Page 28 of Secrets at Dawn
Griffin smiled. “I’ll do my best, but I probably just look like I’m recovering from the worst flu ever.”
Griffin had a few condiments, deli meat and cheese, and some whole wheat bread, and not much else in his fridge.
“You’re gorgeous. Now stop fishing for compliments.” Toby grabbed what he needed and took it over to the counter.
Griffin chuckled. “I wasn’t fishing, actually. I feel about a thousand years old. I haven’t stayed up so late in a long time. My mom says I keep old-man hours.”
Griffin grabbed a butter knife from a drawer and handed it to Toby. He watched Toby slather a slice of bread with mayo, grinning the entire time. “You think I’m gorgeous.”
Toby chuckled. “You know you are.”
And Griffin really was. With his curly dark hair and light-colored eyes, he was stunning. But Griffin wasn’t just pretty on the outside. He was even more beautiful on the inside. He could have made a fuss about Toby’s secret keeping, but he’d let it go. And while Toby knew the reprieve wasn’t a permanent one, he appreciated the way Griffin hadn’t kept on hounding him for information.
It wouldn’t do Toby any good to take Griffin’s easygoing nature for granted, though. Griffin was smart and more capable than Toby had realized at first. He also had a determination that went soul deep when he set his mind to something.
“I know no such thing. My mate hasn’t even kissed me yet today. Maybe he thinks I’m ugly.”
Toby chuckled and put down the knife before moving in front of Griffin. He ran his hand down the center of Griffin’s chest and then trailed his fingers back up again. “I want to do more than just kiss you. But you probably know that already.”
“Let’s start with a kiss first.” When Griffin pressed their lips together, he made demands right from the start. He darted his tongue between Toby’s lips before kissing again. Each sip melted Toby a little at a time. His legs turned to jelly, and he gripped Griffin’s arms, relishing in the strength beneath his fingers.
Griffin wrapped an arm around his waist and lifted him off his feet. Toby’s butt hit the kitchen island.
Griffin fit between his legs as though he were made for that exact spot. Maybe he was.
Toby opened for him, letting Griffin give him the most sensual kiss Toby had ever had. He forgot about everything but Griffin. The way his hands felt on Toby’s waist and the way he kept pulling Toby closer as if he wanted Toby to live inside him. Or maybe it was the other way around. All Toby wanted was never to let go. He always wanted to feel exactly the way he did at that moment. Safe. Secure. Loved in a way he never had been before.It was all so perfect. So difficult to trust, but Toby was too far into the passionate kiss to think too hard about it. For once in his life, he wanted to just let go of his fear and let Griffin carry him away from all his worries.
So that was what he did.
Chapter Fourteen
Griffin had never been more turned on in his life. Toby tasted like vanilla and something Griffin couldn’t name, something unique to Toby. It drove Griffin crazy with lust.
Many things about Toby drove Griffin crazy. Some of it wasn’t great to experience. For instance, Toby’s propensity for secrets. But the rest of Toby heated Griffin’s blood.
Griffin trailed his lips along Toby’s jawline.
Toby clung to him, moaning and wiggling his hips until his clothing became uncomfortable. “Please, Griffin.”
“What else can you call me?” Griffin had no idea why he asked that question. It just sort of slipped out of his mouth as if the words had a life of their own, but he went with it. It was too late to take them back now, and besides that, if Griffin didn’t slow them down, they’d both rocket to the moon and probably bond out of instinct. Griffin wouldn’t bond for any reason except for love, and they weren’t there yet.
“What?” Toby clearly didn’t want Griffin to stop. He tilted his head when Griffin trailed kisses down his neck. He squirmed, shifting his hips again, and moaned Griffin’s name.
“What else do you call me?” Griffin had dated a guy in high school who had a daddy fetish. Every time they made out, that was what he’d ask. They didn’t even last until senior prom.
“I have no idea.” It seemed he didn’t care either. But his tone was a little apprehensive.
“If you want my wand, you’ll have to call me Mr. Wizard.” Griffin grinned and held Toby just a little tighter. Not knowing what his reaction would be, he didn’t know if Toby even had a sense of humor. They really didn’t know each other that well.
But Toby dissolved into laughter, clinging to Griffin. “You’re insane.”
He probably was, but he’d made Toby laugh for the first time since meeting him. It was the best sound in the world. Toby must not have laughed very much in his life, because it sounded as though he had rust in his throat. If he laughed more, maybe the rust would break loose and wash away.
“I was getting a little too carried away. My hand itches like crazy, and I want to put my palm on you. But we’ll need to have a lot of conversations before that happens.” Griffin’s instinct warred with his good sense.
Toby wrapped his legs around Griffin. His hold tightened. “I want to bond. Whenever you’re ready, of course. But I want you. I just don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”
“It wouldn’t be because of you, would it?”
