Page 29 of Barely Breathing
“Feel like sex?”she whispered as he entered the bedroom and nudged the door closed with his foot.
“No.”He set her on the bed and stood to shove his jeans down and off.His thick erection made her meet his eyes with a lifted brow.
“No?”
He smiled.“Honestly, I think we could both use a little more sleep.And I really want to hold you.”
Her heart melted.Any thought of leaving was gone.She didn’t know what she felt for him or what he felt for her.What she did know was, there was something between them with the potential to grow.She wanted the chance to see where it led.She’d give herself the next forty-eight hours to convince him of the same thing.
Chapter Nine
Griff was still sleeping when Honor awoke.She slipped quietly from the bed.She glanced down at Griff.There was no way she could walk away from this unscathed.She wasn’t sure it would even be possible to walk away.How could a person’s world change so drastically in such a small window of time?Hers would never be the same.
Being with him made her understand what her dad wanted for her.It was frightening to realize how much she wanted it, too.She wanted to go out, to date, and to explore relationship boundaries.She wanted the potential of a happily-ever-after.Of living together, being part of a couple with all that entailed.She wanted it all with Griff.
Right now, looking at him, she wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed and cuddle into his heat.Maybe, he’d wake up and feel frisky.She almost laughed.There was no maybe to it.She could already see the length of his cock tenting the sheets, and she wondered what he was dreaming, if she was playing a starring role in it.
Before she let that thought lead her back into bed with Griff, she pulled on some clothes and quietly left the bedroom.She’d accepted that her father was busy wrapping up everything last night, but she still wanted to call him.She had a lot to talk to him about, especially when it came to the man whose bed she’d slipped out of.
She snagged her keyring as well as Griff’s from the table in the entryway before heading out of the apartment toward the lot and her car.She really needed to hear her dad’s voice, and she wanted privacy.He’d be mad at her for trying to go around him.She’d deal with it and Jack’s part in selling her out, later, when the dust finally settled, and she knew where she stood.
She couldn’t wait to introduce Griff to her father.It was so important to her they like each other and get along.Her dad was the most important man in her life.Griff had the potential to be just as important.
Would he want to?She nodded.She’d have to make sure he did.
She glanced up as she exited the building, but her mind was too wrapped up in thought to relay what she saw fast enough.
A hand came out of nowhere.One second, she was walking, and the next, her head slammed against the brick of the building.Pain exploded.Two hands tightened around her throat, and she grabbed for them as dots appeared before her eyes.
“Where’s Vince?”The voice reeked of hate and violence.Spittle sprayed her face, and his rancid breath made her wonder how long he’d been without the convenience of a toothbrush.
She gurgled and clawed, but her fingers couldn’t get a solid grip on the gloves he wore.Lack of oxygen made her sluggish and weak.Her legs kicked, but even she could tell they were weak attempts.He was plastered against her, holding her in place against the wall.She had no room to maneuver, and the will to try faded along with her air supply.
“Where is he?”The man cracked her head back against the wall again.
Why did he keep asking her questions?It wasn’t as if she could answer him.Not when she was seconds from passing out.Who was this guy?How had her dad missed him?
The hands let up, and she gasped in air, struggling to fill her lungs.She’d have bruises, could already feel them forming.
“Who are you?”she managed to croak.Not the response he wanted as his hands quickly cut off her oxygen supply again.
“I’m the one asking questions, you fucking cunt.Where is Vince?Where are my brothers?What the fuck have you done with them?”
He really needed to quit asking her questions when he was choking the life out of her.Her oxygen-deprived brain struggled to engage.He was obviously another of Vince’s cousin.Why hadn’t he been with the others?More importantly, how had he found her instead of her dad finding him?His hands finally eased up just enough to allow another gulp of much-needed air.
“Can’t breathe.”She hated the burning in her throat as she tried to suck air in.
“I don’t care, you fucking bitch.I told them.Begged them to leave it alone.Just let it go.They couldn’t.Too pumped up by the old man’s deathbed wish for revenge to walk away.I should have been with them.”He was rambling, and she wondered how far over the edge he was.It seemed he was talking to himself.She didn’t care.It gave her time to breathe and plan.How the fuck did she get out of this one?
“Your dad has them, doesn’t he?”This time, she felt the pinch of his nails through the gloves as he tightened his grip on her neck yet again.Then he slammed her head back against the wall one more time.“You better hope they’re still alive.”His face was right back in hers.She felt the heat of his spit-flecked breath and was glad she couldn’t breathe now.She was too close to throwing up as it was.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out.She thought she saw movement to her left, but she couldn’t be sure.The dots were connecting and blackness was taking over.She didn’t want to die.Not here.Not now.Not like this.She wanted to go back upstairs and crawl into bed with Griff.Wanted to wrap around him and never let go.She wanted to see her dad’s face.To hug him and tell him she loved him one more time.She wanted a life.She wanted everything.
She heard the smack of flesh-on-flesh but had no idea if he was hitting her.She couldn’t feel anything.She embraced the dark and let the world slip away.
* * * * *
Griff fumbled for the phone.“Hello.”
