She smelled a little sweet and salty. I brushed my lips over hers again, intending to take this slow. Tish was having none of that. She made this little raspy sound in the back of her throat before she arched up and curled her hand around the back of my neck to pull me closer. When her lips opened underneath mine, I was gone.

  When she arched closer against me, and I felt the taut little peaks of her nipples through the thin cotton of my T-shirt, I let out a ragged groan. On the heels of a gulp of air when we briefly broke apart, I tightened my arm around her waist and slid my hand into her hair as I angled her head to the side and claimed her mouth.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tish

  When I felt the subtle sting on my scalp from Griffin’s fingers gripping my hair as he took over our kiss, I thought I might burst into flames. I needed this — him – so desperately. It was a bone-deep craving.

  I felt as if I could lose myself in his kiss, and I wanted to. Maybe it was the memory of our first kiss, which felt like another time and place, almost as if it had happened to another person. Except there was a kernel in it that brought it back to me. Our kiss went on and on and on. One of my hands slid down his back. I could feel the strength of him, his corded muscles flexing under my touch. My hand crept under the hem of his T-shirt, greedy to feel him.

  His skin was hot to the touch, and I savored his warmth and strength. I gasped into his mouth when his hand slid through my hair and down my back, boldly cupping my bottom and pressing me closer. I could feel his hard length against my lower belly. Seconds later, we broke apart and the sound of our ragged breathing filled the air around us.

  His eyes bored into mine. “I think we need to slow down.”

  I was shaking my head before I could even think it through. I didn’t want to slow down. I wanted to dive into this fire and let it consume me.

  The whole experience of pregnancy and giving birth had been messy, exhausting, and painful. None of it was sexy, and yet all of it brought you into your body in a way that, at least, for me, not much else could. In the aftermath of trying to find a rhythm amidst the chaos of sleepless nights and nursing and being entirely responsible for a tiny human, my barriers had fallen away, and had stripped me raw. Now, I simply wanted what I wanted.

  In this moment, that was Griffin. I slid my palm over his abs and down over the hot length of him.

  “Tish,” he bit out through gritted teeth.

  I leaned back slightly, lifting my chin. “I want this. I want you.”

  He swallowed. “If you want me to stop, I will. We don’t have to do anything more than kiss.”

  Griffin seemed to have some sort of misplaced idea that we should stop with just a kiss. Whatever. I was well beyond that. I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t want just a kiss.”

  After a weighted moment, he dipped his head again, claiming my mouth once more. His kiss was a little slower, lingering this time. I dragged my palm up and down his length, and he groaned into my mouth. Impatient, I quickly unbuttoned his jeans and slid his zipper down before slipping my hand into the opening.

  I savored the little thrill that zipped through me when his cock pulsed under my touch. I wasn’t usually this bold, but I felt caught in a rushing current. I broke away from his mouth before shoving his jeans down, just far enough to free his cock. I curled my palm around him, watching his eyes darken, his chest rising and falling with his rapid breathing.

  “Is this okay? Do you want me to stop?” I whispered.

  “Fuck, no! Don’t stop,” he gasped.

  Kneeling down, I brought my mouth to the tip of his cock, licking the drop of cum rolling out.

  “Fuck, Tish,” he murmured, his fingers gripping my hair.

  I kept my eyes on his as I angled my head to the side and circled my tongue around his thick crown. My gaze finally broke away from his when I shifted to take him into my mouth fully. Curling my palm around the base of his shaft, I teased him with deep suction and slid my tongue along the underside of his cock. I savored the earthy tang.

  “Tish,” he bit out.

  I released him with a little pop before asking, “Yes?”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Griffin

  This encounter had spiraled completely out of my control. My release was right there.

  Staring down at Tish, it felt as if lightning was reverberating through me in jagged bolts of heat. Her lips were swollen and damp from the magic she had wrought on my cock over the last few moments.

  I tried to answer, but as the moment stretched, she slid her palm up and down my cock before leaning forward to suck me into her mouth again. That was it. The tether of my control snapped, and my release spurted into her mouth.

  Thank fuck there was a counter behind me, because otherwise my knees would’ve given out. I was still trying to gather myself together when she straightened and stepped to the sink to rinse out her mouth.

  A moment later, she stood in front of me, looking pleased and sexy as hell.

  I studied her for a few beats before reaching out and hooking my finger over the waistband of her cotton pants. “Come here.” I gave her a small tug.

  She didn’t hesitate. I almost groaned when I felt the soft curves of her breasts against my chest. “Well.” I lifted my hand to brush her hair away from her face. “You took me off guard there.”

  Her smile was sly. “I kind of wanted to.”

  “You did?”

  She bit the corner of her lip, still smiling as she looked up at me. “Yeah. The first two times I saw you, I fainted. You’ve usually had the upper hand with me.”

  I chuckled. Need was still revving its engine in my body, and Tish was feathering the pedal.

  I couldn’t help it. I had to kiss her again. Everything felt out of order, and yet that seemed to be how it went with Tish.

  I savored the soft sounds that she made at the back of her throat, the way her tongue glided against mine. I took deep sips from her, breathing her in. Having already found my release had given me some control. I wasn’t so rushed, the claws of need weren’t so sharp now. I let my hands explore her—the dip of her waist, the way her hips flared out, the softness of her bottom when I gave her a squeeze.

  She broke away abruptly and leaned back. “Just so you know, I had a baby.”

  “Um, I know. Why are you saying this now?”

  For the first time tonight, hesitation flickered in her gaze and she looked a little bashful. She cleared her throat. “Um, things are, well, curvier.”

  “I like you just the way you are.”

  I claimed her mouth in another deep kiss and let my hands slide up under her shirt. Her skin was warm and silky. I slid my palm around her waist, up over the curve of her belly to one of her breasts. They were plump and full, her nipples pebbled peaks.

  She let out a little whimper, arching into my palm. I deftly unbuttoned her shirt with my free hand until it draped open. I dipped my head down, nipping along the side of her neck, savoring the way she arched against me. I felt the goosebumps rise on her skin and teased my thumbs over her nipples.

  Her fingers speared into my hair and she let out a sharp cry as I dallied with lazy kisses along her collarbone. I was lost in the sounds she made, her sweet, musky scent, and the softness of her skin. When I lifted my head, she let out a frustrated sigh. “Don’t stop.”

  “Just rearranging,” I said as I spun us around.

  I’d recovered from my release and was steady on my feet again. I turned her around and lifted her hips onto the counter, pausing for a moment to take her in. Her hair was a messy tousle around her shoulders, her cheeks were flushed deep pink. With her shirt open and her breasts exposed, she looked elementally feminine and sultry. It felt as if a cord was connected between us, shimmering with fire.

  Her knees were open slightly, and I stepped between them as I cupped a breast, sliding my thumb back and forth over her nipple. I smoothed a palm over the curve of her belly, delving between her thighs and cupping her mound to discover her panties were soaked from her arousal.

  Her lips were parted as she stared at me, her breath coming in sharp pants.

  “Sweetness, I’m gonna make you come,” I rasped.

  She stared at me, her eyes darkening. “Please.”

  I slid my arm around her waist, splaying it at the base of her spine as I pulled her a little closer to the edge of the counter. Her hips shifted toward me slightly. She let out a whimper before I gave in and pushed her panties out of the way to delve into her slippery wet folds.

  I held her gaze when I sank two fingers, knuckle-deep, into her.

  “Please, hurry,” she gasped.

  “Tell me what you need, sweetness.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Tish

  I could barely think through the fiery haze. “Make me come. Please. Now…” was all I could manage.

  Griffin pumped his fingers into me deeply, barely grazing over my clit. I was desperate, I could hardly bear the pressure tightening inside. Again and again, he sank his fingers into me, stretching me and pushing me closer and closer to the edge. My hips were rocking into his touch.

  “Griffin, now, please!” I demanded.

  He pumped in deeply, his thumb working magic over my clit. My orgasm hit me so hard and fast that I barely heard myself crying his name in a ragged breath as my release slammed through me. Sensation drew tight before breaking apart with such force I trembled all over. I was grateful for his arm around my waist to hold me as my head fell to the curve of his neck.

  I stayed like that for a long moment. The pleasure slowed to small waves and eddies before he withdrew his fingers and tucked my panties back into place. I breathed, barely pulling myself together.

  Eventually, I lifted my head. He was right there waiting and dipped his head to give me a kiss. I didn’t know if it was months of exhaustion with a baby, or the tension I’d been functioning under, or just the fact that finally this happened with Griffin, but I felt more relaxed than I could ever remember feeling. I was sated on a deep level, down to my bones. I felt liquid and languid.

  When Griffin drew back and lifted a hand to smooth my messy hair away from my forehead, it felt as if shimmering threads were catching between us and tightening. Although this felt undeniably right, I wasn’t prepared to examine that feeling. I desperately didn’t want him to leave yet.

  A few minutes later, I was sitting on the small couch in the living room. Griffin’s gaze arced about the space. The living room had windows offering a view of a field and trees. With it being late summer, the fireweed blooms were falling, leaving faded fuchsia flowers scattered over the ground. The last rays of the sun still angled over the mountains.

  There was a stone fireplace to one side and bookshelves lining the other wall. An archway led to the kitchen with a hallway on the opposite side where the bedrooms were.

  “This is a nice place,” he said, catching my eyes.

  “It is. I’m grateful that Madison and Graham rented it to me.”

  “I’m glad it was available. It’s the perfect size for you and Teddy.”

  “Thank you for making me dinner,” I said after a pause.

  “I made mac and cheese. Nothing amazing,” he pointed out.

  I bit my lip to keep from smiling too much. “I know, but I happen to love mac and cheese. I’m sure you could guess that based on the state of my kitchen cabinets. I have help from friends, but it’s a lot to have a baby by yourself.”

  I didn’t realize how battened down I’d been keeping myself until the emotion rushed up and I felt tears stinging my eyes. I wasn’t sad that I had a baby. Teddy was the best thing that had ever happened to me. But it felt like I was constantly spinning plates in the air just to get by. I was overwhelmed with the idea of trying to go back to work and still do everything I needed to do.

  Griffin slid across the short distance between us on the couch and curled his strong arm around my shoulders. His touch was warm and reassuring and solid, everything I needed.

  “Of course, it’s a lot. No need to explain. I will make mac and cheese any night you want it.”

  I didn’t want to move away, so I shifted slightly to lean back and look at him. “You mean that, don’t you?”

  He didn’t miss a beat. “Absolutely.” He paused, studying me. “Now, we have to do the awkward thing.”

  “What’s the awkward thing?” I asked.

  “You’ll probably find a way to kick me out politely.”

  “What if I don’t want you to leave?”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Griffin

  My brain felt hazy the following morning. After our intensely intimate encounter and Tish asking me to stay, we fell asleep in her bedroom. Teddy woke up once during the night, and Tish had tried to shoo me away, but I sat up against the pillows with her while she nursed for a few minutes before he fell back asleep.

  In the morning, she seemed to start gathering up her doubts again. She had to go to work, and it was obvious her mornings were a rush. She was still trying to settle into a new routine. Despite the hurry, I’d gotten a kiss. When our lips were barely touching as I lifted my head, I whispered, “It was really, really, good to see you, Tish.

  In that tiny pocket of time, it felt as if it was just us in the world. Her lips curled into a smile and the guarded look in her eyes had fallen away. “It was really good to see you, too, Griffin.”

  Teddy let out a little squawk. He was already in his car seat, ready to be carted to the car. In the following few minutes, Tish’s hands were full with an array of baby things, a diaper bag, and more.

  I eyed her. “I can carry Teddy, or everything else.”

  For a split second, she hesitated before laughing softly. “If you don’t mind, you can take him. He’s the heaviest.”

  After Teddy was secured in the back of her car, I reluctantly left. A short drive later, I walked into Firehouse Café.

  “Well, you look a little tired, Griffin,” Janet observed from behind the counter.

  “Do I?” I countered.

  Her brows hitched up. “You do, but some coffee might help. What can I get you?”

  “Since I am a little tired, how about a really strong coffee? I’m not a complicated man. Your house coffee will do, if it’s strong enough.”

  “Oh, it’s strong, but I’ll add a shot of espresso for you. That’ll make it even stronger.”

  While I waited, I glanced around. The place was bustling. With most of the tables filled, and what seemed like an endless line of customers coming through the door.

  I was still waiting for my coffee when I heard my name. Glancing over, I saw Beck.

  “Hey,” Beck said, stepping out of the line to clap me on the shoulder. “Are you getting food or just coffee?”

  “I started with coffee,” I replied.

  “Dude, you have to get one of her sandwiches. She has a secret special.” He wagged his brows dramatically with that.

  When I glanced toward Janet as she handed me my coffee, she rolled her eyes. “It’s not a secret. Beck likes to pretend like it is.”

  “It’s a secret until I get it for him,” Beck countered with a grin.

  Janet chuckled.

  “You don’t have to get me breakfast,” I replied.

  “He’s going to insist,” Maisie piped up at his side.

  “Go for it. I’ll return the favor another time,” I said with a shrug.

  Sandwich in hand, I walked out with them. “You headed to the station?” Beck asked as I stopped beside my truck. At my nod, he added, “Perfect. We’ll eat there.”

  Only minutes later, I was sitting in the kitchen at the station, enjoying the excellent breakfast sandwich Beck had gotten for me. Maisie had kissed him on the cheek and headed out front.

  He smiled over at me after he finished a bite. “Marriage is the best.”

  “Is it now?” I returned.

  Graham chuckled as he approached the table. “Beck is all about marriage. It’s funny. In high school, he was the biggest flirt ever.”

  “Legendary,” Cade Masters quipped, as he stopped beside Graham.

  Beck was unruffled. “I’ve got two kids, and I adore my wife and it’s just good. Are you married?”

  Graham snorted as he sat down in a chair beside me, clapping me on the shoulder. “Buckle up. Beck is the station gossip. Nosy as fuck.”

  Once again, Beck shrugged. “I like information. I don’t spread gossip. I just gather gossip.”

  A laugh sputtered up as I looked over at him. “I guess I know who to go to if I have a question about something.”

  “Well, first, answer mine,” Beck teased.

  “I’m not married. Dating doesn’t work out that well as a hotshot firefighter.”

  Beck shook his head vigorously. “Now, see that’s where you’re wrong. Graham’s happily married, I’m happily married, so is Cade.”

  Cade rolled his eyes as he patted Beck on the shoulder and kept walking.

  “Good to know.” I finished off my sandwich and took a swallow of coffee. “That’s some damn good coffee.” I lowered the cup to the table, studying the distinctive red cup with Firehouse Café emblazoned on the side.

  Beck was still on the topic of marriage. “You just need to find the right person.”

  “Are you giving me dating advice now?” I asked.

  Graham laughed at my side. “He most certainly is.”

  My thoughts spun back to Tish and our startlingly intimate encounter last night. I didn’t need to find the right woman, but I could definitely use some advice. Not yet though.

  “I guess I know who to go to when I need that,” I finally said.