▫️ Twenty-seven

Grey's pov

"Nice shot! Do you play professionally?" I shook my head when Louis asked as he patted my shoulder then jogged by.

We had finally met for that game he'd previously arranged and I had tagged Reece along, though he had bugged me all day to let him join.

Jordan was also with us and we had interacted quite well over the game, not just through glares as we had previously.

Other than Reece and Enzo, I had made three other acquaintances and this wasn't my normal way of living. I had always preferred solitude and thought that I content that way.

It was usually quiet just going by my way but when a ball of sunshine landed into my life and I felt some unusual warmth, I knew that the pattern had to change.

Ginelle, my sun, my tulip, my sweetheart, my girlfriend.

I remember staying awake for the last few nights just thinking of her, thinking of how I had a girlfriend. It felt like a dream come true and I would smile at the ceiling just at the thought of it.

My heart soared with satisfaction everytime we touched and I longed for the taste of her lips, having been apart for the past three days since there was just lots of work to be done.

I felt anxious about a mission that would be coming up in a month, something I had to share with Elle and it pained me just thinking of how worried she usually got.

She was usually worried when I was away and I in turn also worried that she would get too worried and fail to take care of herself. I was still not sure of when to disclose this to her.

This mission wasn't like any other, I had to fly out of the country with my men after Reece's team had failed to remotely access the targets. I knew this was my job but it was frustrating to think of parting with my girlfriend.

I never wanted to be apart from her and at one time she had told me to always call when I missed her and refrained from doing so every hour, only limiting myself to mornings and during the night.

Truth be I missed her every minute, I missed her lovely scent that normally calmed me down - she had never noticed that I always sniffed on her like a dog.

I would bury my nose into crook of her neck and bask into the warmth of her as I listened to her heartbeat then she would tug the ends of my hair just above my neck, an action that made me hold her even closer.

I tried to think of other things and not the feeling that came along with that touch because I could easily end up running to her apartment right now.

"You okay?" Reece took the bottle in my hands after a short side eye. I probably looked like a living statute, staring into space with a smile creeping out.

"Must be thinking of his girlfriend," Louis joined us, making Jordan and Reece cringe at the same time after he'd spoken. They obviously couldn't relate to this feeling.

"I think of mine all the time, can't stay without calling her." As if on cue, his phone began to vibrate and with how wide his smile got, I could tell it was her.

Reece took out his phone too and I knew he was texting Clarissa, a trainee at our camp. Their relationship seemed to be progressing because she wasn't giving him a cold shoulder as it was before.

"I was just looking out for Elle," Jordan began as we walked away from Louis and Reece. I turned to him and nodded when I realized he was talking about our previous encounters.

How he had shown a dislike to me. In all honesty I didn't like how close to Elle he seemed to be at first. I couldn't bear thinking of her being romantically involved him.

"I get it," he stopped to meet my eye then extended his hand over for an handshake, a sign that we would let go of the past and make peace.

"I hope she won't lose your trust." He gripped my hand to portray the seriousness of his words but I easily nodded because Ginelle was like a blessing to me. Something I cherished, something I would hold onto.

"Can't believe that Leila organized a double date for us," Louis tucked his phone into his pocket as he walked over. I instantly patted my pockets for my phone only to remember Reece had confiscated it.

Earlier today, there had been a meeting about the upcoming mission with the higher-ups and because I couldn't focus on the presentation fully, Reece took away my phone.

It wasn't exactly something I could control especially when my tulip had send me a very sweet message. Thinking of it now made me smile even wider though I covered it off with my palm.

Hey babe,

I miss you and I miss being in your arms because it makes me feel safe and happy. Today don't glare at your friends, I want to keep seeing that dazzling smile of yours.

~your tulip

How was I supposed to pay attention after that when all I could picture was her eyes in melted pools of honey and her pink puckered lips that I so desired.

I just wanted to go out and see right that moment. Reece handed me my phone and just then a notification came in from her. Smiling, I quickly pressed on the image she had send.

Woah

There she was, my sweetheart. She was smiling in the picture, so prettily that I zoomed in on her face. Her hair ran down her back in adorable waves, some of it getting to her face due to the wind.

What had my attention next was the dress she was wearing. It was a brown off-shoulder dress that flowed down her body accentuating her curves and I just stared.

My eyes ravenously went up and down the picture before I settled them on her shoulder that exposed those beauty bones I loved to see.

Oh wow

She was dazzling, beautiful and exquisite. I continued to stare at her, feeling so lucky because she was mine, my girl and she was perfect, so perfect.

A text came in from her saying that she'd see me soon and I fumbled over my keyboard to type back a reply, so eager to meet her.

"Did you hear what I just said?" Reece nudged my side and I gave him a raised brow having not heard a word.

"I'll leave with your car," I nodded off without much thought wanting to just freshen up and have Ginelle in my arms soon.

"It was nice meeting you guys," Reece said to both Jordan and Louis. They shook hands and then turned to leave after saying a few words.

"Leila and Ginelle are together at the moment," Louis said after Reece and Jordan had just pulled out. I nodded along when he suggested we meet them together.

Dropping by his house which was nearer, we cleaned up real fast and I changed into a grey turtleneck and black pants that I had in my bag.

His house was just similar to the Williams' and I could tell he was loaded, having just told me that he was a manager at his father's media company.

We soon left to meet the girls, the car quiet for a while before Louis spoke again. "Something bothering you?" I couldn't tell how he easily read me.

"Just work, a new case." I replied vaguely since the information was supposed to remain confidential making it hard for me to even explain to Ginelle.

How was I supposed to tell her I would be working on a case without even giving her some of the details and with no uncertainty of when it would end?

We weren't allowed to share our location or even contact anyone during that period, a period I was uncertain of. It could take weeks, worse even months and this was eating me up terribly.

The brigade commander had ordered us to visit our families in this coming week, it was something we usually did before missions incase anything were to happen.

Nana had called yesterday asking me when I'd go see her and she had also asked about Ginelle, telling me to come along with her if possible.

I knew she would easily agree but this mission was making me think too much into everything that I didn't even notice that the car had stopped.

"Whatever it is just talk it out with Elle," Louis said after the engine died down and he got off leaving his words trailing in the air.

I huffed out the tension in my body and got off, deciding that I'd think of that later. Right now, I wanted to see my baby and hold her close.

Louis hadn't lifted his hand to ring the doorbell before the door flung open and Leila jumped on him, catching Louis by surprise.

He lifted her up and I titled my head to look into the house wondering why my tulip wasn't there. Louis seemed to have forgotten me so I invited myself in.

"Sweetheart?" I called out while turning my head on all directions to catch a glimpse of her. The house was eerily quiet and before I even made another step, small arms went round my waist.

"Babe," I smiled before turning around to look at my tulip, smiling even wider when I saw her face.

"I missed you sweetheart," I pulled her into my chest, my hands going round her small waist as I took in her scent.

"I missed you too," she mumbled into my chest as I continued to draw circles over her waist. We stayed in each other's arms for an entire minute before she suddenly pulled back to look at me making my eyes drop to her attire.

"We're having a double date, Louis told you?" She cupped my face so that I'd look at her eyes because mine kept wondering to the skin of her neck.

"Hmm," I replied passively, my attention no longer on the conversation before I looked down at her collar bones again.

Without holding back, I leaned down to kiss her left shoulder as I slowly moved to claim the spot at the base of her neck.

I tenderly kissed her blades, running my tongue over to get a taste of the milky skin. Her eyes were closed and I liked how she dug her fingers into my back.

"Baby, you're so beautiful." I whispered as I moved to her right shoulder but she softly tapped my chest making me look back at her.

"This isn't our place," she whispered while catching her breath and it pleased me to know that she had liked it.

"Our place?" I feigned knowledge even when it was clear what her words meant. I knew this was her friend's place but I wanted to tease her.

"So we can continue this at our place?" She nodded immediately looking left and right to see if there was someone watching us.

Our place

"Can we leave now?" I cupped her face to get her full attention so that I'd continue what I had began, she had promised after all.

"Huh, leave?" Her brows knitted and I chuckled at how cute she appeared even though she hadn't been paying attention to my previous words.

I slowly repeated what she'd just agreed to earlier, now that she was listening and chuckled even further when her eyes widened and cheeks flushed.

"But babe I promised Leila," she tried to reason out, not wanting to fail her friend. It amazed me how she put everyone's comfort before hers.

I stared at her for a moment not wanting to give in but then she flashed me that adorable look of hers that had it impossible for me to deny her anything.

She blinked up at me with puckered lips while trailing her hands up and down my arms and goodness did that do wonders to me. She added that knee buckling smile of hers then cupped my face and pressed her soft lips on both sides of my cheeks.

I was usually immobile under her touch, whether it was when she held my hand or the way she'd gaze at me and attempt to pat my hair while on her toes.

I just couldn't bear to see her unhappy. I would give in to everything she wanted; if it was a treasure she wanted, I'd go out and hunt it for her

Pretending that I wasn't envious that she'd chosen her friend over me, I finally gave in to this date. She seemed pleased at my answer but I didn't fail to hide my displeasure.

"Good boy," she patted my chest and I tried to maintain my scowl as a smile threatened to show, her sweet voice only could bring a significant change in my mood.

"You look handsome in this, babe." She continued to pat my chest while looking into my eyes and I just couldn't pretend to scowl anymore.

Babe

I melted each time she called me that, it was usually so soft that I found myself lost into her eyes. I secretly wanted to record that so that I'd play it on repeat before bed.

Or maybe I could just ask her to keep calling me so because I loved it, so much. Not realizing that I was lost into her eyes again, she shook my arm.

"Grey?" I didn't want that and I shook my head profusely making her eyebrows furrow. I mumbled under my breath, grunting incoherent words.

"What did you say?" She asked and I continued to mumble with no proper words coming out though she continued to stare at the inquisitively.

"Babe," I finally said and for a second she didn't seem to get it before her smile formed and an amused sound escaped her lips.

"You want me to ca-" I didn't let her finish speaking as I leaned down to get a taste of her lips. They were so soft over my own and I moved to pin her to wall nearby.

"I think we should start going," Louis spoke, emphasizing everything word by word and I groaned, pulling away at his disturbance.

If only we were at our place. I smiled at my thoughts as I traced Ginelle's lower lip with my thumb. She curiously stared at me and I had fight leaning back down and claiming her lips again.

I eventually began moving and then helped Ginelle settle into the back of the car as Leila and Louis took their seats at the front. I placed my hand over her waist, wanting to feel her close to me.

Ginelle engaged into a conversation with Leila though I didn't fail to see her occasionally looking at my arms and I mentally noted that she loved turtlenecks.

She subconsciously kept rubbing over my arm and I wasn't sure how it was going to be without her voice to calm me and her lovely eyes to put me at ease when I needed it.

How was I going to bear not having any form of contact with her? I don't think I could, because it was her touch that kept me burning.

✪ ✪ ✪

This mission coming up be messing up with Grey's mind so bad. Anything could happen, fingers crossed.

(⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)