Page 123 of Rival

Those hands of his slide back down, then circle my hips once more, only this time he doesn’t stop until one grazes over my throbbing sex. He presses hard against my pussy, grinding his palm just above my clit and I whimper, shifting forward to press harder against him.

Lowering his head until he’s resting his lips against my shoulder, he whispers, “Let me touch you, darlin’.”

“Oh God, I n-need you to,” I gasp on a sob, grinding myself on his hand again and I want to sing when I feel his fingers dance against my opening, the barrier of my pants the only thing keeping his hand from where I want it.

Supporting his weight over me, he slips his hand up to push the waistband of my leggings out of his way. He drives his fingers against my clit, the moisture giving his fingers purchase to draw circles against me.

My forehead thunks heavily on the counter as he plays with my clit, pleasure racing through my body. Wrapping his other arm around me, he palms my stomach and lifts it slightly, supporting the weight and the relief is intense. He strokes his hand over the swell of the baby as he continues to work between my legs, driving me toward an orgasm.

I shift my body forward to let the tips of my hardened nipples drag across the cool marble top, easing the throb. Slipping my hand against them, I dig my fingers into the swollen flesh and shudder when another wave of ecstasy takes hold.

“Fuck yes, baby. You just need to come, don’t you?” Griffin mumbles, nipping at my back and shoving two fingers deep inside of me,almostfilling me how I want.

It’s not enough.

I rock back, feeling his hard cock pulsing against my ass as he works his fingers in and out of me, only pausing for a moment to pull them free to stroke over my clit a few times.

Moaning louder, I throw my head back and twist my hips against his cock and buried fingers buried. I’m almost where I need to be. He tightens his hold and starts to move them more forcefully until I’m exploding all over his hand, screaming into the tiny space as my body shudders and constricts beneath his hold.

His fingers roll over my clit as I convulse, coming down from the relief he’s given me until he catches me as my legs give out.

Supporting me with one hand gently holding my stomach and the other drenched and still buried inside of me, he grinds his hardness against me once more, then shudders as he leans over my back.

I can feel him pulsing with every groan he bellows, pouring his cum into his jeans as his body relieves itself.

He plants tired kisses across my back, then up to my neck and ear, which incite more shivers as I try to catch my breath.

Finally, he lays his cheek against my temple and breathes out, “That might have been the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Christ, darlin’, you’re gorgeous when you come.”

I huff out an embarrassed laugh and he frees his hand, drawing his fingers slowly from my body until he can hug me close.

Hesitating, I admit, “That was everything I didn’t know I needed.”

“It was what you needed from me, and I want to be here to always give you everythin’ you want. Edith,” he says, his voice pained as he says my name. “I want to be here for you all the fuckin’ time. Christ, I didn’t know what was goin’ on that day and was tryin’ to make things easier on you. Ineedyou. I fuckin’ ache every damn day I’m not around you.”

Standing up straight, I turn my body around to face him. The despair in his voice is heartbreaking, and I hate it. I hate it more than anything.

Without thinking, I cup his cheek and meet his begging eyes.

“Please, darlin’. Please don’t tell me I can’t be here with you. I want to give you all I’ve got and the thought of not havin’ you is eatin’ me alive. I fuckin’ fell in love with you and I can’t make that go away.”

Pushing myself to my toes, I press my lips to his and taste the way he sucks in a breath, then revel in the feel of his arms holding me against him. Griffin kisses me more deeply, then pulls back and lays his forehead against mine.

“I love you as my life, for you are the best.”

Oh God, he quoted our book.

My eyes water and I blink up at him. “Did you read ahead?”

Chuckling, his voice thick with emotion, he rocks his head back and forth across mine. “No, darlin’ Edith. But I wanted to. I looked up quotes and that one hit me so fuckin’ hard that I knew it’s how I had to tell you.”

Kissing his chin softly, I lean back and give him a tentative smile.

“I maybe think I might love you back. You were my first, Griffin. Thatmeanssomething to me.”

Smirking, he tips his head to the side, studying me. “Only maybe? Because I’d love to know for sure so I can rub it in their faces.”

“Don’t do that,” I scold. “We need to work things out and, Griffin, just because—”