Page 48 of Griffin

“But … ”

Griffin waits patiently, tilting his head as my hands move around his neck, pulling him closer.

“Maybe… You and I should kiss or something?”

I sound like a fucking teenager, and I wish I could claw the words back into my mouth and swallow them forever.

A stupid crush.

He’s going to laugh at me —

But he doesn’t.

He reaches out, cupping my face in his hand as he moves closer, his other hand moving me slowly against him.

He smells of peppermint and wood, and his body feels so good against mine, but it’s nothing compared to the way it feels when his lips brush against mine.

I whimper, desperate for more, as he watches me.

“Like that? That sort of kiss, Ivy?”

“No, this sort of kiss, Griffin.”

I yank his mouth to mine, inhaling his delicious breath as he groans into my mouth. His tongue sweeps into my mouth like it’s been there before, commanding entrance as I moan beneath him. He lifts me onto the counter, standing between my legs as he devours me, neither of us moving apart until we’ve reached our goal.

I don’t know what that is, but Ineverwant to stop kissing him.

We break apart, and his mouth moves to my neck, my fingers reaching for the buttons on his shirt.

His hand wraps around mine, stopping me as he rests his forehead against mine.

“We need to calm down.”

I don’t know what to do. My core is dripping for this man, and he knows it.

Yet he looks … worried.

“Griffin?”

He meets my eyes, his hands moving to the counter as he backs away.

“Shit, Ivy … I’m sorry.”

I’m still panting, my body on fire from his touch and kisses, and he’s apologizing?

“What for?” I half-laugh, reaching for him.

His fingers lace with mine, and I pull him back to me.

“I’m too old for you,” he says gruffly, biting down hard on his lip. “Fuck, this can’t happen.”

“But it’s happening!” I panic he will leave me in this state, and I want,no, I need more.

Even if it’s just once.

“No one has to know,” I whisper, pressing my lips to his throat as he groans.

“Ivy … you’resobeautiful … ”

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