Found by You

by Victoria H. Smith

  Suddenly, his hand was on my body, moving up my arm. He tugged the blanket from my fingers, removing it, and the room I didn’t realize was so cold chilled my body. I told myself I kept my arms crossed over my chest because of how chilly the room was, but I’d be fooling myself if I said my decision to stay modest had nothing to do with him. I had never been with someone like him before, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if he could say the same about me. Feeling average took on a new definition when in the presence of someone like Griffin. Someone so commanding and desired.

  I had no idea if he picked up on my reservations with myself, but in the next moment he smiled at me. He reached behind his back, pulling his shirt off. Doing so mused his dirty blond hair and made the insecurities I had within myself so much worse.

  He was simply beautiful. His skin held a golden glow like he practiced outside more than in. He reached toward me, his bicep muscles twitched, his abs clenching as he leaned over me. He was so large and all consuming. There was a strong protection I felt in his presence, a sense of security.

  He gently uncrossed my arms from my body, and I let him look at me, my large breasts. My peaked dark nipples. My stomach, semi-flat and marked with few, but present, lines that resulted from stretched skin.

  If he was initially put off from the differences my body held from the women he was probably used to, he didn’t let that reflect. In fact, I gathered no negative reaction at all. His eyes blazed over me, and he couldn’t seem to stop touching me. He stroked my arms gently, sensually. My shoulders the same. He made it to my breasts, and I had to close my eyes under his seeking touch. It was as if he was memorizing my body’s feel, taking me all in. His hands moved over me and to the blankets bunched to the side. He pushed them off the bed until it was just the two of us there.

  I stared into his eyes. “But I’ll get cold.”

  “I want to see you,” he said, lowering his head. “And no you won’t.”

  He drew my nipple into his mouth, laving and suckling, and the shudder inside my body started deep. Right at the core. I spread my legs, aching to be touched, and he didn’t make me wait.

  He unzipped my jeans with one hand, pushing his hand inside right after. He bypassed my panties completely and suddenly I felt his finger parting my sensitive lips. Griffin wasn’t fast. He went slow, light on pressure. The feeling knotted my core and my arousal dampened my panties. He hadn’t even entered me yet and the wetness already moved between my thighs.

  “Griffin…” I said, widening my legs to urge his fingers downward. I pushed my jeans down my thighs. They were restricting me. I didn’t want him to stop what he was doing to me, but he did in order to help me take my jeans off.

  He didn’t put his hands on me right away once the jeans were removed. He was doing his analysis of me again: staring, touching, and taking me all in. His lips touched down between the valley of my breasts, and I drew in a breath, bracing his large shoulders.

  “You’re beautiful,” he rasped, gripping my thighs. “So damn beautiful.”

  He kissed down my stomach, but he didn’t stop. The next thing I knew he was between my thighs, moving his mouth over my panties with increased pressure.

  I whimpered, my eyes rolling back. Shifting my hips, I attempted to evade his mouth. It felt so good, so damn good, and it was overwhelming. He didn’t let me leave though. He held me in place by my hips and I buried my fingers into his hair.

  His mouth escaped my panties. When his tongue slid to the apex of my thigh, to the wetness at my panty line, I knew he was tasting me.

  “There isn’t anywhere you aren’t sweet,” he said, taking his fill of me. “Anywhere.”

  Suddenly, he was upon me, moving up to my mouth, and I was engulfed in him. Surrounded by Griffin Chandler. He kissed me deeply, hungrily, and thinking back, I didn’t understand how I allowed him to stop the first time he kissed me, how I had the strength to pull back from him in my apartment. I’d never been kissed like this before; kissed to a point where I could feel the other person’s passion through the contact. It was like he was making me feel it, showing me his want for me. This connection we had was so different and intense. I’d been with other guys and pleasured myself many times—both on camera and off—but none of that felt like this. Like being with him. He fulfilled a need I didn’t quite have met before. A need that was physical yet so much more. I now realized that as I felt the desire under his touch, the longing for him and his body. Something was missing before. Something that no longer was.

  I pushed my head back into the pillow and Griffin kissed down my neck. These strong emotions, strong feelings, scared me just as much as they pleasured me, the reasons for which I knew. Keeping to myself had been so easy and I did it for so long it had become second nature. The heart felt no pain when by itself. Everything was neutral. Neutral yet unfulfilled as I now knew. Tonight, I was opening myself up in ways I knew I never had before for a guy. I was allowing myself to be vulnerable. I could only hope I was strong enough. Just like that day in the laundry room, I knew who he was. And I was still… just me.

  “Don’t hurt me,” I heard myself say. I believed what I said to be a whisper, but when he stopped kissing me entirely, I knew it wasn’t.

  He looked at me with eyes so crystal blue. His lips lifted and he touched my mouth with his thumb. “Don’t hurt me,” he said, surprising me by repeating what I’d just said back to me. Requesting of me what I asked of him.

  His response caused me to smile. We both had pasts, ways in which we could hurt the other. He was right. The stakes were high for both of us.

  Touching his chest, I shook my head that I wouldn’t.

  Smiling, he lowered his head, his pink lips touching mine. “Try this with me,” he whispered over my mouth. “Just try this.”

  “Yes,” I gasped, my voice aching, seeking. I gripped his jeans, pushing them down.

  He removed them the rest of the way, all the while tasting and coaxing my lips open with his tongue. I let him in, not thinking about anything else. The condom he had came from somewhere. I didn’t see where, but I did see him pull his dark briefs down to put it on. I must have been staring because I pulled in a breath when he touched my arm, gaining my attention. He’d sheathed himself, and if I wasn’t overwhelmed by Griffin before, I was now. I had only been with a couple guys before him, but neither had been so…

  Big.

  I must have looked nervous because his gentle laugh hit the air. Holding himself, he drew forward, kissing my lips, bruising and plumping them.

  “It’s okay,” he said, guiding his tip into my slit. Stopping there, he kissed me. “It’s okay. Just relax. I won’t force it. I won’t hurt you.”

  Closing my eyes, I spread my legs. He stretched me so wide, filled me deeply and slowly. He moved his hips, but he didn’t go fast. He eased his movement against me, unhurried just like when he entered.

  I shuddered, turning my cheek against the pillow. Griffin took advantage, tasting my neck, and he only thrust his hips when I lifted mine. He responded to me, giving only what he felt I could handle until I prompted him for me. He never took what he wanted. Never forced himself on me. I knew if I asked him to stop right now, he would. He was looking out for me; conscious of me like he always had been.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him and appreciating him. We’d told each other so much tonight, put so much faith in each other. But what happened in this room was just us. I could only hope we were ready for the rest of the world.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Griffin

  I ran my hand up and down Roxie’s arm with my eyes closed. I did this whenever I came out of sleep throughout the time we rested. From the night and into the morning, I rubbed her arm to keep her warm. I told her I wouldn’t let her get cold. She was snuggled up on me, her face nestled against my chest. Her warmth kept me warm as well.

  She breathed in deeply and my eyes flickered open. Once adjusted to the room’s morning light, I smiled watching her
. She gave this cute little yawn, stretching out like a kitten underneath me. I let her go so she could, and I was graced with a view of her naked body. I had my hands on those curves last night and I couldn’t get enough. I enjoyed her fit to me. How our bodies complemented each other. Being the size I was, I pretty much dwarfed most girls I was with. But Roxie… she felt so good underneath me. Her body was ample, and I was embarrassed I couldn’t stop looking at her last night. Touching her. I acted like I’d never had my hands on a woman before, but damn if I hadn’t before her.

  She rolled back on the pillow next to mine. I moved an arm over her waist and those unique eyes I missed flashed open. Seeing me, her mouth turned up in the corner.

  I lifted my fingers, mouthing, “Hi.”

  Her smile widened, and she opened her own mouth. “Hey.”

  I didn’t realize how much I loved this grade school game we played. Brushing my hand across her stomach, I continued it by saying a silent, “How are you?”

  She made a silent giggle. She moved her hand up and down my bicep, and I swear to God she sent a shudder in me. “Fine,” she said, soundlessly.

  I no longer wanted her to be soundless. I pounced on her, and she let out a squeal that I loved way better than the silence.

  I covered her with my body, kissing her deep into the pillowcase. She pushed her arms around me and dug her nails deep into my back.

  Groaning heavily, I nibbled her full lips. God, she had me hard already. I’d been in and out of sleep for the last hour or so, so I’d lost my morning wood long ago. Well, it was definitely back in a fury. I wanted her again. Right now. But then suddenly her kisses went light, sweet. This calmed me down, and I found myself gently bracing her hip, doing the same with her cheek. Her sweet kisses became enough, and suddenly, I didn’t want them to end. This was so strange to me. Normally, I’d fuck a girl without question if we were both feeling it. But just holding Roxie, kissing her and making it last, took priority over lust. She made me comfortable; she made me actually want to make it last.

  Leaning off her, I brought her with me. Simply kissing her.

  She sighed, parting her lips to let me in, and I definitely didn’t shy away from the invitation. We tangled tongues hotly, dueling and searching. I was blessed with her taste and that scent of hers that captured me before I even knew her. Sugary sweet and incredibly warm.

  When we finally came up for breath, I hovered my lips over her mouth, moving my fingers over the light coat of sweat that gathered on her lower back.

  “Mornin,’” I said, remembering I never greeted her.

  She smiled with that beautifully bruised mouth I just plumped. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

  This girl couldn’t imagine how well with her wrapped around me. I brought my other arm around her to get her closer. “Like a baby. Nice and toasty with you.”

  Dipping her head, she went all shy. “You did your job too well. You actually made me hot.”

  Her lips snapped shut at what she said, and I chuckled. “It’s okay. I knew what you meant. You made me hot, too, but I liked it.”

  I smoothed my hand up and down her thigh. Not sexually. Just to keep her warm.

  She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Where are you from?”

  I had to laugh at what she asked. My speech must have slipped somewhere. “Texas. You can tell?”

  Nodding, she ran her fingers at the nape of my neck. “Your accent’s faint, but I can hear it sometimes.”

  “We moved around a lot,” I told her. “My family wasn’t anywhere long enough for one to stick. We ended up in Texas in the long run. My accent comes out more when I’m back there.”

  I thought to say the word “home” at first instead of “there”, but calling a trailer park home felt weird to me even though I was long over being embarrassed about how I grew up. My dad chased work and those places saved us money. That was my reality. I fully intended on getting him and my brothers out of there when I could. I was, unfortunately, still bounded by limited scholarships until I got drafted. I was able to send them some of the perks I got from being here. My dad’s expensive-ass four by four looked funny as hell where he lived. My Escalade came with a pick-up sister truck.

  “You’ve got one too, you know,” I said, running a finger up her waist. “An accent that is.”

  She blinked and her dark eyebrows lifted. “Really?”

  I laughed, finding it funny everyone I talked to around here didn’t believe they had accents. Well, they certainly did to me and I picked up on a few things. “Really. Wait a sec. Let me think up an example.” She waited while I did and one came to me in seconds. “Say ‘Washington,’” I prompted.

  She eyed me like I’d lost my damn mind, but the minute the word ‘WAR-shington’ left her lips, she popped her hand over her mouth.

  I chuckled. “Sounds a bit different, huh?”

  She grinned. “I guess so. I’m from Wisconsin by the way. A fairly large city but still surrounded by cornfields like here.”

  “Is that where your family is?”

  I found myself really wanting to know. I wanted to know everything about her. No matter how small.

  The air suddenly took her attention as she gazed away from my eyes, and when she shook her head, she still didn’t look at me.

  “No, they’re here actually. We’re local now,” she said, flatly, dryly.

  Her family lived here, yet she didn’t live with them? I would have to cut costs. But then again, maybe I wouldn’t. I liked my independence. And if she lived in the conditions I did growing up, I supposed I’d be relieved to get away, too. I wondered what her reasons were for being on her own.

  My phone buzzed from the floor, and I let out an argh! at the sound. This made Roxie laugh. I enjoyed that sound. After I retrieved my phone from my cast-off jeans, Roxie lay on my chest, resting on the tops of her hands. It was an awesome sight.

  Hey, dude, D’s text said. The team is eating breakfast downstairs with our dates. Be there.

  I rolled my eyes. The fun never ended.

  “Apparently everyone is meeting downstairs for breakfast,” I said, laying my phone on the bed.

  “Oh.” Roxie’s face fell, and I knew exactly why. I didn’t want to unwrap myself from her either. In fact…

  I grabbed her, pulling her underneath me. I had to say she didn’t put up much of a fight.

  “How about we stay here?” I kissed her lips before going for her neck next.

  My phone buzzed again before she could respond, and I groaned this time. The buzzing didn’t stop, and when I finally answered it, I had about five messages of the same thing. They varied from “Get your ass down here. We’re waiting for you,” to “Captain can’t even come down to break bread with his team. Bogus.”

  That last one made me snort, and I finally decided to give in. Roxie rose with me, and after I answered the last message that I’d be there, I looked up at her and instantly frowned. She had herself covered with the blanket I tossed last night.

  “I unfortunately have to go. They’re all expecting me down there,” I said this though I already knew she had a feeling I was going.

  She pushed her hair behind her ear. The dark strands moved over the mocha skin of her shoulder, and I never wanted to grab a girl more.

  “Yeah. We probably both should go down. I don’t want to leave Ryan hanging. Then you got Tanya.”

  I didn’t like the way her voice changed when she said my ex’s name. She also covered herself up more, and I knew Tanya being around didn’t sit well with her. I’d really have to be delicate with Roxie. I wasn’t used to girls being bothered by others in my life. The girls I usually surrounded myself with were vain as shit. Cocky and not intimidated in the slightest by other women. Roxie wasn’t that way, and I’d have to be conscious of that.

  “You know she’s going around telling everyone that she’s your girlfriend, right?”

  My brows could have shot to the ceiling. “No, she isn’t.”

  It
wasn’t like I didn’t believe her. My statement was more in the sense that Tanya had the audacity to tell people that.

  Roxie nodded, spinning a strand of hair between her fingers.

  I touched her hand and she dropped her hair. “Well, you know the truth. I don’t have a girlfriend.”

  Her lip went into her mouth, and she chewed on it a moment before she lifted her head, making eye contact.

  “You don’t?” she asked.

  Looking at her, I shook my head. What did I have to say to this girl to let her know I was only with her? “Not unless you know something I don’t know.”

  Her eyes veered away from mine. She let out a long breath, then slowly she nodded in understanding.

  I kissed her once before I left to prove my point. Roxie was going to be a tough one, but my dad always told me it was those that were all worth it in the end; that they were the ones that meant the most. And my dad, as blue collar as he was, wasn’t a stupid man.

  Roxie

  As silly as it may have been, I dragged my feet to breakfast. How ridiculous had it been that I asked Griffin about his girlfriend status? Even more so that I expected a certain answer out of him. I was acting like a high schooler, hoping the guy I had feelings for would make an open declaration about how he felt in return by making me his girlfriend. We only slept together. Once at that. How could I expect him to put that word of commitment out there? Cement what we had? I knew it wasn’t fair to get my hopes up, but however illogical it was, I had. I wanted him to say we were together and let others know by the title. I felt a fool for being so expectant, and I could only hope he didn’t put two and two together and realize what I was getting at upstairs. Griffin was so nice. I knew he wouldn’t give me a hard time about it, but still.

  I shook my head as I continued my walk to the country club’s restaurant, the embarrassment of the situation looming. Griffin hadn’t gotten there yet when I got inside, and I let out a breath of relief. He said he was heading to his room to shower real quick, so he must not have been finished yet. I probably should sit with my date anyway and him with his own…