Page 24 of Training the Alpha

“Again, please.”

“You’re pushing it now, dancer.”

He laughs brightly, his blue eyes creasing at the corners, his scent blooming with joy. “I love you too,” he admits, and saying it is one thing, but hearing it back is so much better than I ever thought it would be. “And I’m all in, too.”

“Well, goddamn,” I breathe, pulling him in for a soft kiss that’s mostly just us smiling into each other’s mouths. I rub my thumb over his jaw, my eyes tracing the gentle curve of his lips when we pull away. “You’ve got the night off, right?”

Alex hums. “Mmhmm.”

“Okay. I’m taking you out for dinner.”

Alex bites his lip. “Where?”

“Somewhere with protein.”

“Oh my god, Marcus,” he says, rolling his eyes.

“You can’t complain, your diet’s stricter than mine. And you’ll need to recover from our session.”

Alex scoffs, tugging my head back so he can nose at my neck. “You’re still going to go out there and train me? After all that? After allthis?”

I smirk, reluctantly pulling myself free of his grip, turning him around, and smacking his ass, hard. “You bet. So wrap those talented hands and get out there. I’m planning on putting you through your paces, can’t have anyone thinking I’m going easy on you just because you’re my latest squeeze.”

He gasps scandalously, and I’m so happy I feel a bit like I’m levitating. “Howdareyou, Marcus Callahan. Okay. Alright. You’ve pushed me far enough. I’m going to have to beat you up. Let’s go, coach.”

And then he saunters out of the office and back into the gym, shoulders back and head high, his eyes sharp and joyful when he turns to throw a playful look back at me over his shoulder.

The normal sounds of leather on canvas, grunts, and low chatter have resumed on the gym floor, and I shake my head, stepping out of the office and following my alpha into the open.

Epilogue: Alex

One year later

I wake up to the sound of pages turning.

I shift, not opening my eyes yet, but nudging my leg against Marcus’ and sighing when his big, warm hand squeezes my thigh.

I take my time with a few indulgent, cat-like stretches, groaning as they ease the strain in my tired muscles, and reveling in the warmth of the sheets.

I crack one eye open, the morning light filtering through the linen curtains—ones we brought from my old apartment when I moved in with him, along with most of my furniture—into our bedroom and cutting across the massive, brooding wall of muscle next to me. Marcus is unclothed from the waist up, our thin sheet draped across his lap, looking down at me with an expression on his face that’s far too soft for this early in the morning. There’s only so much my heart can handle.

“How long have you been awake?” I mumble, dragging my hand over his knee under the covers.

Marcus shrugs. I convinced him to try letting his hair grow out a little, and I notice it’s just getting long enough to start curling at the nape of his neck. “An hour or so. Thought I’d let you sleep in on your day off.”

I smile and roll so I can bury my face against his shoulder. “Whatcha reading?”

Marcus sighs and reluctantly turns the cover of the book towards me.Ballet Theory For Beginners. “I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of Colette again. Or your mom.”

I smile sleepily. “Coco was just busting your balls last night, you know that, right? It means she likes you.”

“Could have fooled me,” he grunts.

“And my mom loves you. I spoke to her on the phone before the performance last night, and she literally only asked questions about you. She wants to come watch a fight.”

Marcus laughs, closing his book and throwing it on the nightstand. “She’s welcome any time. Max is still bugging me to convince you to get in the ring for a real match, you know.”

“I’ve already told him I’m too beautiful for that,” I say wryly, twisting into a pose that shows off the curve of my waist and enjoying the way Marcus’ cheeks darken. Still so easy to fluster, every time. And I still can’t get enough of it. “I’m nothing without this face.”