Page 30 of Mocha Kisses

Griffin

IworryaboutLunastaying alone—not because of her safety but because I’ve already experienced her leaving without saying goodbye before. That orgasm wasn’t just for her. I can’t ever get enough of her. She’s been my obsession since the day that I met her and it hasn’t changed. It’s probably stronger now that I have her within my grasp again and yet, she’s already slipping away. Just as she needs something to take her mind off of her predicament, I need to focus on something that isn’t Luna.

I throw a few styrofoam containers in the microwave and press the ‘5’, heaving out a sigh. Stopping by the diner for pork chop and rice dinners seemed like the best thing to do so I’d have something to do with my hands. Luna has my manuscript and I can’t possibly focus on writing anything else with her hands on my baby.

The smell of fried pork wafts through the air and my stomach grumbles, bringing my thoughts right back to Luna. She won’t have eaten dinner. Is she going to grab something? Maybe Ms. Elrod would invite her down as she does the other guests. Luna would say no though. So-

“Are you cooking?”

I whirl around, looking guilty as fuck with a spatula in my hand. Nova walks into the kitchen with a tight smile on his lips, still wearing those lounge clothes from earlier. He steps up behind me, placing a kiss to the back of my head before casing me in against the island. His hands balance on the counter, his chest to my back. “Answer the question, Griffin.”

“I grabbed some things from the diner. Don’t worry, I’m just reheating it. I can do that much.” The spatula is for serving it up on plates once it comes out of the microwave. I know better than to try and cook anything for these men.

Rome pops in and finds a stool to rest on, propping his elbows on the counter. “So?” A silly grin plays on his lips and Nova thrusts his hips against mine. His cock thickens against my ass and I gasp, confused by what they’re alluding to.

“What?” I ask through a clenched jaw. We don’t have time to fuck and I’m not doing it in front of Rome. I like the guy, but not like that. I don't think. “Nova, quit it.”

His nose drags along the back of my head, moving to my ear. “Not going to tell us about the love of your life waltzing in this morning?”

“You are the love of my life,” I push out.

Nova chuckles, the sound rumbling through his chest and sending shivers down my spine right to my cock. “Don’t bullshit me, Fin. I am your lover but that woman is everything to you. What happened?” He coaxes, his tongue darting out to lick my earlobe. I shudder and then jab him in the stomach before something starts in the kitchen. Nova’s ability to heat every situation regardless of where we are is highly inconvenient.

Case in point, Rome’s tilted head as he observes the two of us together. Where I expect to see annoyance or disgust, I see intrigue, his tongue licking his lips, a glint of metal that I don’t usually see on display.That’s new.Nova clears his throat and I sigh as I pull the dinners from the microwave and start plating them. There’s no need to transfer to plates but it makes me feel like I did something. “We talked. She’s jumpy and then she got a little overwhelmed so I walked her back to Ms. Elrod’s.” I turn around, balancing three plates, and walk to the island before sliding them their portions. Rome gets up to grab a few beers and then settles back on the stool.

Nova knows that there’s more to it especially when he leans back against the island, eyes dipping to my shoulder. I follow his gaze and grimace, righting my shirt immediately to cover Luna’s fingernail marks in my shoulder. My face heats even as I try to hide my triumphant smile.She’s back. With me.

Rome bursts out laughing as he swipes a plate. “I know that smile anywhere. Good for you, Griffin. You fucking deserve it.” And the man means it, both of them do—without Nova even having to say anything.

“And your writing?” Nova asks.

“She has my manuscript. I know Luna and she needs something to occupy her time, something to take her mind off of everything else. I hate it but keeping her around will just suffocate her. She’ll obsess if she has nothing to do. We’re meeting up tomorrow. Don’t look at me like that, Nova. I wouldn’t have let her go if I didn’t know that Ms. Elrod had all that security Rome set up for her last year. She’s safe there.” I grunt when Nova’s glare doesn’t waver. He’s worried about her. Ignoring him, I grab my plate and dig in, stuffing a rather large spoonful of rice into my mouth. It’s a little dry but it’s better than anything I’ve ever made. “And then you can take her coffee in the morning,” I say, pointing my spoon at Rome.

Nova wraps an arm around the back of my neck and covers my mouth with his hand. “If you start spewing rice over my counter, I will make you lick it clean.”

The color drains from my face and once again I jab him in the side. I’ll pay for that later, surely, in all the best ways. I continue my previous statement, wanting to let them know not to crowd her. “Look, I know how this works, alright? We’ve shared someone before and it didn’t pan out.”

Rome shakes his head and speaks around a bite of food. “It didn’t work because she decided to choose one of us. I don’t see that happening with Luna.”

“It’s beenoneday and she doesn’t need us piling on her. Nova,” I twist to look up in his baby blues. “I love her so fucking much but I love you too. You told me to make a choice last night and this is it. I’m choosing both if you’ll still have me.”

“Then you’ll have me.”

When I turn to Rome, he’s nearly done with his plate.Hungry bastard.“Don’t include me in your fuckfest, Griffin. I like her. She’s a sweet girl. Hell, I like her a lot more than I should but I’m not doing shit until I make sure Luna is okay with this. We told herwewere okay with it but what does she want? Griffin, she’s been running for six years and living god knows how. We’re a lot separately but for one woman? That can’t be easy.” Rome stands up and pats the table, downing his beer. “I also won’t make her choose.”

I frown, “What do you mean?”

“If it comes to it, that woman’s heart belongs to you. It always has and I will not make her suffer if it means her happiness.” He’s always been the martyr of us three. Nova has sacrificed a hell of a lot over the years but I’ve been by his side. Rome? He’s lost the ones he’s loved. Every. Damn. Time.

Rome slides out his phone, his face scrunching up before he types something and then puts it away.

Nova gestures to it.

“She’s not picking up.”

“Luna?” I cut in. “She’s busy andoverstimulated. I just said that.”

“And she mentioned wanting to talk but now she isn’t answering her phone.”

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