I cried like a complete moron while my best friend got married. I hadn’t cried at my own wedding, but Harriet and Briggs saying, “I do” made me a hot mess. Griffin staring at me the entire time didn’t help, either. I hated that he was watching me fall apart like an over-emotional mess, but it wasn’t the first time he saw me crying. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t read his expression to save my life. He was staring, but I had no idea what was on his mind, at all. His handsome face was simply blank.

The ceremony ended, Ax and Celia ran off to find the other kids, and music started. A dance floor was set out near the white trellis and the DJ wasted no time cranking up the sappy love songs. We all watched newly married couple dance before Beck grabbed their mother and pulled her out on the floor. Faye and Beck kept bumping the couple, making Harriet light up. Harriet was the happiest person I had ever met, no matter how rough things were, she saw the silver lining. Rae and Nick made their way to the floor next, swaying close together, talking, sneaking kisses in.

I felt Griffin before he touched me. His arm slid around my waist and his breath hit my neck. “I want to do this.” I sighed a little at the sensation of being pulled against him.

“You don’t strike me as the dancing type.” I tilted my head to catch his half-smile.

“I dance just fine, but I’m not talking about dancing.” I must have looked confused. “I wanna get married, Babe.” His eyes focused on the couple on the floor. A whirlwind of flutters took up my entire chest, “Cori?” His hand slid down into mine and he spun me to face him, backing us to the dance floor.

I rested my hand on his shoulder, “Does she know about me? What we did this morning going to put a huge damper on your relationship with your fiancé.” I nibbled my bottom lip, swallowing the giant smile trying to take over my face. Until that very second, the very idea of getting married again would have made me laugh, and then vomit.

Griffin slid his hand up my back, keeping us swaying in time with some power ballad. “I don’t think my fiancée would complain about what we did this morning.” He leaned down to my ear. “If I remember correctly, she was singing my praises loud enough to wake the kids.” I felt my face heat up, and Griffin cocked a knowing eyebrow.

“That also could have been your headboard hitting the wall,” I reminded him. “Which would have been your doing.” Griffin cleared his throat and pulled me closer, pressing me into his erection. I giggled, but Griffin smiled, looking down at me with that look. I had seen it before, but thought I imagined it. The first time we slept together I saw it, and the day the girls and I made dinner at his house, but I ignored it. There was no denying it as we swayed slowly on the dance floor, with two dozen other people. I was the only person Griffin Steele saw in that moment, and when his beautiful blue eyes caught mine, everything else vanished.

“You and Ax, you two complete us.” Griffin swallowed. “Move in, we can get married whenever you want. No more sleepovers, no more talking on the phone until we finally fall asleep, no more saying goodbye. You and Ax belong with me.” Tears stung my eyes and burned my throat. I had fallen in love weeks before, it took me no time at all. I knew Griffin cared about us, but he’d never said it. Part of me thought it was enough, but the other part needed to hear him say it.

I opened my mouth to answer, not entirely sure what I was going to say, but was saved by Rae. She quieted the music, and the shuffle of people turning to watch popped the bubble we were in. He blinked and we both looked around, turning to face Rae standing with Harriet and Briggs. Right, I’m at my best friend’s wedding. Griffin pulled me to him by the waist. I leaned my head on his shoulder while we listened to Rae cry through her speech. Harriet and Briggs smiled, laughing over whatever Rae was saying, and when the crowd clapped, I did too. A buffet of drinks was opened, and the music started back up just in time for Amelia to bring the girls to us.

Before I could pick up Axel, Celia grabbed my hand, so I hoisted her on to my hip. “Cori? Can you put flowers in my hair tomorrow too?” In the corner of my eye, I watched Griffin twirl Axel so her dress flared out. “But I want pink ones tomorrow.” I kissed her forehead and she squeezed my neck.

“I think we can find you some pink flowers for tomorrow.” Celia hugged me tighter then wiggled to get down. Axel took her hand and they spun in circles dancing, laughing. Jovie stepped next to me, handing me a glass. “Hey, Boss.”

“You’re next.” She linked her arm with mine, squeezing gently.

“How did the most cynical person I know become the most hopelessly romantic?” I sipped my champagne. Jovie shrugged, laughing at Celia and Axel. Griffin caught my eye from where he was talking to Nick, and I felt myself blush.

“It’s weird how things like this knock you on your ass. I was alone for so long after Davis and let all those wounds fester. It made me bitter.” Jovie’s mom came by and passed Norah off to her. “Things change; people grow.” When Ewan came over with Ruby, I snatched the baby from him and nuzzled her head, soaking up all the baby smell.

“How long until she’s pregnant?” Ewan wrapped Jovie and Norah in his arms, kissing her head.

“Less than a year.” Jovie laughed.

“Six months tops,” I threw in my opinion. Harri was convinced she didn’t want kids, but was currently dancing with her new husband and baby George. Every time Harri saw a baby, her face lit up and she went into maternal overdrive, so she could lie to strangers, but not all of us.

When it started getting dusky, The DJ started breaking down all his equipment and guests started filing out. Griffin and I helped with clean up, letting the girls play with Ruby, Norah, and George. By the time the sun had vanished, the Layton yard looked normal again. I buckled the girls in their seats, waved at Harriet over the top of the Jeep, Climbing in the driver’s side. Griffin grumbled at me for driving, but buckled his seat belt, put a hand on my knee, and leaned back in the passenger seat.

The short drive home was full of the girls whispering and me half dreading, half anticipating the conversation to come. The rational part of me thought maybe he was only all wrapped up in the wedding and all the emotion going along with it, but I knew Griffin wasn’t the type to let that happen. I swung into his driveway and the girls bounced ahead of us up the walk.

“Babe, get them in some pajamas. I’ll be right back. I need to check on work.” Griffin unlocked the door, letting us in the house. I nodded as he closed the door behind us, leaving me alone with the kids. Lily was out for the evening at a cancer support group, so we were alone. With pajamas on and teeth brushed, I promised the girls coloring and Ghost Busters before bed, and they settled in the floor of the playroom with coloring trays in their laps. I let Tank out in the backyard and curled up on the sitting room couch, waiting for Griffin. He never left to check on work, but didn’t give me time or room to ask for an answer, so I waited.

I must have dozed off because I woke up to silence from downstairs, and my head in Griffin’s lap. His hand rested gently on my hip and he was slouched back, staring at the ceiling. “They’re in bed.” I rubbed my nose into his stomach, inhaling the clean, masculine smell of Griffin.

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I guess wedding prep is tiring.” I sat up and was pulled into his lap. When I brushed my hair back from my face, something caught my eye and I stared at the ring on my finger. It was a black diamond, surrounded by tiny white diamonds in a braided design. I felt Griffin watching me study the ring, with my mouth hanging open, “Griffin …”

He cut me off with a squeeze. “I had it made a few weeks ago. It came in last week, but I was waiting. If you plan on arguing this with me, could you wait until morning? I just want this night. I love you, and I love Ax. I need you both here with me. If this isn’t what you want, please, wait until tomorrow.” I had never heard Griffin unsure, even just a little, but the man was almost begging me not to reject him. No one in their right mind would.

“I was going to say it’s beautiful.” I wiped away a pesky tear and leaned into my man. “I love you too, honey.”

“But?”

“There isn’t a ‘but’. Who am I to turn down Griffin Steele?” I laughed, but it wasn’t really funny. It was sweet perfection to hear him tell me he loved me and Ax. Hearing him admit he wanted to keep us, both of us, had tears dripping from my cheeks to his shirt. Tank jumped up on the couch, grumbling for us to get out of his way and Griffin obliged, picking me up to carry me from the living room.

“You know where this is going, right?” Griffin growled and tossed me on the bed. He had taken my heels off, probably while I slept, but I reached back for the zipper of my dress. “The dress stays.” He was pulling his shirt over his head, already out of his pants and shoes.

“You better not ruin this dress, Mr. Steele.” My words were far less threatening with a huge smile on my face.

Griffin shrugged and grabbed my ankles. “Panties can go, and the dress is as good as ruined. I’ll buy you a new one.” I smirked at that one. I knew he would ruin my dress. When I made no move to remove any clothing, Griffin dropped to his knees in front of me fully intending to remove panties that weren’t there. His hands moved up my thighs, inching the dress up with them, and when the hem hit my hips he dug his fingertips in, pulling my ass to the end of the bed.

In one movement, his boxers were gone, and Griffin was baring down on me, licking, sucking on my neck, making all rational thought vanish. His rough hands roamed everywhere and my eyes closed, enjoying every bit of what he had to offer. “Eyes, babe.” My eyes opened, locking onto his, and I fought to keep them open when he thrust home.

Some synapse in my brain decided to fire, and I tried to shove him off. “Condom.” It was the only word I could manage to pant out.

Griffin showed no signs of stopping and my wiggling wasn’t doing anything but hurting my cause. Every movement just turned me on more. “No.” The one word held so much power in that moment. Griffin had asked me, or well, told me, to marry him, but I wasn’t sure we were ready for a baby.

“Honey, we should use a condom.” I could feel the orgasm building in my core, making my thoughts a muddled mess. The night we forgot was one thing but being intentional was something else.

“I said no. I’m gonna take care of you, the girls, and this baby.” One massive hand ran up my stomach to cup my face when he repositioned, standing to his full height, and going completely still. “You trust me? If not, we stop.” His fingers hooked around the back of my neck, while his thumb made tiny circles on my throat, driving me mad. I’d have agreed to sell him my soul if he promised to move again. Being filled by Griffin and him be so still, was heavenly torture. I nodded without hesitation, and Griffin smiled, moving again, making me whimper. Looking up at him, towering over me, all hard and tattooed, sweating from the effort, did me in. My back arched, and every fiber of my being shattered into a million little pieces of bliss. Griffin slammed into me one more time, groaning, throwing my name out a few times, before he collapsed, rolling me to face him, not breaking our connection.

I wanted to hang on to the high, but I was too pissed. I could have stopped him, but I didn’t, and my lack of self-control pissed me off. Somewhere in the back of my mind a baby with Griffin sounded like an amazing idea. As reality set in, though, my brain function returned, and I panicked.

“What the fuck are you thinking?” I slapped at his chest, but Griffin held me close. “You know I’m not on the pill or anything. Are you trying to knock me up?” I fought to get out of his grip, trying to hang on to my anger, but it was pointless and he looked more amused than anything. It was impossible to stay mad considering his embrace was my favorite place to be.

“Yes, I thought that would be obvious.” Griffin pinned my arms to my sides and his deep laugh ran through me. “I do know how it works.”

“You think now is a good time for this? Stupid caveman, you can’t just make these decisions without some discussion.” I quit fighting, because trying to get out of his bear hug was stupid.

“Cori, if you had honestly wanted me to stop I would have. If it were my choice, we’d go get married first thing in the morning and have a baby nine months from today. Stop fighting me.” I did exactly what he said and sighed in resignation. I felt like our entire relationship had been Griffin telling me to stop fighting him. I wasn’t against more kids, or marrying him, but the Griffin way of going about things pissed me off.

“I’m assuming you plan on Ax and I moving in?” He cupped my face, resting his chin on my head, and nodded. “Anything else I might need to know about?” I grumbled, trying to hang on to my anger.

“In my house, wearing my ring, having my baby. No, that’s about it. Cori Steele has a nice ring to it.” He reached behind me to click off the lamp. “I’ll call some movers tomorrow. Is there going to be a problem with your lease?” I shook my head, and Griffin unzipped my dress that was still pushed up around my hips. He was naked. I ran my hands down his chest before pulling the dress over my head, tossing it in the floor. I reached for the dresser, but I was quickly pulled back into the bed, and Griffin spooned against my back. He hung on like I might vanish if he didn’t touch me.

“I love you, honey.” I scooted back into him.

“Love you, babe.” Griffin kissed my head, rubbing his thumb over the ring on my finger. “Just one more is enough for me, but whatever you want is fine.” It took me a second to realize he was talking about kids. After getting divorced, I never thought I would have more kids. Who would want a woman so damaged, so broken and bruised? Griffin did, and in a whirlwind of lust to love, we were suddenly planning a family. I knew he was asleep, so I didn’t bother answering. I didn’t have an answer anyway. I spun the ring on my finger, wishing the lights were on so I could stare at it, memorize it, but closed my eyes and settled in. In the morning, we could tell the girls and Lily. I would be making a call to my landlord, and start planning the world’s fastest engagement to wedding, but for the night, I could live in the words I had no idea I needed to hear.

Love you, babe.