That Second Chance Page 21

  When we make another turn through a bank of trees, Griffin stops abruptly and spins me off the path and right up against a tree, where he lifts my chin and gently brings his mouth to mine.

  His lips are soft, malleable, with just the right amount of pressure to make my toes curl right in my sandals.

  When he pulls away, he tilts his forehead against mine. “Fuck, I wanted to do that so bad the minute you came out of the tent.”

  “Why didn’t you?” I ask, suddenly nervous.

  “I didn’t want Reid gawking like an asshole, making catcalls and all that bullshit. He’s a dickhead, and I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

  “Okay, so it’s not because you’re ashamed or anything of what happened last night?”

  His brow shoots up in surprise. I have to admit I’m relieved at that reaction. “You’re joking, right? Ren, I would never be ashamed of what happened last night—it actually meant a lot to me. You’re . . .” He pauses and looks away, his head bent forward, something on the tip of his tongue. I don’t push him; I just wait until he’s ready. After a few seconds, he takes a deep breath and looks me in the eyes. “You’re the first woman I’ve even thought about kissing since I lost my wife. I would never have kissed you last night if I were ashamed.”

  “I’m the first?”

  He nods. “No one has caught my attention like you have; no one’s been able to break me down piece by piece, made it so impossible to stay away.”

  “So does that mean . . . you might want to date me?”

  He chuckles and plays with the hem of my tank top, tugging on it as he stares me in the eyes. “Is that what you want, Ren? To date me?”

  I press my hand against his chest. “I mean, have I not made that obvious? I thought I was doing a damn good job of letting you know that’s what I wanted. I wanted so badly to make a move, but I was scared you weren’t feeling the same way about me. I’ve walked by the Lobster Landing way too many times for no reason, just hoping to catch a glimpse of you. I’ve even thought about calling in to the firehouse about a faulty smoke detector just to see you again.”

  He chuckles. “You didn’t have to come up with a grand scheme to see me, Ren, because I wanted to see you just as much. Believe me, putting together four Adirondack chairs was not on my fun list, but hell if I could stay away.”

  “So are you telling me we could have been dating a while ago?” I playfully grip his shirt in mock anger, making him laugh.

  He shakes his head, his face growing serious. “No, I think we needed this time to get to know each other—the buildup made the satisfaction that much sweeter.” He lowers his head and presses a light kiss across my lips. “Want to go on a hike today, just you and me, bring a picnic?”

  “I would love that more than anything.”

  “Good. Then let’s get some breakfast in us, act like we’re interested in the group for a little bit, and then go off on our own. How does that sound?”

  “Absolutely perfect.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  GRIFFIN

  I grip Ren’s hand tightly and hoist her up a rock. The terrain is a little rougher than I remembered, but Ren’s handled it like a champ, never once complaining, a smile on her face the entire time.

  “You got it?”

  She nods. “Yup.” She puts her hands on her hips and looks past my shoulder. “I better be wearing this bathing suit under my clothes for a reason, Knightly.”

  “I promise there’s a perfect pond at the end of this. You’ll cool right down.”

  “Good. I very well might belly flop right into it out of pure joy.” She wipes her forehead, little strands of her brown hair curling along her hairline. It’s adorable. “I will tell you this: the humidity here is the devil. California’s heat has nothing on it.”

  Still holding Ren’s hand, I guide her down the narrow path. “It’ll take some time to get used to the humidity, but once you do, you’ll barely notice it anymore.”

  “Are you just saying that?”

  “No, it gets easier. At least your first season in Maine is summer, so you know what to expect when it comes to the heat here.”

  “And what about the winter?”

  “What about it?” I ask, stepping over a log. I turn around and help Ren over as well.

  “I have yet to experience a snowfall. I think I might get lost in all the snow.”

  “I’ll be sure to get you a bright-red winter hat so I can spot you if you do get lost. I’ve saved you once; I don’t mind saving you again, and again, and again.” I wink at her, and she stops midstride.

  In a flash, her hand is on my cheek, and she places a tight kiss against my lips; the unexpected affection twists my stomach in all the right ways. I cradle the back of her neck as our tongues meet. She moans into my mouth before stepping back, putting some distance between us, her cheeks flushed. “You can’t say things like that and expect me to act casual.”

  I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “Oh yeah? That do something for you?”

  Her eyes narrow, a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth as she starts to walk away. “You’re annoying.”

  “But two seconds ago, you were all about me. I could see stars in your eyes.”

  She scoffs. “Just remember, it’s not hard to fall from that pedestal.”

  “Aw, you put me on a pedestal?” I swoop in, kissing her on the neck. She giggles and fights to get out of my grasp, but I keep her close to me as we break through a few trees and come upon the pond. My very secluded pond.

  Thank God.

  Not answering me, she stops midstride and takes in the serene water before us. Trees line its diameter, providing a much-needed wall of privacy and giving the entire area an enchanted feel. I’ve loved this pond for years.

  “It’s beautiful,” she says in awe.

  “It’s one of my favorite places ever, and for some reason, the water is never too cold.”

  “Wouldn’t matter at this point,” she answers, pulling off her tank top in one smooth lift over her head. My eyes immediately travel up and down her torso, taking in her flat stomach, her smooth curves, and the fullness of her breasts, which are barely being contained by a small bikini top.

  She tosses her tank top on a rock, quickly unbuckles her jean shorts, and pulls them down her legs, toeing them into a pile with the tank top.

  As she takes in the pond in front of her, she undoes her hair tie only to pull her hair up higher on her head, tying it into a messy bun—but I don’t pay that much attention. I’m so focused on the tantalizing curves of her body and the way her bikini bottoms rise high on her perfectly round ass cheeks.

  I can’t believe I haven’t noticed before, but Ren has a fucking bubble butt, and it’s hot as shit. Her red bikini does nothing to hide her curves, and I’m not mad about it as she walks into the water, keeping her hands at the nape of her neck, sighing as if it’s the most soothing thing she’s ever experienced.

  Slowly, she lowers herself into the water and then pops back up, never getting her hair wet but letting the water hit her chin. When she stands back up, she turns toward me, her nipples hard and poking against the thin fabric of her bathing suit. Fucking hell. “Are you coming?”

  I’m about to if I stare at her nipples any longer.

  Wanting to give her the kind of show she gave me, I reach behind myself and pull my shirt over my head. I toss it to the side with her clothes and watch as her mouth parts a centimeter and her eyes home in on my abs.

  Not going to lie: the look she’s giving me is every man’s wet dream. Wet woman in a bikini with a look of pure arousal in her eyes—it’s so fucking perfect.

  I quickly kick off my socks and shoes and unzip my cargo shorts, letting them fall to my ankles. I step out of them, leaving me in my boxer briefs. I charge into the water, going right for her. She squeals as I catch her in my arms and pull her underwater. We resurface quickly; she wipes at her eyes and then swats at my chest. “You jerk!”

  I chuckle and ci
rcle her waist, not letting her get any farther away as we float in the shallow waters. “What’s wrong? You look gorgeous wet.”

  She tilts her head to the side, giving me a “get real” look. “You’re just saying that so I’ll kiss you.”

  “Nah.” I shake my head. “I don’t have to say things like that to get you to kiss me. I can just ask.”

  “You think so?” She wraps her arms around my neck.

  “Yeah.” I bring her body against mine, her legs draping around my waist. “Watch. Ren, will you kiss me?”

  Like the vixen she is, she contemplates my request for a moment before she finally leans forward and presses a small kiss against my lips.

  “Not good enough,” I mutter as I float us over to a large boulder near the shore, where I take a seat, the water coming up to my armpits. Ren straddles me, and I slide my hand up her back, under the strings of her bikini, pulling her close as I attack her lips, greedy and needy at the same time.

  Ever since last night, I’m finding it impossible to keep my distance. Hell, when she rolled out of our tent this morning, the first thing I wanted to do was walk up to her, wrap my arms around her waist, and press a long, deep kiss to her mouth. But with Reid watching my every move, I held back.

  It won’t be like that forever—just for now, while we’re still in the woods, figuring out where all this is going to lead us.

  She opens her mouth to mine when I move my tongue across her lips. I dive my tongue into hers, and she meets my every stroke equally.

  Hot.

  Begging.

  Slightly sloppy.

  We don’t miss a beat as our mouths mold together.

  I get lost in our kiss, in the way she feels in my arms, satisfaction washing over me with every moan she makes as my tongue tangles with hers.

  The water ripples around our limbs, the birds chirp in the shady trees, and a light breeze whips past us, sounding off the wild grass surrounding the pond, but it all fades away as I let the feel of Ren’s lips take over me.

  And then . . . she moves her hips.

  I freeze, her center rubbing against my massively hard cock.

  I pull away and give her another warning. “Ren, what did I tell you last night?”

  “That you wanted me,” she answers with a smile.

  “Yes, but not here.”

  “Why not?” she asks, moving her hips along my length again. “We’re completely alone.”

  I hiss through my teeth. “Not in a pond, Ren.”

  “I don’t see what the big deal is.” She leans forward and works her lips along my jaw to the place right below my ear. She flicks her tongue along the sensitive flesh, moving her hips again.

  “Christ, Ren.”

  She kisses along my jaw. “Did you know that you’re not the only one turned on? The minute you took off your shirt, my arousal level shot through the roof, and with every kiss, a sharp throb shoots between my legs. I need release just like you, Griffin.”

  Fuck.

  In this moment, either I can choose to keep holding off, or I can finally let go of the thin rope I’ve been holding on to and, for the first time since my wife passed, truly allow myself to feel again.

  With her hands wrapped behind my neck, she lowers my head to her cleavage, and I brush my lips up and down the valley of her breasts, unable to control myself, that rope getting thinner and thinner until it snaps, and I lose all willpower.

  I want her.

  I fucking need her.

  And I show her just how much.

  “Yes,” she groans when I nip at her skin.

  I move my hands down her back to the hemline of her bikini bottoms. Slipping my hands under the fabric, I grab two handfuls of her ass.

  “Oh God,” she moans. I encourage her hips to continue to pump against my cock as she moans and groans into my ear.

  So responsive, and I’m damn glad I waited until we had more privacy; I don’t want anyone else to hear the sweet sounds coming out of this beautiful woman.

  Moving her hips a little faster now, her center rubbing up and down my length, she leans her torso back, exposing her barely covered breasts to me.

  I take advantage.

  Leaning forward, I press my mouth along her skin, following the swell of her breasts. Her nipples hard as pebbles, I bring my mouth down, nibbling on her nipple through her bathing suit fabric.

  “Oh, Griffin, yes.” Her hips slow down and start making long, languid circles as I pull and tug on her nipple, the fabric starting to annoy me. She notices and grins. “Just take it off.”

  She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I reach up, undo the tie of her top, and toss it on the rock behind me. I bring my eyes back to her breasts, and fuck, they’re beautiful—full, with dark nipples puckered and ready for my mouth.

  I keep one hand on her ass, helping her dry hump me, while the other hand cups one of her breasts and brings it to my mouth. I suck, and she lets out a long, throaty moan.

  I nibble, and she thrusts on me harder.

  I pull, and she sighs in my arms.

  She lets me play with her tits for what seems like forever, and I soak in every second of it, loving the way she grinds her hips into mine whenever I flick my tongue over the hardened nubs.

  And I get lost.

  Lost in the feel of her breasts against my mouth, full and soft. Lost in the feel of her hands threading through my hair, explorative and rough. And lost in the motion of her hips, greedy and hot.

  Hands wandering, her lips on my neck, my mouth on her breasts, our breathing syncs up, hot and heavy.

  Erratic.

  Her thighs tighten, her moans growing in intensity, her hands threading dangerously through my hair.

  And then her head tilts back, exposing her beautiful neck, as the sweetest sound falls from her lips.

  “Yes . . . God, yes, Griffin. I’m coming.”

  Never in my life would I have ever imagined Ren as one to announce when she comes, but fuck if it’s not the absolute hottest thing I’ve ever heard.

  Her hips fly rapidly up and down my length, relentless, riding out her orgasm, sending a wave of pleasure straight to the base of my spine and the pit of my stomach.

  Fuck, I’m right there with her as I lean my forehead against her shoulder, grip her ass with both hands, and grind her hard against my aching cock, moving her up and down until my balls tighten and my dick pulses against her, my orgasm ripping through me.

  “Fuck,” I grunt, eyes shut, still grinding as wave after wave of pleasure shoots through my body.

  I take a few deep breaths, letting my orgasm fade while I come back down to reality, where Ren sits topless on my lap, a look of ecstasy across her features.

  She smiles wickedly. “Your O face is really hot, Griffin.”

  “What?” I chuckle, keeping my hands on her ass and bringing her close to my body, wanting to feel the press of her breasts against my bare chest, her nipples rubbing against my slicked and heated skin.

  “When you orgasm, the look on your face is super hot. Instead of being one of those guys who drop their mouths open and roll their eyes, you actually look sinister when you come. It’s really sexy.”

  “Well, I can return the compliment, because watching you fall apart like that, hell, makes me want to go home early.” I press kisses along her neck, loving the taste of her skin.

  “We should.”

  “What?” I lift my head to see if she’s serious.

  She shifts against my cock again, making it twitch. “We should make up an excuse to go home early.” She plays with the short strands at the nape of my neck. “Unless you were kidding; then I’m all for staying another night. But if you were serious, I’m ready to come up with some excuse so you can drive us back to my place and I can sink down on you.” Her voice gets quieter the dirtier she talks.

  I swallow hard. “Sink down on me?” Never thought I would hear that from Ren either. She’s full of surprises today.

  I guess I’m full of them as
well. Two years ago, I never thought I would see myself in this position, a topless woman in my arms who I care about immensely. But here I am, holding on to Ren as if she’s my lifeline, never wanting to let go, and even though it’s slightly terrifying, taking this huge leap in faith that everything is going to be okay, I don’t think I would change my decision.

  I like her, damn it, and being with her makes me fucking happy.

  She nods, her forehead pressed against mine now. “This isn’t enough for me, Griffin. It will tide me over, but not for long. I’ve wanted you for a while, and now that I have you, I want all of you.”

  “I want all of you too.” I press a quick kiss across her lips. “Think you can come up with a good excuse?”

  She nods. “But the deal is, if I take the brunt of the blame, you drive straight back to my place—no pit stops.”

  “You sound just as desperate as I am.”

  “Because I am.” She cups my face. “I feel like I’ve been trying to get you to look at me like this for so long, Griffin. I don’t want to lose another minute without knowing what it’s like for you to fully claim me as yours.”

  “Jesus,” I breathe out. “Then let’s get the hell out of here, because if you keep saying shit like that, I’m not going to last long.”

  “I feel really bad. I’m so sorry, you guys.” Ren is talking to Beck and Rylee through the rolled-down window of my truck. Reid and Brig both stand behind them, arms crossed, shaking their heads. They’re not buying Ren’s excuse for a second, but it’s cute that she’s trying.

  “Don’t even worry about it. You need to make a good impression on the principal. Go on. Griffin will get you back safely.”

  “Thanks, you guys.” Ren gives them a quick wave right before she rolls the window back up, and I pull away from the campsite.

  Once we’re out of sight, Ren scoots to the center seat, buckles in, and rests her head against my shoulder as I pull out onto the country road that leads back to Port Snow.

  “Do you really have to turn in your teaching plans tomorrow?”

  She shakes her head. “Nope, they were due last week, but good excuse, right?”