<b>JESSICA </b>


    “Do <b>you </b>know there’s a party at school next week?” I mumble, hallughing, hall sighing, as Grayson’s lips trailzily along my neck. Goddess! He’s so insatiable. I don’t know how many times we did it in his office earlier. It turns out, he just wanted some alone time so the told the others this is my punishment. Grayson…


    His lips stop for a second, just long enough to nce up at me, eyes zing with that intensity I love and hate in equal measure. “Hmmm?” He asked before his mouth slides back down my body, past my navel, and I shiver as his breath catches on the sensitive skin of my lower belly.


    “Are you even hearing me?” I whisper, trying to keep my voice steady despite how much he’s undoing me. “I’m serious, Grayson. I’m so sore. I don’t think I can <b>take </b>you again.”


    He lets out a soft, amused chuckle, his lips still on my skin. “Okay, baby,” he murmurs, his tone yful, almost affectionate in the way I cannot believe I’m hearing it from him, “I’m sorry I made <b>you </b>cum thrice tonight.”


    I groan, hiding my face. What a jerkt “Seriously?” I mutter against his skin, but I can’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. “Are you this


    arrogant?”


    Grayson shrugs, azy grin tugging at his mouth as he shits his position, rolling onto his side and draping his arm over my waist. His hand finds its way to the curve <b>of </b>my hip, fingers lightly tracing patterns on my skin. “Arrogant?” <b>He </b>chuckles, his lips brushing against my temple. “How dare you say that to your alpha Jess?”


    I <b>smack </b>his chest, the yful sting making himugh. “Stop power tripping!”


    Grayson grins even wider, pulling me closer until we’re <b>face </b>to <b>face</b>. “You won’t walk for days if I’m power tripping Jess.” He kisses the tip of my nose, then my lips, slow and teasing his tongue just brushing against mine.


    I snort, trying to pull back <b>but </b>not getting very far. “Stop <b>kissing </b>me, you cocky jerk. So, listen…“I continue talking even if Grayson didn’t stop kissing me.“Next week, there’s a party-”


    “Ubuh.”


    “Grayson!” I protest, struggling to keep my <b>focus</b>. “I’m serious. This party-


    “Hmm, no parties<b>, </b>Jess.” He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes<b>, </b>his expression that perfect mix of smirking and serious. “You know what kind of party it is. Our vige will be open for other non–pack members, and it will be dangerous.<b>” </b>


    I pause, the <b>yful </b>mood shifting as his words settle in. “Dangerous?” I repeat, frowning slightly. He always has a way of turning things darker, even when we’re having <b>fun</b>..


    Grayson’s eyes don’t leave mine, his hand brushing through my hair as he shifts closer again. “We still haven’t caught the rogues who attack <b>you </b>and your mom.”


    Right. But what does have to do with the party next week? Grayson must’ve noticed my confusion.


    There are a lot of attacks outside the pack not just ours and I think they are connected with what happened to <b>you</b><b>.</b>”


    <b>I </b>swallow hard. That makes sense, more than I want it to. But it still doesn’t sit right. “So, you don’t <b>want </b>me to <b>go</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>


    Grayson shifted again. I notice him thinking for a second before he sighs. “I know how much you love those parties.” There’s an usation on that. Well, it’s Logan. He’s the one who taught me how to party hard and you know, drink harder. It’s funny how we always ended up so drunk we slept at the training field.


    09:46 Tue, 5 Aug


    Iraise an eyebrow at him. “So what, I can’t have fun now!”


    Grayson just looks at me. That quiet, infuriating alpha stare–like he’s already made the decision and he’s letting me catch up.


    <b>“</b><b>You </b>can have fun,” he says, stroking a slow line down my side, fingers grazing the spot where his mouth was earlier. “Just not there. Not next week. Not when I don’t know who’s gonna be watching you”


    My stomach tightens–not from fear, not exactly. From the way his voice lowers when he talks like that. From the way he says watching you like it’s <b>a </b>sin someone else might even look <b>at </b>me.


    I swallow, “You think they’d try again? The rogues?”


    “I think,” he murmurs, kissing the dip below my corbone, “that if someone tried to takey


    once<b>, </b>be losing my damn mind.”


    That sends a chill down my spine. I try to sit up but his hand ttens on my belly, holding me there. “Didn’t know you were this smitten on me, Alpha.”


    That earned a growl on him.


    “You should start calling me baby too, you <b>know</b>?”


    Lblink.


    He smiles–dark, slow, satisfied. “What? You don’t like it?”


    It’s not that I murmur


    “Then what is it?” he says, kissing the corner of my mouth. “You prefer <b>calling </b>me alpha? That turns you on?”


    I try to re. “I’m not like <b>you</b>.”


    Grayson smirks “Huh. Says the girl whose on


    her knees earlier.<b>” </b>


    My face flushes, full–body heat. “You’re such an asshole


    “I know baby,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my jaw, “I know”


    The thing about calling him baby is it feels real. I bite my lower lips and try to imagine calling Grayson baby and I almost <b>cringe</b>. Never in my entire life I thought of having this kind of rtionship with him. I mean, aside from those yet dreams…I heard Gray chuckle and frowned.


    “What’s funny?” asked, shifting so I can face him.


    <b>Grayson’s </bugh is that deep, chesty kind that always sounds like he’s two seconds from making another filthyment–and I <b>can’t </b><b>decide </b>if I want to p him or kiss him for it


    “Grayson,” warn, narrowing my eyes.


    He tries to school his expression, but the smirk stays. “Nothing. You were saying again?”


    exhale through my nose, trying to keep my cool. “The party. I want to go.”


    His expression doesn’t exactly change, but it hardens–just a flicker around his eyes. Tension sharpens his jaw like <b>he’s </b>already imagining breaking someone’s teeth.


    “I mean,” I add quickly, pushing up on one elbow, “you’ll be there, right? And Pierce’ll be there. And it’s not like I don’t know how to protect myself so-


    09:46 Tue, 5 Aug


    His gaze cuts to mine. Sharp. Dangerous.


    “Fine,” he mutters, voice low and tight.


    My eyes snap to his. “Wait, seriously?”


    “But-” he adds, and oh, there it is–the catch. “No drinking. No boys.”


    I snort.” Boys?”


    “Correction,” he says, leaning in until his breath brushes my lips. “No one else aside from me, Jess.”


    My stomach flips.


    I try to sound casual–fail miserably. “That’s a little possessive, don’t you think?”


    He grins, slow and unapologetic. “Baby, that’s me being merciful.”


    I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling. “So that’s a yes?”


    He kisses me once–firm, iming, like sealing a deal in blood. Then he pulls back just enough to whisper, “Yes. But one step out of line, Jess -and I’ll drag you out of there myself”


    I shiver not expecting this side of him. But I like this one better.


    …Noted.”