Free Unafraid by Cat Miller Page A

thoughts of her
meant nothing to Tessa. Griffin released the offensive asshole with
effort.
    “He insulted you, repeatedly,” Griffin
hissed.
    “Yes, he did and I’m sure that’s not the last
time. I’ve been looked down upon most of my life. I don’t care what
he thinks of me. Please send him away now.” She used her best
‘soothe the wild beast’ voice. Griffin stood there glaring at Sal
and taking deep, calming breaths. He dug in his pocket for several
hundred dollar bills and stuffed them in Sal’s shirt pocket.
    “Leave,” he said through gritted teeth. Sal
promptly turned and exited the condo.
    Griffin stood with his back to Tessa, his
chest heaving. He was so angry Tessa couldn’t stand to be in the
room with him. The seething rage pouring off of him was stifling.
She didn’t know why he was so angry. Sal was a jerk. Now he was
gone so she didn’t get his overreaction. She was the one that
should be angry at his highhanded behavior. It had been a bad idea
to go to his place. Grabbing her coat and her purse from the entry
hall, she went to the door. He still hadn’t turned around.
    “I’m going to head home now. I’ll catch a
cab. Good night, Griffin.”
    “Don’t even think about opening that door,”
he threatened.
    “Excuse me? Look, I don’t know where you
suddenly got the idea that you’re in charge, but you aren’t. If I
want to go, I will,” she scoffed. She didn’t give a damn if he was
vampire or the president. She had been on her own for too long to
have somebody stroll in and try to take away her choices. She was
going out that damn door.
    She turned the knob but before she could pull
the door open, she was slammed against it and trapped by a very
large, very menacing vampire between her legs. His hot breath
rushed over her face and his fangs glistened under the dim hall
light. His hands held her tightly but not painfully. Her heart was
pounding against her rib cage while she watched Griffin struggle
with some emotion she didn’t understand. He was looking at her with
a mixture of anger, need, and reverence.
    “You are mine. Do you understand me? You are
mine to defend and mine to love.” He kissed her deeply and his
fangs cut into her lip, causing an intense stinging sensation.
    Tessa’s mind was reeling from his declaration
of love. At least she thought it was a declaration of love. She
tasted her blood but she didn’t stop kissing him or pull away. He
was devouring her mouth and pressing tight against her body.
Griffin groaned and lapped at the blood on her lips. This was what
she needed. This was where there was peace for them. When he loved
her body nothing else mattered. There were no vampires or humans,
no rich or poor. They didn’t think about their differences or the
difficult road ahead of them. There was just Griffin and Tessa.
That was enough. That was everything.
    He pulled back to rip open her shirt and bare
her breasts to his hungry gaze. The chilled air tightened her
nipples. She’d purposely not worn a bra. He seemed to enjoy the
slight sway of her breasts when she went without one. He took one
taught bud into his mouth and suckled, unintentionally grazing her
with his extended fangs. He licked and sucked both breasts, but
didn’t linger long before he was tugging at the clasp of her
jeans.
    “I will teach you that you are mine, Tessa.
No other man touches this skin. No other man tastes my kisses.” He
took her mouth in a punishing kiss. “This is my mouth, my kisses,”
he snarled.
    “Griffin, I told you I’m not seeing anyone
else anymore,” she tried to explain but he was busy wedging her
against the door and ripping off her shoes and jeans.
    “That bastard had no right to pay your way.
No one provides for mine but me.” He grabbed her chin and forced
her to look into his black eyes while he circled his hips, grinding
his impressive length into her softening heat. The rasp of the
material covering his erection against her skin had her nearly
ready