I start with the easier one, “can I see it?”
Jeremy hesitates but after a fake cough from Kiran, he lifts his shirt up. As he lifts it up, I’m searching everywhere for something. I assume it’s going to be over his ribs but his tattoos are everywhere. How am I supposed to know which it is?
Then he lifts it over his chest and I know right away what mark is mine. I hop up to inspect it closer. It’s a deep red, like it was carved into his skin then healed. It’s a little eerie but to me it feels special. I feel a connection to the mark, it calls to me.
I reach my hand out to touch it and barely make contact when Jeremy lets out a small grunt.
My eyes shoot up to his and they are full of heat. If I had to describe them in one word it would be smoldering. We continue staring into each other’s eyes and for a second I think about acting on the impulses I’m feeling. The idea of kissing him or touching the mark again sound brilliant. But a cough from behind me breaks the moment and we jump apart like we’ve been burned.
I clear my throat, “so what else do you need to tell me?”
They’re all holding back laughs but as long as I don’t hear a chuckle, I won’t hit them for it.
“Well, you’ve probably been feeling the effects of the mate bond. We really wanted to tell you, so you knew what was happening. It’s why we were harassing you so much,” Jay says.
I feel a little bad that I’ve been ignoring them if they were just worried and trying to help.
“Okay, tell me now,” I say instead of apologizing because I’m still feeling cranky about it all, even if guilt has now been added to the cocktail of emotions I’m feeling.
“It’s hard for mates to be apart, especially right after mating. I’m sure you’ve been feeling itchy or a tug to go somewhere else. That’s the mate bond trying to bring you back. If you were feeling it, I bet it has stopped now,” Nic informs me. And he’s right, any discomfort I was feeling has stopped.
“You can also get senses of each other’s emotions,” Jay adds but I’m not sure about that one. I can think of once or twice I felt that way but not all the time.
Like Jeremy can sense my doubt, he says, “you won’t have been feeling that one. I put a wall up to stop mine from leaking into you.”
I should be grateful, that was considerate, since I didn’t know what was going on. Something I would not expect from him. But instead, I feel hurt and a little betrayed for some reason, that he would do that.
I glimpse around the room and the guys are glaring at Jeremy. I make a mental note to ask them why this feels like a bigger deal then it sounds. If my feelings are anything to go by, it is.
“As the bond grows,” Nic pauses then corrects, “if the bond grows, things will feel more like a two way street between each other, thoughts and emotions flowing freely in an intimate connection. Some mates are even able to communicate through their minds.”
I can’t imagine having an intimate connection with Jeremy, even if my mind and body crave it.
“Although, if you let us add you to the pack, you will automatically have a mind link with us all,” Jay adds sounding hopeful.
“Pack?” I ask.
“That’s not something you need to think about now, if you don’t want to. We can discuss that later,” Nic says giving Jay a pointed look.
I’m intrigued but my mind is currently completely full and I’m having a hard enough time digesting everything else, so I decide to let that go for now. I pivot back to the topic at hand.
“So basically, I need to spend more time over here to avoid any issues with the bond?” I ask.
“Yes, and the more time you spend with Jeremy the quicker the bond will settle down. But you will always crave each other’s company and suffer if you’re apart for too long,” Nic answers.
I contemplate Jeremy and I’m not sure what he sees on my face but he stands up before addressing the room.
“Can you guys give Aly and I a few to talk alone?”
I’m shocked he wants to but very interested in what he has to say. The guys all nod before making their way out of the room. Some of them give me a pat or a quick kiss on the head while they exit.
Ten
Aly
Once all the guys leave, Jeremy comes to sit next to me on the couch. He sits a respectful distance away and I find myself wishing he sat closer.
“What do you want to talk about?” I ask.
