Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“Fuck.” He pulls away from me, forehead meeting mine as the alarm on his phone goes off, an interruption that neither of us is welcoming. Our kiss is abandoned as well as the possibility of us going further.
“How does the saying go? Distance makes the heart grow fonder?” I joke. My laugh doesn’t sound very convincing even to myself. We were so close to taking this a lot further, at least I was. Though it doesn’t take much when Griff is near—one kiss, a graze of his fingers along my skin, or even a glance.
“I still don’t like leaving you. Jack’s number is in your phone, right?” he asks, standing up and planting my feet on the ground. I back up. Finn has already moved away in order not to get trampled on.
“It’s in my phone. Mom and Aunt Cat know you’re leaving and will be around. I’ll be fine. You’re worrying over nothing when it’s me who should be worrying over you.” I’m holding back how stressed I am that Griff is going into a situation where sure, he’s the rescuer, but roles could be reversed in an instant.
“Alright, let me grab my bag. Walk me out?” I nod, trying to clear my head of thoughts of him getting injured on the job. Shit, his lip is finally healing, and the bruise on his jaw is going away. I stand where I am, watching him in his gray cotton shirt perfectly molded to his muscular back, his ass encased in jeans that have been washed so many time they’re soft to the touch. I must have been in my own world watching his slow gait, each flex and pull of his muscle, enjoying my view when Griff gets my attention. “Stormy, you gonna walk me out?” His signature smirk is what I’m met with when I finally peel my eyes away from his body.
“Coming! Finn, let’s go see daddy off,” I call out for him. He’s fast on his feet, the clicking of his nails against the tile floor the only reason I can hear him.
“Jesus, baby girl, I’m never going to leave now.” Finn and I meander toward Griff. He’s got his duffle bag in one hand, keys and phone in the other.
“Nope, off you go. Finn and I are going to the dog store later. Then we are going to enjoy our long walks along the beach, maybe eat some watermelon together, and then cuddle on the couch.” Griff shakes his head. When I meet him at the door leading the garage, I follow him out. One step at a time, he may not know it yet, but he’s taking a piece of my heart with him.
“Keep him out of our bed, baby girl.”
“I can’t make any promises,” I reply. He hits the button on the key fob, starting his truck. My car is in the garage stall next to his looking at me longingly because she hasn’t gotten a lot of use since moving in. I follow him to the driver’s side door, watching as he throws his bag on the passenger seat. His wallet comes out of his back pocket, and he puts the rest of his stuff in the center console.
“I’ll promise you this, if I come home and Finn thinks he can sleep on my side of the bed or with my woman permanently, it’ll be my palm you feel against your ass,” he says, spinning around.
“I’m not sure if that’s a threat. I kind of like the idea of that.” He steps into my space, engulfing me with his presence, surrounding me in the way only Griff can.
“We’ll see about that when you can’t sit for a week without the reminder of my palm coming down on your bare ass.” He dips his body, lowers his head to my ear. His tongue flicks at the lobe and sets off a tingling deep within my body.
“Griff.” My hands come up to his chest, pulling at his shirt until he’s as close as possible.
“Fuck, wish I had more time.” His lips graze my cheek until they are on mine. One kiss will never be enough. He must have the same realization because it’s over all too soon, but there’s a shit ton of meaning behind the soft and sweet kiss.
“Be safe. Text me when you get there, and I’ll see you soon.” We pull away, he gives Finn a pat on his head, and then he’s swinging his body into his truck.
“Soon,” he says right before he closes the truck door. Finn and I stay where we are until he’s pulling out of the garage. We walk together, me waving as he finishes backing out, staying where I’m at until his truck is no longer visible. I take a deep breath, dropping the façade of being strong for a moment. Finn must realize my somber mood because he nudges my thigh, getting my attention.