Page 25 of To Teleport, or Not to Teleport?
I didn’t fight him when he threaded his fingers with mine. The feel of his lips lingered on my skin, addling my mind more than any passionate kiss.
Grayson had always been kind, sweet, and funny with me and our friendship. I never would’ve imagined the level of confidence and assertiveness hiding under his exterior. If he’d shown me even a glimpse before he’d left me behind, I’d never have survived his absence.
Chapter 9
Grayson’s home was a hodgepodge of finished and unfinished projects. I was both impressed and horrified by the old home he was remodeling.
The common areas had received the majority of the attention and extra time. I couldn’t imagine him getting as far as he had without the help of his two friends. The house was bigger than I’d realized, with five decently sized rooms and a primary bedroom. It had two full baths—and a primary ensuite I low-key wanted to move into.
“Would you like something to drink?” Grayson asked as we returned to the living room. Bear was lounging on the recliner and Kaleb was nowhere to be found.
I made my way to the couch and sat on the edge. “Please. Do you happen to have some orange juice?” The sugar would help after my embarrassing psychic visions upstairs in his room.
Gray had been giving me a tour of the home and we’d reached his bedroom. A California king filled the center of the room, inviting me to crawl into it. I’d been hit hard with a vision, and the bed had been in it. My body flushed at the memory: me on the bed, spread eagle as Grayson’s mouth did wickedly delicious things to me. It’d only lasted a few seconds tops, but the sensations of his touch lingered on my skin as if it had been reality.
I’d dropped my gaze quickly and marveled at the floors, which had been laid throughout the entire house. While Grayson went on about the material and the horrors they’d found when pulling the carpet, I worked at composing myself.
And I’d managed it… until he guided me back into the ensuite. A double vanity with modern mirrors over each sink had been to my immediate left. Tiles that looked like wooden slats covered the floor. To my right had been a spacious shower, encased in clear glass that could hold three if not four people. It had double shower heads coming from the ceiling and a bench built into one side.
It was the stupid shower that had sent my undersexed mind into another vision. This one had been of me pressed against the tiled wall, my legs wrapped around Grayson’s waist and pure ecstasy on my face.
“Here you go,” Grayson said, drawing me back from recalling the sexy vision.
“Right, I forgot I um… had to do… that thing, ya know…” Bear slammed the recliner closed and hurried out of the room.
I paused with the glass to my lips, watching the large man scurry down the hall over the rim of my glass.
Grayson sat next to me, his thigh brushing mine, and rested his arm on the couch behind me. It was cozy and intimate. I swallowed a sip of the fresh orange juice and peered at the couch on the other side of him.
He wasn’t fazed by my discomfort. If anything, he pressed his leg further against mine.
“Is Bear okay?” I asked, hoping to ignore his heat seeping into my skin.
Grayson chuckled. “I’m sure he’s fine.”
“Why’d he leave? Do I make him uncomfortable? Maybe I should go.”
Grayson cupped my shoulder and tugged me back when I moved to get up. “My guess? He caught a whiff of the delicious scent emanating from you since the moment I showed you my room.”
“Dirty word!” I said, covering my face with my free hand. “Y’all and your stupid Shifter senses.”
When he chuckled, I shoved my elbow to his ribs, which only caused the large galoot to laugh harder. “Anyone ever tell you you’re kind of violent?”
I raised my chin and glared down my nose at him. “I’m a darn tootin’ lady, thank you very much.”
A feral grin spread across his face. “Baby, it was not ladylike thoughts that filled your big brain when you peeked at my bed and shower. So either you have dirtier thoughts than you’re willing to admit—which is fine by me, and I’m looking forward to exploring that option—or you had a vision or two and I’d very much like to see them come to life.”
Had he turned on the heater when I wasn’t looking? Between his closeness, the conversation, and the way his eyes promised sexy things, I was about to combust.
I tipped back my glass and chugged the orange juice, hoping it would both cool me and buy me time. He traced an invisible circle on my shoulder with his long, thick fingers, and I was seconds from giving in to my attraction.
The sliding glass door opened, and I squealed.
“It’s Kaleb,” Grayson said, pulling me against his side.
“Sorry! I thought you saw me.”
Embarrassment I could deal with. “I guess I’m a bit jumpy.”
