Page 45 of Counterfeit Connection

“As much as I love this dress, I’d love nothing more than to put on a slouchy T-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts I’ve owned since high school.”

“Don’t let me stop you. I’m looking forward to seeing this outfit.”

“You can sit or even feed Marilyn some treats if you want. You’d win her over even more.”

“That’s a plan I can get behind.”

She smiles and it nearly knocks me off my feet. “The jar is in the cabinet above the dishwasher. She’ll come running as soon as she hears the door creak.”

We go our separate ways, her behind her bedroom door and me into the kitchen. I rub my hands together while finding the correct cabinet door, and just like she said, the adorably posh gray cat comes barreling around the corner like she’s positively starved.

“Easy there. They aren’t going to disappear.” I squat down to deposit a few morsels onto the floor, which she gobbles up immediately then sits back on her haunches, basically demanding more. “You’re testing me, aren’t you?” She licks her lips in response. “Well, I won’t be failing this one.” I lay a few more treats on the floor.

The second the treats disappear, this four-legged diva is winding through my legs, protesting until I pick her up. “Hushnow, you silly thing. Where is your mother? Shall we go find out?”

With my newfound friend purring madly in my arms, I follow the faintest sound of running water. I enter Kaitlyn’s bedroom and, in the distance, a glow is coming out from under her bathroom door with the quietest bit of humming from the other side. Not wanting to miss a single part of the show she doesn’t even know she’s presenting; I release Marilyn to the bed before sliding out of my shoes to rest back on her pillows.

Her bed is so soft. It feels like I’m lying on a puffy cloud. Her duvet envelops my body instantly, creating a warm cocoon. I allow my eyes to close to savor the sensation. The purring of Kaitlyn’s kitten becomes mixed with her hums from afar in a delightful mix, offering me a relaxing bit of white noise. It’s a far cry from the high octane buzz we’ve been on.

My mind floats from thought to thought. It’s been a long time since I’ve been content in a woman’s bed. What does that mean? I wonder how long it will take for the internet to do its thing? What will father say? Mum? Shit. Mum. She only wants the best for me, always has. I haven’t honestly stopped to consider how to present this to her. Should I? She knows Father better than anyone and would graciously understand.

But…she would love Kait. She would welcome her with open arms. They would get on so well in conversation. Her face would be lit with joy. Kait’s may as well. I could see her looking at Mum with kindness. She may even find something she’s missing.What are you doing, man? Keep emotion out of it.

My heart begins beating faster and faster. I can feel a weight dead center on my chest. I move my hand over the ache where I find another hand in its place. As I slowly open my eyes, Kaitlyn has perched her body beside mine. The hand is that of affection and what I perceive as true understanding of what my head was doing. How could she know? Does it even matter?

“You fell asleep,” she says in a whisper.

“Your bed is very comfortable.” I lay my hand on top of hers.

She doesn’t speak again. Instead, she leans down and places a gentle kiss on my lips.

I’ve kissed many women in my life. I’ve been with models, artists, businesswomen, and even a handful of celebrities. I’m an experienced man, but none of those trysts compare to what I feel when I am kissing Kaitlyn Logan.

I reach up and cradle the side of her face, anchoring her to me. I don’t want this to end any time soon. Her lips part and my tongue slips between, dancing with hers in a way that feels like we’ve done this together our entire lives.

She moans quietly when I sink my teeth into her bottom lip, giving it the most delicate of tugs. I grin. My girl likes to be bitten. I’ll keep that tucked away for later use.

My girl.

Fuck, Griffin. Relax.

“Your kitten seems to like me lying here. How do you feel about it?”

She whispers, “I think if you’re too tired to leave, you should stay.”

I play with a few strands of her hair that have tumbled over her shoulders. “What if I’m not too tired and I still would like to stay?”

Kaitlyn ponders my question for a moment. I can watch the beautiful cogs of her brain spin through her eyes until they read her decision has been made. Her delicate fingers reach up to pull on the end of my bow tie. It slowly opens, sliding from around my neck to fall at a place of her choosing on the mattress.

“Well then. It looks like I’m staying.” My hand glides up her bare arm and over her shoulder to anchor at the back of her neck. I pull her toward me with what I fear is brute force. Her body says otherwise.

Kaitlyn moves her hands so they rest on either side of me to catch her weight. I coax her to move her knees to follow. She doesn’t resist. Kaitlyn toys with the base of my shirt until it’s freed from my waistband. The moment her fingertips touch the skin of my back, it’s like electricity flowing through my body. If that’s what her hands can do, what would it be like if our whole bodies were connected?

I cradle her body carefully as I sit up, so we are chest to chest, nose to nose.

“Kaitlyn, if this isn’t what you want, tell me now.” I wrap my hand into her hair and tug gently, pulling her jaw up to expose her neck. I can’t resist. I place kisses along her throat, over her racing pulse.

She gasps at the contact and I feel her hands dipping lower before finally connecting with my belt, which she starts to unbuckle.

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