Barely Breathing (7 page)

He stood up and pocketed his cell phone. He’d pick his wife
up for lunch and see if he could talk her into a compromising position. Or two.

Honor paced the floor. All this downtime was driving her
crazy. Chetan had stopped by and asked to see her laptop. She should have known
better but she’d given it to him. The bastard had taken it and smiled, actually
smiled at her. Told her to enjoy her free time then had the gall to grin at
Griff before leaving. Men could be such jerks.

Griff had done his best to keep her entertained. He’d
ordered Chinese and made a picnic on the floor. They’d watched two action
movies. He’d held her against his chest and kissed her but not pushed for sex.
Maybe that was half the problem. She expected him to bring her back to his
apartment and take her straight back to bed.

“Do you want to have sex?”

Griff looked startled at her blunt question. But she wasn’t
good with beating around the bush about stuff. It was a side effect of having
only a father growing up, and his band of merry men.

“I thought you were still sore.” She would swear he was
blushing. She had to be wrong. A man wouldn’t blush. But then, what man would
be considerate because he thought she was sore? Very few, in her opinion.

“Oh.” A stupid response but all she could think of. What was
the correct response to chivalry? This was why she stayed holed up with a
computer.

“Come with me.” He held his hand out to her and grabbed his
keys with the other one.

She almost jumped toward him. She needed to go, to do.
Anything. Otherwise, she might just attack him and have her wicked way.

“Where are we going?”

He tugged her out the door and down the stairs. He pulled
her out the side door and into the lot where she’d parked her car. Before she could
go check her baby out, he pulled her toward another car. He beeped it unlocked
and opened the passenger door for her. He really was a gentleman. It made her
heart stutter when he did things like this.

“Where are we going?” She asked the question again when he
got behind the wheel and started the car.

“For a ride. I’ll show you some of the town. Maybe go for a
walk or something.”

“I thought I was supposed to lie low.”

“We will.” He shrugged, focused on the road as he pulled out
of the lot. “My windows are tinted. No one will even see you in here. We’ll see
the sights and talk.”

“What do you want to talk about?” He glanced her way and she
didn’t miss the grin on his lips. It sent a slow tug through her stomach and
down between her suddenly moist thighs. What was it about Griff Daniels that
had her dreaming of things, things she’d never really thought about other than
in the abstract?

“Tell me about you.” He prompted her when she just sat there
staring at him. Good grief, she must look like a lovesick fool. And didn’t just
the mere thought of love associated in any way with Griff make her a bit
queasy.

She didn’t really believe in love. Lust, a resounding yes.
Commitment, if you worked at it. But love? That she wasn’t so sure of. And she
definitely didn’t think it could happen at first sight. No way. She just had a
really bad case of intense lust for Griff. Really intense.

“Honor?”

She glanced up and flushed as if he had been party to her
thoughts.

“You pretty much know about me. I grew up with my dad. He was
gone a lot. I learned early on the boogeyman not only exists but he comes in
all shapes and sizes.” She smiled. “Dad taught me how to fight. Hand-to-hand
combat, guns, knives. You name it. I can fight with it if I have to.”

“What about your mom?”

“She left when I was just a baby.” She crossed her arms over
her chest and looked out the window.

Griff’s hand trailed down her arm and he linked his fingers
with hers, tugging her hand over to rest on his thigh. She had no choice but to
turn with it.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”

She softened. “It’s okay. I tell myself it doesn’t matter.”
She shrugged. “But I guess it does. Still, my dad was pretty amazing. I didn’t
want for anything.”

Griff did his best to bite his tongue. She didn’t want for
much! Did she actually believe the bullshit she spouted? What kind of family
life had she grown up with? Yet here she was because she was trying to protect
her dad. He wondered how long it would take her to figure out Jack had called
her dad. He’d known it as soon as Jack stood to leave. It’s what he would have
done as well.

“Tell me about your family.”

He glanced over at her. Her palm was soft against his and
the heat of their hands bled into his thigh. He wanted her. It was taking all
he had to keep his hands from ripping her clothes off and taking her again and
again and again. He was afraid of what he might have done if they had spent
another minute inside his apartment.

“Well, there’s my older brother Gil.”

“My dad spoke of him. Gil married Jack’s daughter, Moira,
right? They have a daughter?”

He grinned. His brother would have a coronary if he knew
someone had put a file together on him and his girls. He nodded. “Yeah. Abigail
Rose. We all call her Abby. She’s beautiful, just like her mother. I think
you’ll like Moira. She’s pretty fantastic.” Anyone who could put up with and
even love his demanding older brother was a saint in Griff’s opinion.

“Then there’s my brother Doug.” Hmmmm… How did he explain
the relationship between Doug, Damon and Cass? His brother didn’t exactly have
a conventional life.

“Is he married?”

“I’m surprised you didn’t put a file together on him.” It
sure would have made this conversation easier. He laughed when she blushed. Did
she have any idea just how beautiful she was?

“Doug has a different kind of relationship.”

“Is he gay?”

Griff couldn’t help the laugh that rolled out. If he had a
nickel for every time someone asked that! He knew Doug and Damon were used to
it. Hell, even Cass laughed about it.

“No. He’s in a committed ménage relationship.”

“Ménage?” His cock pulsed at the interest in her eyes. But
was quickly followed by a
fuck no
. He wasn’t sharing. Ever. And didn’t
that just throw him! He wasn’t really the possessive type. Honor. She just did
things to him, made him feel things.

“Yeah. He’s legally married to Moira’s best friend, Cass.
But they had a separate ceremony where she pledged marriage to Doug’s best
friend, Damon.” He shrugged his shoulders. “It seems to work for them. Damon
even had his last name legally changed to Daniels.”

“So do your brother and Damon? You know?”

Griff shuddered. “No. Not that I’m aware of. And, no, I’ve
never asked.”

She laughed and rubbed the back of her hand along his thigh.
A few inches higher and she’d find his perpetual boner. At least when he was
around her.

“You’re such a guy. I bet if Doug was married to two women,
you’d be all questions.”

He grinned. He might. But chances were he’d just accept it
and move on. If it made his brother happy, he was happy.

“Any kids?”

“Cass had twin boys a month before Abby was born.”

“Twins! Wow, I bet that took some getting used to.”

“Yeah, the boys are a handful.”

“So do they know who the dad is?”

He knew what she meant. Hell, everyone in town who was aware
of the threesome wondered. “It doesn’t matter. They both are.”

He was surprised when she nodded her head, easily accepting
it. “Makes sense.”

And with those words he felt a tiny squeeze in his heart.
There was just something about her.

“And you have a sister too?” She formed it as a question but
she’d put a file together on him. If she didn’t know the specifics of his
family, he was pretty sure she knew all the basics.

“Katie. She married Ben Marcum. They have a son, Michael
Thomas, but they call him Mikey.”

Michael had been named for Mick Daniels. Griff’s heart ached
sometimes just thinking about his dad. Mick had been so full of life. And he’d
loved kids. He had four grandkids now. Those kids were missing out by not
having Mick to hold them and spoil them.

“And your mom is remarried.”

“Yes.” His voice was clipped and he blew out a breath. He
wasn’t angry. He wasn’t.

“Why does it make you mad?”

“I’m not mad.”

She snorted and he glanced over to see her giving him a look
that screamed
liar
.

“Yeah, you are. But I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t you want to
see your mom married and happy?”

“It’s not that. Of course, I want my mom happy.”

“But why can’t she be happy as your mom?”

Bingo. Someone finally got it.

“You can’t be that selfish.”

So maybe she didn’t get it. He wasn’t selfish. He shook his
head but she nodded hers.

“Yes, you are. Why should your mom’s life end with your
dad’s? Why can’t she have a second chance? Doesn’t she deserve to feel loved?
Cherished? Needed?”

“She had all those things. With my dad.”

“So what? She was supposed to bury her heart with your dad?
That’s not fair, Griff. Not to her and not to your dad.”

“What do you mean?”

“Think about it. Did your dad love your mom?”

“That’s a stupid question. She was his entire world. He was
completely devoted to her, and us. They were perfect.”

“They never fought or argued?”

He laughed. “They’re Irish. Of course they fought. It’s in
the blood. Everything with passion, he used to say. Even fights. But he never
did more than raise his voice. And he never went to bed angry or with mom still
angry. He said it was important.”

“He sounds like an amazing man.”

“He was. The very best.”

“How did your mom handle it when he died?”

“It devastated her. But she had four kids. She focused on
us.”

“Still, it must have been hard.”

“I remember catching her crying a few times. She tried not
to show it often. But I’d catch her.”

“Then she met Roman.” She squeezed his hand with hers.
“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“I can feel you tense up at just the mention of his name. Do
you not like him? Is he not a good person?”

“Roman’s okay.”

“Then what is it you don’t like? I’m not judging here,
Griff. I’m trying to understand. My dad never dated. Or if he did, he never did
it around me. Still doesn’t. I often wonder what it would have been like if he
did. Would she have accepted me? Taken some of the rough off?”

“You’re perfect the way you are.”

She laughed and rubbed the back of her hand along his thigh
again. “No I’m not. If you get to know me better, you’ll see it.”

“I’d like that. To get to know you better.”

He didn’t miss the look in her eyes. He’d swear it was fear.

“No changing the subject. Why don’t you like Roman with your
mom?”

“I don’t know, and that’s the honest truth. I look at them
and it just reinforces how my dad isn’t here. That all the stuff Roman is doing
with my mom is stuff my dad should have been here doing.”

“I see. Does your mom know you feel that way?”

“I haven’t really spoken to her for a while. We say hello. I
tell her I love her and I go on. I know it hurts her. But I just can’t.”

“If your dad is even half the man you say he is, I can’t
imagine he would be happy with you right now.”

“My dad’s the one who made me promise to watch out for her.
I didn’t even know she and Roman were together until she showed up at the
hospital when he was hurt. There was an ugly scene. I left.”

“I want to ask you something. Hypothetical.”

“Okay.”

“Imagine you met and married the woman of your dreams. Your
best friend. She and the children you two had were your entire world. Then one
day something happened and you were taken from her. You could still see her,
but you weren’t there anymore.”

“I see what you’re getting at.”

“Just go with me.” He glanced over and saw the sincerity in
her eyes. “Would you want her to mourn you forever? Or would you pray she found
someone else? Someone to put the light back in her eyes. To make her smile and
laugh. To make her live.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Neither is how you feel. It’s not fair to you, your mom,
your dad, or Roman. Sometimes it’s easy to stand on the outside and look in.
Maybe I’m way off base. It’s just something to think about.”

It was. He threw a quick glance her way again. He’d been
driving aimlessly while they were talking. He wasn’t surprised to notice they
were right back where they’d started. The parking lot was just down the street
from them. He’d planned to take her around, show her some places of interest,
hoping she’d want to stay around when the dust settled. If he had his way, she
wouldn’t be leaving Legacy when it was all said and done. Not when there was
obviously so much to explore between them.

They’d barely been gone an hour and hadn’t even stepped out
of the car. She was ready to call him on it when he pulled back into the lot
and parked his car. Then she’d seen the heat in his eyes and just like that she
was primed and ready. One look and she was practically running up the stairs,
eager to see what he had in mind this time.

He fumbled the keys in the door. She laughed. Their eyes met
and his deep rumble melted with hers. He pushed the door open and she stepped
through with his heat right behind her. The door closed with a slam and she was
pulled back and pinned against it by his body.

His mouth found hers and invaded, conquered. No light,
teasing nips or subtle exploration. This was take, consume and devour. She felt
the hard thrust of his cock where he settled between her thighs and her arms
grasped his shoulders and held tight. He slipped a hand between their bodies
and she expected, no anticipated, the feel of those talented fingers on her
breasts, her nipples. But he slid it lower, unsnapping her jeans and spreading
the zipper apart.

He slid it inside her pants, down into her panties and she
felt the jolt as he found and played with her clit. A moan spilled from her
throat as she pulled from his kiss, panting for breath. His lips skimmed over
her cheek to her ear where he sucked and nipped at her lobe before moving down
to her jaw. He set her on fire. She burned, ached for him. Just for him. Never
had she experienced this type of desire before.

“Griff,” she moaned his name. “Naked. Let’s get naked.”

“Hell, yes.” His finger gave her clit one more tap that had
her entire body quivering before he pulled it free and grasped her shirt,
ripping it up and over her head.

She watched his eyes zero in on her breasts and her nipples
tightened to impossibly harder points. His breath shuddered out and he stepped
back without touching her newly exposed skin.

“Get moving, Honor. I want you to the point I’m about to
take you against the door.”

She shrugged her shoulders. The door looked pretty fucking
sturdy to her.

“Hard door. Soft mattress. Your choice.”

“The only wood I want is what you’re sporting,” she purred.
She reached down and cupped his denim-covered erection, giving it a firm
squeeze.

“Then you better get your ass moving.”

“Or what?” It was a dare and she knew it.

“Honor.” He grunted her name as she gave his cock one more
squeeze before letting go.

“Prepared to take what you want?” She threw the words over
her shoulder as she practically ran toward his bedroom.

His laugh made her belly do flip-flops. The man was lethal.

“Oh, I’m prepared. Prepared to fuck you senseless and then
start all over again. Christ, you make me feel eighteen again.”

“I can handle you.” She turned, reaching to unclasp her bra,
and found herself tumbled to the bed.

He came over her, pulled the unfastened bra away and tossed
it aside. His mouth zeroed in on one nipple and he sucked it deep, working it
with lips, teeth and tongue. She cried out, bowing her back up off the mattress
in hopes of pressing more of her flesh into his mouth. He eagerly accepted
before moving to the other and feeding there. Her legs thrashed. Too many
clothes. They had on too many clothes.

His lips slid down her abdomen, tasting, licking her flesh.
He’d stop to nip here or there as if he was in no hurry. But she knew where his
hot mouth was headed and she wanted it there now.

“Griff,” she moaned his name again, tugging his hair with
her fingers in a vain attempt to pull him where she wanted him.

His laugh washed over her again just before his teeth gave
her a sharp nip, which had her pussy clenching with need. His tongue dipped
inside her open jeans, tracing over the skin at the edge of her panties. She
really wished she’d forgone putting them on now. She bit her lip, softened her fingers
to a caress where they were still buried in his hair and forced her body to
relax.

He rose up to his knees between her sprawled thighs. He
gripped her knee and pushed her leg up, grasping her shoe and pulling it off to
toss aside. Her sock followed before he moved to the other leg. She was panting
and brought her fingers up to play with her nipples. They were so sensitive
from his mouth and each tug sent a jolt of desire coursing through her womb to
her pussy. She’d never been this primed and ready to go.

He slid back until he was standing at the foot of the bed.
Grasping the bottom of her jeans, he gave them a tug. She lifted her hips off
the bed and moved her hands to help shove them over her hips as he pulled them
free and tossed them aside. Her clothes were going to be everywhere by the time
she was naked.

“Take your panties off.” His voice was deep. His eyes glazed
with heated desire. His hair had come free and spilled around his shoulders and
face. She loved his hair. Especially when it was draped over her thighs while
his mouth brought her pleasure.

Honor lifted her hips and tugged her panties over her ass
before sitting up. She slipped her panties down and off, then held them out to
him on one ankle. He grabbed them and tossed them aside but held onto her
ankle. Her hand slid to her clit and rubbed over it. His growl and the look in
his eyes was all the warning she got before he gave her a jerk that had her
falling back as he pulled her to the edge of the bed. He shoved her legs wide,
knelt between them and buried his head in her pussy.

His tongue jabbed her clit, flicking and licking over it
while two fingers thrust inside her sheath. He fucked her mercilessly. No slow
buildup. Just fast, furious strokes of his fingers while his tongue tormented
her. She came quick and hard, her body bowing off the mattress as she screamed
her release.

He stood between her spread thighs and practically ripped
his pants open. His cock was long, thick perfection as it was revealed and she
wanted it. To taste it, suck it, fuck it. She didn’t care. She just wanted it.
Every inch inside her somewhere.

“Fuck,” he muttered the word as he looked over to the
bedside table and the box of condoms.

“No,” she whispered and his gaze snapped back to focus on
her. “Just you. I want to feel you. Bare. Nothing between us.”

He licked his lips and nodded. “Bare,” he murmured.

“Lift.” He tapped her thighs and she lifted them letting his
hands guide them where he wanted. She ended up with them high along his chest
with the heels of her feet resting at his shoulders. Then he lined his cock up
and thrust hard inside her. Holy mother of god! The penetration was incredible.
So deep. She’d never had sex without a condom before. The sensation was
indescribable.

He wrapped one arm around her legs where they rested against
his chest while the other held her hip as he thrust hard and fast. He turned
his head and nipped her toe then sucked it softly. That quickly she was there
again, trembling on the edge of an orgasm that was almost frightening in its
promised intensity.

“Griff,” she screamed his name, fighting. She wasn’t sure if
she was fighting off the orgasm or struggling to reach it.

“Come for me, honey.” His voice washed over her. “Show me
how good my dick feels fucking into you.”

He nipped her toe again and she bucked against him. She came
with a low, guttural moan, which was all she could manage as she gasped for
breath. Her pussy was squeezing down on him, making him fight for every thrust
and retreat. She gritted her teeth and clenched her hands into the covers. Her
nipples were turgid points that ached and throbbed. Her toes were curled and
she felt strung like a bow, ready to snap with the least amount of pressure.

Then she did break and realized she had merely been riding
the crest of the orgasm. Now it washed through her, both soothing and
electrifying every nerve in her body. She was weightless, floating in a sea of
pleasure. Never had it been this good.

She heard Griff groan and knew the moment he joined her. She
felt the heat of him as he held his cock deep inside her and spilled inside
her. His breath fanned over her toes as he panted. She smiled.

“What’s that smile about?”

She smiled wider. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this good
before.”

“Me either.” He eased her legs down his chest and shifted
his hips back, pulling his spent cock from her pussy. They both groaned at the
parting of flesh.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No. It was the most incredible sex I’ve ever had.” She
glanced at him. “And that includes last night.”

His grin was all cocky arrogance and dark promise. “Wait
until next time. It will only keep getting better.”

She wanted there to be a next time. And a time after that.
How long would she have with him before it was all over and she had to leave?

“Need the bathroom?” He nodded his head toward the attached
restroom she’d used since she’d been here.

“No, I just want to lie here for a minute. Catch my breath.”

“I like you all sprawled out, naked and satisfied, on my
bed.”

She laughed.

“I’ll be right back.”

He headed to the bathroom and she could hear him through the
closed door as he moved around. She wondered if he was thinking about his cum
still inside her. She felt as if he had marked her, claimed her in a way that
no other man ever had. Or would again. She just couldn’t imagine feeling this
much pleasure with another man.

She was satisfied. And tired. She’d just let her eyes close
until he walked out of the bathroom. Then she’d go clean up and see what else
he had planned for the night. That was her plan. She never even realized when
she drifted into sleep.

* * * * *

“I don’t think she’s realized yet.”

Griff’s voice reached her as she stepped from the bedroom,
wearing one of his T-shirts and her panties. It washed over her like déjà vu.
Hadn’t she just been here with Vince? Panic wanted to set in but she shook it
off. She might not have known Griff a long time, which was funny considering
how many times they’d fucked. But the truth was she already trusted him. Her
instincts were pretty good.

Fuck being sneaky and slinking down the hall. She walked in
and just stood there glaring at him.

“I’ll talk to you later, Chetan.” He laughed at whatever
Chetan said but never took his eyes off her face. She knew he could see how
pissed off she was. “Yeah, you could say that.”

He hung up the phone and tossed it aside before moving
across the room toward her. She shifted, putting the couch between them.

“You could say what?”

“That I’m in deep shit.”

“So you were talking about me.” It was a statement, not a
question but he nodded anyway.

“Chetan was giving me some information. I told him I
wouldn’t lie to you. He asked if you’d figured it out yet and I said no.”

Honor stood there letting everything run through her mind.

“Son of a bitch!” she exploded. “He called my dad. He
fucking called my dad.”

“He did.”

“I have to call him. Where’s my phone?” Her movements were
jerky. Was he okay? Had Vince and whoever was with him hurt her dad? She needed
to hear his voice. Know he was okay.

“Honor.” Griff’s arms wrapped around her, pulled her close.

“Let go.” She fought to free herself. She didn’t want his
touch right now.

“Honor, it’s okay. Your dad’s okay.”

His words reached inside her and freed her lungs to breathe.

“How do you know?”

“He called Jack just over an hour ago. They have Vince and
two guys who were with him. They were cousins it seems. Your dad has it all
under control.”

“Good. Good.” She was fighting. Why did she feel tears
gathering? Her dad was safe. Vince was taken care of. She could move on.

“Relax, Honor.” Griff’s hands soothed up and down her spine.
“Your dad’s okay. He’s okay.”

She shuddered and finally gave rein to the tears. There it
was, out in the open. She had been terrified something might happen to her dad.
That he might not prove as immortal as she liked to believe.

“He’s all I have.” She spoke the words as tears poured down
her cheeks and coated his chest. “He’s all I have.”

“Shhhh.” Griff scooped her up against his chest and carried
her to the couch. “Everything’s okay. It’s all okay now.”

She wasn’t sure how long they stayed there. She sat cradled
on his lap while he stroked and soothed her with hands and words. It was as if
years of pent-up emotions spilled out, as if she felt safe enough to let them
go. He did that to her, for her. And she wondered how much of herself she would
leave behind when she left.

“I should call him,” she said when all her tears were spent.
She could only imagine how she must look with red swollen eyes and a puffy,
tear-stained face.

“He’s a little busy right now. He said he’d give you a call
as soon as the dust settled and he had some answers. That’s what Chetan said.”

“Sounds normal.”

She could be patient. Her dad was always telling her she
needed to work on it. He’d call as soon as he could. She just had to keep
herself busy. She could spend the time with Griff. If he wanted her to. She was
assuming a lot.

“I’m hoping you’ll stay here.” He cleared his throat,
tightened his arms around her. “With me. Until he does.”

She looked up at him. “I’d like to.”

He leaned down and softly kissed her lips, then her cheeks,
the tip of her nose. When she let her eyes drift closed she felt the whisper of
his lips over each eyelid.

“Thank you.”

“Anytime, Honor.”

They sat there a while longer and Honor felt safe and secure
wrapped in his arms. It scared her. The way she seemed to feel so much so fast
for him. She tried to convince herself it was just sex. But just sex wouldn’t
have him holding her, comforting her.