"Shadow—" she starts, but I'm already pulling her close, my hand going to the scarf around her neck.
"This why you're wearing this?" I tug it down, revealing the marks I left.
Bite marks on her shoulder. Hickeys on her throat. Bruises where I gripped her.
Evidence of my claim.
"Yes," she breathes, her hands coming up to grip my cut. "People will see."
"Let them." I lean down, press my mouth to one of the marks. She shivers. "How you feeling this morning, darlin'?"
"Sore."
"Good." I kiss my way up her neck to her ear. "Means you'll remember who you belong to every time you move."
Her breath hitches. "Shadow, we can't. Kyle's right outside, and I have a client coming?—"
"I know." I pull back just enough to look at her. "Tonight. My place. I'm not asking."
She looks up at me, those brown eyes conflicted. "My father's going to find out eventually."
"Let me worry about Phantom. That's my job."
"Your job is being the enforcer," she says. "Not... this."
"My job is eliminating threats." I cup her face, thumb brushing her bottom lip. "And anyone who tries to come between us is a threat. Including your father."
Her eyes widen. "You can't mean that."
"I've never meant anything more in my life." I kiss her, hard and claiming, and she melts into me. "You're mine, Grace. That's not changing. So, let me handle the fallout."
A knock on the door interrupts us.
"Dr. Dalton?" Kyle's voice. "Your eleven o'clock is here."
Grace pulls back, fixing her scarf, her cheeks flushed. "I'll be right there."
I step away from her, giving her space to collect herself.
"Tonight," I repeat.
She nods, still looking dazed. "Tonight."
I leave through the office door, passing Kyle in the hallway.
He gives me a curious look, but I ignore it.
Not his business what happens between me and Grace.
Not anyone's business but ours.
I head back outside, already planning tonight.
Where I'm going to take her.
How I'm going to make her scream my name.
How many times I can make her come before she's too boneless to move.
