His truth burns through me. Heat thickens my throat, and tears prick at my eyes. Ever since Little Bean was conceived, I have the most aggravating propensity to cry. “But they changed you for me.”
“They gave me a gift that’s kept me alive. That got me Sinta and brought me to you.” He lightly squeezes my shoulders. “And it’s a good thing I’m indestructible where magic is concerned, because when you get excited, you light up the room like a storm.”
I bite my lower lip. I want to smile. I still feel like crying.
Griffin sweeps his hands down my arms. His skin is rough, his touch gentle. “Don’t doubt us, Cat. Don’t doubt me.”
I take a shaky breath. “I don’t. I just… I’m…” I stop, at a loss.
Griffin lifts his eyebrows. “Inarticulate at the moment?”
Scowling, I thwack him in the chest.
“Overwrought?” he supplies, his mouth quirking up.
I thwack him again.
“Highly emotional?”
Thwack. Thwack.
“Apparently weak, because none of that hurt at all.”
I give him the evil eye—a grumpy one.
Griffin smirks. It’s that confident, smug look I’ve come to know and love. “You need a man you can’t dominate? Someone you can’t overpower? Even with magic?” His eyes suddenly gleam silver in the lamplight, and a little flutter twirls through my middle.
I nod. And what a good idea that was. I’d have no interest in a man I could intimidate.
Griffin moves fast. One minute, I’m standing there. The next, I’m flying through the air. My back hits the bed, and before I even finish a bounce, Griffin’s hands slam down on either side of my head. He’s right above me—looming, caging, heavy, hot—and the way he looks down at me is both intensely dark and incredibly delicious.
A thrill darts through me. He still wants me.
His eyes glittering, Griffin pushes his knee between my thighs, spreading them. His strong arms bend, bringing his face closer to mine. The wall of sheer masculine power above me is intoxicating and sets my senses alight.
His breath whispers across my parted lips. “Can Little Bean handle rough?”
Excitement shoots like an arrow straight to the bull’s-eye between my legs. I wet my lips, nodding. “She’s sleeping. She’s strong.” And there’s nothing Griffin would ever do that would hurt her, or me.
“Good.”
One word, softly spoken but with a wealth of promise behind it, makes my whole body clench with need. His mouth nearly touching mine, Griffin holds himself above me, not moving. I wait, tension building inside me until I crave his touch, his kiss, or any contact at all, like an insane thirst. I start to throb with impatience. My pulse turns into a liquid beat where I want him most.
Charged air vibrates between us. His body is so tempting and close.
“Come to me.” I move, trying to bring the apex of my thighs into contact with his thick, hard leg. His eyes narrow to shimmering gray slits, and then he rears up and flips me over in a tumbling rush.
I gasp in surprise. I can’t wait to see what he’ll do next.
He gathers up my dress and then flips it up my back. Cool air rushes over me, but all I feel is heat. Grinning like an idiot, I squirm and try to push up on my hands and knees.
“Don’t move.” Griffin’s command is a warm, husky caress.
I wiggle anyway, flashing certain parts of my anatomy, and he lets out a hoarse groan. His hands land on my bare hips with enough force to sting. I almost wish he’d do it again, but then he hauls me to my knees, so I’m sitting upright. With rough tugs, he pulls my dress up and over my head and then throws it to the floor.
Griffin’s arms come around me from behind. He palms my breasts, squeezing, and then drops his mouth to the curve of my neck. I tilt my head, and his shadow-rough jaw drags across my shoulder, sending a wash of goose bumps down my spine. His kisses are hot and openmouthed, sometimes scraping. He rubs his thumbs over my nipples, teasing. My stomach tightens, and my breathing turns ragged and loud.
“These are changing,” he rasps, cupping both breasts and lifting. A sound of masculine approval hums in his throat. “They’re rounder. Fuller. Heavier than before.”
