Page 95 of Talk About… History

“I’ll count down,” Sidney said, standing up. “One thousand, Nine hundred and ninety-nine.” Of course, she dissolved into laughter after that. “Just kidding. Ten, nine...”

Mama and Grace shifted in their seats before sharing a look. Both of them, at the same time, slammed their fingers down on the publish button. Grace practically threw hers across the room while Mama just turned hers upside down, as if not seeing it would make it less stressful.

“We need more wine in here,” my mama declared. Of course, Mariana chuckled and came over, refilling the wine and gushing over our art pieces.

I wondered if they would even remember starting these profiles come morning.

Ford

Sitting at home in an empty packhouse was about to drive me crazy. I was quickly realizing that I was not fit for a solitary life. I swear I was more excited than the dogs when I heard a car pull up in the driveway… even more relieved when I saw it was Cohen. Though oddly, he was alone.

I opened the door to greet him, and he gave me a tired smile. “Uncle Glenn decided to stay at the inn in town. He refused to listen.”

“So, what you’re telling me is that my beta and I are all alone tonight?”

Cohen swallowed hard but nodded. “It seems so.”

“Have you eaten?” I questioned.

“I have. Glenn and I stopped at the café in town. He wanted to try it out. I think he’s just happy to be out of that place and living life again. I can’t imagine how isolating it was. I just wish there was something we could do about my aunt.”

“That’s up to him, babe. We’ve got to let Glenn make his own choices when it comes to Clara.”

“I know,” he said with a sigh. My beta was tired and defeated, something I hoped to help ease tonight if he let me. “It’s just been such a stressful few days. I’m exhausted. And we have that interview tomorrow afternoon. Well, Avery does, we’re there for support, but I know it will be rough.”

“Sounds to me like you could use some relaxation tonight. Are you going to let your alpha take care of you?” I questioned, running my fingers over his arm. He was so responsive, his eyelashes fluttering and goosebumps breaking out on his skin.

“Yes.” When he breathed out his answer, my heart slammed in my chest. I didn’t really expect Cohen to agree, but I wasn’t about to question a good thing.

My fingers wrapped around his, and I led him further into the house, letting the dogs into the backyard before taking him up to my room.

He glanced around when we stepped inside. He hasn’t been in here yet so it was his first time seeing my private space. We’d all been so busy with our lives and trying to adjust. This whole pack thing was still new and strange.

Yet, it felt like we’d lived here for years. It was clear that we all belonged together. They always say that finding your pack turns into a whirlwind—a fast-paced connection that you can’t hold yourself back from. Whirlwind was accurate for us, too.

It felt like from the moment we met, our lives just turned into beautiful chaos.

Cohen was nervous, but he wasn’t running. I’d call that a win. Though, I didn’t want to make him uncomfortable after he just now let me in.

“Don’t worry, we can take it slow,” I promise. “This doesn’t have to go anywhere you don’t want it to, do you understand?”

“Yes, alpha,” he breathed out, and fuck if my cock was hard as steel at the sound of that falling from those plush lips.

“Careful, beta, you’re going to make your alpha excited,” I groaned as I forced him to sit on the edge of the bed.

Cohen was quiet, but so compliant. Lifting his arms to help me pull his shirt over his head. His eyes tracked every movement, the dark azure gaze cutting right through me.

He didn’t protest as I pulled out lube and massage oil, setting the lube on the dresser and coating my hands with the oil, rubbing them together to warm it, before climbing on the bed behind my beta.

His skin was so soft under my hands, though his muscles were in knots. He truly needed this and satisfaction filled me that I could provide it. I didn’t care that I was hard and desperate to claim him, didn’t care about anything but helping ease his mind.

Cohen let out soft groans as I worked through each tight muscle, slowly loosening each one.

This felt like a trance. We were in a bubble of calm, the methodical massage just as serene for me as it was for him. Our scents were mingled, his sweet and herbaceous scent mixing with my rich coffee scent, the decadent scent something I knew I’d never forget.

The air filled with his soft sighs, each one like a shock of heat straight to my straining cock. My hands didn’t falter, though each second that passed seemed to charge the air even more.

I didn’t have to wonder if he was affected, I could see the significant bulge in his pants. The way his chest was rising and falling as I ran my hands over his back had the beta whimpering.

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