Page 44 of Taming Her

“Oh, good.”

“Bit late to ask, Griff. You’ve already fucked me bareback, remember.”

He frowned and sipped his tea. Yeah, he wasn’t proud about the lack of condom, but it was done now. “So what do you need? And I don’t mean want.”

She scooped scrambled eggs onto two buttered slices of toast. “I need…”

“What?”

“I’m thinking.” She shoved a plate at him.

“Okay, well, when you think of something real that you need, let me know.”

She didn’t answer.

Griff knew full well she would think of several things she wanted but would try to pass off as needs as the day went on. But he wouldn’t be swayed by fancy face creams or shoes or even a laptop. Her purse was in the cupboard with cash cards, phone, and keys, and she had food on the table and clothes on her back. After that there was nothing she needed other than his firm hand.

Once they’d eaten and cleared away the plates, Ava went upstairs to brush her teeth and hair.

Griff did the same in the downstairs bathroom, and when she reappeared he took her hand. “This way.”

She looked at their linked fingers. “Where are we going?”

“A tour of the garden, I’d like you to see it all.”

She smiled. “Oh, goody.”

“And I’ve found some flat shoes for you, just Bethany’s beach shoes, but they’ll stop you from standing on thorns.”

* * *

At the kitchen door, Ava slipped her feet into the beach shoes and gazed out at the shrubs and trees. It held so many secrets she was desperate to uncover. What plants lurked in there? More roses? She hoped so. And what kind of state was the vegetable and berry patch in?

Together they walked over the patio and past the well. The long grasses covering the path she’d discovered the day before brushed over her legs.

Following Griff deeper, they stopped in the shadow of the ancient oak tree. The trunk was gnarly and wide. The tree towered above her. A branch had broken off and the flesh beneath was raw and pure.

“Look.” He pointed. “Can you see that heart shape in the trunk?”

She peered forward. “Yes, just.”

He chuckled. “It has my grandfather’s and grandmother’s initials in it. He carved it on when they were first married.”

She pressed her hand to her chest. “That’s so sweet.”

“They were together for nearly seventy years.”

“That’s true love.”

“Yes.” He turned to her and hooked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “It is.”

She stared into his eyes. Maddening yet alluring Griff had drawn her into his world, fascinating her, intriguing her.

He swiped his tongue over his bottom lip and swallowed. His pupils were wide and she was so close she could have counted his lashes.

Is he going to kiss me?

Her heart rate quickened, butterflies took flight in her belly.

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