Page 54 of Playboy Billionaire

“How?” she asked, her voice husky.

“I can’t put it into words. There is something otherworldly about you. Like you somehow float above us mere mortals,” he bit back a laugh. “I know that sounds stupid. I get the sense that there are many layers and a depth to you that leaves me yearning to know more. I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface.”

She sighed, then murmured, “Kiss me again.”

This time he hungrily covered her mouth with his as his hands slid down to cup her bottom. She reached under his shirt and her hands rode up his abdomen and settled on his chest.

“Let me make love to you. I want to take you home and kiss every inch of you,” Griffin said, his voice rough with need.

“Yes," she said, against his mouth.

When they reached Griffin’s house, he picked Penelope up and carried her inside, not putting her down until they were in his bedroom. They made love and fell into a deep sleep.

* * *

Sometime in the wee hours of the night, Penelope awoke to the soft sound of a piano. She wrapped a sheet around herself and, lured by the beautiful notes, went to investigate. She found Griffin at his piano, completely absorbed in the music he was creating. The backdrop of the waves crashing to shore made the whole thing feel as if she were in a dream.

His upper torso was bare, and he had on a pair of gray sweatpants, his hair the usual unruly mop. She stood quietly, leaning against the wall admiring his beauty. As if sensing her presence, he glanced up from the piano keys and met her gaze. His eyes were dark and intense with some inner firestorm she could only guess at.

“Don’t stop on my account,” she said softly.

He paused from the haunting melody he’d been playing to segue into the soulful ballad, “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight,”by James Taylor. Her breath caught when he began to sing. His voice was warm, the tone cozy and mellow with perfect pitch. Her pulse fluttered and as if on its own volition, her body moved to stand behind him. She rested her hand lightly on his shoulder and leaned down to touch her lips to his hair.Her lover.

Her heart was ready to burst. He seemed so vulnerable, in complete contrast to the man she’d painted him to be. Had it only been weeks ago? He laid down the final notes then swiveled around to face her. He pulled her to him and held her, resting his head against her belly as she cradled him.

“That was so beautiful. Thank you,” Penelope said.

He didn’t answer, just stood and picked her up into his arms and carried her back to bed.

26

The following morning Penelope awoke to the smell of bacon frying. She opened her eyes and stretched out like a cat. Her face flushed remembering their lovemaking from the night before. She’d never had multiple orgasms until now. Griffin was an incredibly attentive lover and her body felt sore in a good way.

After brushing her teeth, she found one of his tee shirts in the dresser drawer and pulled it over her head. Slipping on her panties, she followed her nose to the kitchen. As she passed by the baby grand piano, she ran her fingers lightly over the keys, evoking the magic from the night before.

“How long have you been playing?” she asked.

“My whole life. We all play. Our mother insisted. Not to brag, I mean I wouldn’t want to intimidate you or anything, but when I was fifteen, I started a band at boarding school. I played lead guitar and we played together all through high school. We called ourselves the Outsiders. All the fourteen- and fifteen-year-old girls were in love with us.” He grinned broadly, as he dropped four slices of bread into the toaster.

His mood was light this morning, the melancholy of the dark hours of the night seemingly quelled. “So, you’re telling me you were some catch, even back then,” she said, laughing.

“Something like that. How do you like your eggs?”

“I’m not picky.”

“I’ll scramble them then.”

She sidled up to the kitchen island and sat on the tall stool. Griffin placed a mug of steaming coffee in front of her. “Cream or sugar?”

“Cream please.”

“Tell me when.”

When it was the color of caramel, she said, “That’s good.”

“Do you want to shower here, or do you need to go home first?”

“I need to go home. I need a change of clothesandwe can’t show up together.”

---