Page 23 of Instant Heat
GRIFFIN
This wasn't me. I didn't jump into things without weighing the consequences first. This wasn't planned, it wasn't thought out, but dammit, if it didn't feel right.
I couldn't explain it; from the moment I'd laid eyes on this woman, I'd known she was different. Logic warned me to pull back, assess what I was feeling. Only, I was done running and hiding.
If I was destined to crash and burn, I'd go willingly.
Rae's widened eyes scanned over me face before our gazes locked. Those beautiful blue irises of hers reflecting every single thing I felt in me core.
"This is crazy," she repeated. The words falling from her lips in a mere whisper.
"So you've said."
I watched her work down a few swallows before she voiced something else I felt too."I'm scared, Griffin." When she pulled away from me touch, I reluctantly let her go."We went from having fun to something else entirely in the blink of an eye." She paced back and forth, her teeth worrying her bottom lip.
The need to walk over and wrap me arms around her was strong. I almost gave in and did just that when a little voice in me head cautioned me to give her the space she needed to make sense of everything.
Not that much sense could be made unless you believed that love at first sight really did exist.
"I'm scared too." I kept me voice steady as I slowly approached her."I know the difference between lust and wanting something more." When I reached her, I took her hand in mine."This isn't lust, Rae. Not even close."
Her eyes narrowed but at least she didn't pull away from me."Oh yeah? Didn't we just have crazy monkey sex?"
Biting me cheek, I kept me grin from spreading."Aye, that we did. The point that you are missing,acushla, is that thecrazy monkey sexisn't the only thing I want from you. I wantallof you. Tell me your fears, so I can make them mine. Your hopes and dreams, I want to make those come true. I want—"
Before I could finish she started shaking her head furiously."This is too much."
She wasn't wrong. This was too much and not enough at the same time. Again, I cradled her face between me palms."You're right." I lowered me head until our noses almost touched."If you can honestly tell me that you don't feel it too, I won't say another word." Rae opened her mouth to speak but I silenced her by sliding me thumb over her lips."But if it's there and we both feel it, why not explore it?"
She was really thinking about what I'd just said; I could see it in her eyes. I just hoped when she opened her mouth to speak, she'd voice the words I needed to hear. Rae's gaze roamed over me face, I sucked in a breath and held it.
"Okay." Everything else she'd said tonight had had a hint of uncertainty to it. However, this single word that slipped from her lips, didn't. There was nothing else left to say, words were just empty syllables without a deed to back them up.
So I lowered me mouth to hers in a kiss that tasted so different than the others.
Her fear. Her hesitancy. Her want. I could taste them all. Mix that with everything I was feeling, and you had one powerful cocktail of want and need.
I kissed her deep and slow as her arms banded tightly around me waist. Me fingers pushed into her hair. The silky tresses twisted and tangled in me grip, but I couldn't bring myself to let go. I didn't want to give her one second of sanity in case she changed her mind.
She was mine.
I needed her to stay mine.
I was very aware that I was behaving like an uncivilized caveman. I was also way past rationalizing me feelings when it came to Rae. If at all possible, our kiss deepened even more. I swear I felt each stroke of her tongue all the way to me soul.
The needy little moan that sounded from the back of her throat was equivalent to fuel being thrown onto an already raging fire. Without removing me mouth from hers, I lifted her and walked us to the bedroom.
This time there was no slow seduction. If I could have ripped every stitch of fabric covering her body, I would've. When there was nothing between us, I descended on her like a beast ready to devour his prey.
Which I was.
With every roll of me hips, I made her mine all over again. When her voice was hoarse and our lungs out of breath, I collapsed beside her. Gathering her in me arms, she rested her head against me chest.
I stared at the ceiling amazed at how the odd turns life sometimes took always managed to lead us to the place we were supposed to be. With Rae safely tucked in beside me, I gave into the heaviness of me lids. I just hoped when morning came, I wouldn't wake to find that this was nothing more than a dream.
***
"You didn't run away."
