Page 56 of Counterfeit Connection

I know he’s staring at me. If he’s pissed at my reaction, what did he expect? Oh yes, I’m so glad you handled things for me yet again. Look how well that worked for you the first time. “Are you not speaking to me?”

I turn my head slowly toward him. His eyes have a look of fire mixed with a dash of guilt. “Trust me. Anything I would say to you right now would involve a lot of words you’ve never heard me say before.”

“I can accept your anger. I can’t accept your silence.”

“Oh, trust me, Griffin. I’m picking my moment. Saving face and all that. We must protect your chest-beating persona to the public, right?”

Griffin recoils in slow motion. “That was low. I change my mind. Silence is better.”

I give him exactly that. I don’t speak again for the remainder of the ride back to his hotel. I acknowledge the concierge with a small smile, but that’s all.

I back into a corner in the elevator, trying to stay as far away from Griffin as possible. He seems to be doing the same. I fear we may be reaching a very stubborn stalemate.

When he unlocks his room, I move past him to go in first and immediately head to the bathroom, locking myself behind the privacy of the wooden door. I need a minute to compose myself or I’m going to explode on him. I expect to hear glasses rattling or a fist pounding on the door, ordering me to come out. I hear none of that. Did he leave?

After a splash of cold water on my face, a deep breath, and a long stare in the mirror, I open the door fully prepared for whatever comes next. I turn the corner toward the living room to see Griffin sitting still on the couch with his elbows on his knees, hands folded in a prayer position, and his eyes lowered to the floor.

My heels click once, then twice on the marble tile when it’s joined by his voice. “I’m sorry, Kaitlyn.” He’s apologizing? On the list of things I thought would happen once we got here, that didn’t even make the top ten. “When I heard what that loathsome pig said, it flipped a switch inside me. It was different from that patron at the restaurant. This man, and I use that term loosely, asserted his power over you. No one should be treated like that. I couldn’t let him go unchecked.”

“Griffin, you came in like a lunatic. I don’t give a shit about any contract. You don’t have the right.”

His head snaps up. “You think this is about some unwritten handshake of a contract? This is about you. Only you.”

“Exactly.” I place my hands on my chest. “You came in and ripped my job to shreds. The one thing I’ve worked my ass off for. You barely know me, Griffin,” I say truthfully, even though it hurts to leave my mouth. “Yes, he’s a piece of work who had no right to do what he did, but neither did you.”

He closes the distance between us and I back up until I thump against the wall. His big, strong hands cup my face, holding me still, and keep my eyes locked on his. “I refuse to let you think you can only succeed by allowing a man to treat you disrespectfully.”

I swallow the knot forming in my throat. “You mean like you did?”

“You mistake disrespect for protection. Nothing and no one will hurt you, not while I’m around.”

Griffin

I have an inferno of emotions raging inside me. I don’t have words I can put to them. The only thing I have are actions. Kaitlyn’s body quivers in my hands. I pray it’s not fear, at least not a fear of me.

I shift my body, pushing myself even closer to her until her back is completely flush against the cold plaster wall. She inhales sharply at the sensation, but her chest, and the rest of her, are warmed by my fire.

“I don’t want to be protected,” she whispers. Our lips are so close, I can feel the warmth of her breath and smell the sweet mint of her toothpaste.

“You say that like it’s going to change the fact that as long as I have any say… I’ll always protect you.”

Her hands come up and grip the front of my shirt. I think, for a moment, she’s going to push me away but she doesn’t. She anchors herself to me instead. Even in her anger, she doesn’t want to let me go.

“I’m so angry at you,” she says, tipping her head back, offering her lips to me subconsciously.

“Good.” I smash my lips to hers, fiercely claiming her, showing her that, even for only a few weeks, she’s fucking mine. I break away only for a short second. “You have no idea what kind of power you possess, do you? Today infuriated me.Youinfuriated me.”

Kaitlyn’s fingers slide down to open the three buttons of my vest. She slides my jacket and vest off to the floor in one fluidmotion. I can finally take a full breath. My fingers wind through her blond waves, sometimes taking a tug or two. When I do, she inhales and exhales slowly.

“Give me your permission,” I whisper. “You need to say it.”

Her petite digits weave their way into the opening of my shirt, tugging all the buttons open roughly. I can’t be sure, but I think I even hear one or two bounce off the marble at our feet. I walk backward, pulling her with me. We make our hasty way toward the king-size bed in my suite.

I spin us around so the backs of her legs feel the softness of the fabric. I’m hungry for her. Starved. “I don’t like being on edge like this, Kaitlyn. Remember, he can’t,no one, can treat you any way he wants.” I feel completely taken by her in ways that are shocking to me in the worst and best ways.

“That sounds…possessive,” she breathes.

“For right now,” I give her a gentle push so her body lays down in front of me on the mattress, “it absolutely is. Understood?” I growl.

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