Page 48 of Into the Night

His beast is definitely still the one running the show. The lights are on, but Griffin’s still not home.

“Mine.” He growls, and I edge away. His hand reaches out to pull the blanket away, but I slap it down.

“You tricked me. I was dreaming. I mean, I thought I was dreaming. I didn’t mean to…”

He stares at me blankly as I trail off.

That’s not the truth. I was having the best dream of my life, and I was one hundred percent on board.

His expression falls briefly, but he’s not to be deterred. Soon, he’s doing that sexy, rumbly thing again, eyeing me up like the last piece of chocolate. As he makes another grab for the blanket, I snarl at him.

“No.” I warn, scolding him like a toddler.

He scowls, looking adorably confused. His manners leave something to be desired, but lounging there beside me, hot, naked, and extremely pissed off at a blanket, he’s a sight to behold.

I suppose I may have given him some mixed signals.

“I need water and food.” I demand as I scan the ground for my clothes. Did I strip them off myself? I have a vague, hazy recollection of seducing Griffin and tempting him under the blankets with my nakedness in my dream. Mortified, I choose not to deal with the embarrassment. Instead, I’m going to brazen it out.

“And a wash, Griffin. I need to make sure these wounds are all clean.”

Griffin snorts, but a determined look appears on his face as he disappears to the far side of the cabin, rifling through his supplies.

My face heats as I check out his ass and think about how incredible that was. That wasn’t just sex, that was otherworldly. Even my beast is conflicted. She wants more, but is it cheating if the real Griffin is nowhere to be seen?

Wrapping myself up tightly in the blanket, I tuck in one side to make a toga, and then move toward the door, relieved to find I’m finally moving more freely.

Griffin growls, a warning not to try anything, but I wave him away. I know I’m too weak to get far on my own.

His eyes never leave me as I drift around the cabin, taking in all the supplies he’s brought here, ready to keep me stashed away indefinitely. He’s not going to just let me go, even when I’m healed. How would he explain what happened?

I’ve bought myself some time to bring Griffin back… Now I just have to figure out how.

29

GRIFFIN

It’s early morning when I get to the cabin, my last sleep in Maisy’s a poor one judging from the tangle of sheets I found myself in and the bags under my eyes.

I’m relieved to find it’s liveable, and that’s all I need for now.

There’s some debris that was blown inside through a broken window, and the branches littering the porch are gone. Some damaged tiles on the roof will need to be replaced, but that will require a trip to the hardware store tomorrow.

I’m about to head back to Maisy’s to collect my pathetically few belongings when Ben’s big truck pulls in behind me, blocking me in.

“I’m leaving, pull back out.” I growl. I’m still pissed off that he abandoned me at the cafe, leaving me to get a lift home from Maisy after the place was all clean and locked up, rather than acting like a grown up.

“Don’t be a dick. I came to apologise.”

Raising an eyebrow, I’m about to make a smart comment before the slump of his shoulders and the deep frown on his face registers. Something’s bothering him. Good. I hope his conscience is giving him hell.

“You mean Maisy told you off.” She wasn’t impressed with him leaving, meaning I had to stay out in damp clothes for another hour, waiting for her to be finished. And I have no doubt she let him know about it.

“No.” He hesitates, then mutters, “Holly did.”

I laugh despite myself. At least he’s telling the truth.

He moves closer to the cabin, tentative about getting too close. I’m not sure if it’s me or the house he’s afraid of.

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