Page 15 of Secrets at Dawn
Toby’s hold tightened. He tried to pull himself up as if wanting to get closer to Griffin, but it was impossible. They were already as close as they could get without living inside each other.
But Toby clearly needed something, and Griffin needed to find out what that was. He broke the kiss. Or tried. Toby wouldn’t let him stop long enough to form words, so Griffin lifted him in his arms and held him as tight as he could get him without hurting him.
And then he broke the kiss and whispered, “Shh. I won’t let go. I promise.”
Toby’s hold tightened right before he started shaking. But he whispered, “Thank you.”
“Are you okay?” Griffin had some idea of what might be happening with Toby. He might be a little touch-starved. If that was the case, all Griffin had to do was hold on. It was a win-win because Griffin didn’t want to release him.
It took a while for Toby to answer, and when he did, he still whispered, “I don’t know what’s wrong.”
“Maybe nothing is.”
Toby kissed Griffin’s neck. “I want to bond. I need it, but I know we shouldn’t. Not yet. It’s hard to control the urge.”
As much as Griffin wanted to fuck Toby all night long, he wanted to get to know him first. His days of one-night stands were over, and that was a little how it would feel.
“I’d like to get to know you better. But we can talk while I hold you. Would that be okay?”
“That would be good. Yeah.” And to prove Toby meant it, he wrapped his legs around Griffin.
Griffin smiled. “Okay, so I think we should maybe sit now.”
Toby’s laugh sounded more like a giggle. “My couch is comfy.”
“Can I take off my jacket and shoes?”
“You won’t let go, right?”
“It’ll be awkward, but I won’t let go.” It took Toby helping Griffin with the jacket, and Griffin straining his arm muscles from holding Toby up, but he got his jacket and shoes off.
Griffin carried Toby over to the couch and sat. Toby moved to get comfortable but otherwise stayed on Griffin’s lap, although he sat sideways with his legs stretched across the cushions.
“You’re all muscle, aren’t you?” Griffin rubbed Toby’s back and took in the room.
Toby was a plant person. The tones in his apartment were brown and green, with some color within the art on the walls.The space felt natural, as though Toby had tried to bring the outdoors in.
Toby giggled again. “Is that your way of telling me how heavy I am?”
Griffin chuckled, too. “Sort of. You’re small, but I can feel how solid you are. Riley described you as small but mighty.”
Toby lifted his head from Griffin’s shoulder and met his gaze. “Why was Riley describing me?”
“He was trying to sell me on hiring you. I told him I needed someone with experience, and he described you to me instead.” Griffin smiled.
“I have experience, by the way.” He laid his head back on Griffin’s shoulder. “I can help with your carpentry work, too, if you need someone.”
“That part is more creative, so I go slower. I like to enjoy the process. But if you don’t mind that, then I could use the help.” Griffin was backed up with his custom orders. If all Toby did was a little sanding, then that would get him caught up. “The bakery renovation is taking a lot of my time.”
“Tell me something you like to do that’s not work-related.”
“Visit my mate at his apartment.”
“And?” Toby snuggled in. All the tension disappeared, and he finally relaxed.
Griffin wasn’t even aware of the tightness in Toby’s body until it wasn’t there anymore.
“And.” Griffin drew out the word. “I don’t know. I feel like all I do lately is work, especially since starting the bakery renovation. But before that, I used to play hockey just for fun. And I played basketball with a group of friends twice a week.”
