His fingers stop moving in my hair. “You have a choice now. I freed you.”
“You caught me,” I huff. “It’s very frustrating.”
Griffin chuckles, sobering when I don’t join in. “Why are you so limp?”
“I can’t move.” I pick up my hand as far as it will go—barely an inch off the ground.
He curses colorfully enough to impress even me. “Can we risk more blood?”
I shrug. Sort of. “We may have to.”
Griffin carries me out of the tent and then sits me upright, propping me against his side while he slips his knife from his belt and burns it clean in the fire.
I glance at our surroundings. Campfires dot the area around us, none too close. I can’t make out people in the shadows, or hear their conversations. I don’t see Beta Team, Piers, or Egeria anywhere, although they can’t be too far.
“Did you get my knives?” I ask. “And my sword?”
He nods, cooling the hot metal in the evening air. “Flynn has everything. I know how attached you are to your blades.” Holding my arm, he rubs the sensitive skin on the inside of my wrist with the pad of his thumb. Warmth spreads through me until he replaces his thumb with the knife. “Ready?”
Not really, but Griffin doesn’t wait. He cuts shallowly across the veins in my right wrist before doing the same to his left. I inhale sharply at the sting while Griffin doesn’t appear to even feel it. He stacks our hands together, lacing our fingers in a way I don’t think I’ll ever get used to.
He looks around, frowning. “I need something to tie us together.”
“Where’s an enchanted rope when you need one?” I grumble.
Griffin barks a laugh. “Contrary to what you may think, I don’t enjoy bondage.”
I don’t imagine I’d enjoy bondage much, either. So why is a place deep in my belly heating with something that feels suspiciously like interest?
Flushing, I clear my throat. “Then what do you enjoy? Apparently, Daphne knows.”
Griffin’s eyes glitter. “Jealous?”
“No!” I scoff.
He grins. “I’m glad I’m not the only one.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re delirious. From blood loss.”
He squeezes my hand. “You have no reason to be jealous. I haven’t touched her since the day I saw you—which was well before you saw me.”
I feel my face flame. I have no idea why. If Griffin notices my awkwardness, he keeps it to himself. He unbuckles my belt one-handed, slips it from around my waist, and then circles our wrists with it, binding them closer together. The cuts are deep enough to bleed for a while, but not deep enough to be dangerous. They’ll probably leave scars.
“As for what I enjoy…” Griffin leans close to finally answer, his scruffy jaw tickling my neck. “We could always give spanking a try.”
I laugh. I can’t help it. “I take it spanking is a metaphor again?”
“Maybe.” He winks. “Maybe not.”
Now I’m imagining both possibilities. Possibly both at once…
His teeth graze my earlobe, and I make a noise that sounds suspiciously like a yelp.
“Why so jumpy?” His lips press into my neck. He sucks gently on the sensitive skin below my ear before kissing the same spot.
My senses reel. Each brush of his lips is like a sip of decadent wine, turning me dizzy and light. “I’m…ah…not very experienced with all this.”
He keeps nuzzling my neck, kindling a steady blaze low in my abdomen. “Ours clearly wasn’t your first kiss.”
I tilt my head to give him better access. Griffin’s rumbling sound of approval vibrates against my throat. His splayed fingers feel like a brand on my hip. He squeezes, wringing a soft moan from me.
“Everyone kisses,” I say breathlessly. “It’s the rest I’m less sure about.”
He abruptly straightens, looking agreeably surprised. “Never?”
I shake my head, my stomach flip-flopping.
His lips curve in an utterly male, utterly smug, utterly possessive smile. “I’ll teach you.”
My whole body clenches in anticipation. Gods, yes!
No!
I panic and smack his chest with my unbound hand, grimacing at the ridiculously flirtatious tap. A month ago, I would have hit him hard—or at least tried to.
Griffin wraps his free hand around the back of my head and pulls me toward him for a scorching kiss. Our lips fuse, hotter than blood, and I forget all about ever wanting to hit him. Or kick him. Or even argue with him.