For a long time they stood there, neither speaking.
Finally, Griffen eased his hand up her back to her cheek. He pulled her head back with both hands and met her gaze.
His expression was serious. His eyes darted back and forth between hers from that proximity. A slow smile spread across his lips. “You feel it too, right?”
What? Aroused? Hell yes.
She swallowed and nodded subtly.
His eyes closed as he set his forehead against hers. “Complicated,” he muttered.
For him? Hell, it was beyond complicated for her. Way past complicated.
For one thing, she was busy building a life. For another thing, Griffen was Sharon’s brother—off limits. And the man was older than her.
Eight years.
Why was he still single? He was a god. All muscles and tanned skin and thick, sexy dark hair that hung across his forehead, begging a woman—any woman—to run her fingers through it. And those eyes. Jesus. A woman could get lost in the chocolate depths and never come up for air.
“Sharon…” she muttered. It seemed the most logical of excuses.
“She’ll get over it.” He shook his head as he met her gaze again, as though Sharon was the least of his worries.
He had bigger concerns than his sister’s wrath?
His gaze roamed her face and settled on her lips. Then his grip tightened on both sides of her head, and he closed the gap until his mouth met hers. The initial kiss was a whisper of a touch, a brush of soft flesh against flesh. But then he closed the space, angling his head in one direction so his mouth covered hers in desperation.
The same desperation she felt.
She lifted on tiptoes, grabbing his waist with both hands to steady herself.
When his tongue slipped inside her mouth, she moaned. Or maybe he did.
He tasted like nature, toothpaste, and Griffen.
She leaned farther into his body, as if that were possible, pressing her belly against his erection and her nipples against his chest.
She was inexplicably drawn to him like a magnet. Her hands eased their way under his T-shirt and around to his back. His skin was warm and smooth and firm. He was in at least as good shape as herself.
Griffen’s hands trailed down from her face to her back, tugging her in tighter until they rested so low the tips of his fingers were inside her cotton shorts.
Heaven. She’d never felt anything like this with another man. Not one time in her life had she been kissed like this, scrambling her brain and making her forget the world.
Abruptly Griffen broke the kiss, a low groan escaping his lips. He set his head back against the wall and met her gaze. “Couldn’t help myself.”
She blinked at him, licking her lips, still tasting him everywhere. “Didn’t ask you to,” she responded.
He smiled, the biggest smile she’d seen from him yet.
Okay, so maybe all the brooding and grumbling all day was caused by him wanting to approach her. The man was attracted to her.
“We should get back,” she said. It was the last thing she wanted to do, but if one of the others woke up…
“We should.” He made no movement in that direction. Instead his eyes darted around her face, his hands easing up her back to tangle in her hair. “This isn’t finished.”
She shook her head. It was definitely not.
Without another word, he nodded, pressed off the wall, and took her hand to lead her back to their tent.
Rebecca’s legs were weak. Her heartbeat seemed so loud it was a wonder it didn’t wake other campers. His firm grip on her fingers made her wish they were still against the bathroom wall.
When they arrived at the tent, Griffen paused and pulled her in front of him. Gently, he cupped her face again and kissed her lips. Before things got carried away, he released her and bent to unzip the entrance.
Like the true gentleman he’d proven himself to be, he ushered her inside first and followed behind.
As Rebecca eased back into her sleeping bag, her mind raced. Not enough words. Not enough time together. Not enough of his soft lips, his hands roaming her back, his cock against her belly.
She flung an arm over her eyes and tried to catch her breath.
Fingers stroked hers as though communicating that although Griffen lay across the tent in another direction, he knew her plight. With a quick squeeze, he released her and turned away.
She wanted to cry at the loss.
Chapter Five
It was lunchtime before Griffen had the chance to speak to Rebecca alone. He’d followed her every move with his gaze since the moment they woke up, fighting the urge to groan when she first lifted her sleepy head and glanced around in a daze. Mornings were not her friend.
She’d muddled through the breakfast line like a zombie and hadn’t perked up until her second cup of coffee hit her system.