Building Our Love (Griffin Brothers #2) Read online

He grabs our bags, and we make our way to the ferry. It takes around three hours to get to Victoria. We spend the time doing some duty free shopping, eating a light dinner, and cuddling on deck. It feels so good to be curled up in Ryan’s arms.

  Chapter 16

  Ryan

  The ferry docks and I point out our hotel. I know Chloe likes modern and funky, but I wanted to splurge for the nicest hotel in Victoria, so I booked us into the Fairmount Empress. It’s definitely not modern or funky. My worry fades away when I see her smile.

  “It looks like a castle!”

  “I know it’s not modern, but I wanted to splurge, and I was hoping you’d like it.”

  “I do. I bet it’s beautiful inside.”

  “Let’s go check it out.”

  We get into a waiting taxi and arrive at the hotel within a few minutes. The lobby is ornate and beautifully done. The bellman shows us to our suite which features a living room and a bedroom with a fireplace. It’s all very classic.

  “This is not what I’d usually go for, but I love it,” Chloe tells me.

  “Really? I’m glad.”

  “Yes, really. Thanks for spoiling me,” she adds as she leans up to kiss me lightly on the lips. “So, what are we doing tonight?”

  “I thought we might check out a club that sounded cool if you’re up for it.”

  “Sure. Do I have time to shower and do my hair?”

  “We have time to shower, and I was hoping that you’d leave your hair down and natural.”

  “I can wear my hair down for you, but that shower is pretty small for a joint shower.”

  “It’s a good thing that you’re pretty flexible, then.”

  I reach for her and start to walk her backwards into the bathroom, removing her clothes and mine pretty quickly. We climb into the shower, and I remind her just how flexible she is. After, I dry her off—I like to do that ever since our bath together—andwe get dressed. I put on some black slacks and a white button down shirt with no tie. I want to look nice, but not too dressy. Chloe puts on this shiny dress that is a cross between blue and green. It’s made up of strips of fabric and hugs her body like a second skin. She never ceases to amaze me with her clothing choices, and how hot she looks in everything.

  “You look smoking hot, as usual, sweetheart.”

  “So do you, Ry.”

  “Let’s go before I decide that I should be the only guy to see you in that dress.”

  “If you play your cards right, you’ll get to see me out of it later.”

  “It’s not a sure thing?”

  I bend my head and kiss her neck as she sighs. “Yeah, it is. I just didn’t want you to take me for granted, thinking I’ll just lay down and spread my legs every night.”

  I straighten and look her in the eye, turning serious. “I don’t, Chlo. I can work for it if you need me to. Am I not being romantic enough?”

  “You’re incredibly romantic, Ry. I-I just have some things to get past. But they’re my issues, not yours. Let’s go have some fun.”

  She heads for the door, and I follow, taking her hand. I want to talk to her about what she just said, but I can tell that she doesn’t. I can drop it for now, but I will try to get her to open up to me once we get home. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us anymore.

  We have a great night at the club, despite me having to glare at several guys. If looks could kill, they’d be dead right now. Chloe and I dance for several hours. I hold her tight for the slow songs and even tighter during the fast ones as she grinds her ass into my cock. The club is inside a hotel, and I wish I’d booked us a room here. By the time we make it back to our room, I’m so hard that I’m in pain. But I don’t want Chloe to think I’m expecting to make love to her, so I hold back.

  “Ryan, I can see how hard you are. I’m hoping it’s me that made you that way, so let me take care of that for you.” Chloe drops to her knees in front of me and unzips my pants.

  “Of course it’s you that made me hard, but you don’t have to do this. I’m good with just going to sleep if you want.”

  “What I want is to make you come in my mouth. I want to taste you and swallow it all down.” She has me in her hands now, and all I can do is reach for her hair.

  “Fuck, Chlo.”

  “I saw all of those women in the club tonight looking at you, offering themselves to you, even with me in your arms. They can’t have you. You’re mine. This is mine.”

  She takes me in her mouth and proceeds to do exactly what she wanted. I come so hard that I see stars. I fall to my knees in front of her because I can’t stand. I also can’t speak coherently until a few minutes after I come.

  “I am yours, Chlo. All yours. You’ve owned me since I was a 17 year old kid. I want to take you to the bed and show you that you’re mine, too, but I need a minute before I can stand.”

  A look of sadness flits across her face for a second, but is gone before I can ask her what’s wrong. She replaces it with a flirty smile. “We don’t have to go all the way to the bed, Ry.”

  She reaches for the hem of her dress, but I stop her, pulling her closer to me. I reach out for the top of her dress, pushing the wide neckline down to under her breasts. I snap open her bra and push it aside so her beautiful breasts are free before me. Her pretty pink nipples are hard and erect, and I’m halfway hard again already, too. I run my thumbs over them as she arches her back, pushing into me.

  “I lost count of how many guys I had to glare at tonight. They wanted to touch and taste these.”

  I pull her dress further down as I move my hands down her stomach. When it’s pooled around her knees, I move my hands back up, cupping her mound with one hand as I use my other to reach around her and tear her tiny thong off. I gently push her backward onto the floor, pulling her dress completely off.

  “They wanted to taste you here, too, and sink their cocks into your wet pussy. But you’re only wet for me, aren’t you sweetheart?”

  “Yes, Ry. Please.”

  “Please, what?”

  “I need you.”

  “Do you need my fingers?” I ask as I slide two into her and then back out. “Or my mouth?” I bend down and give her a lick. “Or is it my cock that you want? I move forward and put the tip at her entrance.

  “Any of them. All of them. Please, Ry, please.” She’s writhing on the floor, and I’m rock hard again.

  “You’re mine, aren’t you Chloe?”

  “Yes. I’m all yours and only yours, Ryan.”

  That’s all I need to hear. I move back and thrust into her hard, pressing my fingers onto her clit and attaching my mouth to her breast. She said that she needed all three, and I give them to her, making us both come hard and long. Then I take her to the bed and give them to her again and again for the next few hours. I hope the walls in this hotel are thick.

  * * *

  Chloe

  Ryan wakes me up with little kisses on my shoulder. “Good morning. I was going to order breakfast, but I thought you might like to try a local café instead.”

  “I would love that. Do I have time to shower before we check out?”

  “You can shower, but we aren’t checking out.”

  “We aren’t? We have to be back at work tomorrow. You have meetings.”

  “Relax, Chlo. We’ll be back tomorrow. They have a fancy restaurant here that has a thing called a Royal Table for special occasions. I want to take you there for dinner, so I booked the room for an extra night. That way we can come back here and change after our day in the city. I have a local pilot on standby in case we miss our flight.”

  I grab a pen and piece of hotel paper off the pad on the nightstand and begin to write. Then, I hand it to him.

  Reason #42 that you are AWESOME and I LOVE YOU: You’re the most romantic man ever.

  “Well, I don’t know about ever, but I’m glad you’re enjoying my efforts.”

  “I am, Ry. Everything has been amazing so far. Thank you.”

  “You don’t have
to thank me. I love planning things for you and me to do. And that’s not just the alpha me talking. I like that I can make you happy.”

  I sit up and cup his cheek as I look at him, wanting to make sure he sees and hears the sincerity behind the words I say to him. “You do make me happy, and I know it’s not all about control to you. I appreciate the fact that you’ve picked places for us that aren’t necessarily where you would want to go. Like the butterfly garden.”

  He can’t help but laugh. “Yeah. I definitely wouldn’t have gone there alone, but it was awesome to experience with you.”

  “Yes, it was. Now, I better go get ready so you can amaze me some more.”

  I kiss him lightly and then head into the bathroom to shower. Alone. We both know when there are times that we need to shower separately so we can actually get ready to go places. I come out and put on a green and white checked dress while he takes his shower. The lines look painted on and are not straight, so it’s a little more fun. I wear green flats and my original butterfly necklace. I’m pretty sure that most of the day will be casual, but I don’t want to wear jeans again. I think the dress is a good choice.

  “You look beautiful.” Ryan comes up behind me and kisses my neck.

  “Is this dress okay for wherever we’re going today? I didn’t want to overdress, but I wanted to be pretty for you.”

  He spins me around to face him, keeping his hands on my shoulders. “You are always pretty to me.”

  “Even when I wake up with my hair a crazy mess?”

  “Um, yeah. How often have we made love in the mornings, Chlo?”

  “Pretty much every morning.”

  “Then there you go, sweetheart.”

  I look him over. He’s in jeans and a black t-shirt that hugs his muscles. God, I love it when he dresses down. He notices me looking and pulls my face back up.

  “Eyes up here. I have plans for today. You can ravish me once we get home.”

  “I never thought I’d hear you turn down sex.”

  “I’m not turning you down, just postponing so I can romance you some more. My body is yours later tonight.”

  “And tomorrow night?”

  “Every night, Chloe. For as long as you want me.”

  “Then plan on forever, Ryan.”

  “I was counting on it.” He pulls me close and kisses me sweetly before taking my hand and leading me out the door.

  We grab a quick breakfast at a café down the street and then spend the morning at Butchart Gardens. It’s amazing there with all of the different areas. I love the Japanese Garden the most, especially when Ryan kisses me on one of the bridges while another tourist takes our picture for us. We have lunch at The Dining Room restaurant, which is located in what was once the family home. After, we head to the gift shop where I pick out some cool metal tree sculptures for our house. Obviously, I will have Owen do most of the art, but I like having things to remember our trip by, as well.

  I hear my phone buzzing in my bag while Ryan is paying, so I step outside to see who’s texting me. When I look at the display, I feel sick.

  Adam: Listen you little bitch. I heard you were back with Griffin. Remember if you breathe even one word to him about our agreement, we’ll bury that family. Along with your father. And then I’ll fuck you so hard that you won’t even remember him. I may invite some friends along to join me, too.

  I don’t respond, because I have nothing to say to that bastard. I know the agreement. I also know that he’d have to kill me before I’d have sex with him. Ryan comes out with our bags before I can think any more about the text. I kiss him and smile, worried that things are going to change if Adam doesn’t keep his distance.

  We spend the rest of the afternoon shopping. We go to the touristy Government Street and then branch out into several other areas. I let Ryan buy me some things, but I insist on paying for others. I also buy him a few things. I can tell he wants to fight me on it, but he doesn’t. Sometimes, the alpha can be tamed. We take a taxi back to the hotel because we’re both loaded down with bags.

  Since we’re going to eat at a Royal Table, I have the perfect dress. I almost didn’t bring it because I didn’t know if I would need something like it, but I’m glad that I did. It’s black with a fitted top covered in white embroidered lace pieces that flow into the full skirt. It has short, sheer sleeves, and the back is sheer on top, covered with more embroidery. It feels like something royal.

  I’m just putting on my diamond butterfly earrings when Ryan comes out of the bathroom in a black suit. He looks so yummy that I want to rip it off of him. But I can wait. Dinner is going to be romantic, and I want that, too. He smiles when he sees me.

  “Chloe. I don’t think there are any more descriptive words to describe how good you look. That dress is beautiful and perfect for tonight. You’re stunning, as usual. I’m the luckiest man in the universe.”

  “You look pretty good yourself.”

  There’s a knock at the door before we can say more. It’s the bellman coming to take our luggage which will be held at the bell desk until we’re done with dinner. I am glad this dress is a little longer and also comfortable, despite being so fancy. I won’t have time to change after dinner.

  The restaurant is beautiful and the Royal Table service is very romantic and special. After dinner, we head to the airport where we board the small private plane home. We missed our commercial flight, but I’m actually happy about that. With the connections, we would have been home two hours later that way. There is a lot that I can do with my man in two hours, and I make great use of that extra time once we’re back at Ryan’s condo.

  Chapter 17

  Ryan

  It’s been crazy at work. The Seattle building is almost done. Progress reports and questions have been coming in daily. Chloe has had to shoulder much of the work as I have other buildings in different stages of development that I can’t ignore. We’ve been putting in long hours at the office and then pretty much collapsing once we get home to one of our places.

  We’ve had pretty much no sex life the last couple of weeks, except for a quickie here and there in my office or in the morning before work. It sucks, but we’ll debut the building in a couple of weeks, and then things will calm down a little. I’m not as personally involved in the buildings we do for others. I have junior architects who can handle most of the work on those while I make it up to Chloe. Although I’m hoping I can do that sooner rather than later.

  Tonight is Danny’s bachelor party. Since all of the girls except Candi would kill us if we went to a strip club, we’re doing poker night at Owen’s again. I’m looking forward to hanging out with the guys, who I have seen even less than Chloe. My dad is joining us too, which makes me even happier. I have a big favor to ask him.

  “Hey guys,” I say as I walk in. Everyone else is here before me.

  We exchange greetings as I drop off the whiskey I brought. Then I ask my dad if I can speak to him before we start the game. We go outside onto the balcony, and I ask him about what I need. I’m surprised when he agrees so readily, but I should have known that he would have my back. I promise to get him all of the information that he needs tomorrow morning.

  We join the other guys and start playing. All of us had made an official pact to let Danny win tonight. He’s probably the worst poker player known to man, and we want him to have some money to spend on the honeymoon we all chipped in for as a wedding present. Playing poker badly on purpose is hard enough, but doing it against someone who is truly a bad player is a nightmare. We somehow manage to lose all of our money by the end of the night.

  “I don’t know how you did it man, but you cleaned us all out,” Owen says to Danny.

  “I know you guys let me win. Thanks. I mean it.”

  “No worries, Danny. Just show Sam a good time,” Luke replies.

  “Maybe Scott can borrow you some game controllers,or Ryan will let you borrow the jet with the king-sized bed. They both got lucky with those.”

  “
The jet? Ryan?” Luke looks at me with his eyebrow quirked.

  “I’m going to fucking kill you if you don’t stop talking about the game controllers, Owen.”

  “I’ll help if you mention the jet in front of Chloe again.”

  “Your woman let us all know your fetish, Scott. And you and Chloe are the ones who were playing Mile High Club with me on the plane, Ry. So neither of you can blame me.”

  Scott and I both lunge for him as he jumps behind my dad. Dad’s not having it, though, and moves to the side, holding up his hands to stop Scott and me. “Boys, if you didn’t react so strongly, he would just drop it. He likes getting a rise out of you. As for you, Owen, one day you’ll do something with a woman to make your brothers ridicule you. Karma can be a bitch, so I suggest you back off.”

  “That would be great advice if I was embarrassed by anything I do with a woman. But I’m not.”

  “Candi does seem like she would be up for anything,” Luke admits.

  “For the last time, Candi and I are not together. We never have been.” For the briefest moment, I see a look of pain cross his face, but it’s quickly replaced with his usual smirk.

  I vow to ask him more about it when we’re alone. I know there’s something going on there, but I don’t think any of us has been able to figure out what it is. Owen deserves a good woman, and Candi is really cool. For some reason, they seem to be fighting their attraction. I’ll talk to Scott and see what we can do. Then, maybe we can get Luke to settle down to at least a handful of girls instead of a new one every night. I guess Scott and I weren’t too good of an influence in that department. But, we’re both settled down and happy now. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. and I don’t want it to ever end.

  * * *

  Chloe

  I haven’t been to Scott and Yasmin’s house before tonight. Ryan said it was her family home and Scott just moved in few months ago. He told me that I would love it, and he’s right. It’s a beautiful Craftsman style. Tonight is Sam’s bridal shower, which Yasmin is hosting. I walk up to the door and ring the bell.