He was her boss â¦
A few orgasmsâearth-shattering or notâwere not worth playing Russian roulette with her whole life.
âIf weâre going to be working together,â she said, âthis thing between us has to end. No candlelit dinners, no late-night phone calls ⦠No sex.â
In response, Griffin threw back his head and laughed.
She set her jaw stubbornly. âIâm not joking.â
He pulled her toward him so she was standing between his outstretched legs and took her lips in a soul-searing kiss. The kind that almost ended up with him ripping off her clothes and devouring her until she came apart in his arms.
He smiled. âWell then, you let me know how that goes for you.â
Dear Reader,
When I first envisioned Griffin Cain, he was no more than the charming second brother in the Cain family. Characters often start like that for me, very one-dimensional. Still, I knew that he would have to become the CEO of the company one day. My critique partner, the fabulous Robyn Dehart, told me early on that he needed a goal beyond wanting to escape the mantle of responsibility. Of course she was right. She usually is. So I decided that this charming, seemingly irresponsible man was secretly involved with an international aid organization, just the kind of thing his father would disapprove of.
Of course, then I had to decide which international aid organization to model his imaginary charity after. My good friend Tracy Wolff suggested Water.org, a charity with which Matt Damon is heavily involved. I did a little research (i.e., wasted hours and hours online). Iâm tremendously impressed with Water.org. Thatâs what inspired me to create Hope>2O for Griffin.
I hope that a few of you who read this letter will check out Water.org and find out what great work they do. I made a donation in honor of the book and think it would be pretty cool if others did, too. If you want to give, too, you can check out my website or theirs for more information.
As always, I hope you enjoy this book and love Griffin and Sydney like I do!
Emily McKay
Griffin Cain certainly knew how to make love to a woman.
This was not the first time that thought had flittered through Sydney Edwardâs mind. Indeed, it wasnât even the first time today sheâd thought it. Oh, the things he did to her bodyâthe decadent, sinful, exquisite things he did.
But that was Griffin all over. Decadent. Sinful. Exquisite.
And so completely, totally opposite from her. Even nowâfour months into their clandestine relationshipâshe could hardly believe the things he did to her. The things she let him do to her. No, to be fair, the things she begged him to do.
Begged. Her, Sydney Edwards.
The most staid, conservative, responsible person she knew. And she was putty in his hands. One of which was, even now, tracing enticing swirls across her naked hip.
âI should go,â she muttered, attempting to roll away from him.
âNo.â The sound that emanated from Griffinâs throat was low and possessive, more of a growl than a word. His hand slipped over her hip to rest low on her belly as he pulled her back against him. âNot yet.â
âIâm already late for work.â But even she didnât believe her protestations. Not when his fingers were slipping down into the curls between her legs. Not when her back was automatically arching so that the moist center of her desire tilted toward him.
âThen be late,â he grumbled, nipping at her shoulder with his teeth.
They had had sex twice last night and once already this morning. Normally, she didnât stay over at his condo. So, normally, she was back at home, showered and de-Griffined, long before she had a chance to be late for work.
But Griffin had just returned from an overseas trip the night before. Heâd had a different trip just prior to that one. In short, lately heâd been gone entirely too much for her taste.
Not that she needed him.
Not that she even really missed him.
It was just that ⦠well, she craved his touch. Which was not at all the same thing as missing him.
Sydney knew that her relationship with Griffin was odd. Contrary to her very nature, even.
They spent very little time together outside of bed. In bed, he lavished her body with attention. So much so that she might have worried sheâd become addicted to his touchâif she was the kind of person who allowed herself the weakness of having addictions.