That Second Chance (Getting Lucky #1)(77)

Griffin: Fuck, I seriously might not make it if I don’t get to take you out on a date soon, only to take advantage of you afterward.

Griffin: I’m serious about the date, though.

Griffin: Call me when your parents go to sleep. I at least want to hear your voice before I go to bed.

God, this man.

I check to make sure I closed my door and then call him, snuggling into my pillow to get comfortable.

He answers on the first ring. “Hey, you.”

“Hi,” I sigh like a lovestruck teenager. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You had no idea your parents were about to knock on your door when I was seconds from fucking you against the aforementioned door.”

I laugh into the phone, trying to keep my voice down. “Is that where we were headed?”

“Yeah, it was headed right for door sex, and I have no shame admitting it.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Always.”

“When you got home, did you take care of yourself?”

He doesn’t even skip a beat. “Hell yeah. There was no way I could function without taking care of myself.”

“Did you think of me?” I chew on my fingernail, feeling more risqué than normal. I’ve never talked like this with a man, but when I hear a low groan come from Griffin, I know he likes it.

“The entire fucking time. Hell, Ren, I still can’t get the feel of you in my arms out of my head.”

“I can’t seem to shake you either. Talk about awkward. I was still turned on while giving my parents a tour of my house. My mom kept asking if I was okay.”

He chuckles. “No she didn’t.”

“Yes, my face was all flushed, and I kept stumbling over my words. Pretty sure she thought I was having some kind of episode.”

“Did you tell her it was because you were minutes from orgasming?”

“Kind of skipped that minor detail. I told her I’d been working out.”

“That’s another way to put it.” I can hear the cockiness in his voice, sexy and smooth. “So you never answered me—how long are they here? And from the sound of it, they’re staying with you?”

“Yeah, they’re staying with me. They’re sleeping down the hall right now.”

“So no climbing through your window for a midnight make-out session, huh?”

“Probably not the best idea.” I sigh. “They’re here until Wednesday morning.”

“Wednesday morning, huh? So three days. Okay, I think I can wait that long to take you out on a date. How about Wednesday we go out? We can celebrate our privacy and the new school year.”

“You really want to take me out? Aren’t you nervous about what the town might say?”

“Nope.”

“Really?”

“Really, Ren,” he reassures me. “I’m ready for this, and I’m not going to hide you. Hell, I want to show you off, let everyone know you’re off limits.”

I smile at that, wishing he were here, arms wrapped around me from behind, so I could lean back and place a soft kiss against his lips.

“So does that mean we’re dating?”

“Yeah, it does. And I date exclusively.” His voice grows serious, and I laugh. “What’s so funny?”

“It’s just—you’re such a kindhearted guy, always helping out everyone around you. It’s so different to hear you act all alpha male. I never would have guessed you have that kind of attitude when it comes to women.”

“Only the women I plan on keeping to myself.”

“Well . . . it’s hot.”

“Yeah? You like it when I go all alpha on you?”

“I do. Is that weird?” I bite my bottom lip, surprised at myself. I never thought I would be a woman who enjoyed an overprotective man to watch over her, but with Griffin, it feels so right, like he was meant to protect me.

“Not weird to me.”

“Good.” I smile into the phone. “So I might have mentioned you to my mom a few weeks ago.”

“You did?” He sounds genuinely shocked. “What did you tell her?”

I can feel my face flame. I shouldn’t be embarrassed about this. Griffin knows I like him—that’s obvious—but it’s still revealing, still intimate.

“I told her there was this guy in Port Snow that I liked. I told her what a good guy you are and how I was nervous you just saw me as a friend and nothing more.”

“That couldn’t have been further from the truth, Ren. I befriended you because I wanted so much more but was nervous to take that step forward with you.”

“What made you take it?”

“The inability to hold back any longer. You got to me, Ren. You got past my defenses, and I couldn’t get you out of my head, no matter how hard I tried.”

My throat closes up on me, his voice soft and sincere, sending my emotions into a tailspin. I can’t stand not seeing him right now, not being able to hold him, kiss him, thank him for his beautiful words.

“Griffin. I . . . I . . .”

“You need me?”

“Yes,” I breathe out. “Meet me at the beach, please?”

“Five minutes. I’ll bring a blanket. See you in a few, beautiful.”