Page 176 of Forget

Dinners with our combined families are always chaotic and fun. It reminds me that I need to call my parents. It’s been too long since I’ve checked in. I feel a little guilty about that.

“I don’t know, I felt like today should have flowers,” he grunts with a shrug.

“I’m not discounting that, though I’m kicking myself for not thinking about it. She’ll love it,” I say.

“Good. We’ll just say they’re from the pack,” he says, putting them in the entryway where she’ll see them.

“So stubborn, yet oddly sweet,” I grumble, wincing as I realize that my thoughts made themselves outside of my head.

Shit.

“Damn straight,” Aiden says with a bark of laughter, walking over to pop a kiss on my lips. “Go shower before you get sidetracked.”

“You’re right,” I mumble, wanting to lean in for another kiss.

He’s been distant with all of us, and I’ve missed him. Hopefully, things change soon. Turning away, I run upstairs to shower and change. Warm, comfortable layers is what we told Aisling to wear, and I follow suit.

Soon, I’m walking back downstairs wearing a cream long-sleeved shirt, a maroon long-sleeved open-buttoned down shirt over it, and dark washed jeans only to find Aisling walking inside, stopping abruptly when she sees the flowers.

Leaning in, she inhales deeply. Outside of the orchids that Aiden leaves for her, we haven’t given her flowers. We need to change our frame of mind from dating each other, to doing these things for her.

I’ve never dated a woman before, none of us ever have. Evan and I have fucked betas for fun, but we’ve never taken them out for breakfast after or given a shit about them.

“We have something planned for you,” I murmur, knowing she hasn’t heard me yet. I came down in socked feet, so I’m quieter than normal.

Glancing over, she blushes. I need to see more of this. I wonder how far it goes down, too, but I take a deep breath to try to stave off my erection. The front of the house smells like roses and sugar cookies.

Honestly, it’s a lost cause since they somehow work really well together.

“Do you?” she asks with a coy grin. “I saw that the truck looks immaculate.”

“Mmhmm,” I tell her, refusing to give anything away. The truck bed cover is the last thing Evan added before he went inside, so it’ll hide what he’s been working on, while Aiden packs up the snacks and beverages. “Do you need to change? You’re going to want to wear layers.”

“So something outside,” Aisling muses, walking over to me. Rising to her toes, she kisses my jaw firmly. It’s the only thing she can reach.

Grinning, I wrap my arm around her waist, lifting her so we’re eye level.

Am I showing off? A little. My shirt sleeves are shoved up to my elbows, and her breaths come a little faster as her hands run up my skin before cupping my face.

“Hey, big guy,” she rasps.

“Hello yourself, Sugar,” I say. “We’re going to have a good time.”

“I’m in your arms, so I already am,” she says softly, kissing me.

I let her control it for a moment before I’m devouring her lips, my beard brushing against her sensitive skin. I take care of my facial hair so it’s soft, but know if I’m not careful, she’ll get some beard burn.

“I want you in my arms more often,” I growl. I hate that she sleeps alone.

“I know,” she says. “I want that too. Maybe we can do more dates? I know it already says I’m yours on paper.”

I wince at the memory that I moved so fast and forged her signature, but I needed her to be ours.

“Doesn’t mean we skimp on the fun stuff,” I rumble. “Dates, movie nights, falling asleep together for naps.”

“Oh yeah?” Aisling asks, biting her lip. The way she perfumes makes me groan, burying my face in her neck.

“Fuck yes,” I say. Dropping open mouth kisses on her neck, I love the way her fingers bury into my hair, holding me closer. “Go get ready, baby. You’re so damn tempting and beautiful.”

---