by Carter Blake
I’m surprised at just how nice it is.
There’s a bed—definitely going to make use of that later—a mini fridge, a small couch, and a window looking out onto the water.
All in all, not a bad way to lounge around while fleeing a country.
“So, Griff? Care to tell me exactly how we’re going to get into Spain?” I ask, taking a seat on the bed.
He grins at me, and I nearly melt. I’m thankful to be sitting down.
“Take out that folder, the leather one you put in your bag.”
“Okay.”
I dig through my bag and pull the folder out, glancing back at him and waiting for further instructions, and, once again, he flashes that lopsided grin.
“Yes, yes, you’re very pretty,” I tease. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
I wave the folder around, and he laughs, shaking his head.
“Open it, love.”
I unsnap the silver clasp on the front and pull the flaps open, pursing my lips together in a smirk when I see what’s inside.
Oh, he’s good.
How did he get this? When did he have time to get this?
There’s a passport with my picture and a full set of travel documents.
He sits down next to me and nudges my shoulder playfully, and I lean into his touch, resting my head against him. His hand comes to rest on my thigh and skates up and down my leg soothingly, bringing a contented smile to my lips.
I can feel the ferryboat lurch forward. We’re pulling away from the dock and finally moving.
I feel a wave of relief wash over me as I realize that this really will all be over soon.
And I have Griff to thank for that.
“You really did think of everything, didn’t you?”
I can feel him laugh softly, then he sighs and then slides his arm around me and kisses the top of my head.
“Are you surprised?”
“I suppose I shouldn’t be, at this point.”
I turn my head and smile at him as I lean in for a kiss. I feel his hand cup my cheek as our kiss deepens, and I hum against his lips as his hand moves further up my thigh.
I pull away from our kiss with a sigh and laugh softly when he groans in protest. I feel the soft touch of his thumb move from my cheek to my kiss-swollen lips, and I take it between my teeth and smirk.
His gaze meets mine, and just as he leans down for another kiss, I place my finger on his lips and raise my brows, mockingly chastising him.
“Now, now, Mr. Abernathy. Was this your plan the whole time, to get me alone in a cabin on the ferry and have your way with me?”
“Well,” he croons, that lopsided grin that makes my chest tighten again spreading across his face. “There are certainly other aspects to my plan, but would it be so terrible if this were part of it?”
I shake my head and laugh as I take his hand into mine and, once again leaning into him, enjoy his warmth.
“No, definitely not. In fact I’d be angry if it wasn’t part of your plan. But I need to call my mother first. She needs to know what’s going on.”
He nods and reaches back into his jacket pocket—pulling out his own cell evidently—as I pull out mine.
“That’s a good idea, actually. I’ve got to check a couple things myself, as well. Why don’t you call her now? The ferry’s moving along so we’re in the clear.”
I smile and place a quick peck on his lips and start punching the numbers into my phone, and he flops down backwards on the bed next to me. He brings the phone to his ear, his other arm lazily draped over his eyes as he makes his own call.
His shirt pulls up out of the waistband of his pants just enough for me to catch a glimpse of that delectable treasure trail, and I bite my lip and think back to the bath we shared in his Riad. I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks.
I’m brought back to reality when I hear my mother’s frantic voice on the other line. I realize that I’d dialed her, and, in my daze, hadn’t heard her answer.
“Mom! Yes, it’s me. Yes, I’m fine. Listen, I need to tell you a few things.”
I spend the next few moments reassuring my mother and letting her in on my father’s deceptions. I explain to her everything that’s happened. I steal a glance at Griff every few moments, and this time, I catch him looking back at me so I stick my tongue out at him, to which he rolls his eyes with a smirk.
After a few more moments, I tell my mother that I need to go for now, but that I’ll be in touch soon and that she doesn’t have to worry, we’re taking care of everything. She seems apprehensive about believing me, but we end the call soon, and I sigh. I’ll be glad when this is all over, and I can finally relax.
I hear Griff laugh, and I turn to see what’s so funny. He’s looking at me with a smug expression on his face.
“You’re going to want to take a look at this.”
He grins, handing me his phone. I take it, and immediately, my eyes go wide as I read what’s on the screen.
It’s a multinational news website, and it’s got every bit of dirt about my father that we’d learned on this trip. I gasp, looking at him with glee.
“What? How…? Oh. Leviathan!”
He nods and takes the phone back when I hand it to him, grinning like an idiot. A damn sexy idiot, but an idiot nonetheless.
I fall back onto the bed, curling into him as he wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer.
I gaze over to the orange glow spilling into the room from our window, and I smile, enjoying the view of the sun beginning to set.
This certainly isn’t how I’d pictured us ‘running off into the sunset.’ For one, I didn’t think that we’d literally be on the run…
But I suppose this works.
Chapter 39
Kalista
I get up from the bed and walk over to the cabin’s window. I lean against it and gaze out.
The orange light of the sunset reflecting off the water combined with the slow-moving rolling waves make me smile.
I barely notice Griff walk up behind me.
He places his hands on my waist, and I feel his lips against my neck, placing a soft kiss.
I feel him smile against my skin.
I bring my hands over his and slide them down to my hips, leaning into his touch and sighing as his lips move slowly up to my jaw line, causing a shiver to run through me.
He snickers and nips playfully at me.
“And what are you so happy about, huh?” I tease, angling my neck to give him better access, and humming my approval when he takes full advantage.
I feel his teeth pull and nibble at my exposed skin, followed by a soft, soothing kiss.
“Well,” he purrs, his lips continuing to graze my skin between words. “I’ve managed to pull off the most successful and important heist of my entire life.”
Since the heist didn’t happen, and we’re now flying to Spain, I’m not sure what he’s talking about.
“As much as I’m enjoying reaping the rewards of your happiness, I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
I feel him smile against my skin again, and he laughs softly as he turns me around to face him and cups my cheek. His thumb brushes over my skin, as he looks into my eyes and smiles, his voice barely above a whisper as he speaks.
“You.” He says simply, tucking a stray hair behind my ear.
“Me? I don’t understand.”
“Kalista, all my life, I’ve been chasing after something. I thought it was diamonds, gold, jewelry, and anything else that I could sell. But I now realize that the treasure I was chasing, that I was looking for my whole life, is you, the ultimate treasure. No amount of diamonds or riches will ever compare to that.”
Oh, he’s good.
Usually, when a guy pulls a line like that, I roll my eyes and send him on his way, but with him, it’s different.
I can tell he’s genuine and that he’s truly happy and cares about me.
Why else would he give up money and riches for me?
All his life, he’s been chasing down the next big score—and he threw that loot out the window to find and save me.
That says something.
I’m speechless.
Without a thought, my lips are crashing into his and my hands are in his hair, pulling him in.
He puts his weight on me and pushes me back against the window.
I feel his hard cock against my center as he parts my legs with his thigh, grinding into me.
I moan into his lips and roll my hips forward into his. I smirk in smug satisfaction when I pull a growl from within his chest.
So, I do it again.
I feel his hands on my ass.
Without warning, he scoops me up and I squeal in surprise, wrapping my legs around his waist as he carries me towards the bed.
Our kisses are frantic as we fumble through the room. I chuckle against his lips as I tease him and rake my fingers through his hair
“I bet you use that line on all the girls, hmm?”
He laughs as he sits down onto the bed with me in his lap.
His hand slides under my shirt to grip the bare skin of my waist.
Heat and electricity shoot through me at his touch.
“Only the ones that I forge marriage papers for, I assure you.”
I throw my head back in laughter at his quick wit, and he takes the opportunity to gnaw at that oh-so-sensitive spot on my skin where throat meets shoulder.
It makes me groan, and once again, roll my hips against him.
A fog of raw, carnal need is starting to overtake me—and it’s entirely his fault.
I love it.
I can feel how hard he’s against me, so I reach down between us and grip him through the fabric of his pants.
I sigh, realizing just how badly I need him inside of me right now.
I push him, and he falls backwards onto the bed.
I pull my shirt up over my head, tossing it unceremoniously across the room as I grin down at him and bite my lip in anticipation.
He laughs and looks at me, pupils blown wide with lust and hunger in his eyes.
Holding eye contact with me, he slides his hands up my legs to my bare midriff, and he trails feather light touches along my skin as I squirm on top of him.
The way he looks at me makes me blush.
Heat furls through me as he groans my name, his hips rolling and writhing.
Quick as a whip, he sits up and rolls me over, laying his weight on me and pinning me beneath him.
His lips make a trail from my neck down to my abdomen, each touch sending waves of anticipation coursing through my veins.
I prop myself up onto my elbows and watch him kiss his way down my body.
I sigh when his tongue dips into my belly button, a surge of heat and want surging through me.
He reaches my waistband, looks up at me, and smirks as he tugs it down over my hips.
I lift myself up, allowing him to rid me of my clothing.
He drops my pants to the floor and takes the lace of my panties between his teeth and tugs, slowly pulling them further down, all the while staring at me with those, deep, lustful eyes.
Holy fuck, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of watching him do that.
He hauls them off me and pepper kisses along my calf, starting at my ankle and working his way up to the juncture of my knee.
I sigh and gasp as his lips graze my thigh, his touch becoming more insistent as he nears my center.
Aching for his attention, I mewl in protest as he passes over, moving instead to repeat the process along my other leg.
I can feel how turned on I am, and it only furthers my desire for him.
It reduces me to a begging, pleading mess.
“Griff,” I say breathlessly as I look down at him. “Please.”
He grins at my insistence and gives in to my plea, sliding a single digit inside of me and laps at my pussy, absolutely soaked with arousal.
Fucking Christ, why am I so needy right now?
The feeling of his finger sliding through my wet folds is one of pure bliss—one that could only be outdone by his cock following suit.
I writhe and moan against his mouth as he laps and licks at me, and I release a wanton sigh as his tongue swirls around my clit.
The touch and feel of his tongue shoot waves of pleasure through my entire body.
He slips another finger in, and I cry out, nearly coming undone right there. The pleasure building and pooling in my core are ready to boil over.
He pumps his fingers in and out of me and licks at my pussy, groaning against me.
The vibrations are pure bliss.
I can feel my orgasm building, and it feels like the pleasure coil will snap at any moment.
I want nothing more than for him to be inside of me when it does.
“Griff, please. I need you. Come here,” I beg, chest heaving and lips parted.
He flashes me that devilish grin and crawls up my body. He snakes his tongue out every so often against my skin, until I feel his lips crash into mine.
They’re a perfect mixture of love and sin, and I sigh as I taste myself on him.
Instinctively, my hands rake up his back.
He pulls away from our kiss, and I whimper at the loss of his touch. He smiles down at me and brushes my cheek with his thumb.
I can’t help but lean into it and sigh, gazing back up at him and grinning.
His touch is tender now and less frantic. It’s as if he’s trying to commit every piece of me to memory or tell a story on my skin.
He puts his weight on me, takes my hands into his, and interlaces our fingers.
Looking me in the eye, he slowly slides his hard cock inside of me.
The feeling of him entering me inch by agonizingly thick inch almost sends me over the edge.
I wrap my legs around him when he fills me.
I hold him deep inside me while I catch my breath.
He pulls out slowly and groans into my neck, biting down and sucking as he slides back in.
I meet his hips with my own on every thrust.
Once again, I can feel that familiar heat and tension building.
“Fuck, fuck, Griff, I’m gonna come.”
I moan into his ear, and he continues his steady rhythm of fucking me, bringing me closer and closer to climax with each thrust.
Suddenly it happens, and I gasp.
My back arches and my body shakes as my orgasm washes over me like a surf.
He doesn’t stop, and I moan louder. I’m grasping and clawing at him as I ride out the waves of my orgasm.
I feel his rhythm start to falter. He’s growling in my ear, nearing his end.
I gasp into his ear, and he speeds up.
I feel his hands run through my hair, tugging gently and sending tingles down my spin
“Come, Griff. Come for me.”
That’s all it takes.
With one final thrust, he spills into me, groaning and growling.
We lay there for a few moments, basking in the silence.
Coming down from our high, I turn into him and kiss him, giggling into his lips.
He looks to the window across the room and smiles.
Then he looks back at me and winks.
“Just like out of a romance novel, yes? Making love on a romantic ferry, the waves crashing around us, the sun setting through the window.”
I laugh and roll my eyes playfully and give him a playful thwack on the shoulder.
“Oh yes, running from the authorities and forging documents to flee the country is the epitome of romance, Griff.”
“I love you, Kalista von Knopf.”
I’m taken aback by the raw emotion in his voice.
I’ve waited for what feels like forever to hear that sexy, accented voice of his to utter them.
It was worth the wait.
“I love you, Griffin Abernathy.”
We share a soft kiss awash with overwhelming affection and adoration.
> We stay curled up in the bed together and watch the sun set over the water, drifting off into sleep as we head toward our new life.
Chapter 40
Griffin
“Griffin, is this what I think it is?” Kalista looks down at me with eyes widened in surprise.
“I know it’s not as big as that giant Canary of yours, but—”
“I don’t care.”
She grabs the Harry Winston-made diamond ring and slips it onto her finger with a beaming smile.
“So I take it that’s a ‘yes’ then, love?”
She hits me in the shoulder and nods frantically
I stand from my bended knee, and she throws her arms around my neck. Our lips meet in a fiery, passionate kiss.
When she pulls her scarlet lips from mine, I meet her gaze and feel myself get swept up in her piercing blue eyes.
“I love you, Mr. Abernathy.”
“And I love you, soon-to-be Mrs. Abernathy. For real this time—not forged.”
We share a laugh and a quick, tender kiss.
“And about fucking time, too. Took you long enough to ask.”
“Well, I had to wait for the right moment. I figured your twenty-second birthday would be great. Would give us the chance to think about how we first met.”
“When you appeared in my room and kicked the ass of two men trying to kidnap me before kidnapping me yourself? You mean that?”
“Well, when you put it like that…” I roll my eyes to give my sarcasm some extra bite.
“Well, I do put it like that, because it’s the truth.”
“Can we tell it my way when we tell this story at bedtime to our grandchildren, at least?”
Our lips meet again, and it brings another smile to my face.
I always thought that I was meant to live the bachelor life and work alone, but Kalista has proven otherwise.
My hand moves up to the side of her face, and she leans into my palm with a content smile.
Our moment is interrupted by the ring of Kalista’s phone.
She grabs the phone from the table mid-ring and puts it up to her ear.
“Is it done?”
I can hear the sound of a muffled voice coming from the other end that sounds like Leviathan.