My hand closes over his as I draw him around, encasing him between my thighs as my hand slides around to his ass. A low growl rumbles through my chest as he leans into me.
“Now this,” I murmur, “feels like a much better use of my time.”
He sighs, his hands finding their way into my hair and pushing back the red strands dangling over my face. “Same, since I’m having precisely zero luck in creating anything new for the gallery.”
“You too?” I ask. There’s just a hint of relief that I’m not the only one trying to take from an empty pot, entwined with a large dose of guilt.
He nods unhappily, leaning down to rest his forehead against mine. Our breaths mingle together, both of us enjoying the moment. “I need a muse,” he blurts. Amusement turns up the corners of my mouth, and I wiggle my brows at him.
He snorts. “Not you. I have plenty of paintings of you, and I can’t exactly show them. I need something for the new showing, or I’m toast. They won’t renew my lease in the Artist’s Quarter unless I can prove I deserve to be there.”
“You do deserve it,” I tell him, and it’s true. Logan is a phenomenal artist.
His mouth tightens. “I’m worried I’m dried up, Gray. Maybe this is all I can do, and there’s nothing else to show.”
“We’ll get there, Logan,” I tell him as a door slams in the distance. Someone’s home. Sighing, I roll my chair back, putting some distance between us. Logan’s face drops.
“Gray… maybe we should tell them.”
My headshake is firm. “No, Lo. We’ve talked about this.”
Logan’s face falls as he turns away. I reach for his hand, but he pulls it back. “Logan.”
“Don’t,” he shoots back. “What, I’m not allowed to have feelings now? I’m not just here for convenience, Gray. I’m not ashamed of us. Why are you?”
A lump appears in my throat. “I’m not ashamed,” I whisper. “But you know, Logan. If the Council finds out – if Navarre finds out…”
Homosexuality is non-existent in Navarre. As in, we would be completely ostracized from society if Logan and I ever went public with our relationship. Alphas mate with omegas. Betas with betas. But two alphas, together? My mouth dries at the thought.
“This is bigger than us. The whole pack would be affected.”
Logan takes a step towards the door. “We don’t know that, Gray. Just because it doesn’t happen doesn’t mean it never could.”
“One day,” I insist. “But we need to be more established, Logan. We need to be strong enough to ride out the fallout. When Tristan is Council leader, we’ll be in a much better position.”
He stops, turning to stare at me. “That could be years,” he says softly. “You want me to wait that long?”
My heart twists. “You won’t?”
Logan throws up his hands. “I don’t know, Gray. But I don’t think I can carry on like this, sneaking around in our own home. Maybe we should just tell Tristan and Jax.”
I push myself up from my chair, grabbing his hand and drawing him to me as my hands land on either side of his face. “We will,” I promise. “We will, Lo. Just not yet. Give me a little more time. Okay?”
His mouth turns down as he tries to pull away, but I hold him firmly, my heart beating wildly against my chest. I can’t lose him. Logan is my best friend, my partner.
“I’m sorry,” I press, staring into his eyes. “Soon, Lo. I swear it.”
Finally, he nods, relief loosening the knot in my chest. We break apart as footsteps thump up the corridor, Tristan poking his head in and looking between us.
“Pack meeting,” he demands. “Jax is on his way. I have news.”
“What’s going on?” Logan asks. He takes another step away from me, and I withdraw behind my desk. Tristan grins, his normally deadpan expression the most carefree I’ve seen in a long time.
“I’ll tell you when he gets here.”
4
JAX
