Traitorous Heart: #7 (The Traitorous Heart Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

his orgasm came he yelled out. I felt his whole body shudder with the force of it. Then he slowed and gradually pulled out. “How was that?” he asked, helping me stand.
    “Amazing,” I admitted.
    “Good,” he responded. “Now let me help you clean up and then we’ll see about getting you a ticket to Los Angeles.”

 
     
     
    CHAPTER 8
    Katie
     
     
     
    As soo n as I landed at LAX I hailed a cab and went straight to the hospital. I only had a small carryon so it was easy to get around, even in my condition.
    When I reached the hospital greeting area, I asked for Griffin’s room and was told how to get there. He’d been moved out of critical condition and was stable so I was glad of that.
    His room was large and covered from ceiling to floor with flowers, cards, balloons, teddy bears, and even panties. I added my little contribution of flowers to the dozens he’d already received.
    When I turned to study the man lying in the bed, I was shocked. Griffin didn’t look like himself. He’d always been larger than life to me. But now, lying in the stark hospital bed, he seemed small. His head had been shaved and wrapped in white gauze. His usually tanned skin seemed pale.
    “Griffin,” I said quietly, placing my hand over his. It was cold and I flinched at the sensation.
    His eyes blinked open.
    “Katie.” He tried to smile but it was more of a grimace. “They’ve got me loaded up on all sorts of pain medication. Is it really you? Or am I dreaming?” His eyes closed. “If it’s a dream I don’t want to wake up.”
    Awwww, I thought. He was sappy but sweet.
    “It’s really me,” I said, patting his hand.
    “But how did you get here?” He opened his eyes again and focused on the sling binding my arm against my body. “You shouldn’t have come. You’re still recovering.”
    “I had to,” I said, sniffling. Tears filled my eyes and fell onto my cheeks. I had no fucking idea why I was crying, but I couldn’t stop. “I needed to thank you for saving me. If you hadn’t come to my apartment when you did…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. The truth about what had almost happened didn’t compute.
    Griffin sighed heavily and caressed my hand. “It was the least I could do.” He searched my face. His gray-blue eyes were filled with tears. “My mom died when I was little. Did I tell you that?”
    I thought back on our first nights together. “Yes,” I whispered as more tears rolled down my cheeks.
    “It was my fault she died. If I hadn’t been so selfish she’d still be alive.” He blinked rapidly and I could see he was trying not to cry too. “My father could barely look at me after her funeral. He still struggles to look me in the eye.” A ghost of a smile licked his lips. “I’m his biggest disappointment.”
    I shook my head. What could I say? It shocked me his father would be disappointed in Griffin. He’d accomplished so much. I shuddered internally. I felt disappointment that our relationship hadn’t worked out. “He’s a fool if he can’t see how amazing you are,” I finally said.
    Griffin shook his head. “I’m the fool.” He looked me directly in the eyes. “I was afraid you would hold me back from my career. I was scared that my feelings for you would overshadow my commitment to Crushed Velvet. I worried that I would love you more than I loved my band.” He turned away before continuing. “I let my fear and my need to prove to my father that I could make it in this business eclipse everything else. Including my feelings for you.”
    I realized with profound sorrow that he was trying to explain why he’d sabotaged our relationship before it had a chance to really bloom. “It’s okay, Griffin.”
    He swallowed, fighting back more tears. “It isn’t. My whole life I’ve believed I was strong, stronger even than my father. In reality I’m a coward and I let my fear destroy the one pure and beautiful thing in my life.” His eyes locked on mine. “What you and I