Page 64 of Unrivaled

Draping his arms loosely around me, he lets me get comfortable before leveling a serious look at me. “Let me tell you what I want.”

“Grayson,” I start to protest, but he cuts me off with a shake of his head.

“No, we’ll do it this way. I think it’ll be easier. First off, I want you to call me Gray. No one calls me Grayson except my mom when she’s mad at me. And even she doesn’t do that anymore.”

Fighting back a smile, I nod. “Okay. I think I can handle that.”

He nods as well. “Good. Second, I wanted to explore our chemistry back in high school. That hasn’t changed. I really hated that you went out with another guy tonight, even though I know I have no right to be jealous. You haven’t promised me anything other than the chance to be part of Ben’s life. But …” His dark eyes examine mine, and he takes a deep breath. “But I’d like to be part of yours too.”

Sighing, I look away, torn and unable to bear his unwavering gaze. “For the record, the date tonight was a set up. Not a genuine connection or anything.”

He nods. “Good.”

A spluttering laugh escapes, and I shake my head. “At least someone’s pleased with tonight’s outcome.”

One of his eyebrows lifts. “You’re not?”

I shrug.

He adjusts me on his lap, his hands on my hips pulling me closer, his legs shifting to tip me against his chest. “I could make sure you’reverypleased with tonight’s outcome.”

I snigger into his chest, and after a second, feel him laughing with me. “Okay, okay,” he says like he’s admitting defeat. “That was corny, I admit it. But the offer’s genuine.”

“I dunno,” I whisper, still with my face against his chest.

“What’s the hesitation?” His hand skates down my spine, soothing and warm.

I spread my hands across his pecs and address them. “What if … what if we do this. You and me. ‘Explore our chemistry,’ as you put it. And everything goes sour? What will that mean to your relationship with Ben?”

His hand skates back up my spine, stopping at the base of my skull and massaging the muscles there. When I chance a glance at his face, his brow is furrowed. “Why would it mean anything to my relationship with Ben?”

Pushing myself more upright, I furrow my brow in return. “How could it not? You don’t think it would be difficult for us to have to see each other all the time if we couldn’t stand each other?”

His sigh sounds half amused and half exasperated. “Well, we’ve already kind of been there and done that, haven’t we? I mean, you couldn’t even stand the sight of me at first. Blocked my number. Did everything in your power to avoid me. And we’ve managed to overcome that and end up here.” He rocks his hips up into me, letting me feel the hard ridge of his dick against my outer thigh.

His face softens, and he brushes a stray wisp of hair back from my face. “I can’t imagine ever hating you so much that I’d stay away from my son.” Then he cracks a grin. “And if we do end up hating each other, then we do whatever angry divorced couples do when they have to share custody. I’m sure we could figure it out if we had to.”

He pauses, as though giving me the opportunity to either agree or argue some more, and when I don’t, his face softens. “Is that really what this is about? You’re afraid we might end up hating each other and it’ll negatively affect Ben?”

“I mean … yeah? Is that not enough reason to be cautious? Because in my book it is.”

His arms go around me again, and he tips me against his chest once more, holding me for a moment before speaking. “So you’re just never going to have any serious relationships? Because what if you date someone, introduce him to Ben, and eventually you might break up?”

I trace a tiny circle on his chest, stupidly content to let him hold me like this, enjoying the warm wall of flesh against my cheek and the comfort of his rumbly voice and his arms around me. More than anything, that’s crumbling my resolve to keep my distance from him. He just feels so … good.

“I’ve never honestly felt regret for accidentally knocking you up,” he says softly. “That probably sounds shitty, but it’s true. I didn’t do it on purpose, and I didn’t even know it happened until recently. But if it means that you’re too afraid to live your life?” He grunts. “That’s just … That’s not the way it should be. No matter what, or if, anything happens between us, there’s nothing that will make me do less than my best with Ben, okay? And we’re adults. If things don’t work out with us, we just make sure that we don’t let that affect Ben.”

I let out a soft chuckle. “You make it all sound so simple and reasonable.”

“Isn’t it, though? I’m not asking you to marry me. I’m just asking for a chance.”

Sitting up straight again, I meet his eyes. “No telling Ben. Not yet. Which means no PDA in front of him.”

“I can handle that,” he whispers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Gray

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