Mano’s glare only grew sharper. “How the hell am I supposed to go out like this in the middle of summer?”
“Relax. They’re just hickeys. It’s not like I beat you up.”
“But I am gonna beat you up,” he threatened, stepping closer.
Ody looked up at him with an amused smile. “I want everyone to know you’re mine. Only mine.”
Mano’s voice dropped low as their eyes locked. “I told you, I don’t belong to anyone.”
“Say whatever you want. I’m still gonna make you mine.”
“Oh yeah?” he scoffed. “And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”
“First, I do things to you no woman ever has…” He smirked when Mano glanced away for the first time since walking over. “Second, I leave my marks all over you... and third, you’ll be mine if you let me—”
“Don’t even think about it!” Mano cut him off, shouting. “Get that idea completely out of your head, got it?”
“Then we’ll just stick to foreplay.”
“Fine. I’ll get what I need from other women, and you can get yours from Anna,” he said dismissively.
Ody’s smile vanished instantly.
Mano walked toward the bathroom, leaving Ody standing there watching him. After a second, he followed. The bathroom door was open, and Mano was staring at the hickeys again.
“Can I make it up to you tomorrow? We could grab a coffee.”
Mano turned to glare at him. “I’m not going out like this.”
“Okay, then let’s go to the movies. No one will see you there.”
Mano stared at him through the mirror. “And on the way there?”
“We’ll take my car.”
“And at the ticket counter?”
Ody shrugged. “We’ll put on a little concealer. Big deal.”
Mano turned slowly toward him. “Are you kidding me? I’m not leaving the house. I can’t go anywhere because of you.” He turned back to the mirror, furious.
Ody’s expression softened with guilt. “Sorry. I... I should’ve only done it on your chest.”
“You shouldn’t have done it anywhere.” Mano turned to him, still angry.
“I just wanted to feel like... you’re mine.” Ody stepped closer, gently placing his hands on his shoulders. “I can’t stand thinking about you with other women. Knowing they get to touch you...” He swallowed. “And I hate imagining you touching them too.”
Mano stayed silent.
Ody’s gaze dropped to the floor before he spoke again. “Have you... made plans with someone?”
“Not yet,” Mano replied.
Ody looked up again. “But you will.”
“Yeah, Ody, I will. Just like you will with Anna.”
They stayed like that for a moment, staring at each other. Mano walked past him, grabbed his shirt, and shoved his feet into his shoes.
