“I can imagine.”
Griff’s eyes pin me in place.
“And I really missed you. I was so worried, but here you are.”
“Here I am,” he replies softly, his smile indicative of just how much he likes my words. “And I missed you, too.”CHAPTER 17BebeSo, we’re essentially on a date tonight. At least that’s what we’ve both decided to call it.
And truth be told, I’m sort of in hiding, so when it boils down to it, it’s probably safer to stay inside the Jameson building. It would seem dating within the confines of our headquarters would make our options limited, but that isn’t the case. We could have chosen to watch a movie in the media room, rack a game on the pool table, spend time on the beautiful rooftop area Joslyn decorated, or even head to the indoor gun range and get a couple of rounds in.
But given the fact the entire facility is riddled with strategically placed cameras for security purposes, I didn’t want my date potentially televised to anyone. Not that there was anyone actively watching, but I could totally see Dozer pulling up the footage—perhaps (hopefully) seeing Griff kissing me—and making my life a living hell with teasing critique.
Which is why Griff and I are in my apartment, watching a movie while lying side by side on my couch like a couple of teenagers.
It’s odd, and I love it. The feeling of relaxation and security with him lying behind me, an arm casually draped across my hip, and his thumb lazily drawing circles on my jean-clad thigh.
We didn’t start out here. First, I fed the man by ordering Chinese. We ate right out of the box using chopsticks, switching back and forth between lo mein and steamed dumplings. We ate and sipped at our beers, me sitting cross-legged on one end of the couch while he had the other, his legs stretched out, sock-clad feet on the coffee table.
We attended to business first, and he filled me in on his meeting with Bogachev. I don’t think he left out any details because it was bad enough listening to him recount how he planted my USB drive into the man’s bedroom TV and was almost caught doing it. I had terrible images flashing through my mind of Bogachev putting a bullet in Griff’s brain for that little transgression, but it all turned out okay.
Not only did Griff successfully plant my device, but he also got Bogachev to send him on a fool’s errand of a mission to murder my son and mother. It bought Griff the time he needs to come back here so we can put our heads together to bring this fucker down.
After that, the conversation moved more naturally into other things that didn’t have to do with murderous Russian mobsters and computer hacking. It was when Griff gave a mighty yawn I suggested that we perhaps watch a movie and if he happened to fall asleep on the couch of this little one-bedroom apartment, he would be well served by getting some rest.
With Thor: Ragnarok on Netflix and both of us avid Marvel fans, it didn’t seem weird at all when he pulled me down into a supine position on the couch with my body in front of his. We’re so perfectly fitted, and I cannot pretend to be unaffected by his big body molded to mine.
I settle into him a little more, wanting more contact. Moving his arm around my waist, he pulls me in for a hug of sorts while nuzzling his nose into my hair. Electric shocks tingle along my neck in response.
“You smell amazing,” he murmurs, moving down to brush his lips across the sensitive spot right behind my ear. I can’t help the audible intake of air, a mixture of being completely turned on and a little startled, only because I wasn’t expecting it.
Griff continues to kiss his way down my neck with no hesitation whatsoever. His confidence is a complete turn on to me, knowing he wants this and he’s taking it without asking. He moves his mouth to my shoulder, pulling the neck of my shirt to the side to expose the skin there. His right hand snakes its way under my shirt, his large palm settling on the center of my belly.
I’m assaulted by sensations from every direction—the touch of his lips, the warmth of his palm, the intense arousal between my legs. I know without a doubt I’m already soaked from just that little bit of affection. Ten and a half years is a long time to go without the regular touch of another human, and even though this isn’t the first time he’s touched me, it’s still a new sensation to my body.
“Bebe,” he whispers, lips making their way back up my neck to my ear. “Tell me what you want.”