Microsoft Word - Corey-Toni_Griffin.doc (6 page)

Corey couldn't help but watch in utter fascination as Ethan rubbed his groin through the front of his pants.

The shit eating grin on both his mate's and all his friends' faces made Corey want to punch something. He lifted the bottle to his lips and skulled the rest on the liquid.

"Excuse me," Corey muttered, as he turned and made his way to the kitchen. If Corey was going to be forced to endure this night then he was going to need a great deal more alcohol than he currently had in the house.

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* * * *

Three hours later and Corey was getting ready to pull his hair out. Ethan had been flirting with him all night, taking every opportunity possible to touch him or lean in close and whisper to him. Corey was on edge, his wolf was so close to the surface he vibrated slightly from holding the creature back and stopping himself from shifting right there in the middle of his house.

Corey got up from the table and stalked to the kitchen. He needed some space, just for a minute. He yanked open the fridge door and all the glass jars and bottles clanked together with the rough treatment. Corey snagged another beer and slammed the door closed. He turned and ran smack bang into the one person he was trying to get away from.

"Oops, sorry. Didn't see you there," Ethan said with a wicked grin that belied the words he'd just spoken.

Corey tried to ignore him and step around, but as the night wore on, he was finding it more and more difficult to do just that. And that fucking scent. Corey was
never
going to get that scent from his house. He just knew he was screwed six different ways to Sunday.

"What's your hurry?" Ethan asked, as he raised his hands and placed them on Corey's chest. Corey closed his

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eyes and attempted to take a step back, only Ethan followed him until Corey was pressed between the kitchen bench and his mate.

Ethan stepped right up into his personal space.

Corey could feel the hard outline of Ethan's cock pressing against his own aching prick.

"You feel so good under me like this. I think you would feel even better naked, with me riding your hard dick." Corey bit back the groan that wanted to break free and the mental image of Ethan riding him became front and centre in his mind.

"Please," he whispered, not able to talk any louder with the arousal that currently swamped his body.

"Please what?" Ethan purred as his hands started to caress Corey's chest.

"Please, don't, Ethan. Just please stop."

Ethan paused in his ministrations to look at him pointedly.

"I'll make you a deal," he said quietly.

Corey didn't want to make any deals but with the way he was feeling at the moment, he would do just about anything, because he didn't think he could control himself much longer.

"What's the deal?" Corey bit out through gritted teeth.

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"I'll stop for the night."

Corey sighed in relief and started to relax as Ethan took a step back.

"
If
you agree to go on a date with me and allow me the time to prove that you and I belong together."

Corey closed his eyes and let his head hang

forward. This was what he had been trying to avoid. He couldn't see any other solution though. Either he agreed or he declined and Ethan continued with his ministrations tonight. Somehow Corey highly doubted it would just be for tonight either, Ethan would more than likely keep up the act until Corey snapped.

"Fine." He sighed in defeat. "One date."

"We'll see, big guy," Ethan said, as he patted his cheek gently, before he leaned in and placed a soft kiss to Corey's lips. Ethan didn't push or try for anything else.

Instead he smiled, stepped back, and returned to the living room and the rest of the guests.

Corey upended the beer in his hands and swallowed the lot before he placed the empty bottle on the bench then scrubbed his hands over his face roughly and ran his fingers through his hair.

He knew it was a bad idea to agree to see Ethan, but it was either that or snap and claim the man, because he would have no control over the situation after his wolf

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forcefully wrested it from him.

Corey stayed in the kitchen for another five minutes until he was sure his body was completely under control again before he walked out and joined back into the game.

The rest of the night passed without any problems.

Corey had gotten his éclairs despite Declan's declarations to the contrary. He'd reached for the last one at the same time Ethan had. Ethan had smiled at him and graciously let Corey have the sweet treat. Corey nodded in thanks then carefully broke it in two, offering Ethan the other half.

He'd ignored the
awww
coming from Tommy.

Ethan thanked him and took the remaining piece of pastry.

Half an hour later the games were over, the kitchen and living area had been tidied, and Corey said goodnight to his visitors. Even with Ethan being there, it had turned out to be a good night.

Ben picked Tommy up, held him close, and

followed Liam, Declan, Kieran, Brad, and Samuel out of the house. Ethan stood in the doorway, their eyes locked on one another.

"I'll call you sometime this week with the details."

Corey nodded and Ethan turned and jogged down the path to Ben's big SUV that waited at the curb for him.

Corey closed and locked the door and collapsed

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back against it.

What a night.

He moved through the house, turning off all the lights and double checking his door before Corey walked down the passage and into his room.

"Jesus," he swore. Ethan's scent had even permeated all the way in here. Corey groaned; he'd never be able to get rid of it.

He stripped and headed for the shower. Corey

waited a moment for the water to heat up then stepped under the scalding spray. He had no idea how long he stood there for, fists placed against the tiled wall, head lowered, and just letting the water flow over him. Eventually Corey stood up and washed himself before shutting off the tap.

Corey stepped from the enclosure and roughly dried himself with the large towel. He hung the towel up, turned out the light to the bathroom, and walked through the dark room to his bed.

He pulled back the sheet and crawled in. Corey lay back and was instantly surrounded by the overwhelming scent of his mate.

"What the fuck?" Corey sat up and flicked on the light. How in the hell could his mate's scent be so strong in his bedroom?

Corey looked over the bed and noticed something

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peeking out from under his pillow. He lifted his pillow and found a folded shirt and a note. Corey groaned and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. He first reached out and picked up the shirt, brought it to his nose, and inhaled deeply.

The overwhelming calm and peacefulness he felt as the aroma entered his body had Corey breathing in again.

After a moment, he picked up the note and read.

Corey,

I know you've been hurt in the past, but

please trust me when I say I have no

intention of ever causing you a moment of
pain.

You look tired. Please try and get some

sleep. I hope my scent will help calm your
wolf until you allow me to be there with you.

All my love,

Ethan.

PS,

I'm looking forward to our first date.

Corey wanted to throttle the man and kiss him, all at the same time. Instead, he placed the note on his bedside

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table, turned off the light, and lay back down again. Corey brought the shirt up and placed it on his pillow next to his head. His mate's scent did exactly what Ethan had hoped.

His wolf was calm and Corey was able to roll over and close his eyes. He was out like a light in a matter of seconds.

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Ethan had barely been able to concentrate on

anything all week. As much as he would have loved to take Corey on their date the very next day, he had decided to wait. Corey had already been nervous enough as it was on Monday, and Ethan seriously didn't want to push him over the edge.

He hadn't told Corey, but while Ethan had been in his mate's bedroom leaving his shirt for Corey under his pillow, Ethan had stolen one of Corey's out of his laundry basket. The shirt was infused with his mate's scent and Ethan had been able to sleep easier the last couple of days.

Ethan had been touched on Tuesday when Corey

sent him a message out of the blue. It was the first time Corey had ever initiated contact with him. The message was short and simple but it meant the world to Ethan.

Thank you.

The week had slowly passed and there still wasn't a day that went by that Ethan didn't call or message his mate.

Now though, instead of the terse replies he had received in the beginning, the responses he was getting were a great deal softer. Ethan hoped it was a good sign that his mate was starting to warm up to the idea of them being together.

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Wanting to be able to relax on their date and not have to worry about calling it a night early due to them both having to work in the morning, Ethan had decided to wait until Friday to take Corey out.

Ethan just hoped Corey hadn't made other plans for the evening. He hadn't wanted to ask Corey out earlier, as he really didn't want his mate stressing for days on end about their upcoming date.

Are you free tonight?

Yes.
The short reply came quickly from his mate.

Can I pick you up at six thirty and take you to
dinner?

Again, Corey's response was fast. Ethan smiled as he quickly typed his reply.

I'll see you then.

Not exactly a glowing 'yes', but Ethan would take what he could get. Now he just had to get through the rest of the day before he could relax and spend some quality time with his mate.

Ethan ducked out at five that afternoon to pick up a nice bunch of flowers for Corey before the florist closed.

He knew it was probably really hokey to give Corey flowers on their first date, but Ethan wanted everything to go perfectly.

On the drive back to the Alpha house, Ethan's nose

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started to twitch a little and his eyes started to water. He hoped he wasn't coming down with anything because, come hell or high water, Ethan was taking his mate on a date tonight.

Ethan carried the flowers inside and placed them in the kitchen while he went to get changed. He sneezed as he was walking out of the room. After Ethan had showered, he felt a great deal better and hoped whatever it was he had felt earlier stayed away for the rest of the night.

He spent some time going through his clothes

before Ethan settled on a casual, but nice, look. Black slacks, shoes, and a nice light blue shirt. Ethan brushed his hair and was ready to go.

Ethan made it all the way to the car before he remembered the flowers he'd left in the kitchen. He backtracked and grabbed the bouquet. On his way out, he spotted both Tommy and Ben on the couch, getting ready to watch a movie of some kind.

"Have fun tonight," Tommy called out to him.

"Will do. You guys enjoy your night."

"Oh, I plan to." Tommy leered.

Ethan laughed then left. He knew it couldn't be easy for the Alpha pair to have him around all the time, especially seeing as how Tommy was getting closer and closer to his due date. Ethan hoped Corey would be able to

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accept their mating and let him move in, otherwise he was going to have to find an apartment for himself and sign a lease. The last thing Ethan wanted was to be underfoot when the cub arrived. But as much as he joked around and teased his mate, he wasn't going to force him into anything he really wasn't ready for.

That tickling sensation was back in his nose and throat and Ethan moaned. He did not need this right now.

Ethan placed the flowers gently on the passenger seat and climbed inside. The drive to Corey's house didn't take very long, and before he knew it, Ethan had parked out front, picked up the flowers, and was making his way to the front door.

He breathed deeply as he tried to settle his nerves when he reached up and knocked on the door. That sensation in his nose became all-consuming and his eyes started to water. The door in front of him opened and Corey stood there, as sexy as ever.

Ethan held out the bouquet of flowers.

"Ahh, Thank you. I have to admit I've never received flowers before," Corey said, as he took them.

Ethan smiled and opened his mouth to answer but he sneezed instead, right in Corey's face. Unfortunately this was followed by a second and then a third sneeze. Ethan wiped at his eyes, trying to clear them. He blinked rapidly

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and when he could finally see again, what he saw was his mate still standing there with a dumbfounded expression on his face.

"I have to admit, I've never received that before either," Corey said as he wiped his hand over his face.

Ethan blushed, embarrassed as hell. Not exactly the smooth start he had envisioned for this date.

"Uh, sorry, I think maybe I'm coming down with something."

Corey looked at him strangely for a moment then moved the flowers closer to Ethan's face. It didn't take but a few seconds before Ethan was sneezing again.