An hour ago, I'd felt utterly broken.
Not anymore.
Now, all I felt was bliss.
The rain drummed steadily overhead. The tent was safe and warm. I didn't want to move. I didn't want to think.
But did wanthim.And I was just about to show him how much, when a sudden realization made me freeze. "I just realized something."
"What?"
I winced. "I should've brought a condom. You don't – ?"
"Hang on…" I heard the rustle of fabric as he reached toward the corner of the tent.
Overcome with relief, I snickered in the dark. "Wait…the tent came with a condom?"
He laughed. "No, I grabbed it from my wallet when I set it up."
"Wow. You reallyaregood."
"So are you."
"Oh, please." I smiled. "You haven't seen anything yet." In the darkness, I found his hand and plucked the foil packet from his grip, feeling a rush of nerves and boldness as my fingers curled around it.
He didn't move. He didn't even breathe. I felt the shift in the air between us as I whispered, "Let me." Carefully, I tore open the wrapper and reached toward his pelvis.
My hands found him easily, guided by heat and instinct. I held him steady as I slid the condom into place, fingers trembling from anticipation, not fear. He let out a low groan that shot straight through me, raw and reverent.
"Maisie…" His voice cracked, full of everything I was feeling – need, wonder, and restraint hanging by a thread.
I didn't want restraint.
I whispered his name and lowered myself onto his length.
When our bodies joined, it was the kind of connection that made me feel whole and happy like the world had finally stopped spinning.
And when we began to move, our hips rising and falling in a steady rhythm, it was everything I'd ever wanted. Somewhere between the moaning and muscle contractions, I remembered to say it. "Okay…you win. The tent was totally worth it."
He laughed against my neck. "Damn right it was."
He kissed me again, murmuring my name against the curve of my shoulder as he rolled me onto my back and drove in deeper. I wrapped my legs around him, pulled him tighter, and held on like the world outside didn't exist.
For that moment, it didn't.
There was no storm. No looming debt. No ticking clock.
There was only Griff. And that was enough. Correction – it wasmorethan enough.
And when we reached a glorious climax, I felt pure bliss as he shuddered against me, whispering words that were achingly sweet, like I wasn't just some girl in a storm, and he wasn't just some guy passing through.
He whispered against my neck, "You're amazing. You know that?"
I smiled against his skin. "Hey,youwere the one who set up the tent."
"Butyouwere the one who made it worth it."
It was such a sweet thought, I didn't stop to question it, just like later on, I didn't question the sanity of drifting off naked in his arms in what should be a place of business, not romantic bliss.
