Page 130 of Crave Me

Her dad laid his hands on her shoulders as he told her, “Sorry we’re late to dinner, pumpkin. That jog through the grounds took longer than we anticipated.”

“No problem, Dad,” she returned, smiling out at him.

As he eased away, Riley shook her head at him as she told Sky, “It took longer because somebody decided to break into a run before they were ready. Against doctor’s orders.”

“Sometimes you need to push the envelope.”

“And knowing when and when not to do that has never been your strong suit.”

As they continued to go at it in a strangely playful way, Sky and I exchanged a look. Something was definitely going on there without a fucking doubt.

“Have a seat,” Cas said, cutting through their spat and gesturing at two spaces between Damien and Luke.

“Thanks,” Frank said, and then he and Riley rounded the table and took their seats.

Sky leaned into me and whispered, “I hate you.”

I caught her grin. “Aww, and I love you.”

“Hate? What’s he done?” Bastian whispered, looking between us all of a sudden.

I smirked and licked my lips.

Knowing me as well as he did, he got the picture, his eyes hooding as he eyed Sky. “Really?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Fuck, tonight. It’s on. You down with that?” he asked me.

“No question.”

“And where’s the ask when it comes to me?” Sky said.

“I would have, but you were talking earlier about wanting to come together as a foursome again. Talking about it intensely.”

She smiled and beamed out at the two of us. “I was, yeah.” She sidled closer to Bastian. “I was also trying to give you shit to rile you up, because it brings out that wolfish side of you which will be a hell of a thing later tonight.”

He slid his hand into her hair. “You know me so well. I love it.”

He kissed her cheek and then we settled back into the dinner.

But I could barely focus through the rest of it.

I took in some details, like Frank being excited and happy to hear that Sky was getting her portfolio together and looking to go back to design school, along with Cas and Dante discussing a business proposal, Luke asking me if I needed any assistance expanding my tactical team with Sven, and then Luke setting up another sparring session with Bastian.

But a whole lot just went right on by me.

I couldn’t stop thinking about what was going to go down tonight.

The four of us coming together.

I’d wanted it for so long.

But with what had happened, what I’d revealed to Cas, it hadn’t come to pass.

It had been put on hold because of me.

They’d been waiting on me to be ready to bring it up, to make the move, and suggest it.

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