Page 17 of Desiring Destiny

“I love you, too. It’s crazy and it’s so fast, but…”

“But it’s real and it feels right,” I finish for her.

“Exactly.” She beams at me, her smile making her eyes sparkle while the rest of her appears to be glowing.

“We better get dressed and check in with my mom, aunt, and grandma. I’m sure they’re worried sick about us.”

“You really think they want to spend more time with me after I was rude to them earlier?”

“You weren’t rude,” I tell her. “And yes. They love you already. I think they already have a few venues booked for the wedding.” Destiny blushes and I can’t help but kiss the look off of her face. “Now, let’s put some clothes on before I get distracted again.”

8

DESTINY

“Brace yourself,” Griffin warns me once we’ve made it safely and smoothly down the mountain on his snowmobile. We’re standing just inside the front door of the lodge, which is bustling with activity as if the blizzard yesterday never happened. “My family is bursting at the seams with questions about you, but please don’t feel obligated to answer anything. They’re just nosey.”

“I like to think of us asdetail-oriented,” Anna, Griffin’s mother says.

I laugh softly at her correction of her son.

“Yes, you ladies are certainly thorough in your inquisitions.”

“Don’t make us sound like that,” Anna chastises. “Excuse Griffin,” she says to me, her green eyes lighting up with a warm smile. “He’s never introduced us to a woman before. You’re the first.”

I blush, thinking of all the firsts Griffin has given me in the last twenty-four hours. He must be thinking the same thing because he squeezes my hip, sending tingles up my spine.

“To be fair, I didn’t really have a choice in this introduction,” Griffin counters. “You kind of sprung it on me.”

“Oh, hush,” Anna says, dismissing his argument with a wave of her hand. We’re soon joined by Aunt Sara and Griffin’s grandma.

“We’re so glad you’re both safe,” his grandmother says, pulling both of us in for a hug. “I’m Roxanne, by the way. You can call me Grandma Roxy or Grams or really anything as long as I get all the hugs I ask for.”

“I’m happy to accommodate your request, Grandma Roxy,” I answer, testing out the new name.

“I love to hear that,” she says, throwing her arms around me just like she did yesterday. “Whatever you’re going through,” she whispers in my ear, “just know you have a family now who wants good things for both of you. We’re so happy you’re in Griffin’s life.”

Her welcoming words and kind spirit are overwhelming. I swallow down tears and thank her for everything.

“So, we need the basics before you two lovebirds run off,” Aunt Sara declares. “Destiny, tell me your favorite food, your favorite dessert - yes, those are different categories, so don’t even ask, your favorite color, and your favorite holiday. Oh, and one thing we can get you for Christmas.”

“One thingeach,” Anna adds. “So at least three things. Probably best to give us a top ten gift ideas list.”

I blink as I look back and forth between the women, who have broken out into a mini conversation about who will be hosting Christmas Eve dinner.

“Psst,” Griffin whispers as he tugs on my arm. “While they’re fighting over Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Morning cinnamon rolls, we should escape.”

I narrow my eyes at him and then tip my head toward the women. “I have a bunch of questions to answer, remember?”

“Trust me, if you answer these questions, they’ll find a dozen more to ask,” he teases. “Spare yourself while you can. Soon, they’ll know everything and you’ll never have a moment of peace.”

“You love us, remember,” Anna says, shooting her son a knowing look. The two grin at each other, the love they have obvious to anyone paying attention. “Now, go on,” she tells us under her breath.

Griffin gently tugs me backward, opening the door to the outside. I giggle as soon as the door closes, then gasp when I’m lifted up and thrown over Griffin’s shoulder.

“Why didn’t we go down the mountain like this?” I joke as I hang upside down. Griffin pats my ass and chuckles without answering.

We barely make it inside Griffin's cabin before he has my back pressed up against the wall, his tongue down my throat, and his hands roaming over my curves, clawing at my clothes. He pulls me away from the wall and somehow shuffles us toward the bed while stripping both of us down. We stand in front of each other for a moment, both of us bare, vulnerable, and yet completely seen and understood.

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