There was only one proper way to handle this. Let the drink wear off and tell her the truth. He would pray later that she would listen to him and just go home. She had to.
Griffin took another deep breath. Then he pushed open the door and stepped into the dimly lit room. The flash of a flint lit up the space for a moment before a lantern’s soft glow replaced it, and when his eyes finally adjusted, Griffin realized that Meredith was standing in front of him in nothing but a flimsy shift.
CHAPTER TEN
“Jesus Christ.” Griffin’s breath left his body in a rush.
A huge smile spread across Meredith’s face. “So, youdothink I’m pretty?”
His eyes devoured her. No harm in telling the truth. “Pretty? You’re beyond pretty. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She laughed. “Well, that must be an exaggeration, especially given the fact that you cannot see my face, but it makes me feel good, so thank you.”
“It’s not an exaggeration. I don’t need to see your face.”Thatwas certainly true.
But when she began to slowly pull one strap of her chemise from her shoulder, Griffin closed his eyes. “Please don’t.”
Meredith’s words were slightly slurred. “What ss-sort of man are you?” She pointed a wobbly finger at him. “You kissed me downstairs, and you just told me I’m the most beautiful woman you’ve ever ss-seen. But you don’t want to look while I remove my chemise? I don’t understand. Did Imisread your intentions?” she finished, letting the strap fall back into place, a confused look on her flushed face.
Griffin’s forehead beaded with sweat. His jaw was tightly clenched. Of course she didn’t understand, but now was not the time to reveal himself. He sensed it would only anger her. “If you take off your shift, I may not be able to stop myself,” he said instead.Also, true.
A smile spread across her face. “Well, that’s a relief.” She moved toward him and lifted herself on tiptoes to whisper in his ear. “I believe being unable to stop yourself is the entire point, sir.”
He shook his head. “You don’t understand. I…”
She dropped back to the balls of her feet and frowned. “You what? Do you like me or don’t you?” She pushed out her lower lip in a pout.
Griffin blew out a long breath. This was excruciating. “I…I can’t in good conscience make love to a woman who is inebriated.”
“Are you quite serious?” she asked with a sharp laugh. She flung an arm toward the door. “Half the couples downstairs ss-seem to be inebriated to me. In fact, I’m not entirely certain I could do this if I were ss-sober-minded.”
“Be that as it— I mean,regardless, I wouldn’t want you to regret it come morning.”
Meredith stood staring at him with her hands on her hips. “You’re ss-serious, aren’t you?”
“Quite.” He nodded.
She blinked and frowned. Taking a wobbly step backward, she braced her hand against the wall, obviously to steady herself. “Well, how do you like that? I have ss-somehow managed to find the one ss-scrupulous man in a den of iniquity.” She laughed a humorless laugh before she turned toward the chair in the corner where she’d tossed her gown. She grabbed it, clearly intending to put it back on.
“Do you plan to find someone else then?” Griffin asked from behind her. Damn. Damn. Damn. Should he reveal himself? Or would that only anger her?
She turned to face him, the gown still clutched in her hands. “That depends.” She lifted her chin.
“On what?” His throat worked as he swallowed.
She tilted her head to the side for a few seconds, obviously contemplating the matter. “On whether youwillaccommodate me if I am not inebriated next time.”
Beneath the mask, his eyes widened. “Next time?” Oh, God. Was there to be a next time?
“Yes. I’m not certain what you’re interested in, but I am interested in an agreement. An arrangement of ss-sorts. One in which a man of my choosing and I meet regularly. Temporarily, of course.”
“I see,” he said, frantically trying to decide his next move.
“If you’re interested in the ss-same and we find we are compatible—ahem—in bed, I will go home tonight and come back to meet you another time.”
He nodded eagerly. Perfect. She would go home tonight, and he would have time to think about how to handle hernext time. Perhaps, as her friend, he could talk her out of coming back here. “Yes. I’d like that.”
Griffin nearly slid to the floor with relief. For more than one reason. First, it meant that she would be safe tonight, and second, he would be spared from the unholy temptation of touching her again.
