Page 65 of Talk About… History

I don’t think I’ve ever come that hard in my life and when he pulled away, I braced myself for the return favor.

Instead, he helped me back into my jeans and placed a kiss on my mouth. I could taste myself on him, my scent sweet on his skin, but he simply walked to the door, looking smug.

“It’s safe,” he called out before coming back to take the seat to my right.

“Wait, what about you?” I whispered, not really comprehending the abrupt end to our moment.

Mason frowned at that. “I can’t wait for your mouth to be on me, but not every sexual encounter needs to be an exchange. I didn’t do it to get you on your knees, Avery.”

I let it drop as Cohen, Arden, and Ford came back with a tray full of chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, and skewers for a s’mores night.

Orgasms and chocolate? I wasn’t sure if anything could get better. Maybe I was wrong about pack life.

Avery

Something warm and fuzzy was pressed into me, one on each side. It took a moment for me to come to my senses and realize where I was, a grin taking over at the sight of Molly and Lola sandwiching me.

Reaching as quietly as I could for my phone, I snapped a picture and sent it to Sidney.

Avery: Look who I woke up next to

Sidney: You asshole! I was so excited thinking it was a sexy man. Don’t think I didn’t hear about you sitting in a hot alpha’s lap last night.

Avery: They’re in other rooms. I needed space.

Sidney: For what? Space doesn’t provide orgasms or morning sex.

Avery: But the puppies are cute

Sidney: That was a weak counterpoint and you know it. Puppies are nice but alphas are much more satisfying to share a bed with

Avery: From the scent in the air, I’m going to get breakfast, too

Dropping my phone, I stretched out in the bed Cohen set me up in. He offered his but I wasn’t about to kick him out and I wanted some space.

They had been amazing but I was still holding back. Would it drive them crazy if I kept pushing back or would they just keep reassuring me?

I wasn’t being petty or testing them, I was saving my own heart from another brutal breakup.

Molly and Lola stretched and watched me, waiting for me to leave the room so they could do their thing.

“You guys need out?” I asked, pulling on the clean boxers and tee that Cohen sat out for me. We had snacks and talked late into the night and none of the guys wanted me driving that late so we’d crashed there.

I brushed my teeth and braided my hair, but I hadn’t gone to the door yet. It was silly, but I didn’t want to burst the quiet bubble we were in. It was an amazing, yet simple night.

The moment I opened the door I worried things would be different.

Lola whined as she padded to the door, making it so I couldn’t avoid leaving any longer.

“At least you girls will keep me from procrastinating,” I teased in a quiet voice, not wanting to disturb anyone else if they were still sleeping.

The three of us padded down the stairs and to the kitchen. Cohen and Arden were talking quietly as they cooked, glancing up as we walked in. Both of their faces split into a grin at the sight of us.

“Good morning, Avery,” Arden said, shifting his attention back to the bowl he was mixing.

“Hope you’re hungry,” Cohen joked as he put bacon on the pan, the sizzle and scent enough to catch the beagles’ attention. “Not you two. Go outside.”

I opened the door to usher them out and they went, albeit a little reluctantly.

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