Grip Trilogy Box Set - Kennedy Ryan Page 0,367

implacable lines of his face.

“What do you mean on the tour?” I ask. “I was thinking I would work from New York while you’re away. So what do you mean on the tour?”

His beautifully sculpted mouth tightens and turns down at the corners.

“I want you and the kids to come on tour with me.”

My eyes widen and a frown pulls my eyebrows low.

“Babe, there’s so much going on. I can’t possibly drop everything to trot off after you around the world.”

“I’m not asking you to drop everything, and I sure as hell would never ask you to trot, but you have to admit we’ve been seeing less of each other.”

“I’ve got shit to do, Grip.”

“So do I, Bris, but none of it is more important than this.” He presses my hand to his heart, which thuds the rhythm of his love and devotion against my palm. “More important than us.”

“Of course not.” I step closer, resting my forehead against his chin. “Of course not, but we have responsibilities. We can’t just—”

His thumb lifts my chin so we’re staring at each other. “We can do whatever the fuck we want to do.”

He dips his head and seals his lips over mine, invading my mouth with powerful strokes of his tongue until my knees go weak and my bones melt. By the time he’s done, only his wide hands holding my hips and my fingers clinging to his shoulders keep me standing.

He bends to leave kisses on my neck. I tilt my head back so he can lick me, bite me, whatever he sees fit to do. His lips brush my ear with feather-soft words.

“I pulled out of the campus tour,” he whispers, sending a shockwave over me.

I jerk back, peering up into his face. He and Dr. Hammond, his former professor, have continued the Contagious campus tours, raising awareness and money for community jail funds and legal representation for the wrongly accused. It’s vital work that I know gives Grip a sense of purpose like nothing else does.

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s important. You have to do it.”

“It is important,” he agrees. “And I will do it. Later.”

“This is just a season, Grip.”

“Exactly. For this season, I can’t do the tours. Not and grind in the studio for this record and prepare for this tour and be the father I need to be.” His dark eyes caress my face. “Be the husband I need to be, which of everything, is my most important role. We only get this life together, Bris, and I don’t accept that there’s a season where you and I aren’t as close as we can possibly be. There can be a season where I’m less active in the issues that I care about. There can be a season where I don’t record as much or where I don’t tour. But there will not be a season where we miss each other.”

A dark chuckle vibrates from his chest to mine before he adds, “Or only have sex once a week.”

I swallow, emotion scalding my throat. There are so many things I’d have to adjust to take our family on tour with Grip. So many responsibilities I’d have to delegate. So many opportunities I might miss.

“Just think about it.” Grip drops a kiss onto my lips and swats my butt lightly. “Don’t be late. Go get Kai that movie.”

I’d forgotten all about the meeting.

“Okay, yeah.” I step back, slanting a glance up at him. “Tell me we’re okay, Grip. I can’t—”

I look down at the floor and shake my head, unable to wrap my mind or heart around us being on the outs.

“We’re okay,” he reassures me. “Hey, look at me.”

When I do, I see the open honesty in his face.

“We’re okay, but I’m gonna make sure we stay that way. I don’t want to drift, Bris. This business breaks marriages. You know that. I’m protecting us. I’ve pulled out of the campus tour. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

I nod, stepping away to grab my purse and my iPad from the bedside table where I left them.

“Frieda’s here for the kids,” I toss over my shoulder.

“Oh, I’ll send her home.”

“Send her home?” I stop and turn. “I thought you had a meeting this morning?”

“I told them I’d call in.” He shrugs and offers a rueful grin. “I need some time with the kids. I’ve been gone too much.”

I nod, wondering if maybe I’ve been gone too much, too.

* * *

Bristol - Chapter Three

“Your bother’s gonna kill you.” Kai