Page 10 of Submit

“Just shut up.”I pull on his tee shirt, forcing him to bend down to kiss my lips.It’s only a sweet peck, but I don’t mind that.

“Are you staking a claim, little Astera?”he smirks against my lips.

“Maybe.”Smiling, I walk away and find my friend Claire.

“Hey, girl.”

“Hey.I see you and mister hottie pants kissing over there.Tell me what I missed.”

“You know me.I never know what the fuck I’m doing.But Griffin, or mister hottie pants as you call him.He’s stirring something inside me that no one else has been able to do since Logan.”

“You deserve to be happy.And if you find that with Griffin, then I don’t see what the problem is.”

“Thanks.”I take a sip of my beer and watch Griffin talking to one of the guys.

“You know, he hasn’t stopped watching you since you came over here.”

Claire is the kind of girl that will give it to you straight.She doesn’t waste time beating around the bush.She’ll straight up ask you whatever, and she’ll tell you the truth.So, our conversations mean something to me.I can be real with her.She flips her long straight black hair, and I catch her looking over at Hayden.

“Still walking on eggshells around Hayden?”I question.

“I’ve known him forever, so it’s not easy moving into unknown territory.I’m like a goddamn sister to him.”

“He’s just probably scared your brother Rowan will kick his ass,” I mention.

“More like kill him.Always telling me to leave when I come around.Like, I’m not a grown-ass adult.Annoys the fuck outta me.”

“Cheers to complicated men,” I say, hitting her bottle with mine.“I need another.You want one.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“At least go say hi to Hayden, and then I’ll grab your beer.”Hayden is a little unique compared to the rest of the guys.First, he doesn’t have nearly as many tattoos as the rest of the club members.He only has some chest tats and one arm sleeve.Then on his other arm, he has a few on the inner part.I mean, he is super-hot tats or not.He’s tall and built.And he has decently clean-cut hair, enough to run your hands through.I’m sure Claire would love a chance to do just that.

She rolls her eyes.“Fine.”

Smiling, I walk over to the cooler while she walks over to Hayden.He smiles wide when she goes over to him.I take my time grabbing the beers before heading over to her.“Here ya go.”I hand her the beer as she says bye to Hayden.

Claire is one beautiful girl, and if Hayden doesn’t make a move soon, someone else will.With her dark, long hair, and her light green eyes, she is striking with her Asian heritage features.And then add all the tattoos that adorn her body, she’s stunning.And my girl can kick some serious ass, too.I’ve seen her drop grown men before.She’s tough.But she’s all mush when it comes to Hayden.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“No.”she smiles before taking a sip of her beer.

ChapterSix

GRIFFIN

As the night wears on, I can’t tear my eyes off Astera.She’s so beautiful, and the damn woman doesn’t even have to try hard.With shoulder-length gold locks, her big, light brown eyes, she has a body shaped like an hourglass, and she has the attention of every single man here tonight.The thought of another man touching her makes me see red.I want to be the one that touches her.

The only one.

She’s made herself clear about us getting to know each other.Even though I’d love nothing more than to peel those short shorts off her as well as her black tank top.I want to own every fucking inch of her.My cock stirs in my jeans.The last thing I need is to be walking around with a boner for everyone to see.Astera is gonna be the death of me.

Hayden hands me a beer.“Figured you could use another,” he states.

“Thanks, man.”

“How are you holding up?”

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