Page 75 of Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots

The next next moment, I was turned around and my back hitting the only clean work area on the table , his hands gripping my waist as his mouth crashed down on mine. The kiss was nothing like I expected—not gentle or hesitant, but hungry and demanding. His lips claimed mine with a fierce intensity that stole my breath, his stubble rough against my skin as he angled his head to deepen the connection.

I should have pushed him away. I should have remembered all the reasons this was a terrible idea. Instead, my hands found their way to his shoulders, fingers digging into the solid muscle as I pulled him closer, returning his kiss with equal fervor.

Dakota groaned against my mouth, the sound vibrating through me as his hands slid from my waist to my hips, lifting me fully onto the workbench. I gasped as he stepped between my legs, his body pressing against mine. His scent enveloped me completely now—pine and earth and aroused Alpha, making a low whine leave me.

He let go of my mouth as his lips found my neck, hot and insistent, sending electric currents racing through my body. I gasped, my hands instinctively gripping his shoulders as his teeth grazed the sensitive skin beneath my ear.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured against my throat, his voice a ragged command. "Tell me this isn't what you want."

But I couldn't form the words, couldn't voice a lie when my body was responding so eagerly to his touch. Instead, I tangled my fingers in his hair and pulled him closer, a soft moan escaping me when his hand slid down to grip my hip. I couldn’t tell him to stop, not when there was something about him and the rest of the Alpha’s that made me feel things I hadn’t before.

Dakota growled, the sound vibrating against my skin as he pressed me more firmly against the table. His scent enveloped me completely now—intoxicating, demanding, making my head swim with desire. His lips traveled up my neck to my jaw, then back to my mouth, capturing my lips once more in a searing kiss that left me breathless. My hands slid beneath his shirt, fingers tracing the hard planes of his stomach, feeling the muscles tense beneath my touch.

"Vivian," he breathed against my lips, my name a reverent prayer and desperate plea all at once. His hands gripped my thighs, pulling me closer to the edge of the table until our bodies were flush against each other. The evidence of his desire pressed against me, sending a jolt of heat straight to my core.

The greenhouse air felt thick with our combined scents—his dominant Alpha musk mingling with the sweet notes of my arousal. My fingers curled into his shirt, torn between pulling him closer and pushing him away.

"Dakota," I breathed, the name a plea and a warning all at once.

He pulled back slightly, his dark eyes searching mine, pupils blown wide with desire. His breathing was ragged, matching my own. For a moment, we simply stared at each other, the gravity of what we were doing hanging between us like a physical presence.

“Fuck.”He growled, before pulling back, leaving me on the table. I could feel his dark eyes on me, “We really shouldn’t. I’m going to go cool down. I’m sorry.”

I slid off the table, my legs unsteady beneath me as I watched him back away. His chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, hands clenched into fists at his sides as though physically restraining himself.

"No, I'm sorry," I said, smoothing down my shirt with trembling hands. "That was... I shouldn't have..."

"It wasn't just you," Dakota cut in, his voice rough. He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up in a way that made him look younger, more vulnerable. "This is complicated. The case, the pack, your safety—it's all tangled together."

I nodded, trying to collect my scattered thoughts. The ghost of his touch lingered on my skin, my lips still tingling from his kiss. "I know. It's not professional."

"It's not just that," he said, pacing a few steps away before turning back to face me. "Gabriel is our Alpha. Pack leader. These things—they need to be discussed. Together."

The mention of Gabriel sent a fresh wave of confusion through me. Images flashed through my mind—Gabriel's arm around me during the movie, Theo's gentle hands teaching me exercises, Lucas's playful smile as he made bows. All four Alphas, somehow weaving themselves into my life in ways I hadn't anticipated.

"All of you," I whispered, the realization dawning slowly. "You all really are making my life go haywire.”

Dakota's expression softened slightly, vulnerability showing through his usual stoic mask. "We're a pack, Vivian. What affects one affects all."

I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly feeling exposed despite being fully clothed. "I don't know what to do with this," I admitted quietly. "Any of it." I hadn’t expected any of these Alphas. Not at all.

“I will let you finish….I need to go talk to Gabriel.” Dakota sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak as I watched him wrestle with his own internal conflict. The tension in his shoulders, the controlled breathing—Dakota was struggling as much as I was.

"I'll be back to check on you in an hour," he said finally, his voice steadier now. "Take your breaks, Vivian. For your own sake."

With that, he turned and strode toward the door, his movements tightly controlled. The greenhouse door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving me alone with my chaotic thoughts and the lingering scent of aroused Alpha in the air.

I pressed my fingers to my lips, still feeling the ghost of his kiss. What was happening to me? I'd spent years carefully maintaining my independence, keeping emotional and physical distance from Alphas. Yet in less than a week, four of them had somehow breached defenses I thought impenetrable.

“Everything is so fucked.” I muttered to myself as I went back to the arrangements on the table, using it to distract myself from everything.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Ididn’tknowhowlongi stood in a daze trying to work on these flower arrangements, when the door opened but I didn't turn around. I kept my focus on the ribbon I was cutting, though my fingers trembled slightly, betraying my agitation.

"Vivian." Gabriel's voice. Deep, controlled, but with an undercurrent I couldn't quite identify. I closed my eyes briefly, steadying myself before I turned to face him.

---