He grunted. “You’ve had a rough few weeks.”

Understatement of the century. “I feel like such a failure.”

Griffin turned me to face him, searching my eyes. “Why?”

My breathing picked up speed as I tried in vain to shove the tears down. “He’s been hurting, and I didn’t even see it. What kind of pseudo-parent does that make me? Maybe Patti was right. I just don’t have the right instincts.”

Griffin’s expression hardened. “Don’t you dare agree with that woman. You are the best pseudo-parent I’ve ever seen. But growing up, it’s messy and hard, and he’s going to stumble along the way.”

“But you saw it. You saw that he was holding back and knew you had to break through that wall.”

Griffin brushed the hair away from my face. “I saw it because I’ve been there.”

I twisted my fingers in his t-shirt. “I’m so sorry. For both of you. I hate that either of you were hurting. That you felt alone.”

Griffin brushed his lips against my temple. “I don’t feel alone anymore.”

I tipped my face up to his, our lips a breath apart. “And you won’t. Not ever again.”

His mouth crashed down on mine. A searching hunger took over as I lost myself in Griffin’s lips and tongue, in the feel of his body pressed against mine. I pulled back, breathing hard. “The kids are asleep.” He nodded. “Take me to bed.”

He searched my face, looking for something. That I was emotionally stable enough to make this decision perhaps. I fisted his shirt harder. “Please. I need to feel you. All of you.” I wanted to get lost in this man who had come to mean comfort and safety, yet at the same time, could set my nerve endings on fire.

Whatever Griffin was looking for, he seemed to find it because he lifted me up in a flash. My legs encircled his waist, and I muffled my shriek in his neck as he took the stairs two at a time. When we reached the master bedroom, Griffin slowly lowered me. The friction as my center passed over the ridge in his jeans had me sucking in air.

As my feet hit the floor, Griffin framed my face with his hands. “You’re so damn beautiful. I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted this moment. To know what your body feels like wrapped around mine. The taste of your skin. To be consumed by that light that flickers all around you.”