Page 64 of Dream Mates
“Okay?” She peeked up at me. “I… I’m not adverse to seeing what’s out there, it’s just…”
“I know.” I kissed her.
She’d had little relationship experience outside of teenage dream sex with Wes. Grace had also had a very sheltered upbringing with sex being taboo. Not to mention the harm caused to her because of who she loved.
For a moment she was quiet. Her brow furrowed when she finally spoke. “Last night Bren mentioned punishments for breaking pack rules. That is a thing?”
“It’s more like consequences, but yeah, it’s pretty common in packs. It’s something you have difficulty with, isn’t it? Because of how you grew up?” I continued to stroke her hair.
She nodded. “Being punished for no good reason. I just wasn’t ready to tell him where I was from.”
“I know. We’re not super punishy, as I’m sure you figured out. Usually, it’s extra chores or the guys just beat the shit out of each other. They call it sparring, but it’s different from the usual sparring. Jett isverystrong and fast, but Bren can get you down to the ground so quick.”
“Oh.” She went quiet again.
“Anything else bothering you?” I ran my fingers up and down her arm.
“I’m okay.” For a moment she just lay there in my arms.
I held her tight, and I purred for her. “Do you want to try purring?”
A look of concentration crossed her face as a little rumble came from her chest.
“That’s good, let’s try again.” I gave her another kiss, and we practiced purring a little more. It was nice to be able to talk with Grace like this. Omegas did talk to each other about this sort of stuff, especially in omega-only spaces. But most omegas I knew were through work and I had to be professional.
“Can we watch a movie? With popcorn–and those candies Ri likes to put in it,” she asked.
“If we have them, sure.” Yeah, snuggling Grace wasn’t a hardship.
We went downstairs where Brennan, Jett, and Spencer were cooking. Wes was still napping. Snacks in hand, we settled down in the movie alcove with a pile of blankets, where we watched another one of my favorites as I tried to get her ‘caught up’ on the movies most people her age would know. Right now, we were watching a space movie.
I’d dozed off when someone jumped on me. Someone smelling of anise. “Hey, Ri.”
“Fuck of the morning to you.” Riley grinned. She tackled Grace. “I knew you’d be back.”
“Thanks for believing in me. I don’t know what would have happened if no one had been home when I returned,” Grace said, holding Riley tight.
“Well, this is cute.” Lexi stood there, grinning. “Where’s my brother?”
“Sleeping. We keep him tired. He’s less argumentative that way,” I laughed.
Lexi snorted.
“Oh my fuck.” Riley rolled her eyes.
“Your hair is pretty,” I told her. Her hair now hung in long braids with green in them. Sonja must have taken her to get them done.
“Thanks.” She grinned.
“Ri.” Wes dived-bombed the couch, making a pile of us. “Oh, hi Lexi.” He smiled at his sister. “Thanks for doing this.”
“I believe I was promised food.” Lexi looked at the back porch where Spencer was taking the lamb off the rotisserie.
“Soon.” Jett appeared. “Hey, Lexi.” He turned to us. “Someone needs to set the table. Someone else needs to pour beverages. Ri.” They fist-bumped.
Grace shut off the movie and stood. “We’ll watch the rest later.”
The eight of us had dinner outside on the raised gazebo, then roasted marshmallows around the fire pit by the water. Lexi headed back and we all went inside to watch another movie. This was the first in the Defender League, a superhero blockbuster franchise that most everyone knew–and I couldn't wait to see Grace’s reaction.
