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We pigged out on brownies after dinner, which were made out of a box-mix since Zed apparently hated baking desserts. It was funny to see Teagan eating just as much as I did, and it made me feel less self-conscious about my own ridiculous hunger.
We all stayed and chatted until Tea and Jesse announced that they had homework and ducked out. Ford and I followed them out, since I also had homework, and we walked back to Ford’s place together.
“Have fun,” Teagan called, as she and Jesse continued walking past us while we headed up the steps to Ford’s porch. Their townhouse was on the end of the row, with Ford’s sandwiched between theirs and Elliot’s.
The door closed behind me and Ford, and he led me back to the garage. “Ready to meet my parents?”
I grimaced. “No.”
He flashed me a grin. “Don’t worry, they have no choice but to like you.”
“Sorry, but I call bullshit on that. They might have no choice but to pretend to like me, but that won’t make it any less awkward if they don’t actually like me.”
“They like everyone,” he promised. “And after you meet them, you’ll see what I mean about mates being permanent.”
I wasn’t thrilled about it but followed him out to the car.
Maybe it wouldn’t be as awkward as I thought.
My feet tappedthe floormat anxiously as stress rose uncomfortably in my chest. Breathing was starting to feel difficult.
Ford parked in front of a cute, moderate-sized house, and then looked over at me.
My stress must’ve been written on my face, because he picked me up and put me back on his lap, his arms wrapping around me and squeezing tight.
“It’s going to be alright, Ebb,” he murmured.
“Yup,” I said, struggling to breathe as the panic surfaced. I was usually fairly good at avoiding my anxiety, but dammit, this was stressful. “I’ve never met a guy’s parents before.”
He squeezed me tighter. Something about the gentle pressure of the hug made me feel slightly better. “You’re my mate, Ebony. They’re going to love you.”
Maybe they would, but… maybe they wouldn’t.
There wasn’t a way of knowing, was there? And I was going to be stuck with them just as permanently as I was stuck with Ford and his pack. Our pack. I still wasn’t sure whether or not I considered them mine too; everything was just sort of up in the air.
“Ebony.” He repeated my name, his arms loosening from my body so he could cup my face in his hands. He tilted my head back, and our eyes met for a brief moment before he brushed his lips against mine.
I didn’t hesitate before kissing him back.
Our lips were soft and light against each other, but I wanted more. I wanted him to distract me, and make me feel more secure or at ease. Or even just horny. Anything was better than anxious.
My tongue stroked his, and his fingers left my face, hitching around my thighs as he dragged me closer so we were pressed together tightly. My body loosened as we made out, and though his hands remained on my thighs, sliding over my ass a few times, I knew he wasn’t going to pressure me into anything more than kissing.
And knowing that, I kissed him without holding back.
My fingers were on his face, on his shoulders. Under his shirt, skimming his abdomen, gripping his biceps. I explored every bit of skin within my reach, loving the way his tongue made love to mine without a single assumption or obligation.
His hands tightened on my thighs as we kissed and I touched him, but other than that, he kept them to himself. I got the feeling he was trying to be a gentleman, but I really just wanted him to enjoy touching me the way I was enjoying touching him.
Lights flickered off to our side, and though it took a minute for us to notice them, when I did, I pulled my swollen lips off of Ford’s. His teeth scraped my neck before his lips sucked there lightly, and I shuddered.
Until my eyes collided with those of someone peeking out a window.
