Page 47 of Gravity

“Do I get one of those?” I grin, pointing to my cheek for a kiss.

“Nice try,” she heads over to where I’m sitting on the other side of the table and places her hand on my shoulder. “You’ve already got donuts out of me. That’s enough affection for one day.”

“Then I’ll look forward to that peck on the cheek tomorrow.” I wiggle my brows, itching to reach out and touch her.

“You keep dreaming, old man.” She taps me on the shoulder and heads over to Asher, who is in the kitchen.

“Right guys, I’ve got to head out. The wife calls,” Mark says, coming back in and kissing Nora on the cheek, thanking her for the pizza before taking a slice. “Asher, come by Cole Security tomorrow. I’ve asked the boys to meet us there to discuss things before flying out Friday.”

“Got it.”

After saying his goodbyes to Pete, Mark comes to me and grips me on the shoulder with a squeeze. “Good to see a smile on your face, Gray. It makes you look pretty.”

“Not as pretty as you, big guy,” I joke. “See you around.”

“Hey, Pop, you want some pizza?” Nora asks, taking them out of the boxes as Mark heads out of the door.

“N-No.”

“Dad doesn’t deserve pizza. In fact, neither does Gray. Everyone has been ganging up on me tonight.”

“It’s about time someone did.”

I burst out laughing. “I’d give up, Asher. You’ll lose no matter what.”

“I think you might be right,” he replies with his head in the fridge. “Shit, we are out of cold beer.”

“There’s some in the garage,” Nora says as Asher heads out to get more.

Looking down to where he was sitting at the table, I notice there’re five empty bottles, three more than myself and Mark have drunk, and my conversation with Nora from earlier comes back to the forefront of my mind.

“Grayson, come gets some pizza.”

I look back at Pete. “You sure I can’t get you anything?”

His only response is a shake of his head as he stares into space. He’s changed. He’s gone quiet and is not the Pete I was with just moments ago. But then not being around to witness his usual mood changes, I put it down to being the new norm for him. Heading over to Nora, I take the opportunity to have her to myself for a few seconds. Placing my hands on her hips and stepping close, I don’t miss her reaction. Her golden skin breaks out in chills and she clears her throat, no doubt trying to gain control. But the hunger in me wants more, and I don’t think twice when I press against her a little harder and lean down to whisper in her ear. “What are you doing tomorrow, Shortcake?”

“I-I’m not sure. Why?”

“Thought we’d do something. Together.”

She looks up at me with those damn flush cheeks and eyes full of wonder. “Like what?” she whispers, and I have to fight the urge to not press my lips against hers, telling her in one swift movement what I’d really like to do.

She’s forbidden, Grayson.

Moving from behind her to give us both some distance, I turn and rest against the countertop. “Anything.”

“Won’t Asher be around?”

I shrug. “Even if he is, doesn’t mean I can’t share myself with you, too.”

She smiles, dropping her gaze from me as the sexual tension flickers between us. “As much as I would love to spend time with you, I said I’d be here with Dad as I have work the day after.”

I’m about to reply when a noise from the other side of the room catches my attention. Looking over at Pete, my back straightens when I see his eyes roll back, right before his body starts to vigorously convulse with a seizure. “Shit. Pete!”

I’ve left Nora’s side in seconds and her cries for her father tell me she’s registered what is happening, screaming for Asher to come quick as I wheel Pete’s chair away from the dining table.

“All right, big guy,” I reassure him, gently protecting his head as my heart races in my chest, my body riddled with panic. “Asher, get in here!”