Page 68 of Tangled Kisses
Right now, I don’t care.
When he finally pulls away, my lips are swollen, my breath coming in short, uneven bursts.
The woman storms off, heels snapping across the floor. My head’s still spinning when Griffin grabs his beer and tips it toward the back of the bar, staking out our next move.
He glances toward my sister and her firefighter friends, all of whom are staring from their table slack-jawed, and says, “My girlfriend is spending the rest of the evening with me. Alone.”
Piper blinks at us, like she’s trying to process what she just witnessed, but she tips her drink in a little salute. Oh yes, my sister is going to wantallthe details later.
Chapter Sixteen
Reese
Griffin slips a solid arm around my shoulders and steers me past them toward a dark corner booth, his grip firm and protective. He slides into the booth next to me and adjusts himself with a grunt. “Fuck, Reese.”
I fan myself and laugh. “It’s your own damn fault. Shouldn’t be that talented a kisser.”
No joke. The man is the king of over the top, drugging kisses.
“I’m talented at a lot of things.”
“I’m sure you are. Humility among them.” I catch my bottom lip between my teeth, worrying the tender skin before forcing it free. Great. Add that to the list of things Griffin Topete will never run out of—cockiness and charm.
“And as my girlfriend, you’ll get to experience all of them.”
Figures he’s the first to mention that little white lie. “Fine, I admit I overstepped with that woman, but she was such a bitch to you.”
“Agreed.”
“So, I ran with it. Hey, you should thank me. I got her away from you. Now you get to hang out with me instead, and I’m far superior.”
Griffin’s face splits with laughter. “You are. Always prefer hanging out with my girlfriend.”
I roll my eyes so hard it’s a miracle they don’t get stuck. “You’re not going to let it go, are you?”
“Hell no. Ensured those guys knew you were taken, too.”
“Which guys?”
“You know exactly which guys. Your firefighter friends.”
“They’re Piper’s friends. I barely know them.”
“But they’d like to knowyou, and they can, from a safe distance.” He tips his beer back like it’s the most casual statement in the world, but his eyes never leave me.
Way to play the possessive card, Griffin.
“To be fair, I don’t think I have much of a chance of seeing any action after our public demonstration. Totally worth it, though. That woman doesn’t deserve your time.” I trace a finger along the rim of my glass, trying to keep my tone light even as my pulse still hammers from his kiss.
“You’re right. But enough about her. Let’s talk more about us.” At least he’s smiling again. The relaxed demeanor I love so much about Griffin flows back into his body, and he rests against the booth with a smile.
“What about us?”
“All the perks of being my girlfriend.”
Fine, I’ll play along. I know damn well the man isn’t mine, but if pretending buys me a few more minutes in this bubble, I’ll take it.
“Such as?”
