Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
“It was about two months before the fight that, if I’d won, would have been a stepping stone to a title fight,” I tell her. “But my mom was diagnosed with cancer. My dad died when I was a kid, and I have no siblings, so I had to make a choice—give up the fight or take care of my mom. Obviously, I chose my mom.”
“Oh God, Griffin, I’m so sorry.”
A wan smile flickers across my lips. “Thanks.”
“Is … is she okay?”
“She died about a year ago. She lasted longer than the doctors thought she would, so there’s that.”
Grace reaches across the table and takes my hand, and the minute she does, every nerve ending in my body crackles with electricity. My cock is so hard, I’m half-afraid it’s going to bust right out of my jeans, and though I’m forced to shift awkwardly in my chair again, I hold on to her hand like my life depends on it. It’s like being a kid back in school again and being called to the front of the room with a really inappropriate hard-on. I’m suddenly grateful mine is hidden below the table.
“I’m really sorry,” she says softly.
“It’s all right. I’m working through it,” I tell her. “It’s part of the reason I do these underground fights.”
“So, these fights are therapy for you?”
“Yeah, kinda. I like to fight. It’s really the only thing I’ve ever been good at, and it’s nice to blow off some steam.”
“Do you ever think about getting back into the game?”
“Nah. That window’s closed.”
“You’re still pretty young, Griffin—”
“That dream is over,” I say tensely.
A strained silence hovers over the table, and Grace looks away. I immediately feel like an asshole for snapping at her like that.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I … sometimes it’s hard to accept that it’s over.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about. I shouldn’t have pushed you.”
“You didn’t.”
She glances at her phone and frowns. “It’s getting late. I should probably get back to my dorm. I’ve got an early class tomorrow.”
I can’t say I’m not disappointed that our evening is coming to an end, but I understand it. She’s a college girl and has a schedule she has to keep. I get it. As much as I wish I could keep her out all night, I’m not going to get in the way of her education.
“Yeah, sure,” I say. “Let me walk you back to your dorm.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“It’s late, and it’s dark. I’m not going to let you walk alone.”
She gives me a soft smile. “Thank you.”
We get up and head out of the diner, walking through the campus until we come to the tall building where she lives. We stop beside a set of benches near the front doors, and she turns to me. We stand face to face for a couple of moments, her green eyes burning through my soul.
“Thanks for walking me back. I could get used to having a bodyguard,” she chirps brightly. “And thank you for dinner.”
“Hey, thanks for patching me up after the fight.”
“It was my pleasure.”
“I want to see you again,” I say.
Her smile is sweet but enigmatic as she holds her hand out. “Give me your phone.”
I slide it out of my pocket, unlock it, and put it in her hand. She quickly adds her number to my contact list and hands it back to me.
“You have my number now.”
“That I do.”
“Then use it.”
“I will.”
Our gazes are locked, and the air between us is heavy with a sense of anticipation and desire. Seizing the moment, I pull her to me and kiss her. Grace’s full lips are as soft as I imagined, and I can taste the cherry soda and fries on her tongue. She leans into me, giving herself over to the moment, but quickly tenses up and pulls back. She looks up at me, her eyes wide, her expression shocked. It’s as if she can’t believe she did that.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “I should go.”
“I’ll call you.”
Her smile wavers but steadies for a moment, and she giggles before turning and dashing to the doors. As she slips her school ID into the electronic lock, she looks over her shoulder at me and flashes a smile that’s absolutely adorable. With another giggle, she pulls the door open and slips inside. I watch as she crosses the lobby and disappears into the elevators.
“I will definitely call you,” I say before turning and walking away, whistling to myself as I walk back across campus.
5
GRACE
“So, where did you go?” Lila asks. “I felt bad about leaving and came looking for you.”
I’m sitting at a table in the student union, still marveling over the kiss I shared with Griffin last night, as Lila drops into the chair across the table from me. I know it’s not possible, but my lips are still tingling, and I imagine I can still smell the musky aroma of his aftershave. My skin still burns where his hands were on my arms, making me quiver. The memories have been flashing through my mind all day like some erotic highlight reel, and as a result, I’ve got another pair of panties that have been soaked through.