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She bit down a laugh. “Sorry. I forgot where we were.”
He slid his hands down her back, resting them in the dip above her ass. “It’s okay. I kind of enjoyed it.”
“Is it wrong that I want you to kiss me right now?” Her eyes were dark as she stared up at him.
“In here?” he asked, his throat feeling tight. He wanted to kiss her like crazy. To spin her around and press her against the wall and move his body against hers until neither of them could think straight.
“Yeah, here.” She nodded. “Now.”
“In front of our friends? What will they say?”
“I don’t care what they say. I don’t care what anybody thinks. I want you to kiss me right now, Griffin Lambert.”
God, she was beautiful. With her head tipped up, her lips parted, and her eyes wide and needy as they stared at him. He cupped her cheek with his hand, his lips twitching as she turned her head to kiss his palm, the sensation affecting him more than it should.
He stared at her intently, his gaze not leaving hers as he grazed his nose against hers, inhaling her skin like it was an illicit substance. Then his lips were brushing against hers, his hand sliding to the back of her head to angle her face, his tongue running along her swollen bottom lip.
She was intoxicating. One kiss could never be enough. She was a cool drink after a long day, slating his thirst yet making him want more. She pressed her body against his, her fingers raking through his thick hair.
It was only when they parted that he realized all their friends were looking at them. He froze for a moment, half-expecting Autumn to panic or hide. But then Ally started laughing, and Autumn grinned at him, desire still flashing in her gaze.
“Well thank god for that,” Ally said, giving Autumn a high five. “I was starting to choke on the UST. Can we go give Griff his birthday gifts now?”
17
It was almost two in the morning by the time they grabbed their jackets and Griff’s birthday gifts and headed for the car waiting for them at the sidewalk. Breck, Caitie, and Jackson climbed in with them, Autumn having offered them a ride home since they lived near Griff’s apartment. The driver pulled smoothly away, making a U-turn to join the road out of town.
“God, my feet ache,” Caitie said, taking off her high-heeled silver sandals and wiggling her bare toes. “Babe, can you give me a massage?”
Breck sighed and took her feet into his hands, rubbing his thumb over the soles.
Jackson grinned at the two of them, then turned to look at Griff. “Babe, maybe you can massage my feet, too.”
“Get out of here.” Griff shook his head.
“It’s kind of your fault my feet hurt,” Jackson pointed out. “I was dancing at your birthday party.”
“I’ll buy you a foot spa,” Griff muttered, then rolled his eyes at Autumn. “Let’s drop him off first, okay?”
They pulled up outside Jackson’s sprawling house half an hour later. Griff had to climb out first to avoid his friend clambering over him. He didn’t want another request for a foot rub.
“Hope you had a good birthday, man,” Jackson said, giving Griff a hug.
Griff hugged him back. “It was good. Thanks for coming.”
“Autumn’s the one to thank. She arranged everything. Called us all up and told us when to get to the club. She’s great.”
Griff’s voice was rough. “Yeah, she is.”
“So are you two an item now?” Jackson asked, glancing over Griff’s shoulder at the car. Autumn and Caitie were laughing about something, and Breck was checking his phone, while the driver waited patiently for Griff to climb back in.
“We’re just friends.”
“A little more than that. I saw that kiss.”
“Yeah, well it’s casual. The way she wants it.”