Sassy in Lingerie (Lingerie 8)

“The whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

“You’re serious?” I asked in shock.

He nodded. “I told your father I would never lie to him, and because of that, I told him to seriously consider his questions before he asked them. He might not want the answers. But he asked them anyway.”

“So you told him you tased me?”

He nodded.

“And he was just fine with that?”

“No…he was pretty angry. But he didn’t strike me. He didn’t hesitate to insult me though…called me trash. I think that’s his nickname for me.” He brushed off the conversation like it wasn’t as intense as it really was.

“And you told him you were going to kill me?”

He nodded. “Yeah. But I also told him you’re such an incredible woman that the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you…so I didn’t. He knew you shot me, and I told him that only made me respect you more. I told him you’re the kind of woman who turned me into a man. All I want to do is protect you, and I would take a bullet for you in a heartbeat.”

“Did you tell him you asked me to sleep with you to keep my family safe?” There was no way my father would look the other way on that one.

“No. But I told him I never raped you. He got a little emotional at that part.”

I couldn’t even imagine how that made him feel. Something like that happening to me was his worst nightmare.

“I told him everything he wanted to know without holding back. But I also reminded him that none of that matters because that’s not how we are now. You never wanted to love me and did your best not to. This isn’t something that either of us can control. I told him I was the perfect man for you because I could protect you and provide for you. I would do anything for you, die for you. I emphasized all of that because that’s what’s most important right now. But truth be told, I don’t think he’s ever going to look past everything else…not that I blame him.”

“Yeah…”

“I told him I wouldn’t stand in the way if he doesn’t approve of me. If we can’t make this work, I’ll bow out. I wouldn’t ever ruin your relationship with your family. I understand how much they mean to you.”

My eyes softened, the guilt hurting my chest. My father obviously told Bones about the deal he’d made with me.

“I meant what I said, and I hope that makes him understand how much I love you…because I’m willing to lose everything for you to be happy.” His eyes moved down to his plate as he kept eating.

I took a deep breath, feeling twinges of pain inside my chest. Bones was a remarkable man, selfless and loving. “You saying that should be enough for my father to accept you.”

He kept eating, his eyes downcast.

“We’re not going to lose, Griffin. This is going to work.”

He finished the food on his plate, taking the final bites until his plate was clean. He hadn’t looked at me yet, like he was tuning out everything I just said. He grabbed his wine and took a long drink, his throat shifting as he swallowed.

“I’ll make it work, alright?”

He set his glass down and looked at me, his blue eyes unreadable. “Baby, I’ll do my best to get your father to accept me. But I’m not going to change who I am to make him like me more. And you’re going to have to accept the fact that there’s a good chance this won’t happen. Your father has to look past a lot of crimes I’ve committed, my family history, along with everything else. It would be unrealistic to expect him to be okay with all of that. I’m not going to get my hopes up. Neither should you.”

“Please don’t say that…” I’d never been happier in my life than I was with Griffin. I loved sharing his bed every night. I loved seeing him first thing in the morning. I loved making love to him, feeling his powerful body sink me into the mattress. I’d never felt this way about anyone else. I didn’t want just to live in the present with him, but share my entire lifetime at his side. Losing him was something I couldn’t even contemplate. “I can’t live without you.”

His expression didn’t change, his eyes just as stern as they were before. “Yes, you can, baby. Don’t forget how strong you are.”

“I’m stronger when I’m with you.”

His blue eyes showed his unbreakable power, the way he kept his emotions bottled deep inside even when he was upset.

“You act like my father’s decision has already been made.”

“Because it has,” he said simply. “I want to enjoy the rest of the time I have with you. But we both know how this is going to end.”