Page 10 of Griffin (Pecan Pines #3)

Chapter 10

Griffin

I felt incredibly warm as we left the diner.

Michael walked beside me, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets, a small, amused smile playing on his lips.

“Thanks for dinner,” I said, breaking the silence as we approached my truck. “Next one’s on me.”

Michael cocked his head, his expression caught somewhere between curiosity and teasing.

“You’re presuming there’s going to be a second date?” Michael asked.

I paused mid-step, furrowing my brows to gauge whether he was joking or not.

But before I could respond, his laughter cut through the night, low and smooth. That laugh—damn it—sent a rush of heat through me.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he added with a grin that made my wolf stir possessively.

Without thinking, I opened the truck door for him, a gesture that felt instinctive and right.

The faint flush that spread across Michael’s neck and cheeks was a reward in itself, and before I could even consider teasing him about it, he surprised me.

Michael grabbed a fistful of my shirt, his fingers curling into the fabric with intent.

Then he leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a kiss that started sweet but quickly burned hotter.

I rested my hands on his waist, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened.

His lips were soft, but the way he moved against me was anything but hesitant. There was hunger there, raw and unrestrained.

My wolf growled low in my chest, a sound that was more protective than aggressive, and Michael didn’t flinch.

Instead, he pressed into me, his body fitting against mine like it was meant to be there.

The heat between us flared, and I lost track of where I ended and he began.

My hands slid down his waist, holding him firmly but carefully.

The world around us blurred into nothing but the intoxicating press of his lips, the faint taste of his dinner still lingering, and the way his breath hitched when I deepened the kiss.

When we finally broke apart, both of us were panting, our breaths visible in the chilly air.

Michael’s pupils were blown wide, his lips slightly swollen from the kiss. The sight of him like that, flushed and affected, sent a possessive thrill through me.

“My place?” I asked, my voice rougher than I intended.

A small growl followed the question, one I couldn’t suppress, and Michael didn’t look even the slightest bit alarmed.

“Yeah, okay,” he whispered.

Without another word, he slid into the passenger seat, and I shut the door behind him before making my way to the driver’s side.

As I climbed in, my wolf stirred again, pleased but restless.

The ride to my place was filled with a charged silence, our earlier kiss hanging between us like an unspoken promise.

Every glance Michael shot my way as I drove made my grip tighten on the steering wheel.

My mind replayed the feel of his lips on mine, the way he’d tugged me close like he couldn’t bear to let go.

When we finally pulled into the driveway, I turned off the engine and looked over at him.

Michael’s gaze met mine, steady and filled with something that made my chest ache and my wolf snarl softly, eager to claim.

“Michael,” I began, my hands resting on the steering wheel longer than necessary.

I turned to face him, the dim glow of the porch light highlighting his profile.

“Tell me if we’re going too fast. I don’t want to rush you,” I said.

Michael looked at me, a small, reassuring smile tugging at his lips.

“You’re not rushing me,” he said. “I want this. Want you.”

His words hit me like a tidal wave, sweeping away the lingering doubts I hadn’t even realized I was holding onto.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear those words,” I told him.

Michael widened his smile as he unbuckled his seatbelt. We finally got out of the truck.

As I hurried toward the front door, eager to get us inside, Michael reached out and slipped his hand into mine.

I froze, the simple gesture sending a jolt straight to my chest. Turning back to him, I caught the soft, almost shy look on his face.

Without a word, I lifted his hand to my lips and kissed his fingers, letting my gaze linger on him.

“You surprise me sometimes,” I told him.

“Yeah? Is that a good or bad thing?” Michael asked.

“Good. Definitely,” I told him.

His laugh was quiet but genuine, a sound I wanted to bottle up and keep forever.

I turned back to the door, fumbling with the keys for a moment before managing to unlock it.

The moment we stepped inside, the air between us shifted, heavy with anticipation.

I couldn’t even wait for the door to close. Tugging Michael close, I pulled him down into a kiss. The kiss was urgent and consuming.

Michael responded eagerly, his hunger a mirror of mine.

I threaded my fingers into his hair, deepening the kiss while Michael sucked down on my tongue.

We stumbled through the dimly lit living room, our steps uncoordinated as our lips refused to part for more than a breath.

I slipped his jacket off his shoulders, and it landed somewhere on the floor.

My hands slid up his back, feeling the heat of his skin through the thin fabric of his shirt.

Michael tugged at my own jacket, and I let it fall without hesitation.

“Griffin,” he whispered against my lips, his voice trembling with emotion.

The sound of my name on his lips—breathless and filled with want—nearly undid me.

I moved my hands to cup his face, brushing my thumbs over his cheekbones. My inner wolf stirred, protective and possessive.

Unable to hold back any longer, I took his mouth again, kissing him slowly this time, savoring the way he melted against me.

I guided us toward the bedroom, our movements less hurried now, as if we had all the time in the world.

Once inside, Michael looked around briefly before his gaze returned to me, a mixture of nervousness and want in his eyes.

“Michael,” I began, wanting to know if he suddenly had any doubts.

Michael only moved toward the bed, taking off the rest of his clothes in the process.

I growled in approval and followed, peeling off my shirt, pants and boxers until I too, was fully undressed.

Michael looked sexy and gorgeous, splayed out on the bed.

I told him so and he flushed, smiling up at me as I straddled him, pinning his hands above his head.

I leaned in, capturing his lips again and enjoying the taste of him. I left a trail of kisses down his neck, his collarbones.

Releasing his hands, I worshiped his body, loving every moan that emerged from his lips. Finally, I reached his thickening member.

I licked away the pre-cum at the tip and Michael shuddered in anticipation.

“Lube,” I said, remembering.

I quickly slipped out of bed, snatched the lube from the drawer next to the bed.

Uncapping it, I returned to Michael. I hefted his legs over my shoulders.

My own dick was hard and ready. I applied a generous amount into Michael’s entrance and slid one, then two digits inside him.

Certain he was ready, I pulled away, and replaced my fingers with my cock.

I entered him slow and steady, not wanting to rush. Michael moaned and I leaned in, capturing his mouth against mine.

Finally, I was balls deep inside him. I pulled away from him.

“You okay?” I asked him.

“More than okay. Just move, Griffin,” he said, the demand in his voice making me chuckle.

I pumped in and out of him, settling on a rhythm which suited us both.

Sweat soon covered our bodies as Michael started meeting me for every push.

My balls tightened against me. I knew I wouldn’t last long and judging by Michael’s tense muscles, he wouldn’t either.

I switched the angle of my thrust. Michael arched his back, whimpered.

I knew I found his sweet spot and kept aiming for it until Michael came, screaming out my name.

My own climax wasn’t far behind. After pumping in and out of him a few times, I followed.

My vision blurred and the room fell away from my line of sight. Panting, I pulled out of Michael.

After cleaning up, I lay next to him. The warmth of Michael against me was something I never thought I’d get to experience.

His head rested on my chest, his breathing steady as we lay tangled together on my bed.

My arm was draped around his shoulders, holding him close, while his hand lazily traced circles over my stomach.

It was quiet, peaceful, and everything I hadn’t known I needed until this moment. But peace was fleeting.

My wolf stirred as my gaze slid to the soft curve of Michael’s neck, his skin inviting and impossibly close.

The primal part of me reared up, urging me to claim him, to leave a mate mark on his neck as a declaration to the world that he was mine.

The intensity of the urge caught me off guard.

My chest tightened, my fingers reflexively curling against Michael’s arm as I wrestled with the instinct.

Mating was forever, a bond that couldn’t be undone. Was Michael ready for that? Was I?

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing my wolf back. The answer wasn’t simple. The moment Michael had walked into my bar, I’d known.

Hell, I’d felt it even earlier, back at the convention when I’d chased off his stalker.

My wolf had recognized him as mine, my mate, long before I’d allowed myself to even entertain the thought.

But this wasn’t just about me. Michael deserved to make this choice freely, to know the weight of what mating meant.

He wasn’t ready yet, and maybe I wasn’t either. Rushing it could ruin everything, and I wouldn’t risk that—not with him.

“Griffin?” Michael’s voice was soft, tinged with curiosity.

He shifted slightly, tilting his head up to look at me. “What’s on your mind? You’ve gone quiet,” Michael remarked.

I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze.

Those gorgeous eyes of his were filled with warmth, the kind that could melt away all my doubts if I let it.

“Us,” I said honestly, brushing my fingers along his arm. “Where we’re going.”

Michael smiled, the corners of his mouth quirking up into that playful grin that never failed to make my heart race.

“Where are you taking me on our next date?” he teased, his voice light but his gaze steady.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, leaning down to nuzzle against his neck, breathing in his scent.

It was soothing and maddening all at once.

“That’s a secret,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to his jawline.

He let out a soft laugh, the sound rumbling through me, grounding me. This—right now—was enough.

I didn’t need to think about the mate mark, or the future, or anything beyond this moment.

I could focus on the present, on holding him, on keeping him close.

The conversation drifted into comfortable silence, Michael’s breathing slowing as he began to nod off.

His head nestled against my chest, his hand stilled against my stomach.

Soon, the soft sound of his breathing filled the room, and I smiled, brushing my fingers gently through his hair.

I was close to dozing off myself when the faint buzz of a phone broke through the quiet.

At first, I ignored it, unwilling to move and disturb Michael. But it buzzed again, more insistent this time.

With a sigh, I carefully untangled myself from him, making sure not to wake him as I slid out of bed.

The phone was buried somewhere in the pile of our discarded clothes, the faint glow of the screen leading me to it.

It wasn’t mine. Todd’s name flashed across Michael’s phone, the screen lighting up the dark room.

I frowned, my jaw tightening. Even if Todd was a good friend, he shouldn’t be disturbing Michael at this hour.

Whatever it was could wait until morning.

As the phone buzzed again, I debated answering it just to tell Todd off but decided against it. Let it go to voicemail.

Placing the phone back on the nightstand, I returned to the bed, sliding under the covers.

The moment I settled, Michael stirred, reaching for me in his half-asleep state.

“Griffin, where did you go?” he mumbled sleepily, his voice soft and drowsy as he wrapped an arm around me.

I pressed a kiss to his cheek, my heart clenching at how easily he sought me out even in his sleep.

“I’m here,” I murmured. “Go back to sleep.”

“Mm, kay,” Michael said, snuggling closer.

As his breathing evened out again, I rested my chin atop his head, letting his warmth seep into me.