But she also liked having him there. Even though she’d just met him, it was easy to open up to him. There was still a side of him that part of her was scared of, but even that lessened over those few days. He was just another person, someone who seemed to actually care about her well-being. She’d grown up with people waiting on her. They’d had an entire staff of people at the house. They cooked, they cleaned, they drove her places. But they’d always done that because it was their job, because her family paid them to. This was the first time she’d ever had someone taking care of her because they wanted to, because they thought she deserved it.
And it was easy to like Griffin. He was smart and funny. And even though he looked like a hulking brute of muscle, he was soft and gentle, too. She was still able to clearly remember how it had felt to have him hug her. When he’d carried her to the car and into Doc’s exam room, he’d been able to lift her like she weighed no more than a pillow. Yet, at the same time, he’d handled her like she was made of fine china, careful not to jostle her or set her down too hard. He was so different from Gabriel, on both the inside and the outside, and he fascinated her.
“You should get some sleep,” Griffin told her the night before they were due back to see Doc. He’d gotten his ultrasound machine that morning and had spent the day getting it set up. Tomorrow, he was going to put it to use and ideally put the last of Rachel’s fears about the baby to rest. She wanted to argue with Griffin, to tell him she was just fine, but then she yawned and figured he probably wasn’t wrong. Sleep would do her a world of good.
Then Griffin insisted on walking her upstairs to her room. When he walked in with her and turned down her bed, her heart skipped a beat. At that moment, sleep was the furthest thing from her mind. All she could do was stand there and watch Griffin, still amazed at how well he seemed to take care of her. When he turned around and smiled at her, standing only about a foot away, her heart seemed to stop beating.
She stared into his eyes, getting lost in them. Slowly, she stepped forward, her body moving on autopilot. The next thing she knew, she was right in front of him, close enough to feel his body heat as she continued to stare up into eyes. Neither of them spoke. They just watched each other. Then, standing on her toes, she leaned up and kissed him. Their lips coming together sent a jolt through her body, kickstarting something inside her.
Immediately, she regretted it. And yet, at the same time, that single kiss had been the best thing to happen to her in a very long time. She backed away a step and started trying to mumble an apology, but her brain was all muddled, and she couldn’t think straight. Then, Griffin stepped forward and kissed her again, sending another jolt through her.
This time, he was the one who backed away. His face was bright red, his eyes a mix of emotions. Both of them wanted to keep going, that much was obvious, but neither seemed to know what to do. Finally, Griffin muttered an apology and tried to shuffle away. But Rachel grabbed his wrist and stopped him, not wanting him to leave. She wanted more than just a kiss from him, wanted to feel what it would be like to be with a man who actually cared about her rather than one who just wanted her as his shiny trophy wife.
“Are you sure?” Griffin asked as he let Rachel pull him toward the bed. He didn’t fight against her, but he didn’t jump at the chance either. He seemed conflicted, and Rachel understood. She’d put it aside, though, determined to give in to her gut, trusting it to lead her right. “You don’t have to. You’ve been through a hell of a trauma.” he reminded her, giving her one last chance to back out.
But Rachel just shook her head. “Ella Sanders hasn’t,” she told him, smiling. It was taking some time getting used to being a whole new person, but she quite enjoyed the challenge. For once, she would get to dictate how her life went, no one else. “And Gabriel broke the marriage contract the first time he hit me. He doesn’t have any claim on me anymore.”
The words resonated with him. His eyes lit up a bit and he leaned in and kissed her again. This time, it wasn’t just a quick kiss either. There was passion there, desire, and so many other emotions she’d never felt from Gabriel. He kissed her like he wanted her, like he truly wanted her. And she wanted him, too.
14
Griffin
Common sense told Griffin to back off, but he didn’t listen to it. Couldn’t listen to it. Everything else inside him screamed at him to keep going, to make love to Rachel. And when he looked into her eyes and saw his own emotions reflected right back at him, he let go. He let her guide him into bed, let her undress him. His body moved on instinct until her clothes were tossed aside as well, the two of them naked, making out, the rest of the world forgotten.
His body was on fire as she touched him. Her fingers were soft and gentle as they worked their way over every inch of his body. It was like she couldn’t get enough of him, and the same was true for him. He wanted to touch her all over, wanted to thoroughly explore her body, wanted to love every inch of it. She was absolutely perfect, and how anyone could look at her and not think that was beyond him.
He wanted to make love to her, wanted to fuck her, but he forced himself to stop. When she tried to line his throbbing erection up with her entrance, he pulled away from her. She pouted at him, but he shook his head. “We can’t. Not until Doc gives you the okay.” Before she could respond though, he leaned in and kissed her again. “But there’s other things we can do . . .”
Griffin kissed his way down her body as she moaned. He loved the way her sounds of pleasure seemed to fill the entire apartment, loved the way she squirmed as he peppered her with kisses. He doubted anyone had ever loved her like this before, and he was determined to make tonight a night she would never forget. He didn’t need to fuck her to make her happy, didn’t need to fuck her to rock her world.
His hands found her pussy first. As he sucked and nibbled on her breasts, his right hand slid between her legs. She was slick and hot, very clearly aroused, and when he started to tease her clit, she moaned even louder, her hips arching up off the bed. “More, please,” she begged, and he was all too happy to give her more.
Carefully, he pushed two fingers into her, just to the first knuckle, making sure not to enter her deeply. Slowly at first, but when she squirmed against his hand, he moved faster and faster. His mouth still worked its magic on her breasts, and Rachel started to thrash around on the bed. Her breathing came in shallow gasps, her moans becoming hoarse. She was so close, right on the edge, and that just spurred Griffin on.
“Oh God!” she screamed out suddenly. She arched up off the bed, pushing Griffin’s fingers deeper inside her. Then, her entire body started to shake as she came. Her moans drowned out every other sound, filling the entire apartment. He was sure the neighbors had probably heard her, but he didn’t care. All he cared about was making her happy.
And when she collapsed back down onto the bad, sweaty and gasping for air, there was no doubt in his mind how happy she was. She gazed up at him, her eyes clouded over, a dopey smile on her face. She looked as though she’d just been through the wringer, but the smile on her face told him she didn’t regret even a single moment of it.
Then, she sat up and brought their lips together again. Gently, she pushed him over, then straddled his waist. She grinned down at him and shifted until her pussy was right on top of his cock as she ground against him. All Griffin could do was moan. He waited for her to position his erection right at her entrance again, waited for her to ride him. He was so lost in his own pleasure he wouldn’t have been able to stop her that time.
But she’d heard his concerns and had listened, apparently, since she’d just leaned forward and whispered into his ear. “Now it’s your turn.”
Her hot breath against his skin made him shiver. His entire body was on fire, and there was nothing he wanted more than her. She was a dream come true, the perfect woman, and he couldn’t wait to see what she had in store for him. And he didn’t have to wait long either. She kissed her way down his jawline to his chest, then started t
racing his muscles with her tongue.
Jesus Christ. He squeezed his eyes shut. The fire in him had grown exponentially in a short time, and he wasn’t sure how much more he could take. Rachel seemed determined to take her time, too, working her way slowly down his body. But whereas he’d started using his hands, she only used her mouth and tongue.
She worked her way down one leg, then back up the other, before finally giving his cock the exact same treatment. Up one side, down the other, she licked up every drop of precum. And before he could so much as moan, she had his entire length in her mouth, bobbing up and down like a professional. There hadn’t been any hesitation there, not even for a moment.
It didn’t take long before his hands were threaded through her hair as he thrust up in time with her ministrations. He barely had enough time to groan out a warning, but it didn’t matter. She just took him down to the root and swallowed every last drop as Griffin’s entire world spun around him. When he finally came back down to earth, Rachel crawled up to lie next to him, kissing him on the cheek.
“Thank you,” she whispered before closing her eyes and settling in to sleep.
Griffin couldn’t think of a single thing to say to express his own gratitude. Words alone didn’t seem to suffice. But he knew one thing with absolute certainty—this was the happiest he’d ever been.
15
Griffin
Both Griffin and Rachel were up first thing the next morning. Griffin had expected things to be a bit awkward after the previous night, but somehow, they weren’t. Both of them smiled at each other as they shared the bathroom and dressed. In a way, it was like last night had broken the ice between them, shattered that last bit of hesitation they’d had toward each other.
Doc was waiting for them at the clubhouse when they arrived, and he guided them both down to his exam room where the shiny, new ultrasound machine sat waiting for them. Part of Griffin expected Rachel to want some privacy, but she didn’t object to him staying in the room as Doc performed the exam. She hadn’t complained last time either, but everyone had been so on edge he doubted she even noticed him there.
His heart pounded as he paced the room again, trying to keep himself busy. He hated standing around doing nothing. This time, though, it was more than that. Something else kept his heart pounding in his chest this time. It took him until the image of the baby appeared on the ultrasound monitor that he realized it was excitement that had been building up inside him.
Rachel brushed away tears as she looked at her baby, Doc proclaiming that the little one looked perfectly healthy. Griffin almost jumped for joy. He wanted to rush over there and wrap his arms around Rachel, but he held himself back, still not wanting to pushing things too far, too fast.
“Would you like to know the baby’s sex?” Doc asked.
Rachel’s eyes widened as she stared at Doc, thinking the question over. Then, she took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes, please.” Her voice was soft and low, like she wasn’t quite sure she really wanted the answer. But there was that determination in her eyes again, the look that said she’d made up her mind and was going to stick with it.
It was a look he respected wholeheartedly.
“It’s a girl,” Doc said proudly.
Tears formed in Rachel’s eyes, and she brushed them away, smiling. When Griffin walked over to her, unable to stay away, she reached out and took his hand. He squeezed it and returned her smile. Protectiveness welled up inside him as he looked from Rachel to the baby’s image. He would do anything to protect the two of them. For a brief moment, he imagined himself as a father, raising the little girl as his own, but he pushed that thought away.
Rachel would be leaving soon enough. She had to. If she wanted to stay safe, if he wanted to keep Gabriel from every getting his hooks into her again, she had to leave. He would help her find a place for herself as far from Oklahoma as possible. Maybe he’d even stay with her until she got settled. But he couldn’t stay away forever. This place was his home. The Steel Kings were his family. How could he ever walk away from them?
Then, he looked into Rachel’s eyes again. His heart skipped a beat. For Rachel, he could leave them in a heartbeat. He was willing to do anything for this woman. It didn’t matter that they’d only just met. He’d fallen for her already, no doubt about it.
Doc proclaimed her healthy again, confirming his previous diagnosis. He still recommended Rachel take it easy, but she was no longer confined to bed rest. By the time the two of them left the clubhouse, Rachel had a new spring in her step. There was hope in her eyes again. She still held Griffin’s hand, which surprised him a bit, but he wasn’t going to complain.
“We should go out and celebrate tonight,” she said once they were in the car. He opened his mouth to argue, to list all the reasons that was not a good idea. Then, he looked over at her and immediately closed it. She’d been cooped up in his little apartment for over a week, without anyone to keep her company besides him and Hannah. She needed a night out.
“Where would you like to go?” After everything she’d been through, she deserved a night to let loose a little. Part of his brain told him it would be a date, but he quickly silenced that part. It was not a date, he told himself. They weren’t dating. Last night had been amazing, but it didn’t mean anything. Not really.
God knows, the last thing she needed was him trying to rush her into a new relationship.
The two of them discussed various options as they headed back to Griffin’s. Finally, they settled on a small Italian place at the edge of town. Neither of them had ever been there before, and it seemed like a good place where no one would recognize either of them. And when they got back to the apartment, Rachel was smiling and boisterous.
Griffin smiled, too. He liked seeing this side of Rachel, liked seeing her happy for once. The poor woman had been through hell. It was about time she had something to actually look forward to.
Rachel disappeared into the bedroom to get ready for dinner, and Griffin rolled his eyes. It was still early, hours before they’d be going out, but he didn’t say that. Some of the women had picked up clothes for Rachel, and he figured she wanted to go through them all and figure out what to wear. That was what women did, right? They agonized over every outfit for every occasion?
Griffin tried to settle in and watch some TV, but he couldn’t turn his mind off. Finally, he let out a sigh and marched toward his own bedroom, tearing open his closet and staring at the clothes inside. It wasn’t—couldn’t be—a date, but he still wanted to look nice for her.
He frowned. So maybe it wasn’t just women who agonized over their clothes.
16
Rachel
Griffin’s friends had gotten her so many pretty outfits. It was nearly impossible to pick out what she wanted to wear. And Hannah, as loveable as the big fluffball was, wasn’t much help in the matter. The dog would let out light wuffs, thumping her tail, at every outfit Rachel held up for her. But then, she probably shouldn’t have expected much from someone who would’ve been perfectly happy rolling around in leaves.
Finally, she decided on something casual. Griffin had said the restaurant wasn’t anything fancy, and she was actually looking forward to being able to out to eat without having to dress up. A pair of jeans, a cute T-shirt, and a hoodie, and Rachel grinned into the mirror. Gabriel would have shit himself if he’d seen her dressed like that, which just made the outfit even more appealing.
When she walked out of the bedroom just before it was time for them to leave, she found Griffin waiting for her. The moment she laid eyes on him, it was like her breath had been taken away. He’d chosen a similar outfit, with jeans that clung to his ass and a plain black T-shirt that hugged his muscles. It was a simple outfit, but damn, it made him look absolutely gorgeous.
“Ready to go?” he asked, seeming unaware of her momentary brain malfunction.
Rachel nodded, taking slow, deep breaths. Her heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to go out. Right then, though, she want
ed to just take Griffin back to her room and have a repeat of last night’s performance. That could wait until after dinner, she figured as her stomach rumbled softly. Food first. Then sex.
Griffin grabbed his leather jacket from the back of the chair he always kept it on. Rachel had to stifle a moan as he slid into it, the jacket really completing Griffin’s look. When they headed out to the parking lot, Rachel’s shoulders slumped a bit as he led her to his SUV again. He was a biker, there was even a shiny chrome and black bike parked not far away, but he’d yet to take her out on it. They always drove in his SUV.
She opened her mouth to suggest they take the bike. It was a cool night but not too cold yet, and the clear skies made it a gorgeous night to go for a ride. She’d never been on the back of a motorcycle either. Then, her hands went to her stomach and she decided against it. She wasn’t sure what effect the shocks and vibrations of the bike would have on her baby girl, and she wasn’t willing to take that risk. She made a note to ask Doc about it, though. If there was anyone who would know if it was safe, it was him.
The restaurant was in a part of town Rachel had never frequented before. It wasn’t a ghetto or anything, but it was far from the upscale neighborhoods she’d grown up in. It was quaint and quiet, the kind of area Rachel could see wanting to raise a family in. It would never have been nice enough for Gabriel, though, with many of the houses being single story, with kids’ toys scattered in the yards.
Hunted: Steel Kings MC - Book 4 Page 5
