Tingling erupted from the spot he was touching. The sensation deepened until it felt like a thousand needles were jabbing me repeatedly.
I struggled to get away. “Ow. Ow. Ow.”
Connor’s grip was unbreakable as heat replaced the needles. Numbness took its place a second later.
Only then did he release me.
I jerked away, half throwing myself across the bed. “What the hell was that?”
I twisted, trying to get a look at the spot that still tingled.
“Nothing horrible.”
I clambered out of bed and darted across the room to the bathroom. There I jerked up my shirt, twisting to get a look at what was on my back.
Nothing horrible my ass. He’d etched a pair of antlers on my upper back. Right over the shoulder blade. Flowers and vineswrapped around the antlers, trailing down their sides to create a beautiful piece of art.
“What’s this?” I crossed to the bathroom door to glare at the idiot who hadn’t moved from his position by the side of the bed. “You marked me?”
“If you know, why ask?”
“Connor!”
His expression remained unperturbed. “Consider it my version of “Find Aileen.” This way if you go missing again, I’ll be able to track you down.”
Son of a bitch.
“You—” I swore, shaking my head. “You’re just like your uncle.”
Connor’s lips curved the tiniest bit. “I’ve decided his methods have their merits. On occasion.”
“You mean when they’re not being used against you.”
Connor inclined his head. “That is a factor.”
“How long have you been planning this?” I asked.
He was being careful not to show how satisfied he was at this turn of events. Probably because he knew I’d kick his ass. But it was there. A happiness that almost covered the relief hiding in his eyes.
He’d been worried about me, I realized. For a long time, I was guessing.
A warm feeling filled my chest. It was kind of nice to have someone who cared. A little deranged. Concerningly stalkerish. But nice.
“If it makes you feel better, you can put one on me when you learn how.”
I scoffed. “Because that’s likely to happen anytime soon.”
Somehow marks 101 hadn’t come up in any of my vampire classes.
A smile tugged at Connor’s lips, his pleasure at my grumpiness making me even more irritable. “What is the plan?”
I gave him a blank look. “Plan? What plan?”
All I had on my docket was a date with a shower. One that was as long and hot as possible. I’d figure out what was next after that.
Connor leveled a sardonic look on me that said he didn’t believe my declaration before starting toward the door. “Well, when you know, be sure to let me in on it. If you go off alone again, I’ll be most upset.”
“There is no plan,” I called at Connor’s back.
