Page 58 of Stay With Me (Griffin’s Den #2)

FIFTY-SEVEN

Luna

I close my laptop and rest my forehead on the counter. My head hurts from all the information I read regarding getting my GED.

On top of the GED research, Abs started to teach me to drive.

Noah was upset, stating who better to learn from than a cop, but I feel comfortable with Abby teaching me.

I glance at the clock and see that it’s just afternoon.

Noah has been outside for about two hours, doing random yard work he said had to be done.

I offered to help, but he told me I needed to stop putting off looking into GED classes.

I stand from the stool and stretch my back. I round the counter, open the fridge, and grab a beer for Noah and a water for me.

While things aren’t completely normal yet, we’re all healing one day at a time. It still feels surreal that I no longer have to fear The Family will find me.

Special Agent Hunt did say I would have to testify against The Family, but they have a solid case. I trust that between him and Noah, I’m prepared for whatever they need me to do.

Switching my water to my left hand, I open the backdoor and walk through. I freeze on the porch when I spot Noah wearing a backward hat with blond strands peeking out from the bottom.

I track his movement, his powerful body carrying around the bag of grass and weeds to the street. His athletic shorts hang off his lean hips with his white T-shirt tucked into the waistband of his shorts, showcasing his body.

I make my way down the stairs and meet him halfway to the shed.

“Hey, baby.” He reaches for the beer I have for him. “Did you get some of the information sorted about your classes?”

“I got a good chunk of it planned out. I think I can finish in about four to six months.” I take a drink of water.

“That’s great! Is it self-paced?” he asks as he grabs my hand and guides me to the shed.

When we enter, I take a look around. Long gone are the map and other photos of all the spots The Family was staying to evade the police. In their place are photos of us and our friends.

“I think I want to do a hybrid one. That way, if a subject is harder for me, I have someone in class to help me.” I hop up on the workbench while he tinkers with the lawn mower.

“Whatever you feel comfortable with, but I know you’re going to do great in all the classes.”

I stare at his back, his muscles moving as he works to change the oil. Warmth pools in my core as I watch him work.

I clear my throat, trying to concentrate. “Did you hear that Abs takes over the diner next month?”

“I knew it was going to be soon. People have started to talk about it in town. I’m glad it’s staying with someone local. I don’t think Ken would have sold any other way.”

I try to focus on our conversation and not on how good he looks doing something as simple as working on a lawn mower.

“Some of the deputies have been talking, and I think we’re going to put together self-defense classes for people of all ages.” His words break through my thoughts.

“Yeah? What brought that up? Or is this something that has been on the back burner?” I ask.

He stands and wipes his hands on his shorts.

He shakes his head but doesn’t turn around.

“No. The idea came to me when you were getting checked out in the hospital. I had to talk to Mike about it, who pitched it to the other departments in the tri-county area.” He slowly turns to face me.

“For too long, we’ve lived a life where we kept our heads in the sand.

We believed stuff like that couldn’t happen in any of our towns.

Which is the worst kind of thinking.” He walks toward me, and I open my legs, my sun dress creeping up my legs.

“I went to school in a big city. I worked for a year in that same city. One thing they taught us was that crime happens everywhere. After years of working back here, I didn’t think it could touch us, but then it did.

First with Amelia and then with you. If we can help one person know how to defend themselves, it will make me feel better. ”

My eyes soften. He loves Jess and me as well as the town and its people. I knew he still blamed himself, but I didn’t realize to what extent. His eyes are downcast as his arms bracket me in.

I bring my hand to his cheek. “Please look at me,” I plead.

He hesitates a moment before lifting his red-rimmed eyes to mine, and my heart shatters. “I’m so sorry I let them get to you.” His voice is low and rough. “Maybe if I would have spent more time showing you how to protect yourself better, maybe you wouldn’t have been taken at all.”

“Noah, this isn’t your fault. None of this is your fault,” I say softly, cupping his face.

“If I wouldn’t have let you go out to the truck by yourself, none of this would have happened.”

“If you would have come with me, they would have waited until you weren’t around. You couldn’t be with me all day, every day.”

He shakes his head. “You don’t know that.”

“I do. Matthew would not stop until he had me, and it could have been so much worse if he had to wait too long.”

“Or we could have caught them.”

“Or he could have grabbed Jess, Pam, or anyone else instead. We could go on and on, but it’s futile. We have to move forward. We’re healthy, happy, and together. What more could we ask for?”

“I know you’re right, but it kills me that it happened in the first place.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close. My lips brush his, and when he pulls back, desire ignites in his eyes, and a current of heat races through me.

His lips take mine possessively, our groans filling the shed.

The taste of him with a hint of beer floods my senses. We pull apart, panting.

“How long until we have to go get Jess?” he asks.

I look over his shoulder at the clock. “We only have forty-five minutes.”

He slides his fingers up my legs. “Plenty of time.”

He kisses down my neck, and my eyes flutter closed. My dress strap falls down my shoulder, and his lips follow it, and then he kisses his way across the swell of my breasts.

A groan vibrates in his throat, and when he brings his gaze back up, his blue eyes burn with the same need that consumes me.

He slides his hands up my back to the base of my head and pulls me to him in a deep kiss.

Pulling back, he rests his forehead on mine. “I need you.” He reaches up and starts to peel my panties down.

I lift my hips to help him, and he drops them next to his feet.

I pant as pleasure steals my breath, his fingers ghosting over my skin. “I’m ready.”

He lowers his head and uses a hand to pull my dress down, brushing his tongue against my straining nipple.

Wetness pools at my center.

“I don’t want to hurt you, baby.”

“You won’t, I need you.”

He shifts one hand to my core, fingers brushing over my slit. Then he bunches my dress up by my butt, his lips finding mine as he runs his fingers through my folds. The raw desire between us sends shivers down my spine.

A low growl sounds in his chest. “You’re so fucking perfect. So wet for me. Reach into my pocket and get my wallet, baby.”

With shaking hands, I reach for his pocket and pull out his wallet.

He takes it with his free hand and sets it next to me, flipping it open. Pulling back his card, he produces a condom.

Amusement tilts my lips. “Looks like you were prepared.”

“I’m always prepared for you.” He tears the corner off the wrapper. “Pull my dick out, Luna. We don’t have much time.”

I drop my hands to his waist and push his shorts and boxers down as far as my arms will let me. He pulls his hand from my core, and I moan at the loss. He quickly puts the condom on and brings the head of his cock to my entrance. He thrusts forward and buries his length inside me.

A fiery whimper breaks free.

I’m so full.

“Jesus,” Noah pants as he slams into me again. “You’re so tight, it’s always so good.” His grip on my hip digs into my skin.

He slides out of me, and I roll my hips, trying to pull him back in. “So good. More. Please,” I gasp.

His eyes meet mine as he brings his thumb to my clit. “You feel it, don’t you? How right this is?”

I nod because I do.

It’s perfect because it’s us.

“You’re mine, Luna. You always have been. No matter what he thought or that he grew up thinking God made you his. Because you were always mine. Tell me you feel it,” he says.

My stomach flutters at his words.

I pull him close and kiss him, pouring all my feelings into it.

He picks up his pace as he pulls away. “Tell me you feel it.”

“I feel it,” I whisper. “I love you so much.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, he groans and slams into me. “I love you too, my Lunabella. You own every piece of me.”

He angles his hips and brushes his thumb faster on my clit.

My vision starts to fill with black dots as my body shivers.

“That’s it, baby. Give it to me.” He pumps his hips faster, burying himself deep inside me.

A whimper escapes me as my nails rake across his shoulders.

My legs tremble as I crest over the edge, allowing my orgasm to take over.

Ecstasy explodes through me as I feel him fall over the edge with me. His lips meet mine, and he inhales my moans, taking everything I have to give him.

As I blink to clear my vision, he drops his forehead to my shoulder.

I look at the clock. “Look at that, plenty of time to spare.”

I squeal when I feel his teeth on my shoulder. A chuckle escapes me as I shake my head.

We pull apart, and he ties off the condom and tosses it in the garbage can.

My eyes follow him as he pulls his boxers and shorts up. “Keep looking at me like that, Luna, and we’ll be late to get Jess.”

“Oh no, mister. We can’t be late,” I say as I look around for something to clean up with.

He opens a drawer and pulls out some napkins.

I grab them and clean myself up before adjusting the straps to my sundress and hopping down. I toss them in the garbage and turn back toward Noah.

He pulls me in for a quick kiss and laces our fingers together. “Let’s get you a new pair of panties and go get our girl.”

My cheeks lift with my wide smile, and my chest swells with happiness.

This. This is what I left for. To fight for my own future and to find a love that I knew was out there for me.

I squeeze his hand. “Yeah. Can we grab pizza for dinner tonight?”

“Anything you guys want. Just put the order in, and we can grab it on our way home.”