That was all the invitation I needed. My hands skimmed down her sides, feeling the way she trembled under my touch. When I reached the hem of her dress, I hesitated, giving her a chance to stop me.
Instead, she pulled me closer. "Please."
I slipped my hands beneath the silky fabric, groaning when I felt the lace of her panties. "You're so fucking soft."
Her breathing was ragged now, little gasps that drove me wild. I hooked my fingers in the waistband of her panties andtugged them down, letting them fall to her ankles. The cool night air made her shiver, or maybe that was my touch as I parted her thighs.
"Griffin," she moaned when my fingers found her center, already slick with arousal.
"That's it, baby," I murmured, working her with slow, deliberate strokes. "Let me hear you."
She was responsive, so fucking responsive, arching into my touch as I worked her higher. When I slipped a finger inside her, she cried out, the sound echoing off the rocks around us.
"More," she gasped, and I obliged, adding another finger and feeling her clench around me.
"You feel so good," I growled, pumping my fingers in and out while my thumb continued to rub her clit. "So tight and wet for me."
She was close, I could feel it in the way her body tensed, hear it in the desperate little sounds she was making. When I crooked my fingers just right, hitting that spot that made her see stars, she shattered, crying out my name as she came.
But I wasn't done with her. Not even close.
I spun her around, pressing her palms flat against the rock. The position put her ass against my aching cock, and I had to grit my teeth to keep from coming right there.
"I need to be inside you," I said roughly, unzipping my jeans with hands that shook. "Tell me you want this."
"Yes," she panted, pushing back against me. "God, yes."
I freed my cock, stroking it once before positioning myself at her entrance. She was so wet, so ready, that I slid in easily, both of us groaning at the sensation.
"Fuck, you feel incredible," I said, gripping her hips as I began to move.
The position let me go deep, and I felt her inner muscles flutter around me with each thrust. She was making these little sounds that drove me wild, pushing back to meet each of my movements.
"Harder," she gasped, and I lost what little control I had left.
I fucked her against the rocks, the sound of skin slapping against skin mixing with our ragged breathing. She was so responsive, meeting every thrust, her body welcoming me like she was made for this, made for me.
When I reached around to stroke her clit, she came again, clenching around me so tight I saw stars. The sensation pushed me over the edge, and I buried myself deep as I emptied inside her, her name on my lips.
We stayed like that for long moments, both of us struggling to catch our breath. When I finally pulled out, I turned her in my arms, needing to see her face.
Her eyes were soft, sated, but there was something else there too. Something that made my chest tight.
"That was..." she started.
"Yeah," I agreed, pressing my forehead against hers. "It was."
We straightened our clothes in comfortable silence, and I helped her find her panties in the darkness. When we were decent again, I pulled her close, not ready to let go.
"We should probably head back," she said quietly.
"Probably." But I didn't move, and neither did she.
Above us, the stars wheeled in their ancient patterns, and for the first time in years, I felt something shift inside me. Something that had been locked away since the day I understood that everyone you care about eventually leaves.
Maybe Lila was different. Maybe this time, I could let myself believe.
"Griffin?" she said softly.
