With his eyes closed in anguish, he whispered, “They could’ve killed you tonight.”
I lifted my hands to his face, placing the palms of my hands on his jaw, forcing him to look at me and said, “But they didn’t. I’m stronger than you give me credit for.”
When he didn’t respond, I took the washcloth and lathered it with soap, gently washing away blood that covered his body. He arched his back and placed his hands flat against the shower wall as I ran the cloth along his back.
Without looking at me, he said, “I saw the way you looked at me tonight when you found out that I’d killed Victor. He wasn’t the first man I’ve killed, and he won’t be the last.”
“I know that,” I admitted.
He turned to face me, studying my reaction as he asked, “And you’re suddenly okay with that? You don’t mind that I’ve killed men with my bare hands, and I will again to protect my family? Can you really give your heart to me… let your son be around a man like me?”
“Yes,” I told him with no hesitation.
“How can you say that?” he growled.
I placed my hands on his chest and said, “You’re the club Enforcer. It’s your job. It is part of who you are, but there is so much more to you than just that title. I can’t understand why you do those things, but the parts that I do understand about you are so strong that they override any doubts that I may have. As for Wyatt, I’ve already seen the influence you’ve had on him. And that is a large part of why I love you so. You may be the Enforcer of your club, but you are the protector of Wyatt and me. You give us the stability we’ve never had. I’ll just have to accept that there is a part of your life that I may never understand, but I believe in you enough to be able to focus on what you and I are together. It’s good, and I love you.”
His eyes searched my face, seeking some kind of confirmation that what I’d said was true. Warm water flowed down around us as I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. The shadows of doubt began to fade into the light when I touched him, reassuring him that I’d meant what I had said.
“Griffin, I…” I started, but my words fell silent as he quickly closed the distance between us and took me in his arms. All of the uncertainty on his face immediately melted away as he leaned down and pressed his lips against mine. The minute our mouths touched, I felt an immediate rush of anticipation. There was something intoxicating about his touch, and just being near him made me want to lose control. I wanted to give in to him, give him my heart, my body… everything. Pure lust washed over me as I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as I pressed my breasts against his chest.
“Say it again,” he groaned as his mouth hovered over my neck, the warmth of his breath tickling against my flesh.
I held him tightly as I whispered, “I love you.”
He began nipping and sucking my neck as he said, “I should’ve walked away, left you alone, but I just couldn’t do it. I was powerless to leave you. I had to have you.” He lifted his head and looked at me. His eyes pierced through me with an intensity I’d never known as he said, “I had to know what it felt like to be loved by you, and now that I know, there’s no way I’ll ever be able to let you go.”
His lips pressed unrestrained against mine, matching my need for him. A soft moan escaped me as his tongue swept across my lips, compelling them to open. I didn’t resist, and his tongue surged into my mouth, winding with mine in a rush of passion that I couldn’t refuse. His arms wrapped around my body, and carefully lifted me from the floor as he eased my back against the shower wall. He was trying not to hurt me, avoiding the bruises that marked my skin, but I didn’t need him to be careful. My mind wasn’t focused on the pain at my side. It was all honed in on him and the way he made me feel. The warm water trickled down between our bodies as I began to kiss and suck along his neck, tasting the mingled flavors of his skin and the water.
Goosebumps prickled across my flesh as the bristles of his beard raked across my bare skin. Wanting more, my head fell back, exposing the curves of my neck. His eyes sparkled with lust as he watched the droplets of water gliding down my breasts. Slowly, he moved his mouth down my slick skin, slowly brushing his fingers against my breasts as he made his way down to my hip. I groaned in pleasure as his hand found its way between my legs. The tips of his fingers glided over my wet clit, making my knees buckle beneath me. My body began to tremble, forcing me to shift my leg to the side as he thrust two fingers deep inside me. I shamelessly bucked my hips forward as I rocked against his hand.