Page 26 of Gray

“It’s no biggie. You can stay over like usual, and then I’ll be running around doing last-minute errands and prep in the afternoon. I’m ordering a ton of decorations and will overnight them to Ford and Clara’s house. Clara’s older daughter is excited and wants to help decorate for the party, so that gets me off the hook for that,” she added with a laugh. “You can take care of your car while I’m picking up the food. Ford’s going to grill, even though it’s the middle of winter, but I’m getting a cake and ordering a huge platter of appetizers.”

“I don’t know,” he said with a frown. “I could reschedule so I could help you.”

“Don’t be silly. I run errands for Jett all the time. I can easily handle the party. It’s just for the team anyway. I’ll grab the food myself if you’re not back yet, and then we can head over together.”

Gray frowned, and Lena stood up, wrapping her arms around his neck. Even in her heels, she was still slightly shorter than him, and he loved the feeling of her curves pressed up against his body. She rose to her tiptoes, and he met her for a heated kiss. “I want you to be safe,” he murmured. “I’m already beating myself up for the coffee shop a month ago.”

She pulled back slightly, staring into his eyes. “We’ve been over this. You can’t be there every second. You’re not my shadow,” she joked.

“I could be,” he growled, sucking in a breath. Just thinking about Lena scared and helpless was almost enough to send him into a tailspin. He could deal with his own shit, his own demons, but thinking about Lena being hurt killed him.

“And you’d just follow me into the ladies’ room each time I needed to pee? I don’t think so,” she said, sliding her hands to his cheeks. “I love that you’re protective of me, but those guys after Kaylee were pure evil. They would’ve found her one way or another, because just like you, Nick couldn’t be at her side every single second. Unfortunately, I got caught in the crossfire, so to speak.”

He squeezed her waist with his hands. “I fucking hate that they even touched you.”

Lena bit her lip and nodded. “Me too, but in a weird, roundabout way it brought me to you.”

A beat passed, Gray hating to admit what he knew to be true. If he hadn’t helped Lena, he would’ve still been hanging out in the wings, only partly living his life. He would’ve missed out on this. Her. “You’re right. And for that, I’m so damn thankful.” Gray pulled her closer, one hand sliding up to the back of her head, his fingers threading through her hair. Then he kissed her thoroughly, not caring that they were at work, in her office, whenanyone could walk in and see them. “You’re it for me, Lena,” he said when he pulled back, both of them breathing heavily. He could almost feel those three little words hanging in the air but didn’t say them yet. It was too soon, but hell if he didn’t feel that in his heart.

Gray was sure the expression on her face mirrored his own—full of wonder and something that had to be love.

“You’re it for me, too,” she said, before pulling him close for another kiss.

Minutes passed before they came up for air, their bodies pressed close and hearts beating as one. “We should continue this tonight,” she teased, her gaze dropping to his erection straining against his pants.

“Yep,” he managed to say through clenched teeth.

Lena giggled, patting him over his pants. “Down, boy.”

“Not. Helping.”

Voices in the hall drew her attention, and she winked. “I’ll give you a moment. Jett’s coming to talk with me more about the party. He’s probably got some surprise for Anna in mind,” she said with a laugh.

Muttering a curse, Gray watched her walk out the door, hips swinging in that tight skirt. Damn, he was a goner. He wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Chapter 14

“Oh no, that’s frustrating it’s taking so long,” Lena said, holding her phone in one hand as she pushed a shopping cart through the store. “I already grabbed the cake and am picking up the platter I ordered. Did they give any indication if they’re almost done with your car?”

Gray swore under his breath. “Yeah. Should be twenty minutes, tops.”

“It’ll be okay,” Lena said. “Why don’t I just meet you at Ford and Clara’s house? I’ll have all the food, and then you can head straight there from the auto shop. We’ll both get there just about right on time.”

“Yeah, I guess I’ll have to do that,” Gray said. “I wanted to go together, but if the food is ready, you don’t want to be late because of me. We can’t have the pregnant ladies starving,” he joked.

“It’ll be fine,” Lena assured him. “The store’s crowded, so by the time I drove home to meet you, we’d be running late anyway. I’ll see you when I get there, okay baby?”

She could almost picture Gray relaxing at her words. “Yeah. Okay. Just be careful, all right? Some of the guys just got back from Mexico, and there’s crazy shit going on everywhere in the world. I’d feel better if I was with you.”

“I know, but it’s the middle of the day, and I’m always out running errands. I promise I’ll be careful. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Okay, baby girl,” he said, his voice husky.

“And tell those auto shop guys to hurry up,” she joked. “I need to see my man tonight.”

Gray chuckled, his voice lowering. “I know you do, baby.” She felt tingles racing down her spine at his words. When they’d made love last night, Gray had enjoyed talking dirty as he’d teased her, dragging out the moment until she finally orgasmed. Gray had asked if she’d needed her man to fill her pretty pussy, and Lena had almost combusted on the spot. Lena wasn’t used to that kind of dirty talk, but something about hearing the words in Gray’s deep voice gave her a thrill. She didn’t think she’d ever come so hard as when he’d finally sunk inside her, thrusting in hard and deep as she clung to him desperately.

The woman behind the counter brought her platter over, and Lena lifted the entire thing into her shopping cart. The large cake was below, ready to go, so she headed to the front of the store to check out. The line was slow, and she found herself watching the shoppers around her. Mothers. Kids. Men by themselves and couples pushing carts together.

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