Shit. It was the best word I could come up with to describe how the night had unfolded. Cori looked amazing, felt amazing, but the whole thing felt forced and awkward, nothing like the day before. I didn’t know how to treat I woman I didn’t have my dick in and she didn’t know how to be treated by a man. Fuck me sideways.

The best part of the night had been her straddling my lap in the dark looking at me like I was the only man on the planet. It wasn’t even the fact that I could have taken her, it was the way she looked at me. I couldn’t fuck her there, not to escape the shit she had just told me. Cori deserved better than I treated other women. I wanted to treat her better than them. The look on her face when she told me about her dumbass ex was enough to knock the wind out of me. She acted like she had something to be ashamed of, like it was her fault, but Cori was the victim of her ex’s bullshit. She was so fucking strong.

Once I was in my car, the built-up anger and pent-up frustration took over. I growled, slamming my hands into the steering wheel. Fuck. There was no doubt Cori wanted me, but I didn’t want to just screw her and move on. I wanted to know her, touch her. I wanted to put the tattered pieces of her together again. I wanted to own Cori Sharpe, every damaged bit of her. I wasn’t taking no for an answer about it, either. I had gone my entire life without feeling a damn thing for anyone, so I wasn’t letting anyone ruin my high, not even her.

Home was a whopping mile away, but I drove the distance anyway. The house was dark and quiet—not even Tank greeted me. Hell, the dog barely even wagged his tail when I came in. I got a beer from the fridge, settled on the recliner, and pulled my phone out.

Hattie: Well?

Griff: I don’t even fucking know.

Hattie: What did you do to the girl?

Griff: Nothing, I was chivalrous and shit, but I fucked it all up. She’s been through some shit I wasn’t aware of. I think I blew it being an ass. I’m not taking no for an answer, but tonight may have bruised my ego. I doubt she’ll want to see me again.

Hattie: Don’t push it. Just be you, Griffie. Any girl would be lucky to have a guy like you after her.

Griff: So, says the lesbo

Hattie: Fuck you then, trying to help.

Griff: Sorry. I don’t do this shit and I’m failing miserably. See ya tomorrow.

I tossed the phone onto the table next to me and groaned. How had we been so comfortable one day and so damn tense the next? The answer was obvious. I pushed too much too fast. I wanted to ensure the guy was out of the picture, but the answers coming from her perfect mouth floored me. I shouldn’t have asked about her ex, Axel’s dad. It was obviously a sore subject and she had every right to not talk about it, but Cori opened up about it, giving me more details than I expected. Her words haunted me. The jackass was given the perfect woman and daughter, but he threw it all away for a temporary high. Fucking moron.

It was almost impossible to sleep once I laid down. I stared at the ceiling, hard as a fucking rock, and not willing to do anything about it. Jerking off thinking about her in my lap seemed wrong, like it was tainting the time we had together. Since when do I have a moral compass? So, I suffered through a very painful erection until I fell asleep.

I got into the shower the next morning unable to control myself any longer. I would shower again after my run, but I needed a cold one to help my aching cock before I met her at work. It wasn’t long before my shower thoughts went dirty and I was picturing Cori in there with me. The way she kissed me on the rock had me hard in a second, and remembering it was almost as good as the real thing. I soaped up, sliding my hand up my cock and back down, letting the barely-warm water hit the back of my neck. When I slid my hand up her skirt, I felt how fucking wet she was for me, and it took too much self-control to push her hands from my zipper. When I took her, I planned to do it right, not fuck her in public then take her home. Thinking about her soaked panties had me coming in my hand, groaning, shooting my release into the shower jet. I was jerking off like a horny teenager after telling the woman we couldn’t have sex. Shit, I’m an asshole.

I stopped halfway through my morning run at The Brew, picked up the same drink from the night before, winking at Mitch when he handed me her order, and walked to The Dog House. Her car was there and I stopped to collect my thoughts before going up the ramp. I never had to try with a woman before, which meant I had shitty taste in women, but I never cared until that very second. All the women leading up to Cori had one purpose, and it wasn’t conversation or companionship. I started in, but the voices inside made me wait. The window was open so I heard it all clearly.

“Sex does not make you a whore.” Harriet’s voice was light and bouncy, much like her. “Plus, who wouldn’t want a piece of him?” I moved just enough to see them through the crack in the curtain.

“I didn’t have sex with him, but damn I wanted to. We were outside, Harri, sitting on a damn rock.” Cori threw a paper towel at the trashcan. “Then my wishy-washy self tells him we can’t get into a relationship. I don’t even know if he wants a relationship. The whole night was a disaster and it was my damn fault.” Harriet grabbed Cori’s shoulders, shaking her a little.

“Calm down, deep breath, and close your eyes.” I could feel Harriet’s hippie bullshit coming on, but stayed to hear what she had to say. “Now I want you to listen. You are my dear friend, I love you, but you sound extremely unstable right now. He wants to see you again, today, so let the insecurity about it go. If this is about the sex thing then tell him, but try not to let fear hold you back.”

Cori dropped her head back, letting out a loud groan. “I haven’t had sex in nearly four years because I have PTSD but let’s fuck on a rock? Harri, I haven’t been able to even kiss a man until him. How do you think a man like Griffin Steele would react to me being so weak?” She stepped back from Harriet. “Sounds like a great conversation. I want to keep him, not run him off!”

Four years? Since the night she was attacked. Being raped was not sex. I gripped her latte, gritting my teeth. At least my woman said she wanted to keep me, not like I was giving her a choice, but it was nice to hear. Cori had no idea what kind of man I was, but to be honest, neither did I. What I did know was that I would fix Cori if it fucking killed me.

“I’m just trying to help, Cori. I’ve cleaned Needles a million times, he’s a good man. He’s edgy and badass, but genuinely good. I’ve see him tattoo all kinds of flirty girls’ tits and everything without reacting to their advances. If Griff has a thing for you, go with it. The way his daughter has opened up should tell you how patient the man can be.” Cori grumbled something at Harriet and I took the opportunity to stroll up the ramp. I held the door open for Harriet. She winked at me, patting my chest as I stepped inside, and she hurried across the street. She knew I had been listening. Harriet was a transplant from Washington and had inserted herself into every business in the area, but she was an awesome chick. I had to thank her for trying to talk sense into Cori.

Cori was missing so I settled on the bench up front to wait. A man came in with a big black dog, making the door chime, and Cori hurried up front. The look of surprise on her face when she saw me was adorable, but she recovered quickly, greeting the man. She asked about his phone number, rubbed his dog down enough to make me slightly jealous, and waved him off. Then she took the dog to the back, not even acknowledging me, so I waited. After plenty of time had passed, I realized she was hiding from me, so I shoved off the bench. Fuck it. I wanted her, and I tried, but she wasn’t having it, so it was a waste. I left the coffee next to the cash register, starting out the door. Erica pulled up in her massive truck and waved. I returned it with a grunt, walking down the ramp. I stopped before I reached the sidewalk. No, I wasn’t going to leave. I was going to march my ass back in there to claim what was mine. I started to turn back just as Cori gently touched my arm. My pissy attitude got in the way of hearing her follow me out. I was not making a good impression, and after the night before, I needed one.

“Sorry, I had a mess to clean up.” Even the smock thing she wore was badass. It was black with pink edges and her shoes matched. Erica winked at me as she passed with her toy poodle. How do all these women know things I don’t?

“I didn’t want to bother you.” I was still pissed, but no point in dwelling since the woman chased me outside. I did want to bother her. A lot. “I work the rest of the week, but are you free Sunday? I don’t care what you think of last night, I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Cori chewed her lip, shaking her head. “No. My sister and I take the kids to the zoo on Sundays.” Then, without any warning, she stood on her toes to softly kissed the edge of my lip. She knew I was pissed. “You and Celia can come with us if you want, but only if you think you can handle my sister. She and I are nothing alike.”

I curled my arms around her, needing to touch her, needing her close. Cori fit against me perfectly, her soft curves to my rough edges. Cori was just tall enough for me to rest my chin on her head. “Celia would love the zoo. I can sure as hell handle your sister.” Cori rested her chin on my chest, staring up at me. “I’ll let you work.” I moved her hair to kiss her neck and noticed the scar running from her ear down her neck to her shoulder. It was barely noticeable, a white line, but there if you looked closely enough. I settled on kissing her cheek before letting her retreat into work. Before I made it to the corner she came running up behind me, grabbed my arm, and stood on her toes to kiss me. I smothered her kiss with one of my own, gripping her ass to get her closer, then finally letting her go. I watched like a love-sick moron while she walked back to work. Yeah, I’m gone with that one.

I had a few hours before work, so I trekked back home to hang out with my little girl. She was camped in front of the TV, Tank at her side, with the stuffed horse when I came in. Mom was making breakfast but stopped to kiss my cheek and pat my arm.

“Sorry, I had an errand to run. Thanks for watching her last night.” I didn’t let Mom respond before I slipped out of the kitchen to the living room. I wasn’t ready to talk details of our shitty date with my mother but knew she would ask.

“Hey, Princess. Wanna sit with me?” Celia smiled, leaping into my lap with her horse. I held her against my chest while she watched some horse show on TV and traced the tribal tattoo on my wrist. She did it the day she showed up and every time she was sitting with me.

“When can I dance again?” Celia didn’t look at me or stop her tiny finger from moving.

“In a few days, but we are going to the zoo this weekend. Have you been to one?” Then she froze, turning slowly to look at me. The force my little girl shook her head with made her hair fly wildly in her face. “Axel and Cori invited us, so it’ll be fun.” She grinned wide, throwing her arms around my neck.

Celia was perfect. My anger for not knowing her sooner was slowly vanishing the more time I spent with her, and knowing she was mine forever lessened the pain. I could spend the rest of my life getting to know her, watching her grow, protecting her. She was so trusting and sweet despite seeing the shit she saw, despite being thrown into my care without even knowing me. When she first moved in, my princess fell into hysterics every time someone knocked on the door or there was a loud sound at all. The poor baby had night terrors and would wake up screaming several times a night. I was followed through the house, even to the bathroom until she was comfortable being left in any room alone. Once she started day-care, two days a week, things relaxed a little, but she never made friends. I was advised to hold her out of kindergarten an extra year so Celia could finish settling in, but I thought she would do better on a school routine. I had no idea what the fuck I was doing with her, but I winged it and Celia seemed almost happy. Her bond with Axel only made me firmer in my decision to keep Cori.

Tank grunted next to us on the couch and Celia rubbed his fat head with her little fingers while we finished her horse show. Anyone trying to say pits weren’t family dogs could kiss my ass. Tank would tear into anyone, including me, for touching Celia. Their bond was instant, strong, unshakable. It was one of those connections that made me feel safe about leaving Celia and Mom home alone at night when I worked late. The dog was getting older, almost ten, but could still fetch with the young pups.

We ate, blew bubbles out in the yard, and walked to the park near the house before I had to go open Needles. Every time I left it kind of sucked. Missing five years with her made me want to put her in my pocket so I didn’t miss anything else, but late night at a tattoo shop was not the place for a little princess. We never knew what we would be tattooing or piercing, so Celia stayed with Mom.

Celia kissed me at least a hundred times before I made it out the door and she was hoisted up on the counter by Mom, who she affectionately called LeeLee. Skipping the car, I walked to work. It wasn’t quite the workout I needed, but if I couldn’t hit the gym, I could walk to work.

Griffin: I’m busy as hell tonight, but feel free to text me anyway.

Cori: Are you asking for naughty pictures?

The woman could read my mind.

Griffin: Oh. Fuck. Yes.

Cori: Too bad. Any super classy tattoos happening tonight?

Griffin: No changing the subject. I want those pictures!

Cori: I’m not fifteen, I learned my lesson on nudie pix a long time ago.

Griffin: Fine. I’d rather have the real thing than a selfie anyway.

Cori: We need to talk about it. If you insist on pursuing this, you should know some things.

Griffin: I more than insist. We can talk at your convenience. About to tattoo tweetie bird on an ass cheek. If you change your mind about the nudes, send away.

I honestly didn’t want to talk about the past with her, but Cori was going to make me. Hell, I was making her spend time with me so the least I could do was listen. Her reaction to being called brave made me see how broken she was, but I was determined to move her past it. I was going to fix her frayed edges, make her trust me. I had two days before I had to act like an upstanding guy and impress her sister. I knew it wouldn’t happen. Up-tight people took one look at me and wrote me off. The tattoo stigma was still strong, and I was kind of an ass about it, but I would put as much effort into it as I could muster. The woman had broken all my rules and just kept going, but I loved it.

I didn’t end up tattooing any birds on asses, but I did do my fair share of generic art that would be covered in a few years after they realized how fucking lame it was. Waylon cranked Ozzy in the work room and the hum of the guns lulled me as I worked. I didn’t create an original piece all night, which sucked. The point in my job was to create, not to replicate, but money was money. My phone lit up several times, but I forced myself to ignore it until I was done, which wasn’t until nearly midnight. Had I stopped to answer a text, I would have spent the night talking to Cori instead of working.

Cori: I know you’re busy but I just met your mom.

Mom: I took Celia to the park before dark. Cori is a lovely girl.

Shit. Not that I didn’t plan on Cori meeting my mother, but on my terms, not theirs, and not after one shitty date. I knew Cori was eating it up too. I could almost see her shit-eating grin while she pumped my mom for information and my mom feeding it to her with no problem. I wasn’t hiding my shitty past from Cori, but after Mom telling her what an ass I was, she would ditch me fast. I already had my fucking work cut out for me without any interference.

Cori was everything I wasn’t, but she was mine, whether she knew it or not. And I was hers. Fuck me sideways, I’m a goner.