Page 82 of Grayson’s Challenge

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“You can’t come with us to rescue Cain and Samson,” Grayson said.

He and Monique were back at his loft. He’d shrugged off his jacket and kicked off his shoes. They had a few hours until he would lead his colleagues to rescue Cain and Samson, and he wanted to make the most of it.

Monique stopped in front of him. “I figured you’d say that.”

“And I won’t budge this time, and there’s nothing you can say to change my mind. You don’t have the training that’s required for a mission like this. I know you want to help, but if—”

She put her index finger over his lips. “I’m not trying to change your mind. I know that you and your colleagues are trained for this, and I’m not.”

Surprised that she didn’t oppose him, he stared at her. He’d been prepared to list a whole lot of reasons why she couldn’t come with him and would have to stay with Faye and Delilah at the Woodford residence.

“But there’s something you need to know…” she said, hesitating.

“What is it?” He snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her to him.

“I realized something today,” she started, and a small breath rushed from her lungs. “The thought that you’ll be putting yourself in danger tonight to save our fathers does something to me that I wasn’t expecting.” She took his hand and pressed it to her breast.

He waited with bated breath, eager to hear what she wanted to tell him, and worried that any interruption by him would make her stop.

“The thought that you could get hurt, or worse, killed, is hurting in here.” She lifted her lids and pinned him with her eyes. “Because I realized today that I love you.”

Grayson’s heart stopped, and Monique’s words echoed in his mind, repeating as if on a loop. Was he hallucinating? Had he fallen asleep and was dreaming?

“Would you pinch me please?” he choked out, his throat as dry as sandpaper.

“I can do better than that,” she murmured and pressed her lips to his.

Her kiss confirmed that what was happening was real, not a dream or a hallucination. Monique had really confessed that she loved him. He brought his hands to her face, framing it as he kissed her, before he interrupted the kiss and looked into her eyes.

“I love you, Monique.” He inhaled deeply, his heart feeling lighter than it ever had. “You can’t imagine how happy you make me.” For a moment, all his worries disappeared into the background.

“Grayson, you probably think it’s stupid, but I’m worried about you going into the lion’s den tonight…”

He stroked over her hair. “But you know I have to go. I have to get our fathers back.”

“I know that, and I’m not saying you shouldn’t go… uhm, I… I want to be able to know you’re all right… if anything goes wrong… I need to be able to reach you… to know what’s happening to you…”

He noticed that she was babbling nervously and pulled back a little. “What are you trying to say?”

Monique sighed. “Are you really gonna make me say it? Do you need me to go down on my knees?”

“On your knees? Why would you—” He stopped himself, realization finally dawning. His chin dropped.

Monique suddenly pulled back. She dropped her gaze, turning halfway. “Sorry, like I said, it’s stupid. Clearly, you don’t want—”

He pulled her back to him and put his finger on her lips, stopping her from finishing her sentence. “Babe, are you saying you want to blood-bond with me so we can communicate telepathically when I’m going on the rescue mission?”

“Forget it, as I said it’s a stupid idea.”

“No, it’s not,” he said firmly, and put his fingers under her chin to tip her face up so she had to look at him. “But I don’t want to blood-bond with you just for the telepathic bond.” He shook his head.

Her lips quivered as if she was going to burst into tears any moment.

“I want to blood-bond with you,” Grayson continued, “because I love you and can’t imagine my life without you.”

Her face lit up. “You do? You want this?”