I had finished bandaging Griffin's face and kissing all of his pained wounds that sliced across his facial exterior except for his lips. It just seemed like he needed the extra affection at the moment.

Then it was on to his chest. I started to lift his shirt but his grip around my wrist tightened. My eyes shot to his and he shook his head.

"You're hurt, cut, bruised and probably broken. You need help, Griffin."

"I can help myself." He told me sternly, sitting up and wincing in pain.

"I can help you." I told him insistently.

"No, it's fine. You've done enough." He said with a light smile. No matter how hard he tried to convince me that he was okay, I knew that he wasn't.

"No, I am going to help you."

"No, you aren't." He snarled. "Help yourself." He motioned toward the blood staining my shirt. The excursion of the night must have opened up the abrasion.

Impulsively, I ripped my shirt off, revealing my black and grey sports bra. I stared down at the throbbing cut that burned slightly.

I grabbed the other towel and poured peroxide on it and started to rub at my wound, overlooking the burning feeling of the cut and Griffin's eyes.

I had grabbed a first aid kit from the restroom which I snatched a gauze pad from and applied it to my cut skin and then bandaged it.

Griffin had already gotten to first, second and third base with me, so, in other words I didn't care that he was looking at me half naked. I walked in to the bathroom ignoring his heated glares.

I stared in the mirror at my bra then to the white bandage, making sure it had a firm hold. It had been the longest weekend of my life. I splashed water on my face trying to wake myself then slowly walked out of the restroom then halted in my tracks.

My eyes widened as I watched Griffin pull off his hooded jacket followed by the grey shirt that had been worn on the inside. His back faced me and I could've sworn my heart skipped a beat.

His body was well defined with sun kissed muscles that flexed when he moved his upper body. Every gentle bend, every cleft, every sculptured part of him was perfectly detailed. He was the ideal image of perfection.

Alas, there was something about his skin that shattered my soul, that then burned every piece of my spirit that had been left.

Painful scars sliced across his back. Excruciating rubicund wounds marked his skin. They seemed to be over a year old but it was clear that they once were painfully open and had sadly bled immensely by the looks of the wounded soft tissue. Near the wounds were excruciating burgundy crimson bruises that darkened areas of his back.

It was sadly clear that Griffin had been badly abused.

I walked quietly over the hard wood floor and slid my arms around his strong waist. His body tensed clearly not wanting my arms around him. I laid my head gently on his posterior.

"I am so sorry." I whispered and before I could catch it a hot tear fell from my eye. I watched in silence as it glided hauntingly down his back.

In a swift movement, he turned around to me, letting my hands drop. He stared down at me with confusion lacing his glacier eyes.

"Why are you crying?" He demanded. "Because it is definitely giving me conflicted thoughts." He answered honestly with a smile pulling at his lips.
I couldn't help but smile back at him.

He never missed the opportunity to smile, although, it was clear that traces of anger tainted his sunny essence because I had seen this part of him.

Instead of answering, I slowly pressed into his ribs, searching for any breaks while earning a pain filled groan from Griffin. Thankfully, there were none.

I took the peroxide, pouring it on the towel and started to take care of his new injuries. Two gashes extended down the right side of his ribs.

I forced myself to overlook the painful discoloration along his skin as I disinfected the grazes carefully then pressed a cold wet towel to the locations. Griffin drew in sharp intakes of breath every time I pressed too hard.

Initially, I completed the demanding task of patching up a 6ft3 frat boy. I motioned for him to sit. The clock on the side table read 3 A.M.

"You should get some rest." I said warily. He stayed silent as his blue eyes scanned my exhausted form. "Sleep." I ordered gripping his shoulders lightly.

"Why don't you stay with me?" He asked leisurely. The idea seemed so tempting that I almost whimpered. I closed my eyes. My first class was in seven hours. I needed to go to sleep immediately if I wanted to survive the extended lecture and I was in no condition to drive.

"Fine..." I sighed. His blue eyes brightened immensely and then he regained himself, trying not to seem so content. I peered down at my bra and shorts. I needed something more comfortable. "Can... I borrow a shirt?" I asked him.

"Yeah...of course." He beamed standing to his feet. He grimaced slightly, then left the room.

What am I doing? When did we become friends?

My questions weren't to be answered that night. Soon, he was back with a navy blue long sleeve T-shirt with UCLA printed in black on the front. I took it from him and pulled it on and removed my shorts. I threw off the comforters of the other bed and collapsed under the sheets.

My tired eyes moved to Griffin and it seemed like he was... hurt? But, I wouldn't trust my eyesight at the moment. I was exhausted. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.

Three hours later I had stirred myself awake to find my head buried into someone's neck. My eyes opened abruptly. I gazed upward at a fast asleep Griffin. He clearly moved during the night. I tried to move from my position but Griffin's arms that had been around me tightened.

"Don't..." He whispered and I didn't. We slept like that for the rest of the night until the alarm on my phone woke me at 9:30 A.M.

When I awoke, I saw that we had shifted during the last several hours. I was on my back and Griffin had his arms around me and his head laid against my stomach, only a few centimeters from my abrasion.

His golden brown hair was a disheveled mess and his body was hot against mine. I didn't want to move or leave but I had to. I ran my hands through his silk soft hair. My breathing hitched when he groaned softly into my shirt. I continued to comb my fingers through his tresses. He nuzzled his face deeper into my mid section. It was the most romantic scene that I had ever shared with Griffin.

"I have to go." I whispered to him. He mumbled something into my shirt. I wanted nothing more but to stay in bed. Portions of my body still ached and I was drained.

"Why do you let him?" Griffin asked softly.

"What?" I asked.

"I can't do this anymore." He continued. It took me a while to realize that he was sleep talking. His arms tightened around me. "What happened to him?" He demanded lowly. My heart clenched in my chest. I had no idea what he was talking about it didn't seem pleasant.

I didn't know whether to wake him or not. I wanted to comfort him, to wake him from his nightmare. So, I did the only thing that I could, I started to move and Griffin stopped talking.

"Stay...with...me." He begged into my shirt. I didn't know if he was awake or not. "Mickey?" He questioned looking upward at me with big blue eyes. He was now awake.

"I have...class." I sighed.

"Give yourself a break." He suggested with a sly smile. "Spend the day with me."

"You have a girlfriend." I told him incredulously, that was the biggest problem.

"She isn't my girlfriend." He explained without missing a beat. "We haven't even had sex in two months." He explained in a snug smile.

"Then, why are you with her?"

"Family matters." He answered vaguely. "Don't ask. But trust me, we aren't truly together. Now let's sleep please." He begged slowly lifting my shirt and pressing a soft kiss on my stomach. I bit my lip, immensely enjoying his lips on my body.

"I...I have to..." His smooth lips continued up my body "...call my friend. I couldn't say no to him. "But, I think I left my phone in the car."

"No problem, here." He said rolling on to his side and grabbing his phone from the table top and handing it to me. "There you go." I turned on his phone finding a image of a painting. The paint work was of a skull with a burning cigarette.

"Hauntingly beautiful." I said lowly.

"One of my favorites." He beamed at me. I went to the keypad, dialing Skylar's number. It was 9:50. She answered on the third ring.

"Hello?" She asked.

"Skylar."

"Sage?" She tested.

"Yep."

"Where are you? Class starts in ten. When I woke up you were gone. Ariel explained that she thought you spent the night at  Jesse's frat house." She clarified.

"Yeah...something like that." I said looking down at Griffin who hid his face in my shirt with a smile playing at his cerise lips.

"Anyway, where are you? Class is starting soon." She repeated.

"I know...I'm not going to make it. I need you to take notes for me." I literally begged.

"Sage...you haven't missed a class ever. What's going on?" She knew me well. My eyes moved to the golden haired blue eyed boy who once more was placing kisses on my mid- section. My eyes closed as I got lost in his gentle caresses on my skin. "Sage?" She asked again.

"Yes, I'm fine." I said snapping out of my trance. "Please just take notes for me. Most of our classes today are the same." I reasoned. She was quiet for a long time and Griffin moved from under my shirt, beaming brightly. "Please?" I begged.

"Fine." She gave in.

"Thank you!" I squealed. "I love you!"

"Yeah, yeah. Stay safe." She replied gently.

"I will." I told her earnestly as my eyes narrowed at Griffin, who gave me an innocent smile. "Call me after you are finished with our classes."

"Okay...bye love." She said cordially.

"Bye sweetheart." I smiled to myself then hung up. "Okay." I let out a contented sigh moving my body over his and allowing our clothed forms to meet in a persuasively slow stroke as I placed his phone back on the stand. My clad bust caressed the skin of his face as I moved away to which he placed a kiss on one of my nipples causing it to harden immensely.

I laid back down on the bed. Thankful, that the room was relatively dim due to the curtains and lack of any switched on lights. If otherwise he would've seen how blush covered my face had become.

Hot images of Griffin and I rushed through my mind. What were we? I inquired through my subconscious. I looked through the obscurity of the room toward him.

"What are we?" I asked him.

"How about Lady Phoenix and Lord Griffin?" He offered coyly. A mocking smile ran across my lips. "What?" He demanded. "I binge watch Game of Thrones."

"Clearly." I grinned patting his shoulder. "Now let's sleep." I turned my back to his front and closed my eyes.

"So?" He questioned like a little boy.

"Go to sleep Lord Griffin." I uttered to which I heard him snicker. In a moment of eye rolling ardor he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer to him. He rested his head against my back and we slept like that until noon.

*****
-Sorry for the long wait, so double update. ♡ -BDX