Page 110 of Shattering

Cadi blinked. "How so?"

"Dodgy. Like he was avoidin' somethin'. And ya know Byron never avoids anything."

Cadi tilted her head thoughtfully. "Funny. Ana was also unusually... bloodthirsty when talking about Byron."

They both stared at each other, eyebrows raising at the same time, an unspoken question passing between them.

Gray grinned. "Let's have 'em for dinner."

Cadi smirked. "Oh, absolutely."

Gray chuckled. "Watch the fireworks."

Cadi laughed, shaking her head. "Or the bomb go off."

And this—this was what she missed the most.

The feeling that they were on the same page. That he got things she didn't have to verbalise.

Gray tightened his grip on her hips, pulling her in for a kiss. His fingers flexed, inching her closer, and he leaned in, tilting his head .

But before he could close the distance, Cadi placed a single finger against his lips.

"Baby steps, Gray."

His groan was immediate, frustrated, and thoroughly tortured.

She laughed, pressing a swift peck to his lips before climbing off his lap.

Gray let his head fall back against the couch, watching her retreat with a mix of frustration and pure suffering.

"Why are ye torturin' me?" he asked, voice low and playful.

Cadi glanced back, smiling her siren's smile. "Because I can."

Gray groaned again, covering his face. "I swear, ye're actually enjoyin' this."

Cadi grinned, winking as she walked away. "Oh, absolutely."

Chapter 50

Gray's breath hitched as he slipped into bed, his body chilled from the late shift. He curled his frozen feet against Cadi's warmth, and she let out a sharp shriek, kicking at him half-heartedly before twisting to swat at his arm.

"For God's sake, Gray!" she hissed, pulling the duvet tighter around her. "Your feet are like ice blocks!"

He chuckled, his voice rough with exhaustion. "You're warm."

She grumbled but let him pull her closer, her hand resting against his chest as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. It was small moments like these that made everything feel normal again.

Their mornings had found a rhythm too. Coffee brewing, the sounds of Tomos thudding down the stairs, muttering about training. The battle for the best parking spot was a constant, Gray's larger-than-life attitude always turning it into a full-fledged competition.

"Get out of my spot, woman," he grumbled one morning as she pulled in right before him.

Cadi smirked as she unbuckled. "Possession is nine-tenths of the law, Gray."

Gray scowled, shaking his head as he parked at a distance and jogged toward her. He looked around before stealing a kiss just before she could escape, smirking as she pushed him away.

Their love for rugby was another thing that kept them connected. Tomos was rugby-obsessed, and both Gray and Cadi were die-hard fans of the All Blacks, even as they supported Wales. For Gray's birthday, she surprised him with jerseys for both of them—black, sleek, and embroidered with his name and number on the back. He had stared at them for a long moment before dragging her into a deep, searing kiss.

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