to pull away.

  Neither of us was prepared to be in each other’s life.

  Once I had her in my hands, I knew I won’t ever let her go.

  Not after I’ve tasted her lips.

  Not after I’ve broken her innocence.

  Not after I’ve stripped her bare and left her trembling beneath me.

  But that was before the same bastards who used to hire me put a target on her back.

  Now it’s war.

  And I won’t back down.

  Not until they’re all dead.

  Not until she is mine.

  ***

  I TOOK HER, RUINED HER, AND LEFT MY BABY IN HER BELLY.

  She was biker royalty—the Desert Knights MC president’s daughter.

  I was trash as far as her family was concerned.

  So I took her, ruined her, and made her scre
am.

  I put my baby in her belly—and no-one, not even her family—can take them away from me.

  Tory Walsh was the daughter of the Desert Knights MC President.

  Sweet, innocent, and totally off-limits.

  She was a drug I couldn’t quit.

  A thirst I couldn’t quench.

  Once wasn’t ever enough, so I took her and corrupted her.

  Night after night, again and again.

  Until her voice was hoarse from screaming.

  Until her body quivered at my slightest touch.

  Everything changed when I put a child in her belly.

  I knew her family would come after me.

  But I never thought they’d go after her and the baby.

  Now, nothing is sacred and nothing is off-limits.

  I’m keeping Tory, and I’m keeping our baby.

  I’ll keep them safe. No matter what.

  ***

  I SAVED HER. BUT SHE NEVER THOUGHT THAT I’D OWN HER

  She was a firefighter who never thought she needed saving.

  I was looking for the b*stards trying to destroy my club.

  She didn’t count on me to save her.

  But I’ll do more than that—I’m going to own her.

  My enemies tried to kill me by setting my world on fire.

  Dani was a firefighter who never thought she’d need a biker like me to save her.

  I pulled her out of the fire, but now I can’t get her out of my head.

  I know women like her.

  She’s tough, but there’s no way she could ever hide her innocence.

  I can see it in her eyes when she looks at me.

  I can smell it in the air when she’s close.

  She brings out the animal in me.

  She makes me lose control.

  She’s the match that lit the fire in me.

  And nothing in the world can stop me from making her mine.

  ***

  I WASN’T A HERO AND SHE DIDN’T ASK TO BE SAVED.

  She's fought tooth and nail to survive.

  I take what I want.

  She didn't ask for a savior.

  But she doesn’t know that I saved her for myself.

  I f*ck and leave, simple and sweet. But when I saw her surrounded by those animals, something in me snapped.

  Watching over some chick ain’t the kind of thing I do.

  But Aimee was something else.

  A spitfire with a body begging to be tamed, and a smart mouth I wouldn’t mind wrapped around me.

  She knows I’m a monster.

  But this monster’s her only chance of survival out here.

  And I won’t stop until I make her MINE.

  ***

  THIS JOB DIDN’T ASK ME TO TAKE HIS DAUGHTER, BUT THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I’LL DO.

  I was supposed to kill the Don of our oldest rival crime family.

  But that was before I got a glimpse of his daughter.

  An untamable spitfire hiding under an innocent spoiled princess.

  Once I saw her, I had a different plan in mind.

  I plan to put her under me—night after night, again and again

  Her father thought I was here to negotiate a truce between our crime families.

  He had no idea I was sent to destroy them from the inside.

  His innocent daughter was the only one who suspected me.

  A princess who’s been sheltered from the world her father built.

  One look at her, and the last thing I wanted was to keep her quiet.

  I’ll finish this job, and then I’m taking her as a bonus.

  She may try to uncover me for who I really am.

  But not before I take her.

  Strip her.

  And leave her throat raw from screaming.