Chapter Thirty-Six
With absolutely no idea where she was being carried, Lilo kissed Griffin passionately. She was dirty; he was filthy; they were both sore and worse for wear, but she didn’t care. She had wanted to touch him for hours, to make sure he was okay, and there he was—carrying her in his powerful arms. Arms that saved so many lives today.
“Lilo,” he muttered against her lips. “I’m taking you to my room.”
She went in for another kiss, but he moved his face to look away. It was then she noticed they stood before the elevator that went up to the apartments, but Griffin couldn’t get the button to work. He shifted to free his hand and stabbed again. No luck. It blinked and flickered.
“Damn power,” he burst out.
“What’s wrong?” She was already dragging his jacket zipper lower, trying to get inside. She wanted to touch him, to feel his heart beat steadily against her palm. To reassure herself he was okay, that he was there.
“When I’m around you like this,” he said, squeezing her rear pointedly. “I can’t concentrate. The magnetism inside me goes haywire and disrupts electrical signals.”
A smile tugged at her lips. She made him like this. Her. She slipped her hand inside his jacket, and under the collar of his undershirt. The skin on skin contact made him close his eyes with a throaty groan.
“Keep touching me and I might drop you.”
“You won’t do that.” She leaned into kiss his neck and a guttural sound ripped from him.
“Fuck it,” he bit out. “I’m taking the stairs.”
She laughed, loving his urgency. She didn’t think she’d ever heard him say the F-word. But… “Aren’t you exhausted? You should put me down.”
“I think I’m having a second wind.”
Lilo squealed as he shoved through the stairwell door and took steps two at a time. She didn’t try to argue and held on for the ride. Before she knew it, they’d traveled up four flights—maybe five—of stairs, burst through his apartment door, through the living room, bedroom, and onto his bed. He was breathing hard, but he never slowed once.
She landed on her back, bouncing on the mattress and bedding, blinking as she came to her senses. The big hero loomed over her with a look of such concentration and longing on his face that she couldn’t breathe from the intensity.
“I’m sorry.” He put his hands on his hips while he caught his breath. “I should have told you about Doppenger earlier. If I had, he’d never have had the chance to take you.”
“You knew?” For a moment, her desire plummeted. Her world came crashing down. She propped herself up on her elbows, frowning at him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I knew what he meant to you once, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. I wanted to keep you separate from that, and safe.”
“When did you find out?”
He paused, still panting. “I suspected when he punched me in the office, drawing blood. He’s working for the Syndicate. The same people who experimented on us when we were children.”
Her heart broke a little. As children. Those bastards, the same ones who fed Donnie that sick serum. Anger boiled through her and she gripped the sheets. Those assholes had been getting away with their horrible experiments for decades. It shouldn’t be allowed. Resolve hardened in her gut as a new goal took shape. “They’re my new unicorn, Griffin. I’m going to find out who they are and reveal them to the world.”
Silence.
She looked up to his surprised face.
“You’re not angry at me?”
She thought about it. “No. I mean, I wish you had trusted me enough to tell me earlier, but… I understand. This was an extreme situation. I wouldn’t want you anywhere near them if the situation was reversed.”
Suddenly, she had a face full of angry Griffin. “Don’t ever keep something like that from me. I don’t want you in danger.”
“Deal, but…” She put two palms to his chest and pushed him back. “Don’t lie to me again. You can trust me.”
“Deal.” Desire flared in his eyes and he hastily peeled off his jacket. “Enough talking. I have to have you now. I’m so hard, it’s like steel. I’m sorry, but I can’t wait for a shower.”
Her brain short circuited when he tugged his undershirt off, and her eyes dipped appreciatively to the bulge straining the pants that had no give. But then… a shower? She glanced at her body. God, she was covered in dust, dirt and scrapes. So was he. They would dirty the sheets. But as she turned back to his shirtless frame, all ropey cords and tight muscles, she realized he wasn’t waiting for that kind of permission, but for something else. The last few times they’d been together, she’d insisted on being in control. She had been afraid of being hurt again.
No way would this man ever hurt her.
He’d fought a beast for her.
He’d die for her.
She leaned back on the bed and dragged her skirt up, revealing her legs until the fabric bunched at her thighs, all the while holding his smoldering gaze. “It’s okay. I need you too.”
His composure broke. He unzipped his leather pants to pull his erection free.
Yep. Steel. Rock hard. So many other stupid metaphors blubbered in her mind while she watched him pump with his fist, trying to relieve his ache. Desire bloomed in her body, making her nipples hard enough that his eager eyes went straight to where they strained through the fabric of her top.
“Lift your blouse,” he demanded. “Let me see you.”
She pulled it off, bra as well, and sat there with his heavy-lidded gaze drinking her in. His naked desire made her squirm under his attention. When her own fingers got tired of waiting, she squeezed her sensitive breasts. He made a desperate sound, took two strides to the bedside table, found a condom, ripped the packet, and rolled it on. Gripping Lilo’s ankles, he dragged her toward him and spread her legs. He shoved her panties aside to drag a finger through her wetness.
She writhed at his intimate touch, clenching deliciously as he teased and tested her.
“You’re ready for me,” he rasped, a pained expression flitting across his face.
“Yes.” She arched into him, body aching to join with him. Urgency made her voice tight. “Now, Griffin. Don’t make me wait. I need you too.” No truer words had ever been spoken. She needed him more than air. She needed to feel his strong arms around her, holding her, making her feel good. Making love. She needed to know he felt the same way.
But he simply stared at her, eyes roaming her body.
“No more waiting,” she begged, eyes tearing up—all the adrenaline of the day finally coming down, crashing through her system. Don’t make me beg.
He gently touched a finger to her trembling cheek, right underneath the stitches at her temple. Darkness shrouded his expression as he took in the injury, but when she shuddered, he brought his gaze back to hers and he softened. Slowly, he lowered himself until his large body consumed hers while he braced beside her head. He was so close. Lips hovering over lips. Breath heating between them. So real and present.
Fuck Donnie. Fuck him and his wicked words, saying that Griffin didn’t care about her, that she wasn’t worth his time. She squeezed her burning eyes shut and drew in a ragged breath.
“Shh,” Griffin crooned near her ear, stroking her cheek. “It’s okay. I’m here.” And then he thrust his length in, all the way to the hilt.
She cried out as he filled her completely, eyes rolling while blissful heat crawled up her spine. He buried his face into her neck and moaned against her skin, adjusting to the sensation of being inside her, whispering sweet words into her flesh—how much he needed her. How much he wanted her. How he couldn’t live without her. Everything her heart felt for him—all the while holding himself firm, unforgiving steel inside her.
Soon, ragged breaths replaced his words and he rocked his hips, moving slowly at first, and then fast and unrelenting. With each thrust, he took himself to the hilt, hitting her most sensitive spot, sparking heat throu
ghout her body.
“I could have lost you.” It was almost an accusation coming from his lips. His fingers speared into her hair, grasping until he bared her face to him, to see the naked fear in his eyes.
“I could have lost you.” Tears broke free, and she clawed his back, trying to hold his hard and sweaty back. “You could have died. I love you, Griffin. Don’t ever leave me.”
“Never.”
“Faster. Harder,” she demanded, gripping him tight.
At her plea, his movement took on a kind of desperation—a soul-splitting drive to get closer to her—and she met him with each savage stroke.
He captured her mouth in a relentless, teeth-knocking, ruthless kiss that only ended when everything tightened, when her body seized with sweet tingling pleasure and her climax crashed so hard that she had to gasp for air. After he joined her in release, they remained together and he rolled them to the side, breathing hard as they hugged, faces buried into each other’s necks.
After a while, she blurted, “I love you, Griffin.” Because maybe he didn’t hear her the first time.
His arms tightened around her, but he said nothing.
Did he not… was she… was he going to say it back?
She drew back to look in his vibrant blue eyes. “Aren’t you going to say something?”
He frowned. “I don’t love you.”
Her heart stopped. “Wh-what?”
“It’s more than that. Love is too small a word for how you make me feel, Lilo.”
“Okay.” Okay. What did that mean? What does too small mean? Not enough? A four letter word? Oh, God. Already a million things were running through her head. Was he just not that into her? Because, um, hello, that was amazing sex, and…
He lifted her chin to meet his eyes again.
“Lilo.”
“Yes.”
His lips curved smugly. “Marry me.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Marry me. That’s how much I love you. I don’t ever want to be apart.”
“I…” She bit her lip. “Oh fuck.”
“You don’t want to?”
“It’s not that. I love you, Griffin. I’ll say it a million times if I need to. You’ve made me feel like no one else ever has. I’m so confident around you. I feel loved. I feel… worthy. Happy.” Tears sprung to her eyes. Damned tears. Would they never leave? “But I don’t want a big wedding. I have no money, and these things cost a lot. You know I’ve seen how these big family weddings go in the magazines. Sometimes there’s ice sculptures and bands, and… you belong to a prominent family—”
“I’ll pay for it.”
“That’s not the point. Besides, I don’t have a family to invite. My dad’s in prison. My mom is God knows where—”
“I’m your family.”
“—and all that wedding excess reminds me of my mother. I don’t want to become her.”
That was it. Her real fear. The money, the extravagance…
Griffin’s finger traced patterns on the back of her neck. The small touch calmed her.
“So we have a civil ceremony,” he said. “We elope. Just you and me. No money. No extravagance.”
“Really? You’d do that for me?”
“I want to be with you. I don’t care about anything else.”
She drew his lips to hers. “Then yes, Griffin Lazarus. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He grinned, perfect white teeth flashing, blue eyes crinkling. And it was the most majestic sight she’d ever seen, better than any treasure a human—or mythical beast—could possess.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Two weeks later
Griffin held onto Lilo’s hand tightly as they entered the visiting quarters of the prison just outside Cardinal City. The room was cold and concrete. Tables and chairs were bolted to the ground, and a menacing guard watched from the corner of the room, making sure his presence was known. Cameras also kept a close eye on inmates. Lovers, parents, reluctant children all filled the room, visiting with their misguided family members.
Because of his guilty plea and cooperation in investigations, Lilo’s father was kept out of the maximum security prison. Griffin would have preferred he’d stayed at the super-max, but he couldn’t deny the fact Lilo’s father had little greed in his soul. He was a man driven to extremes for the misplaced love of a materialistic woman.
“You ready?” He asked Lilo as they were shown to a vacant round table in the corner of the room.
She glanced at him, but tightened her grip. “Yes. Thank you for coming.”
“I wouldn’t leave you to do something like this alone. We’re family now.”
Her eyes glistened, and she lifted her left hand to look at her wedding band. It was a plain platinum band. No diamond engagement ring. She hadn’t wanted anything, but he’d convinced her a simple ring was something they could both share. He wanted the world to know she was his. He had a matching one on his own hand.
The security door leading to the prison buzzed open, and a guard came in with Lilo’s father—Haulani Liota. Griffin tracked the shackled man as he was led by the elbow across the room. Dressed in a jumpsuit, the man had a shaved head and appeared to have lost a little weight, but he was happy. The grin on his face as he took in his daughter could not be dimmed.
“Hi Dad,” Lilo said as he took his seat.
“Pumpkin, I’m so glad you came.” Haulani met Griffin’s eyes. “And you must be Griffin. Thank you for taking care of my daughter.”
Griffin gave a curt nod but said nothing.
“I can take care of myself,” Lilo said, affronted. “You know that, Dad. But yes, this gorgeous man here is my husband.”
Haulani’s eyebrows winged up. “Husband?”
“Yes.” Lilo’s voice rose in pitch and she opened her bag to retrieve a small picture album. Her fingers shook with nerves, but she opened the album and showed it to him. “We were married at the courthouse yesterday.”
There weren’t many pictures taken, but Griffin had insisted there were some. Mary and Renata had come to act as witnesses. Lilo wore a basic white dress that she insisted on purchasing herself, and Griffin wore a plain tailored suit.
“I wish I could have been there,” Haulani said, a melancholy tone creeping in.
“Me too,” Lilo replied. Griffin knew family meant a lot to Lilo, and having this reunion with her father, no matter how troubled, was a step in the right direction for her. He also knew that he would do everything in his power to let her know she was cared for and loved, even if she shied away from the attention sometimes. She was loved.
He may have let her have her way with the wedding, but he’d make it his mission to show her all the ways she was important to not only him, but the rest of the people in her life.
Her father oohed and aahed appropriately at the pictures until they got to the end of the album which was a good segue for Lilo to discuss the pictures they found in his safe.
“Why did you have them, Dad?”
His eyes darted to Griffin in such a way that suggested Haulani had taken a good look at the pictures and knew exactly who Griffin was. When he turned his gaze back to his daughter, he said, “I was approached by a woman to gather irrefutable evidence as to the real identities of the vigilantes. Paid a lot of money for it. At the time I was under pressure to increase my income.”
“For mom, you mean.”
Haulani stared at his daughter knowingly, but remained tight-lipped.
“I don’t know why you keep trying to protect her, dad. We know she was the one who drove you to such extremes.”
“I have to accept responsibility, pumpkin. I could have said no. Love makes us do strange things, I suppose. Have you heard from your mother?”
Lilo shared a resigned look with Griffin. “We looked into it, but after your assets were frozen, it became difficult to track her. We think she was sighted in Jamaica.”
Her father sighed deeply. “Good.”
“Good?” Lilo was
outraged. “How can that be good?”
He shrugged. “Love makes us do strange things. I just want her to be safe.”
“Dad. She encouraged you to do bad things, and now she’s leaving you to rot in here while she's gallivanting around the globe. For the record, I’m not happy about that.” She reached across the bench and took her father’s hand, despite the stern rebuke from the guard in the corner. “And for the record, I’m glad you’ve taken responsibility for your part.”
Griffin cleared his throat. “And regarding that part, what can you tell us about the woman who paid you for the surveillance pictures of my family?”
Haulani thought about it. “She was tall, beautiful, had long white hair.”
Falcon.
“She was hard to say no to. She knew exactly what I hoped to get out of the arrangement—the money and… yeah. She knew the darkest fear of my heart so she could capitalize on it.”
“Do you have her contact details?” Lilo asked.
“No. She called me from an unregistered number.”
“And why didn’t you pass the pictures on?” Griffin asked.
“Because I read my daughter’s article about the vigilante turned superhero. I knew how much these heroes meant to her, and… I just couldn’t do it. Couldn’t break her heart again. I made sure that she was the only one who could gain access to the safe. I knew Lilo would do the right thing if something happened to me.” He met his daughter’s eyes. “I’m sorry, pumpkin. I should have done the right thing a long time ago.”
Lilo sniffed. “I believe you.”
The guard came up to the table. “Time’s up, Liota.”
“You’ll come again?” he asked his daughter.
She nodded and it brought tears to her father’s eyes.
When he was gone, Griffin took his wife’s hand. “Come on. I’ll buy you lunch.”
Forty minutes later, Griffin guided Lilo into the front entrance of Heaven. He’d called ahead to make sure arrangements were in place, and everyone was where they were supposed to be. Lilo didn’t know it yet, but his mission to make her feel loved had already started. Before he opened the door to the restaurant, he stopped and took her by the shoulders.
Greed Page 29
