Page 17 of Griffin (Stone Brothers #5)

SIXTEEN

SHAY

G riffin wore an adorable grin as he carried the bowl of popcorn down to the television room.

The sweet boyish smile was completely out of tune with the incredible, somewhat menacing, underwear-clad physique beneath it, but I found the contrast perfect.

It was hard to find any imperfections with the man.

I pulled the shirt he'd lent me down over my knees to stave off the chill in the basement air.

"Popped without one burnt kernel," he stated as he held the bowl up victoriously.

"Given how many of those silly little bags I've burned to an absolute stinkin' crisp, I salute you and your talent for popping perfection.

" I patted the couch cushion next to me.

"I'm impressed with this room." Various monitors were mounted on the wall opposite the couch and an array of gaming consoles and controllers lined a set of chrome shelves beneath the screens.

The entire room had been painted dark blue, and canned lights dotted the low ceiling.

Being a basement, the only real light coming through was down the stairwell.

With the cellar door shut, the room could easily be darkened to a theater-like atmosphere.

The truly unique piece of décor was a vending machine in an alcove behind the couch and three massive recliners.

It was filled with snacks, and there was a small refrigerator next to it that I was sure held the usual sodas and beers required for any decent man cave.

"I find it hilarious and, yet, so predictable that a bunch of men breezed right past the chipped paint, peeling wallpaper and broken windows on the first two floors, but they made sure to buy a sweet decorative carpet for the area in front of their gaming systems."

"That's not decorative so much as it's there to cover the very black mildew stain we found when we pulled up the linoleum down here.

" Griffin handed me the bowl of popcorn, hopped up from the couch and walked over to a small closet.

He pulled out a blue blanket and returned to the couch.

I lifted the bowl while he tucked the blanket in around us.

"A blanket? In a man cave?" I asked. "In case one of the gamers gets a chill while sending his Orcs into battle?"

"Hey, it gets pretty damn cold down here, and you can't move that controller well if your thumb is numb. And while we're on the subject, Theo and Cru are the gamers. I hop on every once in a while, but I lose interest fast."

I leaned against him and pulled the blanket higher on my lap. "So, what does hold Griffin Stone's interest? Other than the occasional ballet teacher."

Griffin shook his head. "I can always count on my cousins and sister to humiliate me.

It brings them such joy. But Miss Pearl did have a great smile and the longest damn legs.

Almost as long as yours." He pushed his hand under the blanket and ran it down my thigh.

His touch instantly set off a chain reaction through my body that ended up right smack center in the middle of my pussy.

He knew he'd caused my body to stir and smiled proudly about it.

He dragged his hand up the inside of my thigh. I held down his hand when it reached my crotch. I'd pulled panties on, but that was all I wore beneath the cotton T-shirt.

"Something tells me we aren't going to get to enjoy much of this perfectly popped popcorn," he said, his voice husky with need.

His hand was still tucked against my pussy as he leaned down to set the bowl on the ground.

"And to think it had butter and everything," he growled as he spun toward me, grabbed me by the waist and lifted me up to straddle his lap.

I yanked off the shirt and shivered instantly as the brisk air in the basement cooled my skin.

Every other inch of me was on fire. The sex we'd had upstairs in his room was so incredible, so fucking memorable compared to anything else I'd experienced.

Aside from a heavy petting session with my prom date, Tate had been my only true lover.

He was clumsy and selfish. Now that I'd seen how fantastic sex could be, it confirmed that Tate was wholly unfit as a lover just like he was unfit to be a husband.

Griffin's green eyes glazed with desire as he pushed his boxer briefs down, allowing his rigid cock to spring free. Every inch of him was breathtakingly impressive . His fingers probed my pussy, taking special care with my clit. He didn't have to work too hard because I was already wet and ready.

"Oh Fin, this isn't real. This can't be real.

" It felt as if I'd dropped into an entirely new life.

This wasn't just my wonderful half-life, this was something altogether more fulfilling.

I hadn't realized how badly I lacked knowing what true intimacy felt like.

Griffin pushed aside my panties and then grabbed both hips to move me over him.

"I want to feel all of you this time." I held my breath and felt my heart break in my chest as I slid down over him.

He filled me to my core. I wanted to keep him there, with me, for the rest of my life.

I moved up and down over him and held his face against my chest, my fingers tangling in his thick hair. His strong hands circled my ass, and he teased me with his thumb, dipping it in and out of the tight hole as I came down over him. We moved in unison, meeting each other's body with urgency.

I dropped my head back and cried out in pleasure. Griffin took hold of my hips and held me firmly over him as he continued to pump inside of me. My body pulsed with ecstasy as he pushed deeper.

"Fuuck," he growled. His body went rigid beneath me as he came.

I collapsed down over him, and his strong arms went around me. We stayed like that until the cool air in the basement caused me to shiver.

"Gets chilly down here," Griffin said. "In winter, I've come down here and found Crusoe wearing his ski parka, beanie and three layers of sweats just so he can play video games without freezing to death."

I grabbed the shirt and pulled it on, and we both tucked down under the blanket. I scooted so close to him I was half on his lap. "It's a good thing you put off the same heat as a mama polar bear," I said with a giggle.

"Uh, it's papa bear to you, and just how would you know about a mama polar bear's heat?" He leaned forward and grabbed the bowl of popcorn.

"I just assume since they live on the ice that mama bear must put out an extraordinary amount of body heat."

"I guess that theory makes sense."

We settled back and nibbled the popcorn. Neither of us seemed inclined to watch television. It was nice just sitting together in the quiet room, under a blanket, me luxuriating in his body heat and both of us eating salty, greasy popcorn.

"I'm not convinced that the butter on this popcorn has any actual resemblance to butter," I said.

Griffin chuckled. "You sure are coming up with a lot of scientific theories about the universe this evening."

"Am I? Hmm, must be the great sex. It's opened up all my thought processes."

Griffin reached under the T-shirt and left his hand on my upper thigh. My body reacted instantly to his touch. "So, the sex was great, eh?"

I turned slightly toward him and smiled. "Someone is fishing for a compliment. Well, let me espouse another theory of the universe. I'm not too surprised that someone like you knows your way around a woman's body, and yes, it was amazing."

"Not sure if that theory is a compliment or a diss, but I'm going to take it as a compliment." He leaned over and kissed me lightly on the lips. "Hmm, salty. And I agree, it was fucking incredible."

The front door opened, and two loud voices dribbled through the house and down the stairs to the basement. "I should get home," I said. I moved to get out from under the cover, but Griffin took hold of my hand.

I looked back at him. He was so hot, he stole my breath for a second.

"Stay with me, ballerina. Stay the night."

I smiled and loosened my hand from his grip. "Not quite ready for that, Fin."

He nodded. "Right. You're right. I'm sorry."

Theo and Crusoe were in the kitchen. There was a clamor of pots and pans.

"Shit, they're going to destroy the kitchen with a big middle of the night feast," Griffin said. "Clowns. I live with clowns."

I got dressed, and Griffin put on a pair of jeans. A shirtless Griffin was a wonder to behold. He walked me out to the front stoop. "Hey, let's exchange numbers." He took out his phone. "That way you can let me know that you got home safely."

I hesitated, and he took it as a rejection. He looked instantly hurt.

"It's just that Tate occasionally looks at my phone."

His brows lifted. "Shit. That's not right, Shay."

"Nothing about the man is right. I know, I'll put in a woman's name and tell him I met a friend if he asks. Greta. You'll now be known as Greta."

"Does it have to be Greta? Can't I be a Sophia or Kylie?"

I laughed. "I was sticking with the Gr names." We punched in each other's numbers

"Since we're using fake names, you are now Ballerina," he said.

"Not that Tate will ever get near my phone," he added before pulling me into his arms. "Text me when you get home, and Shay, I'm all in on this.

I don't want you to think that, well, you know, the comment about me knowing my way around a woman's body—with you, I'm all in. "

My chest felt tight as I gazed at him. "I need to find a way out of this on my own. This is my problem but I'm glad. You'll have to be patient with me though. I'm still stuck in that other half-life too, and it's not an easy one to walk away from."

"Why not? Just stay with me. We could get a place?—"

I pressed my fingers against his mouth and shook my head fervently. "That's not what I want. Not now." Again, I saw hurt in his expression. "Don't you see? If I break free from Tate, I need to be me for a while."

My words didn't erase the hurt but he nodded. "Yeah, I get it. But I'm here if you need me."

I kissed him, and he tightened his arms around me. The front door opened. "Oops, hey Fin, where is the hot sauce? We're making eggs." Theo nodded at me. "If anyone is interested."

"Fuck off, Theo," Griffin said.

"Yep, fucking off right now. Does that mean you don't know where the hot sauce is?"

"Theo," Griffin growled.

"Yep. Nice to see you again, Shay." The door shut.

"I better get going. Dancing, socializing, good sex … I think I'll sleep well tonight," I inched away from him, but it wasn't easy.

"Good sex? I thought it was great sex," he said.

I hopped back up to the top step and kissed him again. "It was amazing."

"Hey, what are you up to tomorrow? On your day off?" Griffin asked as I reached the yard.

"Not sure."

"Wanna hang out?" he asked.

My heart fluttered. "Yes, I'd like that." I lifted my phone. "I'll let you know when I get home." I blew him a kiss, and the vision of him standing gorgeous and shirtless on the porch stuck with me long after I got in the car.