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“Aren’t you a sight?” he said with a crooked grin. “Shouldn’t you be out hobnobbing with your adoringpublic?”
I made a dismissive sound. “They’re not all that adoring. Which is fine. The adoring ones are exhausting too. I’m just pacingmyself.”
“A wise decision.” He held my gaze with that hint of hesitation I’d felt from him before. “Is there anything you needed from me, Princess ofFlames?”
“Can we... talk?” Isaid.
His grin softened. “I think that could be arranged. Look, we’ve got this handy gazebo righthere.”
He offered his hand and led me up the steps. When he sat on one of the benches inside, I took the spot next to him. His presence didn’t set me on edge the same way it had a couple days ago. We still had a lot of ground to cover, and he obviously knew that. But he was trying to make up for the mistakes he’d made. Even when he didn’t have any idea I’d know how he wasbehaving.
And when I wasn’t on edge, it was impossible to ignore the warmth of his body beside me. The bond drawing me even closer. I curled my fingers around the edge of thebench.
“I wanted to ask... The things you said, that I overheard—the way you talked about me— You said you’ve had to learn not to show any weaknesses around your kin. What has it been like since you’ve been alpha? Before I came into the picture, Imean.”
Marco inhaled sharply. “Princess, you don’t need to hear about that. And I’m not going to insult you by trying to justify what Isaid.”
His hand was still cupped over mine. I turned mine over to intertwine my fingers with his and squeezed. “I’m asking because I want to know. You’re not justifying. You’re just letting me in on things I wasn’t there tosee.”
“Well.” He was silent for a moment. “You know the sort of temperament cats have. It carries on to cat shifters. We’ve always had issues with authority. So being alpha requires a certain attitude... of detachment, and confidence. You have to put on a show. I think I’ve gotten fairly good at that, and I’ve still faced over a dozen challenges since I came of age. It’d have been a lot more if I’d had a weakerdisposition.”
“Oh.” I said. That had been how many years? Five? And he’d had to fight to hold onto his position more than twelve times already. “That seems like a lot already.” My gaze went to the scar that notched his eyebrow. I raised my other hand to trace the pale line. “Is one of those fights how you gotthis?”
“The only one I almost lost.” His mouth tightened, but he shrugged. “Dealing with challenges wasn’t fun. But it’s the way it is. I’ve gotten into the habit of turning on that cocky attitude when faced with any criticism. That’s not an excuse for insulting you,though.”
I glanced up at him. “No. But the fact that I haven’t fully taken you as my mate... That makes your kin question you. They can’t even have kids until we’re together.” My stomach twinged with a pinch of guilt. None of the shifters could produce children until their alpha was fully mated. The longer I delayed with Marco and West, the longer their people stayed barren. “I could understand if you were upset that I hadn’t been willing to consummate with youyet.”
Marco blinked at me with what looked like honest surprise. “What? No.” His voice dropped. “I mean, I very much look forward to that time coming... assuming it does. But I’ve always known I’ll have to be worthy of that bond. And clearly I haven’t beenyet.”
“But when it could make such adifference—”
“No,” he said firmly. He turned more toward me, letting go of my hand to touch my cheek as he held my gaze. “Ren, do you know what I’ve been realizing the past two days? Feeling this distance from you, watching you come into your own... If I could give the damned alpha position to someone else and just have you, I’d take that deal in a heartbeat. I’ve never wanted the authority as much as I want to earn my place at your side. I wish I could give you more than just words to proveit.”
My heart was pounding, but not with nervousness now. I felt his fingers against my cheek through every inch of my body. The warmth of them loosened mytongue.
“You could show me,” I said. “Show me how much you wantme.”
Lust flared in his eyes. “Princess,” he murmured, with so much longing it set my skin on fire. He bent his head and pressed his lips tomine.
The kiss started out slow and gentle. His mouth was sweet against mine, the spicy smell of him surrounding me. It wasn’t halfway enough to satisfy me. I gripped the front of his dress shirt and pulled himcloser.
With a groan, he kissed me harder. My lips parted, welcoming, and his tongue swept in to tease me. His free hand slid up the side of my dress. His thumb stroked in soft circles closer and closer to my sheathed breasts as one kiss bled intoanother.
It felt so good. So fucking good the rush of pleasure started to carry me away. The careening sensation made my breath catch. I hadn’t intended to—did I really wantto—
Marco pushed away from me with a rough gasp. He kept his hands on me, one at the crook of my jaw now, the other beside my breast, as he gazed into myeyes.
“You’re not ready,” he said. “Not really. It’ll take more for me to show I deserve you in every possible way. But I will. I promise you Iwill.”
My hand was still caught in his shirt. I dropped it. “Marco,I—”
“It’s all right, princess.” He kissed me again, just a brush of his lips against mine. “I’m not going to beg. I’m certainly not going to blame you. When I’ve earned my place, when you’re sure of me, you can come tome.”
Chapter 7
Ren
So what areyou waiting for exactly?Kylie’s latest text said.Just grab those hunks and have your way with themalready!
