He chuckled. “What can I say? I’m a firm believer in free will.” Clasping her hand in his, he brought it to rest against his cheek. “I care about you,” he said in a more serious voice.
“More than you want to?”
“More than I should.”
“So join the club.” She laughed ruefully, understanding the full import of his words for them both. “How’d you get this?” She traced the corner of his eye with a fingertip.
He drew a deep breath, but remained still. “I jumped off a fire escape when I was twelve.”
“Girl watching?” she asked with a grin.
He shook his head. “No, Jared watching. The kids at school heard about how our mother took off with a boyfriend. Jared would get into fights and the bigger kids would wait on the corner to finish the job.”
“Protective older brother,” she murmured, brushing his hair off his forehead.
“At least I had backup.”
“Ryan?”
“Who else?” He stilled her hand midair, his fingers locking with hers. “It’s not working.”
“What isn’t?”
“Distracting me. Changing the subject. But the choice is still yours.”
He had to be joking. They’d already spent the night in his bed, awakened tangled together and half-dressed, and she’d bared her soul to the man she loved. Her choice? Not likely. The decision had been taken out of her hands long ago.
She recalled her philosophy and decided to grasp what life—or in this case—Griff offered. When she looked back on this time, at least she’d have a beautiful memory.
She gazed up at him, fearful all she felt would show in her face. But she wanted to be with him. At this moment, she couldn’t recall a time when she hadn’t. He’d pervaded every aspect of her life, including work, which had formerly been her escape. In so doing, he’d become an important part of her. Too important. But she couldn’t worry about that now.
A passion simmered between them and now, no longer buried beneath the surface, it threatened to bubble over. And that was good, she thought, glancing into his desire-filled eyes. More than good.
“Okay, counselor,” she murmured. “I choose you.”
“Be sure.” Griff could handle her changing her mind before they made love, but not tearful regrets and recriminations afterwards.
“I am.”
He had to accept her word. Looking down at her tousled hair and barely parted lips, he could do nothing else. With one hand, he raised the hem of the shirt she’d borrowed and trailed his fingers along her abdomen. The silky texture of her skin jarred the rest of his body into a complete state of arousal.
She lay still, allowing his hand the freedom to wander at will. With his fingertips, he traced a line from mid-thigh along her narrow waist and over the curve of her breast. Pausing long enough to brush one hardened nipple with his thumb, he learned the feel of her skin. He inched his fingers downward.
She drew a shaky breath as her gaze fastened on his face. The trust he saw reflected in her brown eyes humbled him, especially after what he’d learned of her past. He wasn’t sure he was worthy of that kind of faith. Though he’d do his best not to hurt her, he couldn’t offer more than this.
Too much of himself had been torn apart, and the little that remained belonged to his niece. He could give Chelsie now. Perhaps that would be enough for her. He ignored the voice that asked if it would be enough for him.
“Griff?”
Looking at her curious expression, he realized that although his thoughts had rampaged out of control, his hand had stilled. “Sorry,” he murmured and refocused his attention on what was important.
On Chelsie.
As he lowered his lips to meet hers, all hesitancy fled. Heat spread through him like a sudden burst of wind. The initial sensation stunned him, wreaking havoc with his body and soul.
Dipping his head, he caught her lips with his, coaxing her with his mouth, his tongue... and a piece of his heart.
His hand, which had come to rest on her stomach, inched upward again. He tried to start slowly, to savor the feel of her beneath his touch, but she writhed beneath him, urging him to move higher and stroke faster.
He did, cupping her breast while brushing one sensitive nipple with his thumb until it hardened into a tight peak. All the while, he continued his gentle assault on her mouth, tasting her moist heat. When she moaned softly, he took the sound deep inside of him, into a place she’d already reached.
He wanted to feel her gentle hands, wanted her to learn the feel of him as he had her. What he needed, he realized, was to know she wanted him, too. The blood rushing through him, demanding an immediate response, attested to his desire.