“And now the club and he’s taken up realestate too. I don’t know when he sleeps.” I was enjoying his closeness so whenGriffin straightened, I felt a moment of sadness. He was either really in syncwith me or he’d guessed what I was feeling because his arm came around me, lowon my back.
“So we’re not going to make me remembereveryone’s names, right? That’s a hard quiz. There are too many new faces.”When I giggled, he shot me a teasing glare. “Oh no, did I make that a question?Don’t make me guess.”
“Deal.” Inching closer, I smiled. “Justremember how agreeable I was when it comes time for dessert.”
Griffin’s expression turned heated as henodded, sending a shiver through me. “Oh yes, I will not argue with thatlogic.”
As we walked around the pool, gettingcloser to where everyone was relaxing back in the numerous chairs in theirbackyard, I did my best to get my body under control and subtly pointed outnames and reminders of who was together. “And that’s Russ who has clearly beenoverly chatty.”
Griffin chuckled. “Don’t tattle on the boysor they’ll be mad at me for weeks. They hold grudges.”
Smirking, I gave him a teasing shrug. “Imight be bribed into agreeing with that.”
Griffin wrapped his arms around me andpulled me close as he gave a dirty grin. “You seem to be setting up thisrelationship with very interesting dynamics. I think before we have dessertlater I’ll need to remind my sexy omega what his place is.”
There was no hiding the shiver that wentdown my spine or the quiet moan that escaped. Even Bradley barked out a laughas everyone giggled. I didn’t care, though. I was just focused on the wickedpictures running through my head. “How would you do that?”
We clearly weren’t quiet enough becauseAustin called out from where he was lounging on the side of the pool with hislegs dangling in the water. “He’s going to spank you, sweetie. Do we need to goover how this works?”
I could feel my face heating up but Griffinturned and glanced over his shoulder toward the nosy drama queen. “I’ve gotthis. If he needs some hands-on reminders, I don’t mind. I’m a good teacher.”
Austin gave him a matching dirty grin and aregal nod. “I approve of hands-on learning. Make sure you’reverythorough.”
Griffin turned back to me and whisperedquietly, “Am I the only one who wants to say ‘Yes, majesty’?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “Oh no. Everyonethinks that at least once a day around him.”
We got some questioning glances, buteveryone seemed to assume it was something personal and didn’t ask what he’dsaid that was so funny.
I almost wished they had asked because itwould have distracted Austin.
“Who’s going to swim with me? Russ saidit’ll be a few minutes before the food is done.” Austin looked aroundexpectantly, then zeroed in on Griffin. “You want to join me, don’t you?”
Griffin very neatly stepped behind me andsmiled. “Let me ask Wade what he wants to do.”
Leaning in, he whispered quietly. “Yourcall, goody-goody. Are we swimming or not?”
Before I could respond, he kissed my ear,sending sparks through me. “And just remember…I didn’t bring a suit.”
Oh, I might have forgotten to mention that.
I knew I was taking too long. I could feelthe anticipation around the yard growing and everyone was clearly pickingsides. Silas moved to sit behind Austin and pulled him close, trailing hisfingers over Austin’s chest. Clearly, if Austin wanted to play You’ll Show MeYours Since I’ve Shown You Mine, he was going to give Austin what he wanted.
Dakota was the exact opposite. Out of thecorner of my eye, I saw him grab Tristan’s hand and frown at his sweet alpha.Everyone else fell somewhere between the two spectrums, but I knew I had tomake my own decision.
Leaning back into Griffin’s embrace, I gavea teasing shrug. “Oh, I don’t know if I want to reward Austin’s bad behavior.He’s wanted to see you naked since the first time he saw you in your uniform.”
And I could echo that sentiment.
Griffin had been all decked out and dirtyfrom a call. It’d gone well and the energy from the guys had been almostmagnetic.
But as much as the memory made my fingersitch to touch him, I’d only used it to give myself another minute. Austin,thankfully, loved the memory and charged back in. “Oh, you were so impressive.”
Austin’s sexy tone didn’t upset Silas, who chuckled.“Is that what you want for your birthday? A firefighter?”
Since I wasn’t sure if they were talkingabout getting a stripper, actually buying someone, or doing something evenweirder, I ignored their teasing. Turning my head, I kept my voice low. “Do youhonestly not have an opinion?”
I’d hate to pick wrong just because Iwasn’t able to read him right. He didn’t seem to care, but most people had veryspecific preferences around nudity.
