Page 49 of Something Handsome This Way Comes

“I’m clearly overcome by your animal magnetism.”

“Mmm.” Grievance hummed. “A sensible explanation.”

Milo tried to hold onto his glare. He really did. Then Grievance smiled.

Bastard.

Milo grabbed the front of his vest and pulled him down.

Their kiss was supposed to be quick. Just enough to wipe that smug expression off his mate’s face.

Instead, Grievance hummed against his mouth and tightened his arms around Milo’s waist, and suddenly Milo was smiling into the kiss like an idiot. Grievance kissed the corner of his mouth, then his cheek, then tried for another when Milo turned away laughing.

“No. Absolutely not. We have work to do.”

“One more.”

“You always say that and it never is!”

“It will be this time, promise.”

“Liar.”

Grievance kissed him again, and of course—again. Milo snorted and finally managed to wriggle free.

“We have work to do,” Milo reminded him.

“Yes. Let’s check the last trap, then when we get home—I can tend to this.”

Grievance’s fingers brushed lightly over the bandage at Milo’s neck.

Milo stilled.

The humor faded from Grievance’s face almost instantly. His thumb hovered at the edge of the dressing, careful not to press against the tender skin beneath it.

Milo caught his wrist.

“No. Don’t. You’re not allowed to go back to being a pouty—I’m sorry, broody—Chimera.”

Grievance’s eyes lifted to his. “You haven’t put any Ash Balm on this wound.”

Milo shrugged. “I want to keep this one. I don’t want it to heal completely.”

Something changed in Grievance’s expression. Pleasure, unmistakably—but tangled with that lingering guilt Milo had been trying to chase out of him all day.

“Milo…”

“I said, don’t worry about it.” Milo softened his voice. “I want this one, Grievance.”

He guided Grievance’s hand back to the bandage. “It marks me as yours.”

Grievance went very still. Then his gaze dropped to Milo’s neck again, and a small, terribly pleased smile tugged at his mouth despite himself.

“Then it is only right that you mark me, too.”

Milo blinked. “What?”

Grievance tipped his head, offering his neck with complete sincerity. “I am equally yours as you are mine.”