Page 73 of Believe it or Knot

This has always been my coping mechanism.

By the time a knock sounds on the door, I’m feeling oceans better, the song that formed helping to work through some of my angst. I curl my lips into its normal smile and shove the notebook under the pillow before calling, “Come in.”

The door opens a moment later, revealing Gray in a sharp light blue button up and charcoal gray slacks. His dark hair is styled, and it’s obvious that he’s already well into his day. I, on the other hand, am still a mess.

He doesn’t seem to care, though, striding over to the bed carrying a long box. He slides the item onto the bedside table before perching on the edge of the mattress by my hip. One of his hands smooths my hair back—apparently I didn’t do a good enough job of it myself—then brushes against the bruise I know is on my cheek.

“How are you feeling this morning, sweet thing?”

Nuzzling into his palm, I sigh. “I’m fine. Good. Better than I was last night, that’s for sure.”

He frowns and runs the tip of his finger over my cheekbone. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Sorrel. We should have done a better job-”

“No.” I shake my head and force a smile to my lips. “No. This isn’t your fault. And besides, I’m fine. Nothing really happened. He mostly just scared me.”

The frown deepens. “Him scaring you isn’t okay either, Sorrel. He never should have gotten within twenty feet of you.”

I want to argue, more to reassure him I actually am fine, to ease his worry over me, but I can tell that he won’t let me just sweep this under the rug. “Will I need to give a statement to the police?”

He shakes his head and leans forward to brush his cheek along my uninjured one, marking me with his scent. “No, the restaurant has security cameras all over the place, so we were able to see everything he did once you were out of the bathroom. He’ll spend at least a few years in jail.”

I don’t know if I should be relieved or confused. The last thing I want is to speak to the police, to relive the previous night, but I don’t see how they can lock him up if I don’t give a statement. I’m the victim, the one who would press charges.

Gray cups my face again, brushes his lips over my forehead. “We handled it, sweet thing. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“Okay,” I sigh, leaning up to take his mouth with mine. I’m momentarily stunned by my audacity, but it fades when he moans and angles his head to slant his lips over mine, deepening the kiss.

One hand plants on the bed by my hip as he leans farther over me, his other arm looping around my back to tug me into him, until my breasts brush against his chest, making my nipples pebble. Feeling the hard nubs, he groans and pulls his mouth away from mine, but he doesn’t go far, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck and taking a deep inhale.

“If we keep kissing like that…” He nips my skin. “I’m gonna have to fuck you, Sorrel. My alpha is practically demanding it.”

My hands creep up his arms, over his shoulders until I cup his neck, both palms pressing into the thick column. I use my grip to pull him back, look up at his face. “I’m okay with that, if you are.” Who even am I?

I’m never this forward with men.

Ever.

You’re someone who is making the most of this opportunity, squirreling away memories of your time with this pack so you can pull them out later.

He stares at me for a moment, likely trying to figure out if I’m too injured or upset from last night. If he’d be taking advantage. Maybe Rafe didn’t tell him what we got up to last night? But I could have sworn I heard Gray and Liam come home before we were finished. Surely they heard us. I certainly wasn’t quiet.

And neither was Rafe, for that matter.

Nerves trickle in the longer he considers me. I shake my head. “Never mind. I didn’t- you obviously aren’t ready for that yet. So we can just stop with the kissing and… everything.”

Gray huffs, and I’m not sure if it’s a sound of amusement or annoyance, but a second later he leans over and kisses me again. “I don’t want to stop kissing and everything,” he murmurs to my lips. “But I brought you something.”

Frowning, I straighten away from him, my gaze sliding to the box on my bedside table. “I thought I told you to stop bringing me gifts. It’s excessive. I don’t need them. I’m just happy to be here with you.”

His expression goes so freaking tender, it makes my heart ache. “I know, sweet thing. You’ve made that clear. But this,” he taps the top of the box. “Is actually a gift for all of us.”

He leans back to make room for the box between us, and then pulls off the lid with a flourish, leaving me blinking down at the contents.

A velvet-lined box with… “Are those dildos?”

I can’t help the disappointment in my voice, because I’d thought he was going to fuck me… with his own cock and not a toy.

Gray chuckles, plants a hand by my hip as he leans over to steal a kiss from my lips. “Don’t worry, sweet thing, I have every intention of impaling you on my cock. But to answer your question, yes. These are dildos. But not just ordinary ones.”

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