Page 40 of Midnight Hunt
But then she’d stunned me by saying words I’d been longing to hear. Words she only said once or twice a year.
“I need you, Griff.”
Just like that, I was inside her to the hilt, thrusting so frantically that we were both panting for release seconds later.
Remembering how good it had felt when we’d orgasmed together, I nearly fell to my knees.
See? This keeping silent thing isn’t good for anyone, Whiskey grumbled.If you don’t bang your girl soon, you’re going to combust.
Shaking off the memory before it made me come in my pants, I refocused on the fierce brunette still hurrying down the sidewalk. She seemed to be lost in thought, unaware of the cab turning on to our street.
I raised a hand, and the taxi slowed.
“Vi,” I said, but she was already stepping off the sidewalk and making for the cab.
The second we pulled away from the curb, she muttered under her breath, “I have to call Randy.”
“I’ll do it.” I reached into my back pocket to pull out my phone. “Should I tell him we need to leave as soon as possible?”
She nodded, then looked out the window. I quickly relayed the message to our pilot, keeping an eye on Vi and our surroundings as we headed back to the airport. She didn’t speak the entire way there, and I didn’t press her for answers.
It was killing me, though. The not knowing. The possibilities.
What if shehadbroken up with Reid? Was I responsible for whatever had happened between them?
I’d tried so hard to give her space the past few days, to keep myself carefully in check after she’d told me what Reid had said. But the minute she’d announced her intentions to visit him, I’d started to unravel again.
“Don’t say yes. Don’t move in with him.”
What the hell waswrongwith me? I hadnoright to tell her that, but I hadn’t been able to stop myself. The thought of letting her go for good had been too much, and I’d done what I swore I wouldn’t do.
I’d tried to sabotage their relationship.
I felt awful, but I couldn’t bring myself to apologize for the words I’d said. The second I’d uttered them, a great weight had lifted off me. I could breathe again.Thinkagain.
My only regret was the part I’d played in causing Vi pain. She was staying strong like she always did, but I could sense how miserable she was. I almost reached across the seat to hold her hand. Almost. Not knowing if she wanted my comfort kept me from touching her, though.
Sex had definitely complicated our relationship despite my efforts not to let it. I would always be there for her. That would never change. But I couldn’t help wanting more.
More than she was willing to give me.
Curling my hands into fists, I rested them on my thighs and allowed the silence between us to grow. It didn’t matter what I wanted—not ifshedidn’t want it. Still, I allowed myself to hope a little.
She was going home. That had to mean something.
Maybe, just maybe . . .
By the time we reached the airport, my hopeful thoughts were making it nearly impossible to keep quiet. Still, I made it all the way into the plane before finally breaking the silence. “Did you say no?”
From her spot across the aisle from me, she quietly snorted and replied, “He didn’t give me the chance to.” When she didn’t elaborate, I opened my mouth again. “No more questions, Griff. Please. I just can’t right now.”
Hearing the quiver in her voice, the need to pull her into my arms was almost unbearable. Not knowing how else to comfort her, I respected her wishes and didn’t question her further. As we taxied down the runway and took off, though, my mind kept throwing possibilities at me. For the next forty minutes, I thoroughly tortured myself with what-ifs, even entertaining Whiskey’s suggestions.
We’d just passed over Mount Marcy when the jet suddenly shuddered. I looked out the window and quickly spotted the reason.
“Just a storm,” I said aloud for Vi’s benefit. “I’m sure Randy will—”
A clanking noise drew my attention out the window again, just as the engine burst into a ball of orange flames. I was out of my seat in a flash, racing for the cockpit.
