Page 31 of Finding the Forward: Part One
“I appreciate your honesty–and honesty is why I’m telling you about my guys before we even discuss what this is or where we’re going with it. Understood?” Grif leaned into my space, gaze intense.
Everything in the coffee shop faded away until it was only us.
I rubbed my thighs together to ease the building pressure. “I understand.”
“Good.” He held my gaze in a way that wasn’t very beta-like.
I liked that. A lot. A little growl of pleasure escaped my lips.
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting someone else to take charge in bed, Kitten. Dean likes to be told what to do. One night, I’m going to tell him what to do toyou.” His voice lowered as he caressed me again.
“Sounds perfect.” My voice got breathy with need.Yes, please.
A beep interrupted the moment as I got a text from Mercy. With a sigh, I checked it.
Mercy
Hope you’re having fun. We’re not done yet.
My cohort group chat filled with pictures of the ice baths and some commentary aboutwhere’d Verity go?
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Everything’s fine. I have to stay around until Mercy’s done, but don’t feel you have to hang out until she arrives if you have places to be,” I told him. Really, I should either go to my greenhouse and get some work done or read for class.
He eyed my big mug. “What are you drinking? It’s not fair that you know how I take my coffee, but I don’t know yours.”
“Why? So you can make me breakfast after you fuck me all night long?” I smirked. “Chai latte. Hot, iced, bubble tea, I like them all. The coffee cart at the training center makes a good one. Also, those little lemon muffins.”
“The coffee cart,” he breathed. “Do you ever sit in the stands and watch Mercy practice?”
“I do. Wait, did you smell me?” My heart fluttered at the prospect. It was straight out of a romance novel.
His face fell, and his scent soured. “I don’t have a very good nose. A few too many pucks to the face.”
Oh. I reached out and squeezed his knee, not wanting to see him upset.
“Dean keeps smelling something. Not enough to get an actual scent, but enough to spark his interest. It’s you. That’s it. We’re keeping you.” He grinned. “I will absolutely makeyoubreakfast in my bed.Then cook for you.”
The innuendo set me on fire.Yes, please eat me for breakfast.I turned the cup around in my hands. “As tempting as that sounds, why now? It’s been four months.”
A heavy sigh escaped his lips. “There are a lot of reasons I was looking for you. Some are less important than others. Listen to them all before you make a judgment?”
“That sounds ominous.” My belly twisted. “Give it to me. I hate the romance novels where the conflict could’ve been solved with an honest adult conversation.”
Of course there was a catch. Because he had a pack, a cute omega husband, and was a professional athlete. They probably lived in a big, beautiful house and had a ton of money.
I brought nothing.
“Kitten, stop.” He put his hand under my chin, tilting my head up, sending little shivers through me. “After that flight, I thought about youa lotafterwards. I even looked for you and hoped that you’d reach out to me.”
“I didn’t intend to worry you,” I told him as I took another sip. Griflookedfor me?
“Why don’t you have social media?” He shot me a puzzled look.
My shoulders slumped. It was a touchy subject.
“You were hiding from your parents. Never mind, I’m an idiot.” Grif squeezed my hand.
