“That you’re better off alone?” I offer quietly.
He nods. “That the only people I can truly rely on are Iggy and myself.”
“Oh.”
When I feel a stab of hurt at the words, I curse myself for expecting anything different.
"That's what I've been telling myself," he continues. "I believed it until I met you."
It's a real struggle not to melt at those words, especially when his gaze burns right through me.
“I don’t know who you are to me, Wynn, but you’re not just anyone. Considering everything you risked for me, I understand if that’s not a good enough answer for you.”
It's plenty good enough. For once we're on the same page. No matter how hard I try, I can't slot Marlow neatly into a space where he belongs. He just feels like someone important.
So, I take a leap of faith and do exactly what I want. I climb into his lap and kiss him with everything I have.
18.Sharing a Bed on Purpose
Wynn
Marlow’s tongue slides in my mouth as his body covers mine and presses me into the bed. He's kissing me with purpose, spine-melting, toe-tingling purpose, a kiss designed to unravel me completely, to strip away any lingering doubt until all that’s left is the ache of wanting him.
And it’s working. God, it’s working.
I have zero interest in being anywhere else or doing anything other than letting him devour me.
Marlow's normally cool blue eyes are all fire when he pulls back to strip off his shirt, which fits. Isn't the blue part the hottest part of the flame?
My mouth goes dry when he reveals all that inked skin, the tattoos sprawling across his chest suddenly within reach. My fingers itch to trace the patterns while my lips crave the taste of his skin. Marlow has no hesitation, his hands just as scorching as his gaze when he impatiently tugs off my shirt. I rise to meet him and he pushes me back down onto the mattress, smiling all smug and hot. What’s he so smug about?
"Are you enjoying holding me down?"
"Absolutely," he admits without shame. "Come on, it's hot. My biggest asset right now is my razor-sharp wit, and let's face it, that's useless against a werewolf."
His fingers circle one nipple, teasing it into an aching peak. He watches with rapt attention as my body reacts and arches into his touch. "But here I am holding you down just because you need me so badly.” Fuck. When he puts it that way… "I would love to draw this out and see if I can make you howl in your human form, but we've been sharing a bed without doing anything dirty and the blue balls are no joke.”
"Yeah," I say. "Shut up and take off your pants."
It’s a race to get the rest of our clothes off and then Marlow's hand wraps around my arousal, moving with deliberate strokes that send lightning through my veins.
"This is a nice cock," he comments as his thumb circles the head of my erection, and I buck into his hand, seeking more of his touch. "Do you have a knot?"
"Oh my god," I mutter, a flush creeping up my neck. "Seriously?"
He shrugs. "Just wondering."
"Well, no, sorry to disappoint. Only alphas have those."
"Nah, that's fine. Would be wasted on me anyway.” He doesn’t seem disappointed at all, running his fingers down my shaft and becoming more familiar with every inch of me. “Damn, you are long. It wouldn't take much to get you in my throat. I don't have a gag reflex, but you... you might test that."
He leaves a trail of kisses and nips down my body, and I'm aching for him as he positions himself between my legs.
“Just need a taste.” As Marlow's mouth closes around me, I let out a strangled gasp, my fingers tangling in his hair. I can’t look away, not even for a second, because the sight of him—dark lashes fluttering, cheeks hollowed, tongue working me over—is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. He takes as much as he can, throat working as he swallows around me. The sensation is so intense I swear I might black out if he keeps going.
But then the bastard pulls back.
"Fuck. Wish I could keep going. Curse those damn blue balls.” He wipes the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and slides back up until we’re eye to eye. He cages me in with his arms, breath ragged as he stares down at me like I’m prey. “I really need to be inside you."
