Page 11 of Desiring Destiny
That’s my deepest, darkest secret. At the end of the day, I feel like I’m responsible for my grandma’s death.
“Destiny, I don’t even know where to start, but please don’t blame yourself. I can’t imagine the whirlwind of emotions going through your head and heart, but I promise you, it’s not your fault. I’m sure your grandma would agree. From everything you’ve told me about her, she loved you and wanted you to thrive. She wouldn’t want you to carry around this guilt.”
“But… But I could have said something. Done something. I could have had a little bit of a warning before she dropped dead. I didn’t know the last day was going to be the last day, you know?” My voice is barely above a whisper. “I’m… I don’t want to say it, but I’m…”
“It’s okay, Destiny. You can say it.”
“I’m…angry.” The word sits in the air between us, but Griffin doesn’t let me feel ashamed of anything.
“I know you are, sweetheart. Now you know it, too.” He gives me a wistful smile and tucks my hair behind my ears. “It’s okay. It’s normal, in fact. And in your case, absolutely understandable. I bet it hurt knowing she kept such a big secret from you.”
“I’m sure she had her reasons. I just… I wish I could go back and do it all differently.”
“All we have is the present. We can’t change the past, but we can learn from it and use it to help us grow. Maybe a grand adventure to turn you into a new, bolder version of yourself isn’t what your grandma intended.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.
“Maybe we can focus on internal confidence. You’re an amazing woman, Destiny. You’re clever and vulnerable and gorgeous. You have a tender heart and a kind spirit, both of which I know your grandma is proud of. Don’t change yourself or hide who you are, angel. Lean into your strengths.”
“Is being tender a strength? Most days it feels like a flaw, not a feature,” I counter. Griffin chuckles softly and presses another kiss to my forehead.
“It’s part of what drew me to you that first day,” he murmurs. “You were absolutely radiant when you walked into the lodge. Your beauty and soft-spoken nature called to me, but also your quiet strength. I wish you could see what I see.”
“What do you see?” I ask, my body melting at his words. I want more of him, more of his touch, more of his kiss, just… more. I begin rolling my body against his without being fully aware of what I’m doing. All I know is that he feels good and he makes me feel good.
“Shit, Destiny,” he groans. “I’m trying to be good, but you make it difficult when you’re moving like that. Gives me all kinds of dirty ideas, but that’s not what you need right now.”
“What if it is?” I ask. The tension has been building between us for days now and I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline making me brave or if Griffin just makes me feel safe enough to go for what I really want. Either way, I rub myself against his body and nip his bottom lip.
“Need to warm you up,” he whispers, his lips mere inches from mine.
“I can think of a few ways to create heat,” I say, hardly believing the words coming from my mouth. When Griffin groans again, I finally confess something I’ve been holding back. “Truthfully,” I start, nibbling my lips nervously. “I wasn’t stranded for very long before you showed up. Like maybe ten minutes.”
“You can get frostbite in under two minutes with these weather conditions,” he’s quick to point out.
“True, except I was wearing a six-hundred-dollar thermal jacket lined with fleece and coated in waterproof protection. You don’t even want to know how much my snow pants cost,” I say with a slight smirk.
Griffin takes the hint, the last bit of worry slipping from his features. “Are you telling me that you used this situation to get me nearly naked on this couch with you?”
I can’t hold back my laughter. “It’s certainly not what I had planned when I started up the mountain, but I’m definitely not complaining.”
He chuckles again, then makes a deep, rumbling sound filled with desire. Griffin slides his hands down my body with more purpose this time, squeezing and kneading my flesh while licking the side of my neck. Everywhere he touches me burns deliciously, the sensation sinking down deep inside of me.
Griffin stands with me in his arms, setting me down in front of him. His nose brushes against mine and then nips my bottom lip. I open up for him, needing everything this man has to offer. His tongue slides against mine and then tickles the roof of my mouth, the buzzing sensation shooting through my core and making me so damn wet and needy.
He presses himself further into me, his thick, hard length rubbing against my core. My hardened, sensitive nipples scrape against the hard planes of his chest, causing a shiver to run down my spine. I reach up, stretching my body to loop my arms around his neck and pull him closer to me as he kisses me over and over, deeper and deeper, each thrust of his tongue winding me up higher and higher.
“Fuck,” Griffin grunts, sounding almost in pain. “Need to taste you, Destiny. Need to lick that dripping pussy clean.”
“Yes,” I manage to whisper, barely able to comprehend what he means.
The next thing I know, I’m being spun around so I’m facing the small kitchen table. Griffin grips my hips, pulling my back into his front. I moan softly when he presses his lips to the side of my neck, kissing up and down and swirling his tongue over my pulse point. His lips brush against the shell of my ear, the deep rumble of his voice vibrating through me.
“Put your hands on the table, Destiny.” I do as he says, looking over my shoulder at him. “Just like that. Fuck, just like that.”
He kneels down behind me, hooking his thumbs into the waistband of my panties. Griffin peels them off, making me gasp as the cool air hits my soaking-wet folds. My core clenches and my arousal drips down my thighs.
Griffin grabs my ass in his large, capable hands, squeezing the soft flesh and then spreading me wide open for him. I widen my stance, wanting him to have more. To take more. To take it all. “Please,” I whimper.God, is that my voice?