"It marked you, to the others. Made sure that everyone there knew you were mine." His tone shifted when he said the last word. More defined. Almost primal sounding. Then his voice shifted back. "For your safety, is all."
She nodded. She didn't buy this. Not a bit. It felt too real at the time, and even now, she could still feel the touch between them. More than what he said.
Initially, she'd thought maybe she'd been overthinking it, or generally seeing it as something more than it was, but his denial seemed too forced.
"You felt something," she said.
"I felt you against me, yes," he replied. His voice kept shifting as he spoke.
She turned so she could better see the side of his face. "You find me attractive?"
"Yes."
She didn't have an answer. She wasn't sure what he'd say — what she expected. Not a straight answer, anyway.
She watched the way his expression shifted. This close, in this light, she could see the way his muscles shifted under his skin. The way he swallowed.
He met her gaze. "Are you wanting more from this relationship?"
"You're the one looking for a mate."
"Have I found one?" he asked.
She shifted so she was face to face with him. "Maybe we should see."
This time when he kissed her, it wasn't because he was trying to protect her or mark her or whatever he said.
Okay, maybe he was trying to mark her for real, because it was hot. Intense and surreal. Their kiss was magnetic.
His lips crushed hers almost immediately, and the taste of him was powerful. It engulfed her and she grabbed onto his shoulders as they kissed. He pulled her onto his lap, and she straddled him as they kissed.
His lips went over her neck and along her jaw, making her cry out with the touch. How intense he was!
As he kissed her, she rocked her hips into his and could feel how hard he was growing beneath her. It intoxicated her to know that she had that effect on him, that he was responding so strongly to her.
She could feel how ready he was, the press of him against her impossible to ignore, and the knowledge that she'd done that to him sent heat pooling through her center.
His hands roamed over her back, firm but exploring. His hand kept roaming up and down her spine. Where there wasn't any armor bone sticking out.
She pulled away and kissed his neck. "Feels weird, huh?"
"Delicate. Makes you feel delicate." He pulled away. "Turn around," he whispered.
She put her back to him, still on his lap.
He stroked her back, up and down. His fingers found the clasps of the top and he had it open in a few deft movements. She gasped as he pulled it free, and her hand went to her ribs without thinking — that old reflex, reaching for the ridge that wasn't there anymore. Nothing. Just her own skin.
He didn't pull her undershirt off, just opened the back, so he could see her skin.
His fingers were warm as they slid up her side, across her waist to her spine.
"It's so smooth," he said. His fingers trailed up the center, sending shivers over her — the good kind, of course.
He brushed her hair to the side, and she grabbed the bundle and pulled it out of his way.
"They're here too."
"What's there?" she asked.
