He sighed and placed a lingering kiss to her throat. “I went out with other women because, honestly, I never thought you would look at me twice. I screwed up by lying to you because relationships, being in one, and with someone that I care about, is a learning curve, sure, but one I plan on giving my all to.
“I know you’re scared that I’m not in this with you. I can only ask that you let me prove it. Will you?” He didn’t admit it, but he was afraid too—afraid that if she ever found out who he really was, that she would turn her back on him and run far away.
“What choice do I have? You’re a great lay,” she giggled, kissing his strong jaw.
He chuckled with her, giving her side a tiny pinch before turning serious again. “Keeping us a secret is a big ask, Gray. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
“Let’s give it a few days, at least. Sneaking around might be kind of fun.”
Gray might try to convince herself and him that hiding their relationship would be exciting, but he wasn’t fooled. She didn’t want their friends to know in case he hurt her. All he needed was time to prove himself.
With time, she would learn to trust him when he said he wasn’t going to hurt her.
With time, she might not run away from his past.
twelve
CIAR
Ciar and Grayentered the kitchen at the same time. Everyone was there, helping themselves to a buffet-style breakfast. They would have been fifteen minutes earlier, but when Gray happened to bend over to pick her panties off the floor, his dick had other ideas despite how many times they’d come together last night.
He should be exhausted, but nothing but exhilaration coursed through his satisfied body. He glanced in Gray’s direction, where she was pouring herself some tea. She must have felt his eyes, because hers tipped up, her cheeks flushing pink when he smiled.
Ciar loaded his plate full. The night’s cardio had left him starved. He was about to sit by Dagr at the high bar when Mags announced, “I’m not surprised to see you eating enough for three, Ciar, after last night. The things I heard outside Gray’s room made even me blush.”
Ciar fumbled his plate, cursing under his breath before zeroing in on a smirking Mags. Blair covered her mouth, but it was clear she was hiding a silent laugh.
“In the shit now,” Dagr murmured at his side, not lifting his face from his plate.
“What the fuck are you on about, Mags?” Daniel asked.
“It’s Mags,” Jonathan chuckled. “The woman doesn’t need a reason to be a nut.”
“Fuck off, Jon. I’m only trying to help our friends come clean. I can reenact what I heard if everyone’s game.”
Bébhinn stepped beside Gray, bumping her side to see if her friend would shed light on Mags’ allegations.
“Don’t you dare,” Gray hissed.
“What the hell is this about, Gray?” Daniel asked with a look of confusion, not yet connecting the dots.
Ciar had agreed with Gray to wait, but right then, he wanted to kiss Mags’ shit-stirring little toes. Gray looked at him, her teacup frozen midair.
If she thought he could magically put the cows back in the barn, she had way too much faith in him.
Setting his plate down, he gave Gray a stern look before making his way toward her. Her panicked, silent “no” didn’t stop him. He took her cup and set it on the counter while wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her tightly into his body.
“Gray and I are together. Exclusively. I’m hers, and she’s mine. Oh, and we also plan on having sex every chance we get.” He grasped her chin and made her look up at his face before kissing her tenderly.
Background noise filtered through his haze of satisfaction at claiming her in front of their friends.
“The romance of it all,” Mags sighed.
“I’ll be damned,” Daniel cursed. “I fucking knew it, you bastard. I swore the night I slept on the couch that I heard you talking to a woman in the kitchen. From the noises, I was forced to endure, more than talking. It was Gray.”
Ciar could only smirk and shrug. “Guilty.”
“I always knew you had a thing for Gray, Ciar. I’m only shocked she returns the sentiment,” Bébhinn laughed. “I’m happy for both of you.”
