His pulse jumped under my fingers. I grabbed the washcloth from the bathroom and dampened it with the remaining water. He went pliant as I started wiping away the foundation, revealing my work inch by inch. Purple-black fingerprints appeared like photographs developing.
"Look at you." I traced the darkest bruise. He shivered. "Perfect. Every mark tells the world who you belong to."
"He kissed me." The words tore out of him. "Forced his lips onto mine. Made me taste poison. I tried to fight, but..."
"But what?"
"But all I could think was that it wasn't you." His voice broke. "That his lips were wrong. That he was taking something that belongs to you."
The washcloth clenched in my fist until water dripped through my fingers.
"How long?"
"Seconds. Less. I pushed him away immediately, but the poison was already on his lips. Already in my mouth."
I set the washcloth aside carefully. If I didn't control the motion, I'd destroy something. Then I kissed him hard and bit his lower lip until I tasted blood before soothing it with my tongue.
When I pulled back, he was panting.
"More." His voice was wrecked. "Please. Need you to erase him. Need you to make me yours again."
I shifted him forward and studied his back. He was all unmarked pale skin except for a few old scars. Territory Shaw had never seen or touched. I needed to mark it all. Claim it completely.
I bit down on his shoulder hard enough to break skin. Then his spine. Then the spot where his neck met his shoulder. Each bite drew blood and sounds from his throat that went straight to my cock.
"Mine," I growled against each fresh wound, licking blood from my lips. "Every inch of you belongs to me."
"Yes." The word came from somewhere deep. "Always. Even when you hate me. Even when I don't deserve it."
My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.
Enjoyed meeting your pet tonight. Sweet thing, once you get past the attitude. -G
Rage clawed up my throat. I wanted to hunt Shaw down now and make him scream until his voice gave out.
The screen cracked under my grip.
"What is it?" Maxime mumbled against my chest.
"Shaw thinks he can taunt me." I set the phone aside before I destroyed it completely. "He has no idea what's coming for him."
But Shaw had given me something valuable. He’d confirmed that Maxime's devotion went deeper than professional loyalty.
"Need to make calls," I said against Maxime's hair. "Sleep now."
"Don't leave." His fingers twisted in my shirt. "Please. Can't bear it if you leave."
"I'm not going anywhere."
He relaxed slowly, but his hand stayed fisted in the fabric. Even unconscious, he couldn't let me go.
My phone rang twenty minutes later.
"Yes?"
"I detected an emergency signal from Maxime's device, Xavier said. “What happened?"
"Security breach. Shaw made a move against us. Maxime was targeted."
