Page 43 of Property of Grifter
Perfection.
23GRIFTER
I waketo the warm weight of Georgia, her body curled up tightly against me, my fingers brushing gently into the hair on my chest, like she’s memorizing me.Her body is soft, her breath tickling the area by my collarbone, and I am completely content.I could stay like this forever; God, I want to.I just can’t get enough of this woman.We stayed awake most of the night, making love and then talking—trading stupid stories and secrets in that half-asleep place where it's just us getting closer and learning everything we can about one another.I want to ignore the fact that I should’ve already been awake.I don’t want to move.I missed her.It’s just as simple as that.
Georgia hums against me and the sound brings nothing but joy.“You never did explain how C almost started a club war,” she says, voice low and sleepy.
I let out a laugh that vibrates in my ribs.“I shouldn’t have taken him to Kentucky.Two days out there and we were supposed to be creating an alliance with the Devil’s Blaze.I tried to get him to help me, but instead he was busy fucking the club princess.”I grin when she shoots me a look.
“Club princess?”she asks, one eyebrow raised.
“That’s what we call the daughter of a ranked member.She’s spoiled, but well-loved by everyone in the club—hence the term princess.In this case she’s the former Prez’s niece.A pretty little blonde named Izzy.C’s got his head all gone on her.”I turn my face into her hair and breathe her in.Her sweet scent calms me and slows the world down.
“How pretty?”she mutters.
I kiss the top of her head.“There’s not a woman alive who can hold a candle to you, sweetheart.There never could be.You own me,” I respond and it’s not just simple words.It’s the truth.She grins huge.
“Then I guess it’s okay you think she’s pretty,” she teases.
“I’m going to spank your ass for even thinking I’d look at another woman.It will have to be later though.I have to recuperate from the way you wrung my dick dry earlier.You wore me out.”
“That’s my line,” she says, and I can’t resist giving her another kiss.
When we break apart, I finish what I was saying.“Anyway, baby.C’s gone soft where Izzy’s concerned in a way I’ve never seen.He asked her to come back with him.She told him no.”
“She doesn’t like him,” Georgia asks, sounding sad.
“No, I think she really does, but she is going to college in Kentucky.She told him her life was there and she didn’t want to move.”
Georgia sighs, all sweetness and pity.“So, it’s over and C’s heartbroken,” she says, like she’s narrating a tragedy she hopes won’t happen.
I hold her tighter because she’s too damn kind.“I don’t know if it’s over.If C doesn’t get his head straight, he might go to Kentucky and try to kidnap her, if it comes to that.”I say it like it’s a joke, but it’s not and that’s probably why my voice gets gruff in the end.
Georgia sits up enough to look at me, eyes wide.“Kidnap?He can’t!He could go to jail for that!”
I grin.My Georgia is so sweet and genuine.Despite the fucking hell that she’s experienced in this damn town, she somehow has the most remarkable loving heart and she’s just innocent.And mine.My poor girl would probably stroke out if she knew that we break the law often.Eventually, she will learn that, but for now I want to keep her just like she is.I want to make sure she’s addicted to me and tied to me in every way possible before she learns the dark side of my life.
“Don’t worry, baby.The law would have to catch him.We won’t let that happen.”I let the thought sit with her for a minute before I forge on.“I’m more worried it’ll drag us into a scrap with the Devil’s Blaze.We already have heat with the War Kings.I still have no idea who took shots at me.Having a fight with another club is the last thing we need.”
Her face tightens.“Did you find out for sure if the War Kings were the ones who shot at you?”
“We don’t think so,” I tell her.I let her feel the weight of my words.There’s an unidentified threat out there.No one likes the unknown.“Which means we have a ghost out there, and I’ll be damned if I let it touch you.That means, sweetheart, I’m going to put a man on you.”I hate telling her that.I’ve had someone on her anytime I’m not with her.I just haven’t told her.I didn’t want her to ever feel the taste of fear again.Now, I can’t keep from it and that pisses me off.
Her fingers tighten in my chest hair.“Griffin, you don’t need to do that.I’m not part of the club?—”
“That’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart.You are the club.You’re my old lady.If somebody wants to get to me, they could go through you.You’re my biggest weakness.”I watch her process that.It kills me to see the color draining from her beautiful face.
She swallows.“Do you really think that?”
“I do.”I kiss her again, harder this time.When we break away, I can tell she’s still scared, but color is coming back.She’s calm.My girl may be new to this world, but there’s no panic inside of her.
“Griffin, what about Nana?Is she in danger?”
“I’ve got a man on her already, baby.”
“You do?”
“Baby, you have most of my heart, except for one small piece and that belongs to your grandmother.I won’t let anything happen to either one of you.That crochety old woman is my family now.
