Page 97 of Havenfall Harbor
Quinn
Evan just kissedme like it was the most natural thing in the world. I have to admit, it felt that way to me too. Doubt only crept in once I realized Griffin was sitting right next to us. Is this something I can really handle? As much as I’d like to pretend my emotions aren’t getting tangled up in these two, it’s just not true.
My heart quickens when I see them. I get butterflies when they look at me. Hell, I felt way too alone when I woke up and realized they were gone. Maybe it’s because I’m so isolated here, or maybe it’s because they’ve both been so protective and accepting of me, but the draw to be with them is strong.
Stronger than I’ve ever felt before. And that scares me a little. How bad could this go if things didn’t work out? Even thinking about that this early creates a lot of pressure for it to work when we haven’t even decided to give it a go yet. Not to mention even with all the promises, Griffin and Evan may be planning on keeping this a lot more casual than I’m thinking, which is what I thought I wanted. Now I’m not so sure.
“What are you thinking?” Griffin inquires, placing my hand in his.
That’s a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one. I can’t tell him exactly what I’m thinking, that conversation this soon would probably scare him away. I’ve never been so unsure. At this stage of a relationship, it’s usually just fun. “I’m curious if you guys have done this before, you seem…comfortable with everything,” I murmur. Maybe I can figure out what they’re expecting by finding out what they’ve done in the past.
Griffin strokes his finger against the inside of my palm. “Nothing like what we’re asking from you.”
“Can you explain that?” I look into his turquoise eyes. It’s hard to see him as the same aloof guy I met the first night I moved in. Thinking back, I can see the encounter in a different light. Sure, he was a little brash, but now that I’ve gotten to know him a little more, I can see even then he was showing concern for me.
Griffin breaks our stare and uses his free hand to rub down his face. I think my question makes him uncomfortable. “Evan is better at this sort of stuff.”
“What sort of stuff? Talking?” I shake my hand, which is still folded under his. “You do just fine.” I’m not letting him off the hook that easily.
“I’m too blunt.” He grunts.
“Blunt is good sometimes. Especially when I’m so tangled up.”
Griffin looks over at me as if he’s afraid of me or how I might react. He licks his bottom lip and I do the same in response. His eyes are drawn to my mouth. Even though that wasn’t my intention, it still makes my heartbeat faster. “I’m worried my brusqueness will freak you out.”
“Try me.” I square up my shoulders, ready to hear what Griffin has to say. It’s better to know now than to let my heart become even more invested with these two men. If casual is what they want, I’ll have to determine if it’d really worth it, considering how much I could lose in the long run, and I’m honest enough with myself to know it would be more than just my job in jeopardy.
Griffin glances at the door as if he’s trying to decide if he should spit it out or not. He nods, coming to some conclusion. “I have a deal for you. You let me kiss you—” He scans my body in a way that makes me feel like he wants a lot more than a kiss. “And I’ll tell you.”
“You want to kiss me first?” Griffin dips his chin once in response to my question. “Okay.” I hold up my finger when he immediately leans closer. “You have to be direct. I need to know exactly what to expect,” I warn.
“When I’m done, you won’t have any questions about what we want.” Griffin’s voice is deliciously deep.
“Okay,” I breathe.
The next second his lips are on mine. He’s not soft or teasing. Griffin crashes into me, barreling right past any defenses I might have erected, and claims a piece of me that I didn’t even know was available for the taking. Once he slides his tongue past my lips, he softens his advance, but reaches his hands up to cradle my cheeks, holding me to him.
I stretch up and grip his wrists—whether it’s to hold him in place or hold on for the ride, I don’t know. It doesn’t even matter. What matters is the way I feel when he’s touching me, like I’m going to fall apart and be made whole again in the same second.
Griffin curls closer, using his entire body as he kisses me. The tip of his tongue finally touches mine, and I sigh into his mouth in submission. He steals the soft noise I make for his own, further confirming just how much I’m willing to give.
One hand traces up my jaw and threads into my hair, his fingers curling, and my neck arches in response. His lips chase mine, demanding I allow him access, all while I’m wondering if breathing is even really that important. Griffin bumps his nose into mine in a nuzzle and it sends a shot of affection into my belly, followed by a spark of lust.
I freeze when I feel his teeth sink into my bottom lip. My chest aches to exhale, but everything inside me is focused on the one small spot he’s fixated on. Realization dawns. I want him to bite me, I want to know what it feels like to give someone so powerful my blood. I already admitted to myself I was disappointed I didn’t remember him biting me the first time, or what he gave me in return.
A dark tendril of resentment for Michelle gets my heart thundering and I exhale. Griffin releases my lip and dives right back into kissing me like my mouth holds some secret he needs to discover. Feeling bolder, I push against him and slide my tongue into his mouth. He pauses mid-stroke and tightens his fist in my hair.
I’ve only glimpsed Griffin’s fangs a few times. I think he purposefully hides them from me, and that’s not acceptable. Not anymore. I’ve studied vampire physiology for years. I know his teeth are sensitive, and my curiosity is too strong to deny, so I flick my tongue over, and I’m rewarded with the sensation of his sharp fang against my tongue.
Griffin jerks back, breaking the kiss. He looks down at me with an expression I can’t decipher. His eyes are bright, and the pupils are blown wide as he stares. I taste the metallic tang of blood, but I don’t know where it came from, so I move my tongue around my mouth, searching. Griffin inhales sharply and drops his gaze to my lips.
“I cut you.” He pulls down my bottom lip with his thumb, his eyes transfixed there.
“If you did, it wouldn’t be your fault.” My voice is husky. I don’t know why he stopped the kiss. I sure didn’t want him to. I flick my tongue out and slide it over the pad of his thumb. Griffin freezes, he’s as still as a statue.
His eyes close slowly and he exhales through parted lips. “Do you still want to know what I want from you?” Finally, he opens his eyes, and his pupils have shrunk to tiny pinpricks. It just showcases the unusual, beautiful color of his gaze even more.
I nod, incapable of speech at this point. “I want your everything, your always. Your blood sings to me.” He closes his eyes again and leans down to seal his mouth to mine. His tongue dips into my mouth and curls around my own.
