Page 35 of Fatal Vengeance

The last thing I see as Creed marches us into the cabin is Genevieve trailing behind us with a pleased grin and a hard glint in her eyes. She arches her brow at me when she catches me looking at her. "Oh, what a shame," she drawls sarcastically. "Looks like you won't be running out on us after all. Sorry, sister dearest."

Asshole.

23

Asher

The second Prudence walked out the front door, I’d planted my ass on the couch so I could watch through the window and make sure she was safe. It’s been twenty minutes now, and even though I’ve watched the trio do laps around the property, visible from the window for a few moments each time, my nerves haven’t ceased.

Is she okay out there? Are there Celestial members hiding beyond the fucking tree line, just out of sight of the cameras and waiting for the chance to grab her? Is Creed is the right state of mind to protect her if shit goes down? Would Genevieve be alright in a fight?

And possibly worst of all, assuming Prudence comes back inside in perfect condition without a single hair out of place… Will she even look at me? Does she fucking hate me now that I spilled the haunting secrets that I’d been harboring for weeks?

I don’t know what I’ll do if she decides she’s done with me. I feel like I’ve barely done enough to win her over as it is, I still have so much to offer her and amend for, but what if I don’t get the chance?

Fucking Christ. Shut your shit down, Ash. No point in worrying yourself sick.

Groaning, I sink down into the couch and scrub a hand over my face. My head is tipped back and my eyes closed, my knee bouncing incessantly when the couch dips beside me. A second later, a big, firm hand clamps down on my thigh, stopping my nervous tic.

“You’re actually driving me insane, man. Quit it,” Griffin rasps, digging his fingers into my thigh when I try to bounce my knee again out of spite.

I crack my eyes open and level him with a look that I’m sure is filled with terror, self-pity, and unease. I can’t even help it, there’s no masking my emotions around Griffin. The second his icy blue eyes settle on me, it’s like my walls crumble to dust.

Griffin studies me for a moment, not asking what’s wrong because he damn well knows I feel all itchy at the thought of Prudence being outside without me. Have I turned into one of those overbearing assholes that’s gotta have eyes on his girl twenty-four-seven? Fuck, it’s looking like it. I wonder how that’s gonna go over with my pet.

It’ll probably earn me a fist to the balls sooner rather than later.

With a sigh, Griffin shakes his head at me, his hand still gripping my thigh. Has it moved higher? “You need to calm down, Asher. You keep going like this, and you’ll scare her off before you’ve even gotten her.”

I rake my teeth over my bottom lip, taking a moment to search for the right words. My skin feels wrong, like there’s a million tiny ants crawling just below the surface, but then Prudence, Genevieve, and Creed circle by the window again, and the uncomfortable feeling dissipates for a split second. The moment they’re gone again, out of sight and possibly in danger, it’s like my chest is filling with water, like I’m drowning on dry land.

I’m a headcase. Fucking hell.

Finally addressing Griffin, I mumble, “Almost losing you shattered something irreparable inside of me. When I got the call that you’d been hurt, it was like my own life was ending. We had just hooked up at that party like a week prior, but I was so scared of ruining our friendship that I backpedaled, said it was nothing. You remember?”

Griffin nods, shifting on the couch and taking his hand away. I miss the weight of his touch the moment it’s gone.

Swallowing, I continue, holding his intense stare. “I didn’t get the chance to apologize and tell you that I fucked up. By the time I realized I wanted you as so much more than a friend, that it was worth taking that risk for, you were in the hospital, barely hanging onto your life. I sat by your bed for weeks, waiting for the smallest signs that you were waking up, that you’d be okay, hoping that there was still time for me to fix things. And when you finally opened your eyes and saw me, my fucking god, Griffin, I wanted to kiss you so damn badly. Claim you right there so you knew how I felt… But then your parents came rushing in with all those nurses and the doctor, and everyone realized you couldn’t speak, and I… I don’t know, I slipped into this fierce protector role with you. I couldn’t cross that line, couldn’t slam my lips against yours, because I was so busy trying to take care of you and make sure you’d be okay. I had to keep my eye on you to make sure nobody hurt you ever again, and I know sometimes you felt like I babied you, but I couldn’t fucking help myself, Griff.”

He’s frowning at me, searching my face like he’s not really sure how we got on this topic, which I understand. It’s out of left field, but my head’s a damn mess and words are just spilling out without my permission. This shit needed to be said, I guess.

My eyes drop to the scar across Griffin’s throat, my hand following so my fingers can trace it. He doesn’t recoil at my touch, which spurs me on. Gently, I wrap my hand around his throat, my eyes snapping up to meet his when he lets out a sharp exhale. I lean in a little closer, licking my lips and grinning when he does the same.

“My point is that changed me. Your attack cracked something in my brain, and now I can’t turn this protective bullshit off. I can’t stop the debilitating worry I have when someone I care about might be in danger. That used to just be you and Creed, but goddamn it, you fuckers forced my eyes open and then Prudence shoved her way into my little bubble too, settling in like she was always meant to be there.” I pause with a low chuckle, pushing my tongue into the inside of my cheek. Griffin’s eyes are dilated now, and every time he swallows against my hand, my dick grows harder. “What I’m saying is,” I breathe, closing a bit more of the distance between us. “This is your fault. This feeling bullshit. The worry I have about her right now. It’s your doing. Because of you, I know what it feels like to almost lose someone I love, and I can’t forget that. So if you’re tired of me sitting here and moping, bouncing my knee while I count down the seconds until she comes back inside, then why don’t you do something about it? Hmm? Seeing as how the mindfuck I’m in is your fault.”

Griffin shudders out a breath, close enough to me that I feel it against my lips. “Fuck, Asher. Kiss me,” he begs in a soft, husky, needy voice. I hold back for a second, a slow smirk curling up my lips, and he adds, “Don't you want me to suck your dick? Kiss me, and maybe I will.” He reaches for the obvious bulge in my jeans as he says it, and oh, it's fucking on.

A laugh bursts from me, my mind thoroughly distracted from Prudence being out of my sight. Naughty fucking boy, isn’t he? I don’t waste another second, crashing my lips to Griffin’s and groaning when his tongue sinks into my mouth like a branding. My hand squeezes around his throat, and then I’m leaning into him and pushing him back until he’s lying on the couch and I’m braced above him, our lips never parting.

Griffin grabs my ass in both his big hands and squeezes, encouraging me to grind my hard dick against his, both of us moaning from the friction. I bite his bottom lip and pull on it and Griffin squirms beneath me. He tears his mouth from mine and damn near rips my shirt in half trying to pull it up my torso and over my head. He grunts his frustration, frowning at the fabric like it’s a personal offense that I’m clothed.

I laugh, deep and raspy, finally letting go of his throat. I shift up so that I’m sitting upright, straddling his hips and hovering right over his massive cock. Holding Griffin’s heated gaze, I peel my shirt off and toss it away with a smirk. Smug pride shoots through me when he stares at my abs like he’s silently begging to lick them.

“You gonna let me fuck you? Let me stretch your ass with my cock again?” I ask.

Smoothing his hands up my abs and chest before circling his thumbs over my nipples, Griffin rasps, “Only if you promise me something.”

“Anything.”

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