The gazebo was built out on a large pond that was a half
mile wide with a small dainty wooden bridge leading to it. Benches sat around
the edges, and soft fairy lights lined the interior at night. Striding across
the bridge, I stood at the entrance of the structure, silently asking for
permission to join her.
I watched her sit on one of the large seats, her knees
pulled up to her chest, staring at the ducks swimming by. Golden rays of
sunlight streaked through her hair and I was at a loss for words to describe
how beautiful she looked at that very moment. I rubbed at my chest, trying to
calm my racing heart.
“Who’s Claire?” she asked, still not looking at me. I felt
the bite in her question and I wondered if I had heard the bite of jealousy
there.
“May I join you?”
Looking at me, she nodded her head in ascension. I walked
over and sat directly at her feet, facing her. Reaching my hand out, I ran it
gently up and down her calf. I couldn’t seem to stop myself from touching her.
I saw a small plaque with an inscription that I’ve read a thousand times in
front of her.
To my precious wife Claire,
“By night, Love, tie your heart to mine, and the two
together in their sleep will defeat the darkness.”
With all my love, forever, Griffin
Annabella traced the plaque with a finger, waiting on my
answer. No one but the staff came this far out on the property so I never had
to explain my past before.
“Claire was my mother. My father’s name was Griffin as well.
He had this built for her. This was her most beloved place to be. In your exact
spot, actually.”
Annabella’s eyes met mine and I could see a mixture of
relief along with more questions. I was a little relieved to see hesitancy and
perhaps jealousy in her gaze as well.
“What happened to them?”
“My parents were killed in a car accident a long time ago.
It’s not something I like to talk about.”
Taking a deep breath, I looked down at where my hand was
still stroking her calf. Gently, she reached her hand down and entwined her
fingers with mine.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me. My parents are dead
too.”
She gave me an out, but suddenly, I didn’t feel like taking
it.
“I was in the car at the time. That’s why I don’t like to
talk about it. I was trapped in the back, that’s how I got my scars. I was able
to get free, but I wasn’t able to save them.”
I looked up and saw tears in her eyes. It touched my heart
to know that she cared so much for a stranger she didn’t know.
“I apologize for how I treated you and how things have
turned out between us.”
She rubbed her thumb across my hand, keeping silent.
“I want you to know I asked for your file. I wanted to know
more about you, to understand your want to be here.”
She stiffened but didn’t respond to my confession.
“I want you to trust me. I want to show you that I’m a man
worthy of you. Will you spend the day with me? Will you let me show you the
grounds and keep you company today?”
I nearly choked on my words trying to get them out. I sat
there, tense, waiting on her words of rejection. I needed to remind myself that
she still thought that I was her husband-to-be. I had this driving need to hold
on to her. To please her, and to own her. This dilemma weighed down on me and I
wasn’t sure how I should handle it. To Bella, I was her life now. I didn’t want
to deceive her, but maybe if she could fall for me like how I was falling for
her right now, she might not want to leave.
“I would really like that, Griffin.” She flashed me the most
beautiful smile I had ever seen. Out here, in our own perfect world, with the
sun shining down on her perfect face, I could pretend that she was truly mine.
And in that moment, I felt my heart bound to hers.
CHAPTER 5 *Annabella*
Something had changed. Most of the anger I’d seen every time
I looked into Griffin’s eyes had faded. He half-smiled at me, making the scars
on the side of his face scrunch up slightly. Catching me looking at his scars,
he turned his face away so that all I could see was his good side.
“Please don’t do that,” I pleaded softly.
Shifting to face me, he asked, “Do what?”
“Turning away from me so that I can’t see your scars.”
He remained silent, as if contemplating my words. I reached
up, slowly and gently caressing his cheek. Closing his eyes, he leaned further
into my touch despite the pained expression on his face. Leaning forward, I
scattered butterfly kisses onto the most puckered scar and I felt his body
tense up and his eyes clench shut. I wish I could ease away some of his
self-consciousness. Bringing my lips up to his ear, I whispered, “They don’t
bother me, Griffin. And if they bother other people, then that’s their problem,
not yours.”
I leaned back to try and look him in the eye, to let him see
that I had meant what I said. Opening his eyes, he flashed me an even wider
smile that made my heart race and I wondered what it would be like for him to
kiss me. Despite having shared such an intimate and physical moment this
morning and the night before, he has yet to kiss me. For a moment before he had
entered me last night, I thought he would. I want to taste myself on his lips.
Heat crept up my neck and my gaze dropped to his lips.
“Can I kiss you?” I rushed out breathily. Despite my bold
behavior earlier, I still felt shy asking such a question. A kiss seemed so much
more intimate, as if it would bring us even closer than before. I could see the
shock of my question on his face. I wanted nothing more than to kiss him at
this very moment. There was just something special about him that was pulling
me towards him, pulling us together. I might not have been around many men in
my life but I felt it. The connection, the sparks. I wonder if he felt it too.
Many people had fallen in love at first sight before. Why couldn’t it be that
way for us?
“Annabella, I—” Afraid of his rejection, I lunged towards
Griffin and pressed my lips to his. He let out a soft growl and hauled me onto
his lap, taking control of the kiss. He pushed his tongue deep inside my mouth,
devouring me, clashing our teeth together and dominating the kiss. Pressing
into his warmth, molding my body to his, he slowed down the kiss, as if he
finally realized that I wouldn’t be pulling away. His tongue slowed down to a
soft gentle exploration. I’m not sure which I liked more, his rough, dominating
kiss or his gentle, possessive kiss. Pulling back, I dropped a kiss on the scar
that catches the corner of his lip, trailing kisses all the way up to his ear.
“I think you’re beautiful, Griffin. You hide behind your
anger and keep people away. Please let me in. We can make this work. We could
be happy. If you let us be.”
No sooner had the words left my mouth did I feel Griffin
pick me up and carry me out of the gazebo. Startled, I let out a squeal of
shock, immediately wrapping my arms and legs around him tightly. I probably
resembled a monkey right now. He laughed lightly and lowered his lips over mine
once again. Lost in his lips and his taste, I felt him lowering me and soon
enough, my back touched the grass. Laying me down, Griffin maneuvered himself
between my legs all the while keeping our lips locked. Pulling back to catch
his breath, he looked down at me.
“Stay, Bella. Please.” His voice husky, filled with emotion.
“I don’t want to be angry anymore. I want to heal and move on. Will you stay
here and teach me? Please don’t go back to the agency. I’ll make this right. I’m
so sorry for the way I’d been acting. You deserve better. You deserve
everything. Please, let me give you everything.”
I felt Griffin steal a piece of my heart as the words left
his mouth. We both had some healing to do. While they might be different, we
could still do it together. In response, I tilted my head towards him, offering
him my lips once more. With a groan, Griffin lowered his head and accepted the
kiss. For the first time since arriving at Creston Falls, all of my fears
disappeared.
“Angel,” Griffin breathed out, nipping my ear. His stubble
tickled the side of my face.
“Mmm, Griffin. Please,” I moaned, wanting him to kiss me
more, anywhere, everywhere. I needed his touch. I lifted my hips, trying to get
some friction. Sliding his hand between us, he stroked my thigh before moving
under my dress, cupping my mound.
“I see you were lying about not wearing panties earlier. Don’t
tease me, Beauty. I’ll spank that sinful ass of yours the next time.” He
continued to stroke my pussy over my panties and my hips began to rock slightly
against his fingers.
“Are you sore, Angel?” He nibbled on my bottom lip as he
yanked my panties to the side, dipping a finger inside. “I don’t want to hurt
you. I never want to hurt you again.”
I was tender but it felt so good having him inside me once
again. Arching into his touch, I feel myself growing wetter as his thumb rubbed
my clit. “More,” I managed to gasp out as he added a second finger.
“God, you’re so fucking wet. I barely even touched you. Is
all this cream for me?”
Thrusting his fingers harder into me, he rubbed my clit a
little faster.
“Do you like what I’m doing, Angel? Do you want more? Do you
want me to slide my big, hard cock inside you and give us what we both want?
Fuck my fingers, Bella. Show me how much you want me to fuck that pretty little
pussy of yours. Show me how much you want me to slide my big fat cock inside
you. “ He growled, raking his teeth across my neck. I didn’t think he meant to
pose them as questions but I doubt I could answer him if I even tried.
His words were killing me. Who knew words could set your
body on fire like this. “What are you doing to me? Oh god. I… I just … please,
Griffin. Please…” With his other hand, Griffin tugged hard at the top of my
dress causing my breasts to spill out. My nipples harden instantly under his
hungry gaze. Dipping his head, he licked and placed kisses all around my left
breast before sucking my nipple into his mouth fully. Each tug, nip and lick shot
straight to my clit and I felt my orgasm slowly building. I knew this one was
going to blow last night’s out of the water.
“Not yet, Angel. This time I want you cumming around my
cock. I want to feel your pussy milking my cum out of me.” He rumbled, removing
his hand from between my legs.
“Just hurry, please. Griffin, I need you.” My words seemed
to set him in motion. He leaned up, unbuckling his belt and freeing his cock. “Oh
god!” Even with our bodies no longer touching, I couldn’t stop myself from arching
up towards him, needing to feel his weight back on top of me. I needed
something to ease the throbbing between my legs. I was so close.
Griffin’s breathing seemed to turn uneven and rapid.
Grabbing his cock, he roughly stroked it up and down, sliding his thumb over
the tip and smearing precum all over as he stared ravenously at me spread out
deliciously before him.
“Angel, I know you aren’t on any birth control. You could
already be pregnant after our night together, but you might not be. I have a condom
if you want me to use it this time.”
“Why would you need that?” I asked, wondering why he would
suggest it. We were to be married soon. We didn’t need condoms. He didn’t use
one last night so why would he bother using one now.
Griffin gave me a long look, which seemed almost pained. “I
don’t want to force you, Angel. It’s your choice if you want me to use one or
not.”
“I’m going to be your wife, am I not?” I questioned,
reaching for his erection only to have him jerk away.
He studied me for a second as if trying to read me. “You’re
saying you’re okay if we don’t use protection? You’ll risk having a baby?
Because I fucking loved having you bare last night.” Sliding my dress up
higher, he caressed my stomach.
“I want it all, Griffin. I want to fall in love, and to have
your babies.”
“I want to be inside you without a condom. I want to fill
you up with my cum and get you pregnant, because, yes, you’ll be my wife.”
His words sent pleasure racing all over my body, filling me
up with warmth and a sense of peace. I could feel it seeping into my heart. I
wasn’t alone anymore. I have a family now.
Griffin leaned down and yanked off my panties, tossing them
haphazardly behind him. Crawling back up, he wrapped me up in his arms while
lowering his mouth to mine. His fingers sank deep into my hair and he kissed me
hard, dominating me. Feeling more than a little desperate, I fought back
against his questing tongue and lips, causing the both of us to let out a moan.
Breaking the kiss, he slid his hand down between my legs, spreading my wet
lips. Griffin grabbed his cock and tapped it against my clit a couple of times
before nudging it against my entrance, teasing me, bringing me to the edge even
more. Glistening with need, I raised my hips in an attempt to try and get him
to slide deep inside me.
I could see Griffin’s face tighten with restraint as he
fought to control his desire. I could see it in his eyes that he was fighting
not to hurt me like he had the night before.
“Take me,” I encouraged him. “I’m yours.”
Hesitating for only a split second, he took his cock and
slid it between my pussy lips as few times before he nudged my entrance once
more, slowly pushing inside. I could tell he was still holding himself back. I
wanted all of him deep inside me. I wanted him to connect us and fill every
part of me. Determined, I locked my legs around his waist and thrust my hips
up, sliding him even deeper and impaling myself onto him. I wanted my hands all
over his rock-solid body but he still had his shirt on. Moving my hands, I
tried to rip off his clothes with a frustrated whine. Griffin captured both of
my wrists in one hand and pinned them above my head as he started to thrust
faster and harder. Before I could protest against not having my hands on him,
he took my mouth in the most tender and gentle kiss I had ever experienced.
Gently sliding his tongue against mine, it felt like he was worshiping me.
Letting go of my wrists, he braced himself on one arm, using
the other to coast down between my legs and to my clit, stroking me as he
continued thrusting deep and hard. I felt myself become slicker and I couldn’t
help the buck of my hips.
“God, you’re so tight, Bella, so fucking perfect. It’s like
you were made just for me.” He grunted, picking up speed.
“Yes, for you. I was made just for you.” The confession fell
easily from between my lips. It felt right. He seemed to lose all his control
at my admission and began slamming into me at full force.
“Say it again, Angel. Tell me you’re mine. Every part of you
belongs to me. Tell me you want me to cum deep inside of you, to fill every
inch of your tight pussy with my cum.”
“Yes, Griffin. Please. I’m yours, all yours.”
The “beast” was in control now and the fact that it was I
who had made him lose control had my orgasm ripping through me like a freight
train. Throwing my arms around him, I bit his shoulder, muffling my scream of
pleasure.
“Fuck!” he roared, and I felt his cock grow slightly larger
and pulse as his warm seed splashed against my walls, filling me up. “God, you
get so fucking tight when you cum around my cock.”
Dropping down to his elbows so that he didn’t crush me, he
gave me a slow, lazy kiss.
“You’re going to be my wife.” It was clearly a statement.
I smiled and nod my agreement.
Claiming my mouth once more, he slid himself out of me and I
moaned at the feeling, my pussy already clenching at the loss. Sitting up on
his knees, he tucked his still semi-hard cock back in his pants. “I just had
you and now I want you again. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you and
your delectable body, Angel.”
A wave of shyness washed over me as he looked down at me,
practically naked, and I tried to close my legs, which was impossible with him
still on his knees between them. Grabbing my thighs, Griffin yanked my legs
open fully and stared greedily at my freshly fucked pussy.
“Don’t you ever hide that from me,” he commanded, taking his
finger and running it between my lips. He brought his finger back up and I
could see it glistening with our combined juices.
“I could stare at your pussy all day long, Bella. This is
how a wife’s pussy should always look. Freshly fucked and dripping with her
husband’s cum.” Leaning forward, he brought his finger up to my lips. Knowing
what he wanted, I took his finger into my mouth, swirling my tongue around his
finger seductively, enjoying the explosion of our combined flavor on my tongue.
I gave his finger a tiny nip as he pulled away.
“Angel, I’m starting to think that you’re a biter.”
I love it when he calls me that. “Why do you call me Angel?”
“Because you’re so goddamn perfect, there’s no way you’re
not an angel.”
I heard footsteps coming from the other side of the bushes
we were next to a minute too late.
“Boss, you got an important—” Logan’s voice penetrated the
bubble of bliss we were in. Sitting up fast, I scrambled to cover myself.
Griffin was up at lighting speed, grabbing Logan by the shirt and pulling him
up to be nose to nose with him. Turning my back on them, I pulled my dress up
to cover my breasts. Luckily, everything else seemed to be in place.
I heard Griffin growling at Logan and I turned around. “You’re
lucky I won’t rip your fucking head off. You better not have seen her naked!”
Lifting his hands to show Griffin that he wasn’t a threat,
Logan placated, “Boss, I swear I didn’t see anything.”
“If I ever so much as catch you looking at her, you’re out
of here. Do you understand me? She. Is. Mine. Got it?”