Page 75 of Brutal Alpha's Forced Mate

We walk in companionable silence. The moon is high overhead, casting just enough light to guide our way. The trees part as we reach a small field, and I stop short at the sight in front of me.

A blanket is spread out on the soft grass, surrounded by glowing lanterns that send a warm, golden light over the scene. A wicker basket sits in the center of the blanket, and beside it, a bottle of wine and two glasses gleam invitingly. The entire setup is simple, but it’s perfect. Intimate and romantic in a way that makes my chest ache.

“Gray,” I whisper, turning to him.

He shrugs and rubs the back of his neck. “I figured we could both use a break. Just us.”

A smile tugs at my lips, and I shake my head. “You’ve been holding out on me. I didn’t know you were capable of this level of charm.”

“Stick around,” he says, his voice dropping to a low, teasing rumble. “I might surprise you.”

I settle onto the blanket as he pours the wine and hands me a glass before sitting beside me. The basket is packed with an assortment of fruits, cheeses, and crackers, along with what looks suspiciously like a batch of cookies he baked himself. I raise a brow at the sight, and he chuckles.

“Don’t look so skeptical,” he jokes, nudging the basket toward me. “You’ve eaten my cookies before.”

“Once,” I remind him, reaching for one. “And I’ll admit, they were good. But if these are subpar, I reserve the right to mock you.”

“Deal.”

We spend the next hour talking and laughing. For once, there’s no urgency, no looming threat. Just the two of us and the quiet of the night. Every now and then, I catch him looking at me—really looking at me—and it sends a pleasant shiver down my spine.

At one point, I lean back on my elbows and let out a contented sigh. “You know, this is dangerous territory, Gray.”

He turns to me, his brow furrowing. “How so?”

“You’re setting the bar ridiculously high. How are you going to top this next time?”

His lips curve into a slow, wicked smile. “Who says I have to top it?”

“Are you implying this is a one-time thing?”

“I’m implying that you should appreciate the effort I put into this before demanding an encore.”

“Effort appreciated,” I reply, my voice softening as his face inches closer to mine. “But I might still demand an encore.”

His laughter is warm, low, and entirely too tempting. “You’re impossible.”

“You like it,” I shoot back.

“I do,” he admits. “More than you know.”

My heart stutters in my chest as he leans in. His mouth brushes against mine, sending sparks shooting across my skin. When his tongue darts out, coaxing my lips apart, I melt against him, letting him deepen the kiss.

My pulse races, and the scent of pine and smoke surrounds me. I shift closer, pressing my body against his, and he groans. The sound is enough to make my stomach clench, and suddenly, I can feel the desire coursing through me.

I break away, breathless. My cheeks are flushed, and my eyes are glassy as I meet his gaze. He stares back at me, his expression a mix of adoration and need, and I trail my fingers down his shirt, savoring the feel of his muscles underneath thefabric. When I push against him, urging him to lie back, he lets out a low chuckle.

He follows my lead, lying back on the blanket with his hands behind his head. His blue eyes sparkle in the lantern light as I climb on top of him, straddling his waist.

He reaches up, tangling a hand in my hair, and pulls me down to kiss him. I lean into it, losing myself in the heat of his mouth and the feel of his body beneath mine. He breaks the kiss, nipping at my lower lip, and I whimper.

As he drags his mouth across my jaw, down the column of my throat, I tilt my head back, giving him access to every inch of bare skin. His hands slip up the hem of my dress, teasing and tormenting as his fingers ghost over my thighs.

I grind my hips against him, feeling his hard length press against my core. I let out a soft moan, and he growls. The sound is so primal, so animal, that it makes my knees weak.

It takes everything in me to pull away, but the look in his eye when I sink down between his legs makes the effort worthwhile.

I unbutton his jeans, taking my time and enjoying each new inch of exposed skin. As his pants slide down, his erection springs free. I wrap a hand around the thick base, stroking slowly.

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