Page 86 of The Rookie

Griffin’s arm, draped heavily across my waist. His breath, slow and steady against my shoulder.

And…something else.

Something firm and unmistakable pressing against my backside.

I’ve felt this before.

But this time feels different, because sex is very much on the table.

My heart skips a beat, my entire body waking up all at once.

Oh. Oh, fuck.

A slow, treacherous heat creeps down my spine, my skin tingling as my pulse hammers against my ribs.

I’m suddenly very, very aware of every inch of him behind me. Of the way his chest rises and falls in time with mine, the way his fingers are curled loosely against my stomach, dangerously close to where I’m already burning.

I should move. Ineedto move.

But I don’t.

Instead, I let myself feel it. Just for a second.

Because here’s the thing—I knew this was coming.

Even if I hadn’t admitted it out loud, even if I’d spent the past few days lying to myself, pretending that this was just a vacation thing, just harmless tension, I knew.

I’d known from the second I saw him in the airplane, smirking like he already knew exactly how this was going to play out.

And now we’re here.

Together. In the same bed.

And he’s hard against me.Again.

A groggy, low noise rumbles against my shoulder, vibrating through my skin. He shifts slightly, adjusting just enough for me to feel it again—solid, insistent, impossible to ignore.

I bite down on my lip, my thighs clenching instinctively before I can stop them.

“Fuuck, Avery.” He lets out a sleepy groan, his voice thick and gravelly. “I want to fuck you so bad right now. How wet are you?”

“Really fucking wet.”

He shifts slightly, and I feel it again—solid, unyielding, and utterly impossible to ignore. Heat blooms low in my stomach, and my thoughts spiral into dangerous territory.What would it be like to actually feel all of him? To let go for once, let him take control?

"Tell me you want me, Avery," he murmurs, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver down my spine. His fingers slide lower, dipping between my thighs, and I arch against him, unable to help myself. "Say the words."

"I fucking want you," I gasp, my voice trembling as his touch grows firmer, more insistent. “So fucking bad.”

"Good girl," he mutters, his lips curling into a wicked smile against my neck. In one smooth motion, he flips me onto my back, the blanket slipping away as the late afternoon sunlight streams in through the curtains.

“I’m gonna fucking give it to you, Avery. Fuck, you look perfect.” He slides his hands over my breasts, leaning down to kiss me.

“God, yeah,” I moan.

I look up at him, momentarily dazed by the sight of him hovering over me. His green eyes blaze with intensity, his messy hair catching the sunlight, and there’s that massive, intimidating third leg.

He reaches into the drawer by the bed, pulling out a condom, and my brows knit together as he tears it open. "Since you’re a virgin…" I start hesitantly, "are you okay with no barrier? I just got tested before I left."

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