“Letty. She said if we admitted we came out here to hang out and said we lost track of time, everything would be okay.”
“Why? How did she find you? Where?” Evan questions briskly.
“She caught us trying to get back into the dorms,” Caleb replies, ignoring the other questions.
“Who’s your dealer and what were you buying?” Griffin inquires, breaking his silence.
“I don’t know, we just have a number.” Caleb looks at the other kids as if he wants them to confirm this.
“You’re sippin’,” Evan states, looking downright disgusted.
“Not straight, no. It’s just weed that’s been soaked in a little blood. It’s not enough to even notice,” Caleb defends.
“You’re as anemic as that excuse,” Griffin snarls.
“How were you able to avoid all the people searching the grounds looking for you?” Evan demands after Griffin’s insult.
“We didn’t really have to. They went straight for the woods,” one of the girls answers defeatedly. A white van pulls up near the entrance of the hangar just as she finishes speaking.
Evan leans in close and speaks in a low, menacing voice. “Don’t say shit to anyone else but us, you hear me?” Letty hops out of the driver’s seat of the van. Her eyes are trained on us as she approaches.
“No one is to speak to thesechildrenbut me or him.” Evan hooks his thumb in Griffin’s direction. “No one. That means you too,” he tells Letty, then shouts, “Get in the fucking van.” The kids scatter and run toward the van like it might save them from certain death.
Softer, Evan tells me, “I’m going to make sure they’re secured. I’ll meet you in a little while.” He’s looking down at me like he wants something but doesn’t want to ask for it. I open my arms and wrap them around him in a hug. I must take him by surprise, because his arms are trapped at his sides while my head is nestled against his massive chest.
“Okay, see you soon,” I reply when I step back. Evan doesn’t let it go at that though. He reaches for my shoulder and tugs me forward so I collide with his chest again, but this time, he’s ready and he hugs me back. Evan gives good hugs. He’s big and warm and smells like the best campfire on a cold day. I bask in his heat for a moment, then step back, and when I do, I catch sight of Letty. She’s staring at me like I’m gum on the bottom of her new shoe and she wants to rub me against the concrete.
Griffin snags my hand and pulls me to his side. I give him a small smile. When I look back at Letty, the scowl is gone, but it’s too late, I already saw her disdain.
Chapter 10
Quinn
Griffin pushes open the door to his room and urges me to enter before him. I have to admit I wish he would have locked it. It makes me a little leery. I glance around, but nothing seems disturbed.
Once the door closes, I peek over my shoulder to see Griffin unbuttoning his suit jacket. I watch transfixed as he moves to undo his cufflinks next. His actions aren’t designed to arouse, but Lord, this man is sexy as heck. Watching him undress is a pleasure I don’t want to miss like I did last night.
Seeming to sense I’m ogling him, Griffin looks up and meets my eyes. “Don’t stop on my account.” I try to sound teasing, realizing I got caught, but I probably gave my thoughts away with my breathy tone. With a shift of his shoulders, he shrugs out of his coat and pulls it up from behind him with one hand. His shirt is slate gray and obviously tailored to fit him perfectly.
With a quick toss, he sends the jacket sailing over to the back of the couch, uncaring where the expensive fabric lands. I let my eyes roam over him. I can’t decide which of Griffin’s looks I prefer. Well, that’s not true. He looked amazing last night in nothing at all, but what I’m considering right now is the buttoned-up Griffin, or the version I met the very first time in crumpled linen.
Without any more prompting from me, he moves his fingers to the top button of his shirt and releases it slowly, as if he’s expecting me to stop him. Boy is he wrong. I take a few steps backwards until I feel the edge of his sofa behind me, then I lower my butt to lean against the top. Might as well get comfortable if I’m going to get a show.
With his eyes still on mine, Griffin continues to unbutton his shirt, not at all hurried. When he reaches the bottom, he tugs the hem out of his belted pants and finishes the job of unbuttoning. The shirt splits open, revealing all the toned skin of his chest and torso beneath.
Finally breaking eye contact, he bends down and tugs at the thin laces of his shoes and steps out of them, leaving them near the door. He takes a few steps closer to me but keeps far enough away that I can see all of him as he reaches for his belt. He unfastens the buckle but leaves it in the loops, the heavy metal making a tinkling sound. It’s not until then when I realize my breathing has become a little louder, but I’m pretty sure he already knows just how much he’s turning me on.
Another shift of his arms, and his shirt slides off his shoulders. With deft movements, he tosses it next to his jacket, which happens to be right beside me. A whiff of his cologne hits me when it lands. He smells so much different than Evan, but just as yummy, peppery with a hint of dark musk that makes me think of sex.
Griffin tips his chin down just enough so he’s looking at me from under his brow. The predator is back. My heart rate picks up, but it has nothing to do with fear. His hands go to his trim waist, and he undoes his pants but not the zipper. I lift my eyes to his, hoping he isn’t stopping there. What a tease.
“We didn’t feed you this morning. Are you hungry?” His words are considerably more casual than I would have expected, considering I’m about ready to jump him where he stands.
I swallow, food is the last thing on my mind. “No, are you?”
“For you, always, but I’m more concerned about your needs right now.”
“Are you offering to make me a sandwich? I can think of a few other things I’d like to do first.”
