Part 4 (2/2)

He sat up and leaned against the headboard. Griff wasn't as buff as his brothers, but that didn't mean he didn't have plenty of muscles. A scattering of dark hair covered his chest. The line of hair ran down his flat stomach to his navel and disappeared beneath the covers.

Very s.e.xy.

Pus.h.i.+ng s.e.x out of her mind, she sat on the bed next to him. ”It's late. You should be asleep.”

”I could say the same about you.”

Emma shrugged. ”Too much going through my mind.”

”I know how that is.”

His gaze dipped to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s for a moment before he looked away. Emma knew her nipples were clearly visible through the satin, even though that's not why she'd chosen this robe when she packed for her visit with Alaina. She loved the softness of it, the way it flowed over her body. She felt s.e.xy and alluring when she wore it. She liked how it slithered to the floor when a man pushed it off her shoulders.

No chance of that happening tonight.

Emma glanced away from Griff and saw her book lying on the floor next to the nightstand. She must have accidentally pushed it off. Deciding there was no reason to remain here any longer, she retrieved it and stood. ”Sorry I bothered you. Good night.”

She made it one step before Griff grabbed her wrist. ”Emma.”

She waited for him to speak again. When he remained silent, his eyes downcast, she gently prompted him. ”Do you need something?”

”I don't... I'm not...” He cleared his throat. ”Would you stay with me?”

His gaze quickly shot to her face, his expression panicked. ”I didn't mean... I don't expect anything...s.e.xual. I just...” He stopped again.

Emma understood Griff wasn't asking her for s.e.x, but someone to hold. She gently tugged her wrist from his hand and rounded the foot of the bed. She laid her book on the nightstand, lifted the covers and slid into bed, her back to him.

She heard a click when he turned off the lamp, then a strong arm wrapped around her waist. He scooted right up behind her, his chest to her back, his soft c.o.c.k nestled against her satin-covered b.u.t.t. ”Thank you,” he whispered.

Taking his hand in hers, she entwined their fingers and closed her eyes.

Chapter Five.

A warm palm slid across her stomach and up to her breast. The dream faded from Emma's mind as she slowly came awake to a man's touch. The palm molded her breast, a thumb flicked across a hard nipple.

That flicking brought her body to complete awareness. She arched her back, pushed her breast more firmly into Griff's hand. Fingers plucked her nipple, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to her c.l.i.t with each tug. A hard c.o.c.k nudged her a.s.s, began a slow pumping between her cheeks. The feel of firm flesh made her realize her robe was still belted, but no longer covered her b.u.t.t.

”Emma.”

Griff's voice was a husky whisper, a plea for more. His hand left her breast to glide down her body and between her thighs. Emma bent her knee to give him more room to explore.

He groaned when he touched creamy folds. ”You're so wet.”

Two fingers pushed inside her. Emma laid her hand over his and pressed, silently asking him to go deeper. He obeyed her, his fingers delving farther, then withdrawing to whisk across her c.l.i.t. Pleasure shot through her body.

”I need you,” he whispered.

A strange sense of disappointment sent a stab of pain to her heart. Griff didn't need her. He needed the warm body in his bed, the woman who could give him comfort and relieve his loneliness. It surprised her to realize she wanted to be that woman, the one who could make him forget his pain for a little while. It had nothing to do with s.e.x, but with putting another person's feelings ahead of her own.

Reaching behind her, she grasped his c.o.c.k and guided it to her entrance. One thrust and he filled her.

”Ah, Emma.” Griff slipped his arm beneath her shoulders, wrapped it around her body and cradled her breast with one hand. He kept the other hand between her legs, caressing her c.l.i.t as he pumped his rod inside her. ”Feels so good.”

Emma thought that an understatement. He filled her completely, his shaft thick and long and so hard. She guided his fingers where she needed them. He followed her instructions perfectly, the calluses on his fingertips adding more friction to her c.l.i.t.

A little more. She only needed a little more to fall over that peak of mindless pleasure...

Emma crashed back to earth when she felt Griff stiffen. He grunted as his c.o.c.k jerked inside her. He thrust once, twice, before his body stilled.

The o.r.g.a.s.m-or lack of one-didn't matter. Pleasing Griff was all that mattered to her. She a.s.sumed he'd taken care of himself since he'd lost his wife, but this was the first time in ten months that he'd come inside a woman.

He slowly pulled his softening c.o.c.k from her p.u.s.s.y. She heard him sigh before he whispered in a ragged voice, ”I'm sorry.”

”You have no reason to be sorry.”

”I used you, Emma.”

She rolled to her back so she could see his eyes. They were filled with sadness and shame. ”You didn't use me, Griff. I could've stopped you. I didn't.”

She wanted so badly for him to kiss her, which surprised her. Kisses were nice, but they usually didn't matter to her. Lovers shared kisses. f.u.c.k buddies and one-night stands didn't. That's all she'd had in her life, all she'd ever wanted.

He didn't heed her silent desire, but rose from the bed and gathered up his clothes. Once dressed, he left the room without looking at her again.

Disappointment curled in her belly. They should have talked about what happened between them. The first time for s.e.x since his wife's death deserved some discussion.

She would see him later today. Emma would make a point of talking to him the first chance she got.

Griff stopped short of connecting the wrong wire from the ceiling to the fan. He hadn't been able to concentrate on his job all day. He couldn't get what happened with Emma out of his mind. Every time he thought about the way he'd touched her, the way he'd slid his c.o.c.k into that slick p.u.s.s.y, guilt swamped him again. It never should have happened. He never should have touched her. And he sure as h.e.l.l shouldn't have enjoyed it so much.

I'm so sorry, Jana.

He'd managed to avoid Emma all day since he was installing new ceiling fans in Caldwell Apothecary. Teanna Parker, the owner's niece, had contacted him last week about the job. He'd had to put her off while he finished up in Stevens House. After what happened with Emma this morning, he was thankful to be able to do something on his own away from his brothers, who would ask questions he didn't want to answer.

Teanna's husband James stepped into the office and looked up at the fan. ”Nice.”

”Your wife has good taste.”

”I know.” James grinned. ”She picked me.”

Griff chuckled. James hadn't been in Lanville long, but he'd snagged one of the prettiest and sweetest ladies in town.

”Teanna and I drove by Stevens House yesterday. How long before it's finished?”

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