Page 21 of Mocha Kisses

“You ran trying to protect me but you don’t have to do that anymore.” He lets out a small sigh as he pulls away before twisting my seat to face him. I feel exposed with my knees brushing against his, his hands on my upper thighs as he captures my attention. “Precious, I have no idea what you went through and I can’t imagine the pain and turmoil you’ve suffered over the past six years but you don’t have to run anymore.”

I can see that he’s trying to avoid the typical ‘you’re safe’ statements because I won’t believe them. For some reason though, I feel like if he says it, I might. Maybe. Probably not.

“What can I do to calm your nerves?”

“Tequila.” I push out, a sour laugh following.

A silly grin spreads across his lips. “I don’t have that but-” He pops to his feet and heads for the small fridge in the corner by the lounge I was sitting on earlier. “Don’t tell Rome. I have some Bailey’s that I can pop into a Nespresso. That work?” He holds up a liter bottle and points to the coffee maker on a nearby stand. I nod, watching him prepare it for me, wondering where life steered me wrong.

I wish I had told him what was going on the moment I knew. Dealing with all this shit alone has taken a toll on the both of us and now in less than 24 hours, I’ve somehow tangled myself up with two men and a third who’s intent on protecting me. And I know they will. Or at least they’ll try to.

Griffin returns with my coffee and I chug it, relishing the delicious hint of alcohol that the Bailey’s provides and the nearly burning warmth that coats my throat. It’s nowhere near as good as Rome’s coffee but it hits the spot, the warmth and swirl of alcohol relaxing me. I twist around and check the door, frowning when nothing happens. I swear I heard something move. Griffin takes my anxiety in stride, moving my chair to face the door so that he’s now sitting with his back to it.

He’s always been like that, putting my needs first, and reading me so that I don’t have to voice my fears. I cling to my mug, trying not to fall apart again.

“Would you like another one, Luna?” I shake my head and he just offers me a soft smile. “No one comes here other than Rome and Nova. Maybe a few of the older ladies who drop off food because they think none of us can cook.” Griffin shrugs, his gray eyes brightening a little. It’s starting to feel like the Thursday afternoons six years ago when I found myself in Griffin’s living room, snuggled into his lap as we spoke shit about our professors. This feels natural, comfortable.

Griffin’s parents passed away when we were in high school, leaving him a sizable amount of money to rent an apartment while we were in college. While I missed the few holidays I spent with his family, I relished the moments with Griffin when it was just the two of us. When I had to worry about nothing more than the man holding me.

I sigh and return my attention to Griffin, his last sentence finally registering. “She brings you food? Well, that’s good. You never could cook.” Just the memory of Griffin squealing when a fire erupted on his stove because of charred cheese brings a smile to my face. The poor man could take on the world, just not the kitchen.

“No, I can’t but Nova can.”

My brows crease. “Nova? The guy who looks like he belongs in a gang?” Despite the suit, Nova is gorgeous in a very extinguished kind of way. Very put together, slightly older than I usually go for, but a version of tall, dark, and handsome that I could absolutely see Griffin being with. “You all look like you belong in a gang, really,” I say. And they do. Between the tattoos, numerous piercings, and the general vibe in this office, I would have thought that this was a rendezvous rather than a writer’s office.

Not that I mind the eye candy.

The vibe is just… confusing.

Again, Griffin just shrugs. His hands inch toward me and then fold in his lap. “Something to do, I guess.” He makes tattoos sound like stickers, like they just decided to decorate one day.

“You know the PR Manager—Yana— used that to spin tales about you? Apparently, you’re a brooding bad boy who’s an easy lay.”

Griffin barks out a laugh and shakes his head. “She’s been trying to spin stories for a few years now but yeah, the last few editors thought they’d be able to edit and get a little something something on the side. Never happened and Nova always had to make a show of it before kicking them out.”

That has me tilting my head to the side because as much as I loved watching Griffin lose himself with someone else, I have never known him to submit to anyone. Just thinking of Griffin pinned against the wall, Nova demanding his submission has me pressing my thighs together. I can only imagine what Nova must have done to make Casey understand that her advances weren’t wanted.

“I know that look, Luna. You want to watch, don’t you?”

“No,” I squeak. “We can’t do this. I… I’m so happy that I got to see you again and clear the air but I don’t believe for a second that Nova is just okay with whatever this is and it’s weird to just jump back in.”

“Luna-”

“I slept with Rome,” I blurt out.

“He’s my best friend.”

“And I met himyesterdayand I’m leaving in two weeks. Griffin!”

He snaps to attention, realizing that I’m not joking. “These feelings aren’t one-sided, Luna.” Griffin reaches forward and wraps his thick fingers around my arms, gently tugging until I give. I find myself straddling his lap, both of us letting out twin sighs of relief as my hands come to rest on his shoulders, his now caressing my waist. “I still love you. I always have.”

“I’ve thought about you every fucking day since I left, sunshine.” His nickname tumbles from my lips and his gaze dips down to the necklace I still wear after all these years. “I won’t bring my problems to your doorstep and I won’t ruin what you have with Nova to bring up something that might fizzle out. We were kids when that happened and as much as I want to, I think closure is best.” I’m lying through the skin of my teeth but I won’t hurt Griffin so that I can be selfish.

His fingers dig into my waist, causing me to move forward, my thighs widening as I sink down further onto his lap. A gasp falls from my lips as his hands slip up a little higher, catching the hem of my shirt so that he’s touching the bare skin at my waist. “Do you really believe that or is that what you think you need to say, Luna?” Those gray eyes darken with a fierceness I’ve missed and when he drags me down so that his arousal is pressing against my core and I lose the ability to do anything other than whimper.

“Luna,precious,you have been a part of me since the day I met you in fucking middle school. I’m not letting you go without a fight.” He thrusts upward and I tighten my hold on his shoulders, knowing that Griffin’s resolve will break me. He doesn’t care that I’ve been running for six years or that I look like a frumpled old woman. He wants nothing more than to pick up where we left off. Regardless of the consequences. “I can’t imagine what you’ve had to endure out there with no support system, money, or someone to call home. Luna, I hate that you thought you couldn’t lean on me but you have someone in your corner now.”

“Griffin-” A tear falls down my cheek and a shuddering breath leaves my lips as his hands slide up my back beneath my shirt and my backpack.

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