Found by You (17 page)

He played at the area with his fingers, not daring to enter right away, while his thumb moved slowly, gingerly, over my clitoris. My walls clenched for him, but I was surprised by the feeling further back. I kept wishing for one of his fingers to slip, slide in, and when one of his fingers did, I thrust my hips forward from the invasion.

My mouth dropped open as my head pressed back into the pillow. He only had the tip of his finger in and did no more as he continued to massage me with his thumb. This was so different, and when I pushed my bottom against his seeking finger, I knew this difference was good.

He only went so far, not hard or intense, but easy. He was going slow with me like he always did. Giving me only what he felt I was ready for.

I was ready for more.

I reached between us now, sliding my hand onto his length. He pushed against my hand and I was the one who brought him to me this time. I knew my limits, and he groaned when I tested them, easing his length inside me. We both went slow at first, him with his fingers and me with him. But when I slid him in to the hilt, we both got our rhythm. I’d never felt so filled, so unrestricted.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and with my hips, I rocked him to his back. I took his mouth deeply, tenderly, and he let me take control. His hands moved to my ass, and he squeezed, pushing me against him.

“God, Roxie, yes,” he said, his voice strained and seeking. “Fuck, yes.”

I pushed away the lock of hair that covered my vision, and I got to see his eyes. They were half-mast and laced in the pleasure I was providing him. I didn’t want this to end, and the build up starting low in my belly felt more like an invasion. My orgasm hit and shot numbness throughout my entire body. The man below me wouldn’t let me fall. He held me there by my back, his hips lifted off the bed during his release.

Only when my head drooped did he lower me down to him. He put his hands to my cheeks, leaving not an ounce of space between us while he gave me the most intense kiss I ever had; it was slow and incredibly sensual.

“Yes, Roxie,” he repeated, panting as he moved his mouth softly over mine. “Yes.”

I put my hands to his on my cheeks, never wanting to let him go.

Chapter Seventeen

Griffin

I didn’t need to think hard to know last night with Roxie was the best sex I’d ever had in my entire fucking life. The girl made me a slave to her last night. I was begging her, calling out for more. Like from our whirlwind beginning, this thing with Roxie felt so foreign. She had me feeling things; intense emotions that didn’t scare me, but made me long for them like a man for water dying of thirst. She was everything. I was learning that more and more everyday.

One of the first things I did this morning was book our flights to Texas. Seriously, before I even brought up my word document to take notes in my class, I was on airline websites. My professor was going on about something I probably needed to know, but I was making the decision between first class and coach flights. First class it was. I wanted Roxie comfortable. I didn’t care how it affected my wallet. Call me crazy, but I really wanted my family to meet her. My gram had great intuition…

She
loathed
Tanya. Roxie was so different, and I wanted to see them together. I had no doubt she’d approve of her. My old man was the wild card. He wasn’t about telling with his emotions. Hard work all his life made him tough and dry. Only exposing him to her could tell, but I was going into this positively.

We had early flights out Saturday and would be back late on Sunday. I’d probably skip class Monday to rest before practice that evening. I hadn’t before, so I figured I could get away with one absence. Maybe I could convince Roxie to play hooky with me.

I couldn’t keep the grin off my face when I texted her the details for this weekend.

Sounds good
, she responded.
I can’t wait. I’ve never been before.

Feeling a little mischievous that morning, I texted,
As long as you watch out for the snakes and tarantulas you’ll be good. I’ll protect you, though. No worries.

A long time past before she got back to me, and I nearly broke and told her I was joking. I’d seen snakes, but not often, and the biggest spider I’d seen was a house spider. It had scared the shit out of Gram as she was babysitting us at the time.

My phone buzzed.
Griffin, don’t play.

I had to force in my chuckle and the struggle was so hard I nearly fell out of my seat. It also got me a few glares from people actually paying attention in my large seminar. I left Roxie hanging and she noticed.

Seriously, Griffin. Please tell me you’re joking.

So I did.
I’m joking.

I hate you.

No, you don’t.

She left me the following emoticon: -_-

I had to put my fist over my mouth to control my laughter.

You’re lucky I don’t,
she said.

I was totally supposed to be paying attention, but teasing my girl was far too much fun. I decided to give her a break.
I’m sorry. I’ll bring you coffee tonight to make it up.

Hot chocolate.

As corny as it was, the first thought that came to mind was that the request was sweet like her. I grinned to myself.
Hot chocolate it is.

Six o’ clock. I’ll see you at the Union.

*

Later that night, I was handing the barista cash for Roxie’s hot chocolate when a hand with bright blue polish settled on my arm.

My eyes rolled to the heavens at my odds tonight. I turned and Ursula lowered her hand from my arm.

“Griffin,” she said, grabbing her order that just came up. She tipped the paper cup to me. “Where have you been hiding?”

The girl gave herself far too much credit. I honestly hadn’t given her much thought. But that was my and Ursula’s way, though. Our relationship was strictly sex. She knew that and I knew that. That’s what we both wanted. When I ended it, I just assumed she was getting it somewhere else.

The barista called my order up by beverage name and I accepted it.

The edge of her glossy lips lifted. “A little lighter than your usual five cups a day, isn’t it?”

She was obviously exaggerating. Coffee wasn’t good for my training and she knew that. When I did have some, it was no more than two. Three was rare. I gave her a tight-lipped smile. “Well, it’s for my girlfriend.”

She reacted lax about that, leaning her skirt-clad hip against the counter. Ursula knew she had the sultry thing down. I was glad I was no longer drawn in by it.

“So it is true,” she said before she moved her mouth on her cup lid to take a drink. She left a red mark from her lips. “Griffin Chandler is no longer single.”

I’d ask how she knew, but I didn’t really care. I kind of wanted this whole run-in over. I had priorities and someplace I’d rather be.

“I have to say I’m kind of surprised, “ she continued. “When you broke things off I assumed you—”

“So you want to give me a hard time about it? If so, let’s have it out so we can both go about our day.” My patience was thinning and the hot chocolate warming my fingers was a reminder of how much I wanted to leave and get the beverage to its owner.

She lifted her hands, raising her cup in surrender. She laughed. “I’m not going to do that. You and I both know it was going to end eventually. You moving on. Me moving on. Both of us with graduation in a couple months. I just figured Tanya would follow you on your way.”

Maybe if I’d felt something for her I might have. She was the type of girl the cameraman flashed to when he wanted a shot of a basketball player’s wife as she cheered for her man courtside. That image was materializing into someone else. A different person. A different woman. I smiled inside at the thought.

My attention went back to Ursula. “I suppose things change. You know, growing up and all that.”

She tilted her head, raising her cup in agreement. “Ah, that thing called adulthood. Leave it to that to kick you in the ass about your priorities, right?”

Her response actually had me laughing. I guess we both were really moving on. I tipped my cup to her this time. “Right. I’ll see you around, okay?”

She did the same with her own cup, nodding.

I turned to leave her, but she called my name. She surprised me when she stepped up to me.

“I don’t owe you anything, Griffin Chandler,” she said, “and you don’t owe me anything either.
But
we did have a good time, an understanding even. I believe that’s good for something, right? A favor. An act of good faith between friends.”

I frowned, not understanding. “What are you talking about?”

She simply smiled. “I was at a party last night. I know, surprising, right? But I saw Tanya there. I guess I just figured I’d mention you should stand your ground with her if you’re serious about moving on. Make sure she knows you’re done.”

I had, and then some, with her, and honestly, I was over tying to get through to someone who clearly wasn’t trying to hear it. I thanked Ursula for the info, and then, well, moved on.

*

Roxie

My jaw nearly dropped to the floor by what Clare just told me.

“Hey, uh, can I get that puppy chow?”

I blinked up at the large basketball player who just spoke to me on the other side of our selling table.

Clare groaned, snatching the bag of sugary, chocolate covered Chex that was frozen in my hands. “Sorry about that,” she said, handing it to him. “And thank you for your support. Enjoy the show.”

He dove into the bag, heading over to the mass of people sitting in front of the projection screen. So many had showed up for the bake sale and movie screening that there were people sitting in clusters, cross-legged on the floor. Others were in the crowded bowling alley, gazing over at the college cult film playing on the screen between rolls. Griffin hadn’t arrived yet, but the evidence of him clearly had. He got a mess of people to come tonight. We were almost out of food! He was quickly making up for that cruel joke he played earlier today in our texts.

I had to smile to myself at how silly he was being. The smile wiped from my face at the sight of an agitated Clare.

I shook my head. “Sorry,” I said, not knowing what else to say.

She handed a bag of cookies to a girl and exchanged it for cash. “Thank you for your support. Enjoy the movie.” The girl turned and agitated Clare was back. “Did you have to react that way? I’m already embarrassed that…” She gazed around at the other working Venomous Vixens then lowered her head. “I couldn’t perform.”

“I’m really sorry. You just… you know, you surprised me.” And she really,
really
had. I lowered my own head now. “You guys really taped yourselves being intimate?”

I mean, I really wasn’t judging Clare for experimenting with a video camera with Destiny. It’s not like I could with my own track record with a webcam. I wasn’t lying when I told her she just surprised me. Clare was a pretty modest girl. Well, outside of our derby uniforms, so this announcement came as a shock.

She gnawed her lip. “Well, we would have if I hadn’t gone all chicken shit. It was Destiny’s idea. We haven’t really went ‘all the way’ yet and she wanted to document it.” Her cheeks went crimson and she dragged her hands down her face. “How sophomoric is it that I’m even calling it that. God, I’m a loser. I just hid in the sheets the whole time. When it wasn’t working out, I turned off the camera.”

Our never-ending cookie line got backed up, but I felt the need to pull my friend aside for a second. The other girls covered while we hunkered down by the cookie stock.

I sat Clare down on a chair and bent to her level. “Clare, have you…” I bit my lip, feeling out of place asking, but I felt I had to. “Have you… you-know-what, yet?”

Her face fell in mortification, and when she buried her face in her hands, I knew my answer.

“I know.” She muffled through her fingers. “I’m a senior and I haven’t done it yet.”

I put my hand on her shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell Destiny?”

She whimpered, groaning when she threw her head back. “I don’t know. Embarrassment? Fear of rejection? It’s not like I haven’t wanted to, but I was closeted the first two years I came here and awkward as hell the rest of the time. My parents don’t even know I’m out.”

Clare and I never discussed our sex lives, but it wasn’t unusual not to have lost your virginity in or before college. She shouldn’t feel ashamed. “How did Destiny take to you not going through with it?”

She crossed her arms over her legs. “She was cool about it. She said she didn’t care if we waited.”

I smiled. It reminded me of when Griffin said he’d wait to date me. I was glad he had.

Clare popped her chin on her palm. “I want to, but I just don’t want the first time to be on camera. She was cool about that, too. God, why couldn’t I have just done it and gotten it over with!” She threw her hands up in the air and stood. “I need to work. I need to do something. We’ll talk about this later when I get my head on straight.”

“With chocolate Häagen-Dazs. We’ll sneak some cookies from the sale to go with it.” I winked at her.

Her lips threatened a grin and she opened her blazer. My eyes widened at the sight of two packages of chocolate chip cookies stuffed into one of her pockets.

She cupped her mouth. “Everyone’s doing it. You better get on it before you miss out.”

I snickered. I guess I was out of the loop.

She closed her jacket, patting herself down like she didn’t do anything amiss. “Thank Griffin for all of us by the way. This is all him,” she said, motioning to the full room.

I patted her back when she passed me. I would thank Griffin once he got here. I wondered what was taking him so long. It seemed like the majority of his teammates were already here. He only stopped to get my hot chocolate, but that shouldn’t have taken him terribly long…

I shook my head at myself. How thirsty was I being? He’d get here when he did. It probably just felt long because I wanted to see him. I was settling with that thought when a large hand came around and settled gently over my eyes. The skin was warm, but a whisper moved into my ear that brought an intense shudder in me.