Page 109 of Griffin Undone
“So…is this your first time here?”
I jerked my head up so fast I almost clipped his chin. “How did you know that?”
Amusement lightened his gray eyes to silver. “Because I’ve never seen you here before.”
So he was a regular. “I don’t get out much.”
God, had I really said that? Before I could cover my awkwardness—with what, I didn’t know—Levi threw his head back and laughed. I couldn’t tell which caused more goose bumps, the throaty, rich sound of his amusement or the strong lines of his neck, begging me to explore them with tongue and teeth and lips and…
Levi’s amusement darkened quickly, turning into something that left me breathless, especially when that stare settled on my mouth. “I find that a little hard to believe.”
The heat in my cheeks returned. “I’m glad I decided to venture out tonight, at least,” I finally said.
Levi’s grip tightened the slightest bit as he turned me. One thigh slid between mine, and there was no mistaking the feel of his arousal against my belly. “I’m glad you did too.”
The phone in my back pocket vibrated. My father again. I ignored the buzz against my butt cheek and burrowed deeper into the male presence surrounding me.
Levi didn’t chatter—another way he was different from the men I normally met. Polite conversation was a given among the rich and socially entitled. I’d learned the art to survive, not because I enjoyed it. Here, now, without the distraction of desperately searching for the right clever thing to say, I basked in Levi’s heat, the fluid way his body moved, the exciting brush of his chest against my aching nipples and his hard erection against my belly, leaving very little doubt that he was enjoying having me in his arms. I lapped up every moment, let it fill the emptiness that had opened like a black hole inside me earlier tonight.
My buzzing phone refused to respect my need, however. I didn’t have to be in the room with him to know my father was becoming livid—the constant vibrations against my ass told me that well enough. This was one instance where an aide wouldn’t be texting me. Dad wouldn’t want anyone to know his only child had run off rather than put in an appearance at the dinner where he planned to announce his gubernatorial candidacy. Not that Derrick Roslyn’s political ambitions had spooked me into running off.
No, it had been the announcement of my arranged marriage that did that.
Levi’s fingers skimmed down my side to grasp my hip, fingers so close to the curves that craved his touch. “Shouldn’t you answer that before someone blows a gasket?”
“What?”
I glanced up, meeting the same understanding amusement as before. Not cruel or taunting, as I’d so often encountered. Just genuine enjoyment of the moment. “Your phone.” He lowered his head until his mouth brushed my ear. “I don’t mind vibrators, but that’s not exactly what I had in mind.”
I flushed so hot even the tips of my ears burned; surely Levi could feel it against his lips. A stutter fumbled my words before I managed to push something intelligible out. “He’ll give up soon.”
“He?”
“My father.”
Levi drew back enough to look at me. “Family can be a bitch.”
Or bastard. Since my mother had died when I was a toddler, my father was all the family I had.
Vibrations lit up my pocket. Levi chuckled this time, his cool fingers gripping my chin. “Why don’t you go see what the problem is?”
“Because I don’t care.”
“And I don’t want your attention divided—I’d rather have you all to myself.” Heat licked at me as his hungry gaze settled once more on my mouth. “Trust me; I’ll be here when you get back.”
Why would a guy this hot be waiting for a girl like me? The questions beat at my brain, demanding an answer, but I’d never screw up the courage to say the words aloud, so I slipped reluctantly from his arms instead. Rather than returning to the table, I walked down the hall to the ladies’ room and hurried inside. The stalls were empty, so I pulled my phone from my pocket and scrolled through my contacts until I came to my father’s number, not bothering to check the texts. Personal experience had taught me that he wouldn’t stop until he heard my voice.
“What do you think you’re doing, Abigail?”
“Hello to you too, Dad.”
Pride filled me at the lack of fear in my voice—until the fury in my father’s growl made me tremble.
The sound of people talking that filtered through the phone became muffled; Dad moving to a more secluded area. “I’ve had enough of your goddamn games, Abigail. I’m sending a car for you; it’ll be outside in ten minutes, and I want you inside it in ten and a half. You will come to this dinner, and you will be by my side when I make my announcement—or you will regret it. Is that clear?”
“That’s going to be difficult since I’m not at home.”
“I know exactly where you are. Do you think I’m an idiot?”
