“Anna,” he purrs, his voice sending goosebumps across my skin. He doesn’t waste any time, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me into a hard, deep kiss that steals my breath away. His grip is possessive, his tongue exploring my mouth with an intensity that makes my knees weak.
“Griffyn…” I manage to gasp as he finally breaks the kiss, leaving me breathless and wanting more.
“Sorry, Vixen, couldn’t resist,” he says smirking, his eyes dark with desire. Then, with deliberate slowness, he lifts his hand to rub the mark on my ribs, his mark, and I tremble with need, heat pooling in my core.
“Griffyn, you’re turning me on and we are about to eat dinner,” I plead, biting my lip as I feel my self-control slipping.
“The pheromones all over this room are turning me on but I suppose I can wait until later,” he whispers into my ear, his breath hot against my skin. He gives me one last lingering look before releasing me from his grip.
I take a shaky breath and try to focus on the task at hand: helping Rion set the table for dinner. But Griffyn’s touch lingers, distracting me and leaving me aching for more.
The sound of footsteps descending the stairs pulls me back to reality. Blaze, Felix, and Aksel enter the kitchen.
“Wow, this looks amazing!” Felix exclaims, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. Blaze nods in agreement, though he remains quiet, his gaze occasionally flickering over to me. I try not to let it bother me.
As we settle into our seats, laughter and playful banter fill the air. It feels like a family gathering, and I relish in the warmth of being surrounded by my mates.
“Anna,” Aksel says, his tone casual yet curious, “how’s your studying going?”
I blush, remembering how my study session earlier was interrupted by an impromptu round with Rion. “Oh, um, it’sgoing well,” I stammer, hoping to move on quickly from the subject.
But Griffyn, ever the tease, isn’t about to let me off that easily. “Really?” he smirks, raising an eyebrow. “It must have gone exceptionally well since we could all hear you having so much fun.”
Heat floods my cheeks as I glance around the table, seeing the amusement in everyone’s eyes. Even the stoic Blaze cracks a small smile. Rion shifts uncomfortably in his seat, clearly just as embarrassed as I am.
“Griffyn!” I scold, trying to hide my embarrassment behind feigned annoyance. But the other guys simply laugh, joining in on the teasing.
“Rion, you must be quite the tutor,” Felix teases, winking at him. Aksel chuckles, nodding his agreement.
“Indeed,” Rion says.
My face feels like it’s on fire, but I can’t help but laugh along with them. After all, this playful banter is part of what makes our bond so special.
Rion and I share a shy glance, our mutual embarrassment still lingering in the air like a thick fog. Of course, Griffyn doesn’t let it go.
“Speaking of lessons,” he says with a wicked glint in his eyes, “maybe now Rion will want to join in on some group activities?”
My heart skips a beat, both at the implication and the sudden intensity in Griffyn’s gaze. An electric current seems to pass through the table, setting everyone on edge. Even Blaze, who has been quiet the entire evening, looks up from his plate, his expression inscrutable.
“Griffyn, that’s enough,” I say quietly, trying to sound firm but feeling my face heat up even more. I don’t want Rion to feel pressured just because Griffyn likes it so much.
But Rion surprises me by speaking up, his voice steady despite the slight flush on his cheeks. “I appreciate the offer,” he says, looking each of our mates in the eye in turn. “But when I decide to join in, I will make myself present. Until then, there’s no need to worry about me.”
When he winks at Griffyn, laughter bubbles up inside me, and I can’t help but let it out. The tension at the table dissipates as everyone chuckles along with me. Soon enough, we’re all laughing together, even Blaze cracks a small smile. It feels good to see everyone getting along.
“Alright, alright,” Griffyn concedes, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Point taken, Rion.”
“Good,” I say with a grin.
As I take another bite of my meal, I can’t shake the feeling that someone’s gaze is fixated on me. Glancing up, I catch Blaze’s eyes locked onto mine. His stare is intense. Instead of talking to him, I return my attention to my plate, focusing on my food.
The moment I swallow my last bite, Felix’s strong arms envelop me, lifting me off my chair and settling me into his lap. The sudden movement surprises me, but I can’t deny the thrill it sends through my body as he nuzzles my neck. I shiver involuntarily when his tongue flicks over his bite mark on my shoulder.
“What got into you?” I whisper, trying to suppress the arousal that grows in response to his touch.
Felix chuckles softly, his breath hot against my skin. “Can’t you smell it, Anna? The whole kitchen reeks of sex. I wouldn’t be surprised if all your mates were hard as rocks during dinner.”
My cheeks flare with embarrassment at his words, but I can’t help but feel a sense of pride in the fact that I have such an impact on them. Despite the blush spreading across my face, I lean into Felix’s touch, enjoying the way his fingers trace patterns along my thigh.
